Christmas Books for Ages 9-12

A Christmas Memory, by Truman Capote
Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: "It's fruitcake weather!" Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls -- one young and one old -- and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.

Eloise at Christmastime, by Kay Thompson
Everyone's favorite character, Eloise, returns with her whimsical adventures in an edition that hasn't been available for 40 years.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson
The six Herdman children are the meanest, toughest kids in town. So what happens when they take over the church's annual Christmas pageant? They experience the Christmas story for the first time and help everyone else rediscover its true meaning.

The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry
O'Henry's most famous short story, "The Gift of the Magi" has a universal appeal that extends beyond the Christmas season. Set in New York at the turn of the century, the story centers on a young couple and the sacrifices each must make in order to buy the other a gift.

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect, by Richard H. Schneider
Long, long ago, in a land far away, lived a perfect little tree named Small Pine. Small Pine hoped to maintain its perfect form and be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree. But as the warmhearted little tree gave shelter to birds, rabbits, and deer in the forest, its branches became damaged. Fortunately, the Queen had a different idea of perfection . . . .

The Twelve Days of Christmas, by Jan Brett
A centuries-old favorite, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was one of the first holiday carols to celebrate the secular tradition of gift-giving. But look closely at this version, sumptuously illustrated by Jan Brett, and you'll find not only the gifts of a suitor to his true love, but a loving family's Christmas preparations, how to say "Merry Christmas" in eleven languages, and a vast array of charming woodland animals.

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