I Got it!

I have an addiction. A real weakness. I LOVE books. Especially really good picture books. Hands down my favorite Christmas tradition is one that my mom started when we were very young. She took all of our Christmas books and wrapped them up. Each day starting December 1st we would get to unwrap a book. It was so exciting each day as we took turns opening up a Christmas book. We would all cuddle up on the couch and and my mom would read us a Christmas story. Each year we'd open the same books and we loved them more and more. As the years have gone on my mom has added more and more books to her Christmas book collection. Last year she made a list of all the books. She has exactly 150 Christmas books that she divides into 24 piles and wraps up so the grand kids can take turns opening them each day until Christmas.
When I taught school my favorite Christmas activity was one that we did each year on the last day of school before Christmas break. It was what we called "Polar Express Day." It really had nothing to do with the Polar Express, but that is just what we called it. We spent all day just reading Christmas stories. Parents and other adults would sign up and come in and read their favorite or their child's favorite Christmas story. We would wear our PJs, bring blankets and pillows and just listen to stories all day. It was by far my favorite day of school all year. My class was never bouncing off the walls on that day. They were actually sad and didn't want it to end. They wanted to stay and read more stories.
Now that I have my own little family it is really time to start our own Christmas book reading tradition. In my quest to keep things real and under control, I decided rather than wrapping up all my Christmas books, I'd just make a special Christmas Book Bag. Each night I put a few books into the bag. The next day we let her open the bag and we all cuddle up on the couch by the Christmas tree and read stories.

You might be wondering what "I Got it!" has to do with Christmas books. Well, my mom has a few books, OLD Christmas books that I just love. Some of the best Christmas books ever made were made in the 1950s. The illustrations are to die for! Shocker that these books are out of print. I have started looking around and trying to find my own copies of some of these classic stories. Last year I was lucky enough to find my own copy of Pranky's Christmas. It was in even better condition than my mom's copy. I am happy to report that I just got another book. Not a really old one, but one that is out of print. It is The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree.

This is one of my favorites! I really don't know why they stop printing such good books. I was so happy to finally have my very own copy. It is in such good condition.
Anyway, I will keep searching for good Christmas books to add to my collection.
What are some of your favorite Christmas stories?