The holidays are the perfect time to relax with a good book. Whether you’re reading for your own enjoyment or reading to your kids or grandkids, there are some great stories to enjoy at this time of year. Here are our picks.

Books celebrating the holidays:

The Big Book of Christmas by Hans Christian Andersen, et al - 140+ authors and 400+ novels, novellas, stories, poems & carols. This is a Kindle Edition book, but it has the holidays covered. I know many of our readers prefer books you can hold, but few of us have the space for this many books.

A Literary Christmas: An Anthology by British Library – For readers who prefer a hardcover edition of their favorite poems, short stories and excerpts from classic novels about the holidays.

Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season (Turner Classic Movies) by Jeremy Arnold – Can’t decide which movies to watch this holiday season? This book contains commentary, behind-the-scenes stories, and photos spanning eight decades of Christmastime favorites. Learn something new about a favorite holiday movie or find a new movie to add to your holiday viewing.

Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas by Ace Collins – Discover the origins of popular Christmas traditions. Why are the colors, red and green, associated with Christmas? Why do we have Christmas trees, go caroling, give gifts, hang stockings or kiss under the mistletoe? What is the significance of the nativity scenes, the Yule log, holly and ivy and advent wreaths? Answers to these questions and many others are in this book. Share it with your family and incorporate some new traditions into this holiday season.

How to Spell Chanukah...And Other Holiday Dilemmas: 18 Writers Celebrate 8 Nights of Lights by Emily Franklin – Find out about the traditions of Hanukkah from 18 writers who celebrate this holiday. Read their sometimes humorous essays about everything from latke overload and Christmas tree envy to family squabbles and learning about the Maccabees.

Our Winter Escapes:

WINTER ESCAPES: Passionate Travel Stories from 100 Countries (Volume 1) Kindle Edition

by Frank Petzke - This book is available only in the Kindle format. Frank Petzke is a writer, photographer and renowned storyteller. Many of Petzke’s best loved stories about his travels to over 100 countries are recorded in this first volume. Other versions are to follow until all 100 stories (there will not be one from each country visited) are covered. Read about how he decides where to visit and how to go there and savor the journey along with the destination. Perfect for people who love to travel and for those of us who dream of seeing the world.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher – Five very different people come together in a large, neglected estate house near the Scottish fishing town of Creagan because of a tragedy and learn Christmas can be a magical healing time.

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah - Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read, this is an unusual story featuring the daughter of a wealthy drug dealer. It’s the story of redemption that never happens and all the factors that contribute to the downfall of a crime family.

Winter Ghosts: Classic Ghost Stories for Christmas by Amelia B. Edwards – This is another Kindle Edition. Enjoy Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories by masters of the genre. Perfect reading to help you avoid holiday over load

One Complicated Christmas by Mika Jolie – Sasha is determined to put the man who broke her heart in college firmly in the past this Christmas, so she heads off to a B&B in Vermont to ski and start the New Year fresh. When she runs into the one that got away, can she believe he wants to be part of her life? It’s a super romantic feel good read for the holidays.

Winter Classics:

Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck - Steinbeck won the 1962 Nobel Prize for Literature for his tale of Ethan Hawley, a good man who played by the rules and never prospered until he decided to do something dishonorable. Hawley rationalizes his behavior and vows to be kind and good once he achieves the wealth and power that has always eluded him. But he soon learns it’s hard to go back once you’ve blurred the lines between right and wrong.

A Collection of Poems by Robert Frost by Robert Frost – December is a great month to enjoy the poetry of Robert Frost. Escape from the hustle and bustle of the holidays to enjoy the stillness of a winter day as only Frost can create.

A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz – enjoy this beloved holiday classic with you kids or grandkids. Take a quick trip back to your childhood and see the holidays through the eyes of Charlie Brown. You are never too old to feel this way about the holidays.

Cookbooks for the holidays:

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 140 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations by Ree Drummond - menus for breakfasts, brunches, lunches, dinners, parties, deliveries, and feasts with easy to follow instructions and step-by-step photos.

Christmas Cookies (Seasonal Cookbook Collection) by Gooseberry Patch – 224 recipes for mouthwatering cookies and candies. For the chocolate lover there’s an all-chocolate chapter and on Christmas Eve you’ll want to leave a plate of Rudolph’s Carrot Cookies for Santa and his reindeer.

The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook: Entertaining for Absolutely Every Occasion by Isa Chandra Moskowitz – planning a Vegan menu for the holidays can be challenging when family and friends may not also be Vegan, but this cookbook has tasty adaptations of traditional recipes. They’ll never miss what’s missing.

Southern Living Home for the Holidays Cookbook: Favorite Holiday Recipes and Easy Decorating Ideas by The Editors of Southern Living Magazine – delicious recipes to make your holidays special.

The Simply Kosher Cookbook: 100+ Recipes for Quick Weeknight Meals and Easy Holiday Favorites by Nina Safar – Enjoy over 100 tasty recipes like Matzo Pancakes, Shakshuka with Sausage, and Sweet Potato Pie. Helpful holiday menus include pointers for adapting your favorite foods for the holidays. There’s even a section devoted to Slow-cooker and Instant Pot® options to help you prepare delicious kosher foods with the ease of modern convenience.

Keto Thanksgiving & Christmas Cookbook: Delicious Low Carb Holiday Recipes Including Mains, Side Dishes, Desserts, Drinks And More For The Festive Season by Ketoveo – Just because you’ve made the decision to change your eating habits it doesn’t mean you have to forego traditional holiday foods. Stay low carb and love it.