Father Christmas’s Fake Beard by Terry Pratchett
Do you want something a little out of the ordinary when it comes to Christmas stories?
Something as un-ordinary as an abominable snow baby, a picnic beneath a snow drift, or a pie the size of a town square?
Terry Pratchett’s stories are wonderfully strange, and strangely funny, and will give you a different kind of Christmas tale.
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
When Nikolas’s father disappears into the woods in search of elves, Nikolas sets off on a rescue mission.
On the way, he discovers a secret town of elves, as well as a newfound desire to spread joy and magic.
A desire so strong that it soon becomes larger than life...almost legendary...Santa Claus proportions of legendary.
“To see something, you have to believe in it. Really believe it. That's the first elf rule. You can't see something you don't believe in. Now try your hardest and see if you can see what you have been looking for.”
Christmas with the Chrystals by Noel Streatfeild
The Chrystals are an elderly couple who have been invited to a castle belonging to the very severe Mrs Cornelius, to cook for her very un-severe grandchildren during the Christmas period. It’s a story of how simple warmth and friendship can soften a hard heart.
“Standing unseen, looking into the kitchen, Mrs Cornelius forgot the angry things she had meant to say. In the window was the little tree, nothing like so grand as the one in the hall, but bright with lights. All round it stood her family.”
The Christmas Star by Eva Ibbotson
This is a collection of three seasonal stories filled with the warmth of boisterously happy families, and the vividly sparkling atmosphere of Vienna that Ibbotson is well known for.
A quick read that will still manage to shower you with the cosiest of feelings.
The Lotterys More or Less by Emma Donoghue
Sumac has been looking forward to the winter festivities, and to enjoying the seasonal traditions with her family of twelve.
But she discovers that the twelve may be down by two with one of her dads and siblings stranded in India and possibly not making it back in time for Christmas.
To top it off, there’s a power outage in their city.
How will she keep her Christmas spirits up?
Christmas Dinner of Souls by Ross Montgomery
As punishment for breaking a school window, Lewis is forced to be serving boy at the foul Christmas Eve Dinner of Soul’s college.
The guests are horrible and gruesome, and they gather to tell stories that are even more horrible and gruesome than they are.
Harkening back to the old Victorian tradition of Christmas ghost stories, these gothic tales are truly chilling, and perfect for kids who prefer the chilling to the heartwarming.
The Night I Met Father Christmas by Ben Miller
Jackson is dying to know if Father Christmas is real, and if he is, how he came to be.
So, on Christmas Eve he stays up, laying in wait for the man himself.
The story he hears is not what he expects, and it won’t be what you expect either…
“I made up my mind that there was only one way to find out the truth. I had to meet Father Christmas, face to face.”
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
When the Herdmans, “the worst kids in the history of the world,” decide to join the Christmas pageant, the rest of the kids are wary. After all, it can only mean bruised arms from being punched, and maybe even something burning down from their careless smoking. What they don’t expect is that the Herdmans might inject some real humour and warmth into a pageant that has become dull and repetitive.
I couldn’t understand the Herdmans. You would’ve thought the Christmas story came right out of the FBI files, they got so involved in it. Wanted a bloody end to Herod, worried about Mary having her baby in a barn, and called the Wise Men a bunch of dirty spies. And they left the first rehearsal arguing about whether Joseph should’ve set fire to the inn, or just chased the innkeeper into the next county.
Compiled by Faustina Paustin