My boys love to listen to me read stories, and this time of year, the holiday books are favorites. Mr. A. is in kindergarten and is learning to read, so it’s especially fun to read with him since he thinks he knows all the words. I am a huge sucker for Christmas and magic and Santa, and all that the holiday’s bring. So when Scholastic Books offered me a couple of new Christmas reads, I accepted.
The first book I read to the boys was the E.T.A. Hoffmann classic The Nutcracker And The Mouse King.
On Christmas Eve, Godfather Drosselmeier has arrived with gifts of marvel and enchantment for his young godchildren. Goddaughter Marie falls in love a bewitching nutcracker doll and claims him as her own. Yet when the clock strikes midnight, something terribly amazing happens to Godfather’s handcrafted toys…they come alive. Marie is swept off her feet on an incredible journey with the Nutcracker in this astonishing classic story by E.T.A. Hoffman. Critically acclaimed artist Gail de Marcken’s stunning illustrations bring this spellbinding tale to life.
The Scholastic website says that this book is good for ages 4 and up, but it was a little long to hold my 5 year old’s attention. But the pictures are gorgeous and the story is a classic and I’m sure as he get’s a little older it will become a favorite.
The Nutcracker And The Mouse King is currently on sale at Amazon.com for $12.91 (regular price is $18.99).
The next book we received is The Christmas Magic.
Far, far North, when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa begins to prepare for his big night of giving. He gathers his reindeer, feeds them parsnips and berries, and polishes his bells and his sled. Then lovingly, he chooses toys for every child in the world. For Santa loves them all, and he knows what each child at heart wants most. Then, with the thrum of magic that makes reindeers fly, he spreads the Christmas joy and warmth throughout the world–as he always has — and always will until the end of time. From best-selling author Lauren Thomas, and Caldecott Honor Artist Jon J Muth
Scholastic recommends this book for children ages 4-8. All three of my boys sat and listened intently. It was a simple but magical book and Mr. A. has been talking all day about how “the Christmas magic” is coming.
The Christmas Magic is currently available at Amazon.com for $9.93 (regular price of $16.99).
Scholastic Books is offering TWO winners BOTH copies! YAY! Some Holiday classics to add to your children’s library.
First Mandatory Entry:
Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite holiday book/story was as a child…or even as an adult. Mine is a book that I found last year at a craft store simply called Santa Claus. It explains all the magic of Christmas and how it’s all possible. It’s a lot of fun to read and really helps get me and the kids into the holiday spirit.
Click Here for Extra Entries and Contest Rules
This giveaway will end December 11th at 10:00pm Pacific Time. TWO winners will be chosen by random.org from all valid entries and notified by email. They will then have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. Good Luck!

















I LOVE books, so it’s no surprise my kids do too! I think my favorite Christmas story has always been The Night Before Christmas. Unless you count movies, then I gotta go with Miracle on 34th street (only the original though, not the remake)!
I’m a library lady…so you know books are my passion! My favorite is Polar Express. I’ve read it every year since I discovered the book back in 3rd grade…and now I read it to my kids. LOVE that book!!
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Our kids just got a new book last year that I adore called “The Bird in Santa’s Beard”
It is so cute and helps kids with the big question of how Santa is in more than one place at one time and Santa’s helpers etc! Very fun
My favorite Christmas book is The Polar Express. I have loved reading it to my children since they were toddlers. I love the illustrations, too.
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My favorite christmas story is This is the stable.
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My favorite Christmas story which my Grandpa use to read to us every Christmas Eve was Twas The Night Before Christmas.
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I will always love Dickens’ A Christmas Carol! More people should read it and learn to act more like Scrooge at the end of the book instead of Scrooge at the beginning of the book!
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I can remember my sister reading to me the story of the house without a christmas tree
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My favorite when growing up was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I love it still
The polar express!
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The ONLY holiday book I remember growing up was Twas The Night Before Christmas. My new book is the original Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer. It’s from Montgomery Ward. It’s just sort of cool to see where it came from. I picked up the original at a garage sale.
One of my favorite holiday stories (or specials, in my case) is Jim Henson’s The Christmas Toy. It’s about Christmas from the toys’ perspective.
I am so hooked on “Polar Express” right now!
I like the “Farouk CHI Rocket Hair Dryer”.
My favorite is How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
The Christmas Magic book looks really good. We’re always on the lookout for new and exciting books in this house.
I always enjoyed the story of Frosty the Snowman!
My favorite holiday story was a cartoon called the snowman. It didn’t have any words, just music, but I loved it!
My favorite is The Gift of the Magi by O’Henry because it shows the true meaning of christmas and love.
I have always loved the Polar Express.
the night before Christmas
I just adore Polar Express.
I loved the book Chicken Soup for the Christmas Lovers soul.
“The Polar Express”!
I think it’s called The Night Before Christmas (Twas the night before Christmas one) that one is just a classic!
I tweeted –> http://twitter.com/BrittanyGreer5/status/6549415896
It sounds so common, but I love Clement Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas.” The reason for this is that my daughter and her husband have made a tradition ever since their first child was born that either parent reads it on Christmas Eve to the child (children now), and they videotape it. It’s so lovely to watch these films to see the children’s faces, and to see how they’ve grown from year to year.
My favorites were “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” & “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
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Oh this is a hard one..hmm..Well, the Nativity Story is a favorite, my mother collected as many versions of it as she could find.
I loved HowThe Grinch Stole Christmas!
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What beautiful books. I’d especially love the Nutcracker book. My favorite Christ mas book is Polar Express.
My favorite Christmas book is The Polar Express.
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I also enjoy How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
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a night before christmas
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I love How the Grinch Stole Christmas. THank you
I loved when my Mom read “Twas the night before Christmas” to me as a child, now I do that for my kids every year.
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Twas the Night before Christmas