By E.T.A. Hoffmann
Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Lisbeth Zwerger's stunning interpretation of The Nutcracker, adapted from the original Hoffmann tale, rounds out the story depicted in the ballet, exploring the background of the feud between the Nutcracker and the seven-headed Mouse King, the true role of the mysterious Drosselmeier, the tragic fate of Princess Pirlipat, the spell cast by Mistress Mousie that is finally broken by the loyal Marie, and the satisfying, happily-ever-after conclusion to the great battle and fantastic journey. In pictures filled with wit, whimsy, drama, mystery, and magic, Lisbeth Zwerger transports us to the darkest reaches and sunniest splendors of this fairy-tale world.

By Charles Dickens
Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The internationally acclaimed illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger spent over two years creating the illustrations for her interpretation of this beloved story. She lends her signature wit, charm, and insightful clarity to pictures that add new dimension and depth to Dickens' tale of redemption. The result is a splendid new edition of A Christmas Carol that is sure to be cherished for generations to come.

By O. Henry
Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

One dollar and eighty-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. She has nothing to sell except her only treasure - her long, beautiful brown hair. Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, this classic piece of American literature tells the story of a young couple and the sacrifices each must make to buy the other a gift. Beautiful, delicate watercolors by award-winning illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger add new poignancy and charm to this simple tale about the rewards of unselfish love.

By Tomie dePaola

In this wonderful Christmas memoir for all ages, Tomie dePaola shares his love of the season in fifteen vivid memories spanning six decades filled with delightful twists and turns.

By Clement Clarke Moore
Illustrated by Robert Sabuda

Award winner Robert Sabuda brings Clement Clarke Moore's classic tale of The Night Before Christmas to life in this festive pop-up edition, sure to become a perennial family favorite.

By Robert Sabuda

A true holiday classic literally comes to life in this stunning pop-up edition of a season favorite. With a partridge popping, snow scattering, and lords a-leaping off the page, this lavish book is a gift for readers of all ages. For this special anniversary edition legendary paper engineer Robert Sabuda encloses his own gifts to the reader: extra pages with a pop-up Christmas tree with real lights aglow, and a beautiful pop-up ornament of two turtledoves. The ornament is packaged with the book and is perfect for adding a celebratory touch to your tree. This beautiful anniversary package is one to treasure!

By Dylan Thomas
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

A lost but not forgotten childhood is evoked in this nostalgic recollection that endures as one of the most beloved Christmas stories of all time. Trina Schart Hyman's sensitive illustrations reflect the joy and magic of a special day in the youth of Dylan Thomas.

By Tomi Ungerer

Meet the Mellops: the world's most adventurous family of pigs. It is Christmas Eve, and the four Mellops brothers each have the same idea -- to surprise the family with a Christmas tree. As a result, Christmas Eve at the Mellops' is filled with trees and tears. But the Mellops are as resourceful as ever, and before long, the brothers are spreading Christmas trees and festive cheer to one and all.

First published more than fifty years ago, the humorous Mellops tales became instant bestsellers. Reissued today for a new generation of children, Christmas Eve at the Mellops' conveys a wonderfully preserved sense of another era.

By Holly Hobbie

It's almost time for Christmas at Woodcock Pocket, and Puddle is ready to bake fruitcake, make paper chains, and decorate the house and tree. But Toot - wouldn't you know! - is stranded in a winter storm far away. How will Puddle's best friend get back home by Christmas Eve? The answer involves a little bit of magic and some unexpected help from another holiday traveler.

By Jan Brett

Rollo loves to romp and play. He just can't help being a wild little troll who does whatever he wants whenever he wants. One morning in late summer, Mama and Papa Troll ask for his help one time too many. Rollo grabs his rucksack and runs off across the tundra. He has no trouble finding animal families to live with, and he moves from one to another, causing mischief and mayhem. He's traveling with a friendly moose family way up on the mountain when he smells smoke drifting up from his home below. It is nearly Christmas. It is time to go home? How will he get there?

By Tomie dePaola

In Strega Nona's village, the holiday season is a time of celebrations -- and nothing says celebration like a feast! All the kitchens are bustling from the Feast of San Nicola in early December, when the children choose the food, to the Feast of Epiphany in January, when someone gets to be king or queen for a day. Even the animals share in the holiday spirit, for there is one feast where the tradition is to cook for them. When Big Anthony smells the delicious treats Strega Nona is cooking up for her animals, he decides that just a taste couldn't hurt, right? Wrong! Big Anthony gets his just desserts, while Strega Nona surprises everyone with a special gift.

