“A book is a gift you can open again and again” – Garrison Keillor
If you’re searching for some seasonal reading inspiration this winter, look no further than BLF’s festive recommendations. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a gripping wintery novel, or beautiful poetry, we’ve got a book for you. You may even find a gift to put under the tree along the way.
Festive stories aren’t always as merry and bright as you may think. Gathering round to hear ghost stories, like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, was a popular pastime in the Victorian era – the long, dark nights make the perfect setting for a spooky tale by the fire. If it’s ghost stories you’re looking for, read our recommended reads for spooky season blog.
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
In A Christmas Carol, miserly, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him the true meaning of Christmas. This timeless tale of redemption, morals and transformation has been enjoyed over many generations since its release in 1843.
Did you know, Charles Dickens performed A Christmas Carol on stage in 1854 at St. George’s Hall, Bradford! The crowds were delighted, having travelled from all across West Yorkshire to the performance, and the money raised was given to an educational institute in Bradford.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis
Step through the wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia for a fantasy adventure that will delight young and old readers alike. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe even features an appearance from Father Christmas himself!
Four adventurous siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie – step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.
Letters From Father Christmas – J.R.R. Tolkein
Every Christmas, J.R.R. Tolkein would write letters for his children from Father Christmas telling tales of life at the North Pole, like when the reindeer got loose or a polar bear fell through Father Christmas’s roof! Letters From Father Christmas is a collection of these magical letters from 1920 to 1943.
“My dear children, I am more shaky than usual this year. The North Polar Bear’s fault. It was the biggest bang in the world, and the most monstrous firework there has ever been. It turned the North Pole black!”
The Bear and The Nightingale – Katherine Arden
In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, an elderly servant tells stories of sorcery, folklore and the Winter King to the children of the family, tales of old magic frowned upon by the church.
The Bear and The Nightingale is the first in Arden’s Winternight trilogy: a beautiful, enchanting fantasy set in deep-winter that follows the tale of Vasya, who can sense the growing forces of dark magic in the woods.
Christmas is Murder – Val McDermid
Enjoy a festive collection of dark and sinister short stories from the ‘Queen of Crime’ in Christmas is Murder.
From an irresponsible baron whose body is discovered beneath a silver birch tree, to a classic detective duo solving a historic case as the lights go out across Europe, and an exclusive Tony Hill and Carol Jordan story, the characters McDermid conjures are enigmatic and dangerous.
The Old Magic of Christmas: Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year – Linda Raedisch
“Steeped in history and adorned with a bit of enchantment, The Old Magic of Christmas is the perfect book to read by a winter’s fire with a mug of mulled cider in hand.” – Deborah Blake
The Old Magic of Christmas is filled with recipes, crafts, herbal remedies, and the history of Yuletide celebrations. Tis the season of witches, elves, and ghosts!
Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas – Adam Kay
Mordantly hilarious and occasionally heart-breaking, Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is a celebration of the hard-working heroes of the NHS and their wonderful gallows humour.
Medic and comic Adam Kay’s sequel to This Is Going To Hurt is packed full of even more anecdotes from his diaries of life on the wards.
The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey
The Snow Child takes inspiration from a Russian fairy tale, a winter story of heartbreak, isolation, and hope.
Alaska, the 1920s. Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote homestead, but the wilderness is a stark place, and Mabel is haunted by the baby she lost many years before. When a little girl appears mysteriously on their land, each is filled with wonder, but also foreboding: is she what she seems, and can they find room in their hearts for her?
Christmas Poems – Carol Ann Duffy
Christmas Poems brings together Carol Ann Duffy’s ten festive poems she penned during her tenure as Poet Laureate, alongside beautiful illustrations. This anthology is a wonderful gift for poetry fans!
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times – Katherine May
Like the seasons, our winters and summers ebb and flow. Wintering is a calm and comforting exploration of the times in our life when we need to care for and repair ourselves.
“A beautiful, gentle exploration of the dark season of life and the light of spring that eventually follows” – Raynor Winn
The Winter Ghosts – Kate Mosse
France, 1928. It is ten years since the Great War ended, but Freddie Watson is still haunted by the loss of his beloved brother. Driving through the foothills of the Pyrenees, his car spins off the road in a snowstorm. He takes refuge in an isolated village and there meets the captivating Fabrissa.
The Winter Ghosts is a poignant and haunting winter’s tale of two lives touched by war, of remembrance and loss.
Festive Winter Stories for Younger Readers
The Snowman – Raymond Briggs
Go ‘walking in the air’ with The Snowman, a classic piece of Christmas magic, originally narrated through illustrations alone.
One winter’s night, a snowman comes to life and an unforgettable adventure begins.
Raymond Briggs also created a sequel, The Snowman and The Snowdog, and the ‘gloriously grumpy’ tale of Father Christmas.
Little Glow – Katie Sahota
Little Glow is the beautiful story of an introverted candle flame who longs to light up the sky. Little Glow watches on as families use light to celebrate events like Hanukkah, Diwali, Lunar New Year, Christmas and more.
This glimmering, gorgeous book is a gentle story that showcases the amazing celebrations of light across different communities.
The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas – Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter
Younger readers will adore this funny festive twist in Fletcher and Poynter’s The Dinosaur That Pooped series. As well as plenty of toilet humour, there’s also a heartwarming message in The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas.
Danny is a very greedy boy. Every year, he asks Father Christmas for too many presents. So this year, Father Christmas decides to teach him a lesson; he gives Danny a dinosaur. The result is very large, very smelly and very, very funny.
The Polar Express – Chris Van Allsburg
All aboard! Journey on The Polar Express to the North Pole, following one boy’s journey to receive a special gift from Father Christmas; a bell which only believers in Father Christmas can hear ring.
“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.”
Binny’s Diwali – Thrity Umrigar
Binny is excited to talk to her class about her favorite holiday. But she struggles to find the words. Taking a deep breath, she tells them about the fireworks, the delicious pedras and jalebis, and the clay lamps called diyas … there are so many wonders to see!
Binny’s Diwali is a children’s tale of sharing and acceptance, and a wonderful introduction to the celebration of Diwali.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr. Seuss
“The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason…”
The Grinch is the meanest creature you’ll ever meet, with a heart two sizes too small. He’s planning to steal Christmas, but there will be some surprises along the way! How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a story of joy and acceptance, full of hilarious rhymes.
A Dragon Called Spark – Lily Murray
Eva has moved to a new street in a new town, and everything feels strange and different. Eva doesn’t mind being alone because she already has a very special friend – Spark, her dragon. But perhaps Spark would like a dragon friend to play with? So Eva makes a special wish for a Hanukkah miracle.
A Dragon Called Spark is a joyous tale of friendship, imagination, and a special Hanukkah wish.
Stick Man – Julia Donaldson
‘Stick Man lives in the family tree
With his Stick Lady Love
and their stick children three.’
Will Stick Man get back to the family tree in time for Christmas? Maybe Santa can help! A modern classic from Julia Donaldson that young readers will love.