Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Christmas Chapters

What are your favourite non-Christmas books, adult or childrens', that have good Christmas chapters or scenes in them?

Here are a few that I thought of, beyond the really obvious ones like the first chapter of Little Women, or the Little House books (addition: or The Wind in the Willows):

Almost anything by Jean Little: she practically made it a trademark to end her novels on Christmas (or in one case, on St. Nicholas Day). From Anna is one of our favourites and, I think, one of her best Christmas chapters. (There's an excerpt from the beginning of the book at that link.)

The Middle Moffat, where Rufus gets a letter from Santa saying, "Sorry, all the ponies are at the war."

The Five Little Peppers


The Fairy Doll, by Rumer Godden. This book could be called a Christmas book anyway, but it's not all set at Christmas time.

Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild

The Ark, by Margot Benary-Isbert. This book actually has two good Christmases in it, and I'm not sure which one I like better.

Anne of Green Gables, but also Anne of Windy Poplars, where Anne reluctantly takes her grumpy co-worker home with her for the holidays.

Last but not least: Father Christmas's appearance in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Others?

3 comments:

coffeemamma said...

Jack and Jill by Alcott

A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy

The New Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit- in fact, we have a hardbound copy of The Conscience Pudding which is the Christmas chapter from this book.

Mama Squirrel said...

Ponytails' additions:

The Four-Story Mistake (they get an alligator named Crusty. This is a really good book. Any person of any age can read it).

Auntie Knickers said...

Thanks for the suggestions! I record stories for my (23-year-old) daughter who is far away, one for each night of Advent. Also used to read a story on Christmas Eve at church. One of my favorites that hasn't been mentioned is the chapter from Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey. All the forest and farm animals go to the barn on Christmas Eve to see a miracle -- but Miss Hickory (a doll made of natural materials) is hard-headed. Another, especially good for St. Nicholas Eve, is the chapter on that holiday from Hans Brinker, Or the Silver Skates, by Mary Mapes Dodge. Also The Peterkins' Christmas Tree from The Peterkin Papers by Sara Josepha Hale; and Ramona, the Sheep Suit, and the Three Wise Persons from one of the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (I have it in an anthology called A Newbery Christmas and don't recall which book, it may be Ramona and Her Father).