2 Christmas Books From My Childhood

Reading a Christmas-themed children's book at Christmastime is an annual tradition for many families. Usually it's one of the classics Twas the Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but as I child I got sick of those quickly and these two books became my new Christmas favourites.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

My third grade teacher, Ms. Arthur, read this to my class in December 1994 and I adored it. It's a very funny book about the Herdmans, a family of six terrible kids who decide to take over the church Christmas pageant one year, despite never being to church before and knowing nothing about Jesus. It's a must-read and if you haven't read it before, do it this Christmas. 

A Little House Christmas

I was obsessed with the Little House Books back in the day, so I naturally loved this book even though it's just all the Christmas scenes from all the other books compiled into one. But if you love the Little House Books this is a good read for Christmas so you don't have to bother skimming through each book to find the Christmas scenes.

5 Great Christmas Gifts I've Received From Santa

1. Fisher Price Kitchen

I received this when I was two years old and was too busy playing with it to open any of my other presents, so I opened the rest gradually over the next week.

2. Barbie cassette player/ tape recorder

I don't know if you can see it, but the cassette player is there in the background. I loved this thing. You could sing along with your favourite songs and record yourself singing. It was like the poor man's karaoke machine - you either had to know the songs by heart or read the liner notes along with the song.

All the other kids thought my Barbie cassette player was cool too. I can remember three kids my mom used to babysit asking me if they could have it. I never really understood why kids would ask such a thing. Why would I give you one of my favourite toys for absolutely no reason?


This was an awesome Christmas by the look of this picture. I can see a craft set, sticker books, a red pencil sharpener, a piggy bank and a Mega Blocks Dream House.

3. Beauty and the Beast Starcastle

This picture actually has nothing to do with the Beauty and the Beast Starcastle, I just couldn't find a picture of me opening it on Christmas morning. Starcastles were basically a larger version of a Polly Pocket. I loved Polly Pockets so I loved this too - especially since Beauty and the Beast was my favourite movie at the time. I still have this on my dresser in my bedroom at my dad's house. It's missing a lot of pieces though. I was pretty hard on my toys as a child and Polly Pocket-sized dolls were so easy to lose.

4. Various books

Once again, this picture has nothing to do with anything. I loved to read (still do) and I was thrilled (still am) to receive books for Christmas. I remember getting a hardcover copy of Little House in the Big Woods, Skylark (the sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall), Shivers books (a Goosebumps rip off which I ended up liking more than Goosebumps) and a box of assorted Christopher Pike books (I definitely remember getting The Last Vampire and The Lost Mind, but can't remember the others). I probably received others, but I can't remember any right now.

5. Karaoke machine

This present actually didn't work when I got it and I had to exchange it at Wal-Mart for a new one. I remember my mom making the guy open it and plug it in to ensure in worked and being embarrassed. But it was totally worth it. I had so much fun with this - until I discovered SingStar and Rock Band.