25 Best Christmas Short Stories of All-Time for Kids and Adults

Reviews of These Short Christmas Stories to Read This Holiday Season

At Christmas Time by Anton Chekhov (1900)

• Age Rating: 12+

• Description: At Christmas Time is a two-part story that begins with an illiterate woman, who hires a man to write a letter to her estranged daughter, wishing her a merry Christmas. In the second part, the daughter, living a life different than she imagined, receives the letter. It’s good for fans of Russian literature.

• My Review: ★★★☆☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read at American Literature

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (1971)

• Age Rating: 8+ (Note: some mature language and content)

• Description: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the popular children’s Christmas book about a group of unruly siblings who disrupt a local Christmas pageant, ultimately teaching everyone the true meaning of the Nativity. It offers a festive mix of humor and heartfelt moments. Many readers find it deeply moving and often shed tears at the end.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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The Burglar’s Christmas by Willa Cather (1896)

• Age Rating: 12+

• Description: The Burglar’s Christmas follows William Crawford on Chicago’s cold streets, contemplating his career failures in life. He decides to try one more: thief. But, when the lady of a house he attempts to burgle catches him, he is forced to hope for redemption. It’s a well-told tale that’s good for lessons of Christmas kindness and transformation.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read at the Willa Cather Archive

A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas (1952)

• Age Rating: 10+

• Description: A Child’s Christmas in Wales ponders a Christmas past with the warmth of a family gathering, the charm of a mistletoe-decked home, the coziness of cats by the fire, and the magic of Christmas gifts. You can feel the vivid imagery of snow and more, which create a sense of longing for another time and place.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

• Age Rating: 10+ for the original text

• Description: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the popular Christmas book that follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption after encountering three spirits: the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Its brevity, readability, and beautiful prose make it well worth the read, no matter how many adaptations you’ve seen, heard, or read.

• My Review: ★★★★★

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

Related Post: A Christmas Carol Quotes

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck (1955)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: In Christmas Day in the Morning, Rob gives a gift of familial sacrifice that filled him with true Christmas joy. It’s a quaintly charming story about the true value of gifts.

• My Review: ★★★☆☆

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A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True by Louisa May Alcott (1885)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: From the author of Little Women comes a classic Christmas story with the same old-fashioned, feminine charm. A Christmas Dream, and How It Came To Be True is the heartwarming story of a young girl who dreams of helping the less fortunate during the holidays. She embarks on a mission to spread joy and generosity, ultimately learning valuable lessons about the true spirit of Christmas.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read at American Literature

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote (1956)

• Age Rating: 12+

• Description: A Christmas Memory is one of the best Christmas books I’ve ever read, memorable for the heartfelt nostalgia it evokes. Told by one of America’s greatest writers, It’s the story of a boy who lovingly makes fruitcakes each Christmas season with his elderly cousin. The old friend comes to find their time together to have a deeper meaning.

• My Review: ★★★★★

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Christmas at Red Butte by L. M. Montgomery (1909)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: From the author of Anne of Green Gables comes the brief tale Christmas at Red Butte. It follows a group of friends as they prepare for the holiday season in a close-knit community. It gives you the aesthetic of a very old-fashioned Christmas.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere (2001)

• Age Rating: 10+

• Description: The Christmas Shoes is based on a popular song. It’s a touching story about a boy named Nathan who wants to buy a pair of special shoes for his dying mother on Christmas Eve, weaved with that of a lawyer who’s lost the meaning of family. It’s sad, for sure, but it’s also a readable and memorable narrative that weaves in the true meaning of giving.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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The Dead by James Joyce (1914)

• Age Rating:14+

• Description: The Dead is the final story in Joyce’s Dubliners. It centers on Gabriel, who attends a Christmas party with his wife, Gretta, where he navigates complex relationships and social dynamics. The story leads to a revelation about Gretta’s past love. It’s best for fans of literary fiction and old Irish Christmases.

