Take some time this festive season to curl up with one of these great books that perfectly capture the magic of this time of year
1. The Night Before Christmas
Not a long book by any means, this is definitely one to read with your children in the lead up to Christmas! The beloved poem was originally published anonymously in 1823 as “A Visit from St. Nicholas” but, despite Clement C. Moore claiming authorship in 1837, there are some who believe that Henry Livingston Jr. may have been the true author. Whoever wrote it, they perfectly captured the atmosphere of the wee small hours of Christmas Eve!
2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemptive transformation at the hands of three ghosts has endured for centuries with no signs of losing it’s lustre. The endlessly-adapted book (most memorably in film by the Muppets and Michael Caine!) has certainly earned it’s place on every Christmas reading list.
3. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The fact that 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the wonderful book, The Polar Express, is reason enough to pick it up this Christmas! However, it’s also a magical one to read with your children as it tells the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
Best known to American children, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas has proven to be a timeless classic and great fun for readers of all ages. Despite the grumpy and mischievous nature of the protagonist, the story is ultimately about kindness and the spirit of Christmas.
5. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Set in the lead-up to Christmas, this award-winning book by Irish author Claire Keegan was made into a critically-acclaimed film starring Cillian Murphy in 2024. It tells the story of Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father of five daughters, who refuses to stay silent when he sees injustice and abuse in his local town.
6. Christmas Stories by John B. Keane
In this collection of heart-warming Christmas tales, John B Keane shares stories of romance, love, fairies and wise men from the East to entertain and enlighten during the festive season. He also shines a light on the lesser known cultures and traditions of a rural Irish Christmas.
