Ready to get back into books with some festive fun?
Christmas is a great time to hit the books, whether you’re just starting out, getting confident with books, exploring the themes and the genres that you like or you’re a lifelong reader with bookshelves crammed to bursting point. And it’s also a great way to keep younger readers engaged with learning over what’s actually a fairly long holiday (unless you’re an educator with a pile of marking to do, in which case we’re sure it feels like about fifteen minutes). Reading is one of the best ways that we can come together during the festive period, and strengthening these skills over Christmas could lead to a refreshed and renewed attitude to learning for the new year; or even make you aware of where some kids might need extra help.
And at SWD, we believe that everybody should be able to enjoy regardless of literacy differences like dyslexia too, so if you or somebody you care about does struggle with reading, we’ve put together a handy list of ready support solutions over at our Reading Support Toolkit. And don’t forget to get in touch with schools, workplaces and dyslexia institutions if you’re wondering what other help and support is out there to open up the world of books – and also don’t forget to take a look at our quick and easy lowdown on High/Low Fiction for some more info on finding books that work for you.
So whether you’re reading together, strengthening skills or settling down in a cosy nook with a coffee, we’re here to celebrate the spookiest reads we know! And warning: although everybody loves the festive season, some of these books might be a little too much for younger readers – so make sure to check with publishers and reviews for their suitability for different ages; and we've also marked our 'Suitable for Kids' picks here with a jolly star (🌟).
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Bet you didn’t see this one coming! Dickens’ most well-known novel is the tale of a miser who doesn’t believe in Christmas, and is visited by three increasingly personal ghosts who manage to convince him otherwise. It’s a classic, and although the Victorian prose is complicated and intense sometimes, there are hundreds of audiobooks available; many with full casts and celebrity voiceovers too. A Christmas Carol is the second-greatest version of Dickens’ classic Christmas story full of festive feelings and hope for the future. (The first-greatest version is The Muppet Christmas Carol, which is full of festive feelings, hope for the future, and Kermit the Frog).
How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss 🌟
This Christmas classic from the beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss is still as witty and as wise as ever, and the short-form rhymed lines are ideal for reading aloud and together. Telling the story of a grumpy green Grinch whose lack of festive cheer can only be paralleled by that one uncle we all have who buys everybody Amazon vouchers from the petrol station on Christmas Eve, it’s laugh-out-loud funny and finishes on a sweet and hopeful note as the magical season finally warms the titular character’s heart.
A Village Christmas by Laurie Lee
This gentle, lyrical portrait of England is told through the lens of the author’s winter memories, providing a glimpse into a rapidly vanishing rural heritage that many amongst us will be feeling more than a little nostalgic for this festive season. The essays explore folk memories and traditions, landscape studies and lost worlds of an English country past, from carolling in the snow to memories of national events and the way that the world begun to chance during the mid-century period. It’s a wonderful dose of nostalgia, and somehow feels at the same time both melancholy and heartwarming; perfect for older readers who want to take a snowy trip down memory lane.
Talking Turkeys by Benjamin Zephaniah 🌟
A fantastically funny and festive read that kids everywhere will love, Talking Turkeys tells the story of Christmas dinner from the point of view of the turkey, and offers a few alternatives! Zephaniah’s wonderfully rhythmic poetry is a joy to read aloud, and it’s a cute and honest way of introducing the idea of different dietary lifestyles into a young person’s life if that’s something that they or you are showing an interest in. We love this one especially because not only is it the kind of poetry that brings people together, the author himself has dyslexia and is a great advocate for dyslexic people the world over.
Mog’s Christmas by Judith Kerr 🌟
Kerr’s beloved feline Mog isn’t dealing well with the festive flurry of visitors that keep popping through her door… and a walking, talking tree seems to be the last straw, as it sends her scurrying up to the roof for some peace and quiet! Mog’s Christmas is a gentle and funny look at the festive period and how it must look to our pets that younger readers will read avidly, either alone or with their siblings and parents. It’s an adorable seasonal story that many of us might have read as children ourselves, and with fabulously seventies illustrations and a heartwarming, funny conclusion, it’s perfect for getting you right in the nostalgia feels as the big day rolls around.
The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly
This crime classic was first published in 1958, and it’s regarded as one of the jewels (no pun intended) of the English mystery genre. It takes place over the 23rd, 24th and 25th of December, and begins when a Russian émigré is found deceased and her valuables stolen. It culminates in a wild chase through the Kent countryside for our deeply-1950s heroes Chief Inspector Nightingale and Sergeant Beddoes, and takes a wry and not-always-serious look at mid-century criminality, and it’s polished and inventive plot that might keep you guessing (or might not, depending on how good at guessing whodunnit you are. We thought it’d be the butler, but there wasn’t one).