• My Review: ★★★☆☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

The Elves and the Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm (1812)

• Age Rating: 5+

• Description: The Elves and The Shoemaker is, naturally, about a shoemaker who is secretly helped at night in his incomplete work by some little elves. It’s short and sweet for very young readers.

• My Review: ★★★☆☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read at American Literature

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen (1844)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: The Fir Tree is a poignant fairy tale that follows the life of a young fir tree who yearns to grow tall and be admired. Ultimately, the story takes a bittersweet turn, revealing the fleeting nature of life and beauty. It’s best for readers who can appreciate truths about life.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (1905)

• Age Rating: 10+

• Description: The Gift of the Magi is about a young married couple trying to buy Christmas gifts for each other with little money to spend. It jerks at your heartstrings as it offers an ironic lesson about gift-giving. It’s the kind of story you won’t forget.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (1957)

• Age Rating: 4+

• Description: How the Grinch Stole Christmas is about spreading Christmas cheer, even if you’re the meanest curmudgeon of all. With the furry and cartoonish green Grinch at its core and Dr. Seuss’s whimsical writing, it’s one of the most famous Christmas books for families to read aloud each year with toddlers and young children.

• My Review: ★★★★★

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Related Posts: How to Make a Grinch Christmas Tree | Best Grinch Quotes

A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (1904)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: A Kidnapped Santa Claus hails from the author of The Wizard of Oz and offers similar adventure. It shares the story of demons like Selfishness, Envy, Hatred, Malice, who have captured Santa and secured him to a wall to stop him from delivering toys on Christmas Eve. This story takes you on a fun ride!

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

A Letter From Santa Claus by Mark Twain (1875)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: A Letter from Santa Claus was written by Mark Twain, as Santa, to his three-year-old daughter in 1975. Through instructions from Santa, it reminds us of what parents do for their children.

• My Review: ★★★☆☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read at American Literature

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson (1845)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: A book referenced on Gilmore Girls, The Little Match Girl is the tearjerking story of Adriana, who holds the hope of a better life. When her dreams are shattered, she has only a flute, a box of matches, and her faith in God. It’s dark and deep, but it has stood the test of time.

• My Review: ★★★☆☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann (1816)

• Age Rating: 8+

• Description: Did you know you can read the beloved ballet based on Nutcracker and Mouse King?! It’s the timeless, magical story of a wooden doll, the Nutcracker, who becomes alive to fight the evil seven-headed Mouse King after a Christmas party. It reminds people of all ages about the magic of the Christmas, and it works really well as a family read-aloud.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read at University of Pennsylvania

Old Christmas by Washington Irving (1876)

• Age Rating: 12+

• Description: Published in 1876, Old Christmas truly does celebrate nostalgia. It contains five Christmas stories of an old-fashioned family Christmas in a quaint English manor. Gilmore Girls fans will love all the Bracebridge references!

• My Review: ★★★☆☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

Papa Panov’s Special Day by Leo Tolstoy (1892)

• Age Rating: 5+

• Description: Papa Panov’s Special Christmas Day is about a Russian man’s wish to give Jesus the finest pair of shoes he’s ever made. This well-told story evokes meaningful religious themes about who Jesus really is. It’s an excellent lesson for kids.

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, watch on YouTube | Read on Short Story America

The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg (1985)

• Age Rating: 6+

• Description: The Polar Express is my favorite childhood book, which I re-read each holiday season. Savor the stunning illustrations as you follow a boy who travels to the North Pole to learn the power of believing in the spirit of Christmas as he finds a special gift under the Christmas tree.

• My Review: ★★★★★

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The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter (1903)

• Age Rating: 5+

• Description: The Tailor of Gloucester is a cute story about a poor tailor struggling to survive a hard Winter working to complete work for the Mayor’s Christmas Day wedding. Luckily, some very generous and charming mice are there to help him, even in the presence of his cat! 

• My Review: ★★★★☆

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Or, listen on YouTube | Read on Project Gutenberg

Bonus: Free Printable PDF of The Night Before Christmas

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Get instant access to a free printable PDF of the popular Christmas short story The Night Before Christmas.

DOWNLOAD

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remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules