Favorite Bookcase

Favorite Bookcase
My favorite bookcase—Gladys Taber, Elizabeth von Arnim, Rosamunde Pilcher, Elizabeth Goudge, Persephone, British Library Women Writers, Virago Classics and more!

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

My 150+ Vintage Christmas Book Collection 2024! πŸ˜πŸ“š❤️πŸŽ„✨πŸŽ…πŸΌ

Happy December, Friends!!

 
First, I can't wait to share a pic of my newly acquired vintage bookcase—now the permanent home for all of my (mostly vintage) Christmas Book Collection! Yay! πŸ₯°πŸŽ„πŸ’šπŸ“•πŸ“— What do you think?? 

It took me a while to figure out how to decorate it and I still think I want to add a framed vintage Christmas card/photo above the bookcase. I've always wanted to have a special place for these books since Christmas is my favorite holiday 😍 Now, my dream has come true—wooo!

Don't forget...you can still receive my FREE Christmas Book/Movie PDF (not quite as updated as this post, but still pretty accurate), simply email me: babsbelovedbooks at gmail dot com! Includes a fill-in sheet for favorite Christmas books, Christmas activities, TBR and holiday gratitude πŸ₯³πŸŒŸ

Also, click HERE to see my Christmas Book Collection on Goodreads (including full reviews) 🀩 

Check out this wonderful Christmas TBR collaborative post with the lovely Caro on Instagram!

Are you ready to see a few pics of my Christmas book collection??? (Hope you said yes!)  To see even MORE of my Christmas books, take a peek at my Christmas Collection Instagram posts/reels:

FINALLY, here's a list (with some photos and ratings...if I read the book!) of the current books in my Christmas collection (if not pictured, they have been donated, on e-book/Audiobook, or borrowed from the library):

CLASSICS:

  • A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 5🌟
  • The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott 4.5🌟
  • Christmas Treasury by Louisa May Alcott 3.5🌟
  • How It All Happened by Louisa May Alcott 5🌟
  • The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry 5🌟
  • The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson 5🌟
  • Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies 4🌟
  • The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman 4🌟
  • Christmas: A Story by Zona Gale 3🌟
  • The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens 3🌟
  • The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon 5🌟
  • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 5🌟
  • The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum 5🌟
  • The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore 5🌟
  • Kitty's Class Day by Louisa May Alcott 

 VINTAGE DOMESTIC FICTION:
  • Christmas at Fairacre by Miss Read 4🌟
  • The Christmas Mouse by Miss Read 4🌟
  • No Holly for Miss Quinn by Miss Read 4🌟
  • Christmas at Thrush Green by Miss Read 5🌟
  • Christmas Tales by Miss Read 4.5🌟
  • Ten Days of Christmas by G.B. Stern 2.5🌟 
  • Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall 5🌟 
  • The Thirteen Days of Christmas by Jenny Overton 4🌟
  • The Old Peabody Pew by Kate Douglas Wiggin 4.5🌟
  • A Christmas Card by Paul Theroux 4🌟 
  • The Well of the Star by Elizabeth Goudge  3.5🌟
  • The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Goudge  5🌟
  • Miss Plum and Miss Penny by Dorothy Evelyn Smith 5🌟
  • The Waiting Game by Elizabeth Cadell 4.5🌟
  • The Romance of the Christmas Card by Kate Douglas Wiggin 5🌟
  • Four Midwestern Sister's Christmas Book by Holly J. Burkhalter 4.5🌟
  • Christmas with the Savages by Mary Clive 4.5🌟
  • Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter by Edward Streeter
  • The Lost Angel by Elizabeth Goudge
  • Christmas at High Rising by Angela Thirkell

VINTAGE MIDDLE GRADE:
  • The Sister of the Angels by Elizabeth Goudge 5🌟
  • I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge 5🌟
  • Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories 4🌟
  • The Bird's Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin 5🌟
  • Albert's Christmas by Alison Jezard 5🌟
  • Christmas with the Chyrstals by Noel Streatfeild 3.5🌟
  • The Tuckers: The Cottage Holiday by Jo Mendel 4🌟
  • Maida's Little Shop by Inez Haynes Irwin 5🌟 
  • The Lion in the Box by Marguerite de Angeli 5🌟
  • Sally's Family by Gwendoline Courtney 4.5🌟
  • Castaway Christmas by Margaret J. Baker 5🌟
  • How Six Found Christmas by Trina Schart Hyman 3🌟
  • The Christmas Dolls by Carol Beach York 4🌟
  • The Mystery House by Carol Beach York 4🌟
  • The Magic Christmas Tree by Lee Kingman 4🌟
  • Noel's Christmas Tree by Amy Le Feuvre 3🌟
  • Christmas at Nettleford by Malcolm Saville 3.5🌟
  • The Willows at Christmas by William Horwood
  • Tell a Tale of the Tuckers by Jo Mendel
  • The Little Colonel's Christmas Vacation by Annie Fellows Johnston