By Patricia MacLachlan
Illustrated by Brian Floca

All year long Lily and Liam look forward to Christmas on their grandparents' farm. It's always the perfect trip -- walking to the lilac library, trimming the tree, giving gifts. But this year, thanks to a white cow alone in the meadow, things will be different. This Christmas, Lily and Liam will find out the meaning of a true gift.

By Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen

So begins this charming Christmas counting tale from bestselling author Jane Yolen. In simple, lovely verse, Yolen guides her readers ever closer to the manger, as increasing numbers of angels and wisemen, horses and cows, fathers and mothers and children follow the star in the eastern sky. Accompanied by Vlasta van Kampen's stunning artwork, the story builds to a delightfully crowded finish as one and all gather around the creche. Written and illustrated with the youngest reader in mind, Under the Star is sure to find a place beneath many Christmas trees.

By Louise Moeri
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

Once upon a Christmas, there was an old woman who lived in a hut at the edge of the forest, with her old dog, Uproar, to keep her company. The old woman had just one wish: to celebrate a real Christmas, with a tree and presents and candles and food. Just once. High up in the heavens, Star Mother's Youngest Child made a wish, too. "Mother," he wailed, "just once I want to celebrate Christmas like they do down there! So Star Mother sent him to earth, where he found a hut and knocked on the door...

In this original, heartwarming fable, Loise Moeri tells the story of an unlikely friendship and how it made two Christmas wishes come true.

By Katherine Paterson

In unexpected and heartwarming ways, two–time Newbery Medalist Katherine Paterson has written a collection of nine inspirational short stories that illuminate the true meaning of the Christmas story. Hope and celebration are the common threads in this exploration of the mysterious workings of the human heart. Featuring a new foreword by the author, this new hardcover edition is perfect for sharing with loved ones both near and far during the holiday season. Ages: 8 – 13

By Sharon Robinson
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Jackie Robinson is getting ready for his family's first Christmas in Brooklyn -- with a little help from Steve Satlow, a young baseball fan who lives two doors down. When the Robinsons first moved to Tilden Avenue, Steve's family stood up against the prejudice of their neighbors to welcome the neighborhood's first black family. Since then, the Dodgers' famous second baseman -- and Steve's baseball idol -- has become his friend. When Jackie finds out that Steve's family doesn't have a Christmas tree, he sees the perfect chance to return the kindness they showed his family. But there's something Jackie doesn't realize: The Satlows don't celebrate Christmas because they're Jewish! Funny, touching, and true, this tale of Jackie Robinson's first Christmas -- and Hanukkah -- in Brooklyn celebrates the unity of the holiday season.

By Tomie dePaola

Mister Frog has slept through Christmas every year and is determined to celebrate this one with his three best friends. But when he takes a short nap that turns into a very long sleep, he wakes up late on Christmas Ever, and there's no one to celebrate with! He's all alone until Santa and all of Frog's friends arrive with trees, food, and holiday cheer just in time for the big day!

By Marla Frazee

It's true. No one in the whole world knows more about kids, toys, and gifts than Santa Claus. No one. (And, of course, he loves his job.) But how does he do it?

By Brock Cole

When Pa brings a turkey poult home to fatten for Christmas dinner, he assures Ma that it will be no trouble since it can live in a box by the stove and be fed on table scraps. But raising a turkey in a tiny three-room flat is not quite so simple. Can Pa and the children manage the willful and growing Alfred and keep the neighbors happy until Christmas? In this exuberant romp through a holiday season set in a nineteenth century New York tenement, Pa finds a solution for every difficulty -- until he encounters one that threatens to ruin Christmas completely. How the family joins together to solve this last difficulty provides a heartwarming climax to a very funny and satisfying holiday story.

By William Joyce

Art Atchinson Aimesworth -- inventor, crime fighter, and all-around whiz kid -- journeys north with his sister, Esther, and his pal, Spaulding, by special invitation from Santa himself. But why did Santa call? Now available in a new hardcover edition, this truly Joyce-ian crusade features villains and swashbuckling adventure, concluding with a most spectacular and touching Christmas celebration.

By Jan Brett

THE WILD CHRISTMAS REINDEER is one of Jan Brett's most popular Christmas stories. Now a whole new generation of readers can discover this rollicking original yuletide tale in this elegant twentieth-anniversary edition.

The fun begins when Santa asks Teeka to get the reindeer ready to fly on Christmas Eve. But the reindeer have been running wild and free all year on the tundra, and despite Teeka's firm hands and strong voice, they don't respond to her training -- in fact, they seem wilder than ever! It's only when Teeka apologizes to them and uses a gentle voice that they respond. And just in time, too, for as Teeka's story plays out, the elves are busy in the border illustrations, creating enchanting toys and gifts and preparing Santa's sleigh for his Christmas ride.

By Jerry Pallotta
Illustrated by David Biedrzycki

When Santa needs help in his workshop, he tries everything from dragons and fairies to unicorns, with hilarious results. Will he find the perfect helpers in time for Christmas?

By David Biedrzycki

Santa is worried...It's almost Christmas Eve, but the reindeer are too out of shape to fly Santa's sleigh. Fortunately, the elves build a fancy jet in time to deliver all the gifts. They've even installed a talking computer. But Santa finds that it's not easy landing a high-tech jet on a rooftop. And where's Rudolph's shiny nose to guide the way? This Christmas, Santa and his jet are in need of some serious help!

By Mary Newell DePalma

Kepley's dream is to dance in The Nutcracker. She practices diligently in her ballet class, and remembers to smile at the audition - even though her tummy is doing pirouettes. When the audition results arrive in the mail, Kepley is elated. She's a doll! then come the rehearsals, the fittings for the beautiful poufy dress, and finally...the thrill of stepping out under the glowing stage lights. For every little girl who loves to dance comes The Nutcracker Doll, a story as sweet as the sugarplum fairy.

By Mary Higgins Clark
Illustrated by Wendell Minor

Johnny's grandparents lived in an old house in New England where Johnny's father had been born. The smells of the cookies baking, the snowy Christmas tree farm with trees of so many shapes and sizes, and most of all the wooden horse Johnny had told his brother, Liam, about would make this the best family Christmas ever. In this grandparent's attic Johnny finds many treasures, but the wooden horse he remembered so well is broken. How can Johnny make his brother's Christmas wish come true?

By Jerry Pallotta
Illustrated by David Biedrzycki

By Corinne Demas
Illustrated by Stephanie Roth

It is Christmas Eve, and it is snowing hard. Annamouse has a lovely tree but no decorations. She tries to walk to town to shop for ornaments, but the snow is too deep. On the far side of the hay field, Willamouse has made beautiful paper chains. All she needs is a tree. But when she sets off to buy one, there is so much snow, she can hardly open her door. Is there a way for two field mice filled with holiday spirit to find each other and make their own cozy Christmas celebration?

By Jane Werner
Illustrated by Eloise Wilkin

By Leslie Norris
Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein

At Christmastime, Albert learns just what his mother would like most -- the precious gold medallion on a delicate gold chain that she lost years ago. Where will he find the money to replace it? Thanks to his talking dog, Lucille, Albert gets an idea: he'll play his flute on the street! A policeman quickly puts a stop to this. However, he gives Albert a gift that enables him to pursue his goal. And after a strange shopping excursion, Albert and Lucille head home satisfied. Then disaster strikes. But Albert will not give up, and the real adventure begins when he and Lucille set forth in the dark, snowy night before Christmas, looking for the present Albert wants so much for his mother.

By Tomie dePaola

Christmas Eve in Santa Fe is celebrated by the traditional procession Las Posadas. Sister Angie arranges for the people of a nearby mountain village to re-enact Mary and Joseph's search for shelter the night baby Jesus was born. This year was going to be extra special. Sister Angie's niece, Lupe and Lupe's husband, Roberto, were to play the part of Mary and Joseph. The whole village had been practicing for weeks. Everything was going to be perfect. But when sister Angie becomes sick and Lupe and Roberto get stuck in a snowstorm, only a miracle can save Las Posadas.

By Charles Dickens; Michael Patrick Hearn
Illustrated by John Leech

Charles Dickens' legendary ghost story is as much a part of the season as plum pudding and mistletoe, and Michael Patrick Hearn, the celebrated annotator of The Wizard of Oz and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has prepared a sumptuous new edition of the holiday classic. This latest contribution to the popular Norton Annotated Series delves into the engrossing history of the book's evolution and its initial publication just in time for Christmas 1843.