Photography by Kevin Roberts, books courtesy of Barnes & Noble and Left Bank Books
When you think of your favorite holiday read, does it run along the lines of Truman Capote’s sweet remembrance, or the misguided presents of O. Henry? Is it funny or heart-rending? Silly or serious? We wondered, so we went on Facebook and asked. You answered—and here are your favorites. In the end, we concluded that the season is one that brings out the inner child in most of us.
Rose Beizer’s favorites include The Tale of the Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt; A Wish for Wings That Work and Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley Breathed; and Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect by Richard Schneider.
Lisa Cayse tells us her picks are Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera, Santa’s Book of Names by David McPhail, and The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza by David Shannon.
Says Karen Clifford, “Definitely, my all-time favorite is The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. I also have a great artsy book featuring the art of Andy Warhol for Tiffany & Co.’s holiday cards before he became famous, Greetings from Andy (Warhol).”
Tara Dickherber’s favorite: A Bit of Applause for Mrs. Claus by Jeannie Schick-Jacobowitz, Susie Schick-Pierce, and Muffin Drake.
Chris DiMercurio and Lisa Cayse both selected How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss.
Jessica Sweesy Bauer, Jennifer Mathieu, and Lisa Cayse all named the fantasy The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg as their traditional pick.
Denise Moore Martin’s top holiday book: A Special Place for Santa: A Legend for Our Time by Jeanne Pieper.
And Liz Ortmann lists one last fave, “preferably in pop-up form like I had as a kid.” The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and Robert Sabuda is “a classic,” Ortmann says.