     
       
VINTAGE CHILDREN'S: 
  • Letters from Father Christmas 5🌟
  • Santa's Surprise Book by Joan Potter Elwart 4🌟
  • The Christmas Box by Alison Uttley 3.5🌟
  • At Home with Christmas Gnomes by Erik Foreman 3.5🌟
  • A String of Blue Beads by Fulton Oursler 4.5🌟
  • The Happiest Christmas Day by May Greenwood 5🌟
  • A Pint of Judgement by Elizabeth Morrow 4.5🌟
  • Dolly and Molly on Christmas Day by Elizabeth Gordon 4🌟
  • The Christmas Dolls by Elvira Woodruff 5🌟
  • Becky's Christmas by Tasha Tudor 5🌟
  • Mother Makes Christmas by Cornelia Meigs 4🌟
  • The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown 4🌟
  • Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert E. Barry 4.5🌟
  • The Tale of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter 3🌟
  • A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas 3🌟
  • Buddy's Favorite Christmas Stories & Poems by Weekly Reader Books            

 LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS: 

  • Christmas Mice (Mini) by Richard Scarry 5🌟
  • The Nutcracker by Rita Balducci 3🌟
  • Walt Disney's Little Toy Shop by Al Dempster 5🌟
  • Raggedy Ann and Andy Help Santa by Polly Curren 4🌟
  • The Twelve Days of Christmas by Mike Eagle 4🌟
  • ABC is for Christmas by Jane Werner Watson 5🌟
  • My Christmas Treasury by Gale Wiersum 3.5🌟
  • Uncle Mistletoe by Jane Werner Watson 4.5🌟
  •  The Christmas Tree That Grew by Phyllis Krasilovsky  4🌟
  • Jingle Bells by Kathleen N. Daly 3.5🌟
  • The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore 5🌟
  • Santa's Surprise Book by Joan Potter Elwart 4🌟
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Barbara Shook Hazen 4🌟  
 
 
MYSTERY:
  • Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie 4🌟
  • A Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer 4🌟
  • Who Killed Father Christmas by Martin Edwards 4🌟
  • Silent Nights by Martin Edwards 4.5🌟
  • The White Priory Murders by Carter Dickson 2🌟
  • The Mistletoe Murders by P.D. James 3.5🌟
  • Christmas at the Grange by T.E. Kinsey 4🌟
  • A Surprise for Christmas by Martin Edwards

SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS:
  • A Christmas Book by Elizabeth Goudge 4.5🌟
  • Country Christmas by Miss Read 4🌟
  • Round the Christmas Fire by Vintage Classics 4🌟
  • The Child's Christmas by Evelyn Sharp 4.5🌟
  • Journey into Christmas by Bess Streeter Aldrich 4.5🌟
  • A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote 4🌟
  • A Literary Christmas by British Library 3🌟
  • Christmas Every Friday by Charlie May Simon 3🌟
  • Miss Read's Christmas Book 3.5🌟
  • Stories for Christmas by British Library Women Writers 4🌟
  • Stories for Winter by British Library Women Writers 3.5🌟 
  • Pearl S. Buck's Book of Christmas 
  • Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson
  • The Twelve Crimes of Christmas by Carol-Lynn Rossell Waugh
  • The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories by Jessica Harrison


 
NON-FICTION:
  • Forever Christmas: Tasha Tudor by Harry Davis 5🌟
  • Our Christmas Book by Linda Campbell Franklin 5🌟
  • Christmas from the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch 4.5🌟
  • Christmas at Home by Country Living 4🌟
  • Christmas with Rosamunde Pilcher 5🌟
  • Home for Christmas by Susan Branch 5🌟
  • Dorothy Wordsworth's Christmas Birthday 3🌟
  • Cosy by Laura Weir 5🌟
  • A Very Vintage Christmas by Bob Richter
  • Take Joy by Tasha Tudor
  • Especially at Christmas by Celestine Sibley
  • The Complete Christmas Book by Franklin Watts
  • 1942 Sears Christmas Book by Sears
  • The Christmas Book 1922-1962 by Good Housekeeping
  • 1981 50th Edition of the Holiday Wish Book by Sears

 

CONTEMPORARY: 

  • Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher 5🌟
  • An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen 4🌟
  • A Highland Christmas by M.C. Beaton 4🌟
  •  Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor 4🌟
  • The Christmas Tree by Julie Salamon 5🌟
  • The Women in Black by Madeline St. John 4🌟
  • Christmas in Cornwall by Marcia Willett 4🌟
  • The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman 4🌟
  • The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson 3.5🌟
  • A Costwold Christmas by Kate Hewitt 3🌟
  • A Christmas Journey by Ann Perry 3🌟
  • A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
  • The Perfect Mrs. Claus by Barbara Matteson 
  • The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

 

ROMANCE:

  • A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews 4🌟
  • Lady Osbaldestone #1 by Stephanie Laurens 3.5🌟
  • Lady Osbaldestone #2 by Stephanie Laurens 4🌟
  • Victorian Christmas by Patricia Gaffney 4🌟
  • Miss Davenport's Christmas by Marion Chesney 3.5🌟
  • A Regency Christmas by Anita Mills
  • A Regency Christmas #2 by Mary Balogh
  • A Regency Christmas #9 by Sandra Heath
  • The Fifth Day of Christmas by Betty Neels

YA:
  • Special Christmas by Francine Pascal (Sweet Valley High) 4🌟
 
GHOST STORIES:
  • The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories by Tara Moore 4🌟
 
COOKBOOKS:
  • The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater 5🌟
  • Happy Vegan Christmas by Karoline Jonsson 5🌟
  • The Christmas Cookie Book by Virginia Pasley


 CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN'S:
  • Dragon's Merry Christmas by Dav Pilkey 5🌟
  • The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson 4🌟
  • Snow White's Christmas by  Walt Disney 3.5🌟
  • Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas by Joy Cowley 3🌟
  • Christmas on Exeter Street by Diana Hendry 4🌟
  • Lighthouse Christmas by Toni Buzzeo 4🌟
  • On Christmas Eve by Peter Collington 4🌟
  • A Little Women's Christmas by Heather Vogel Frederick 4🌟
  • A Treasury of Family Christmas Poems by Union Square Kids 4🌟
  • Silent Night by Will Moses 5🌟
  • One Christmas Wish by Katherine Rundell 3.5🌟
  • I SPY Christmas by Walter Wick 5🌟
  • A Christmas Dress for Ellen by Thomas S. Monson 4🌟
  • Cat Family Christmas by Lucy Brownridge 5🌟
  • The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet Ahlberg 4🌟
  • Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht 4🌟
  • The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden 5🌟
  • Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck 3🌟
  • The Nutcracker (adaptation) by Janet Schulman 3.5🌟   
  • The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg 4🌟
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss 5🌟
  • Franklin's Christmas Gift by Paulette Bourgeois 5🌟
  • Cranberry Christmas by Wende & Harry Devlin 4🌟
  • Arthur's Christmas by Marc Brown 4.5🌟
  • Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer 4🌟
  • A Christmas Like Helen's by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock 🌟
  • Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas by Melanie Watt 🌟
  • Little Sparkly Christmas Sticker Book by Fiona Patchett
  • Merry Christmas from Besty by Carolyn Haywood
  • The Best Christmas Stories Ever by Apple Classics
  • Christmas on Sesame Street by Jon Stone
  • Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas by Russell Hoban

 

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES:

  • A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott) 
  • Miracle on 34th Street  
  • 84 Charing Cross Road 
  • The Bishop’s Wife (1947) 
  • The Grinch That Stole Christmas 
  • Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
  • Rudolph 
  • Frosty
  • The Year Without a Santa Claus
  • Santa Claus is Coming to Town
  • Little Women (1949 and 1994) 
  • Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
  • The Holiday 
  • Holiday Affair (1949)
  • Remember the Night (1940)
  • The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
  • Twas the Night Before Christmas
  • Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas 
  • Christmas Vacation 
  • Scrooged
  • Klaus
 
 
 VINTAGE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS: 
  • Andy Williams Christmas Album
  • Merry Christmas by Johnny Mathis
  • Merry Christmas by Bing Crosby
  • Merry Christmas by Andy Williams
  • Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
  • Favorite Christmas Songs by SINGER
  • Barbie's Christmas Party
  • Home for Christmas by Henri Renee/Dynagroove
  • New England Sleigh Ride by Mobil 
  • December by George Winston
  • Silent Night by CBS Records

 

 
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS FOODS/BEVERAGES:

(Note: These are all vegan Christmas recipes or vegan-friendly brands. World of Vegan is where I work, too!)

Now, it's your turn!! In the comments, let me know YOUR Christmas favorites! Give me your recommendations, please 😁

  • Books (of any genre) 
  • Movies
  • Food/recipes
  • Music

The past few years, I've decided to start reading from my Christmas TBR in mid-November so that I don't have to rush (and also so that I can read as many Christmas-y books as possible!) πŸ˜‚

This plan been working out really well and also gives me more time for Christmas Book Buddy Reads and Read-a-Longs! Here are my goals for this season:

With my book bestie @carosbookcase:

❄︎ Castaway Christmas by Margaret J. Baker

❄︎ The Waiting Game by Elizabeth Cadell

❄︎ The Willows at Christmas by William Horwood

❄︎ The Perfect Mrs. Claus by Barbara Matteson

 

With my dear friend @gina.stanyer.books:

❄︎ Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher 

 

With the 'Queen of Christmas' Cosy Club @bagfullofbooks

❄︎ Village Christmas by Miss Read

❄︎ Taken by the Hand by O. Douglas (January)

 

With the lovely and inspiring Julie of the @elizabethgoudgebookclub:

❄︎ Sister of the Angels by Elizabeth Goudge
 
 
A Betsy-Tacy Countdown to Christmas by Al R. Young from the Storybook Home 2004:
 
❄︎ Excerpts from the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace and Emily of Deep Valley from Dec 1st-21st, then A Christmas Carol's Cratchit Christmas Dinner on the 22nd, and Twas the Night Before Christmas on the 23rd. (The 24th has The Gospel of St. Luke, if you would like to read that as well.)
 
Will you be participating in any Christmas read-a-longs or buddy reads this season?
 
Make sure to keep following my blog posts (enter your email on the home page using your desktop browser) and my Instagram @babsbelovedbooks 🀩✨πŸ’• 
 
Sending much sparkly holiday spirit, good health and warm cozy almost-Christmas hugs to you, friends!!! Keep an eye out for an upcoming post of my home Christmas decorations and menu for this year! I love celebrating all things Christmas with you! πŸ₯°πŸ’š❤️

8 comments:

  1. A hugely comprehensive list and so many of my favourites, too! I'm rereading "The Christmas Mouse" this evening and buddy-re-reading "Tied Up In Tinsel" with my husband.

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    1. Penny! Thank you so much! 😍❤️ There's so much I wanted to change or photos to add to this post, but I was getting obsessive and I figure I'd better stop. lol! Plus, the whole thing looks better on the desktop compared to the phone, so I'm not sure if it's looking as good as it should. So happy that you're rereading The Christmas Mouse! I haven't heard of Tied Up in Tinsel, but I'll add that to my list! You made my day with your comment! πŸ€—πŸ’–πŸŒŸ

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  2. What a beautiful post Gina! I wasn't aware of any of the read alongs until now, maybe next year as I don't have the books ... I am getting myself a copy of Miss read's Christmas stories (Omnibus - I am guessing a collection of 3). Your collection is inspiring, Thank you for sharing πŸŽ„❤️

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    Replies
    1. Hi Raina! Thank you for visiting my blog—it really means a lot to me when someone comments and takes the time to read it! 😍 So happy that my Christmas book collection inspired you - yay! I think you'll love Miss Read's Christmas stories...they never disappoint and they get more cozy every year I read them. Have a wonderful holiday!! πŸ€©πŸŽ„❤️

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  3. Absolutely wonderful - what an amazing compilation, Gina! How do you do it? Happy Christmas and New Year to you and yours!

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  4. I loved getting the chance to browse your incredible collection, Gina! So many great ideas for titles to add to my own little Christmas collection. I know this must have taken you a lot of work, but it is so appreciated, and admired! Looking forward to all of the Christmas books we have left to read this month!

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  5. Awww love this, Gina! (gosh it must have been so long since I've commented on something, that Google has my profile set to my college animal rights group, haha). - Michelle

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  6. What a wonderful blog post, by a fellow book lover, your collection is amazing.

    My current favourite Christmas book is The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson, but I'm halfway through a compilation of Christmas stories by Maeve Binchy called 'This Year it Will Be Different' ... and it's proving VERY good.
    My favourite movie would be Last Christmas, my favourite food tiny vegan mince pies sold at Sainsbury's with a little puff of squirty dairy-free cream on top ... one mouthful of absolute pleasure. My favourite Christmas music is anything light and fun and that suits the mood I am in.

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My 150+ Vintage Christmas Book Collection 2024! πŸ˜πŸ“š❤️πŸŽ„✨πŸŽ…πŸΌ

Happy December, Friends!!   First, I can't wait to share a pic of my newly acquired vintage bookcase—now the permanent home for all of m...