Thanksgiving and Christmas books and movies are a fun addition to holiday family traditions. Time stands still as we curl up on couches and get lost in stories from another place and time. Scroll to the bottom of the post for a free holiday printable!

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Movie Night Tradition

Our family can never wait for December to begin our favorite Christmas reading and movie night tradition, so we begin in November with a selection of Thanksgiving books and movies. Quiet, relaxing evenings as a family spent reading one of our favorite books or watching one of our favorite movies has become a favorite family tradition.

The selection of holiday books and movies below can add to the sense of wonder you feel this holiday season:

Thanksgiving Movies

Christian Thanksgiving Movies

This Ultimate Life 3-part movie series is filled with intense adventure and life lessons fit for the Thanksgiving season:

#1. The Ultimate Gift: Based on the best-selling book, “The Ultimate Gift,” by Jim Stovall

#1: The Ultimate Life: What is in his grandfather’s journal will lead him on the adventure of a lifetime

#3: The Ultimate Legacy What will become of the inheritance from his grandmother?

Romantic Thanksgiving Movies

Add a touch of romance to your holiday season with these romantic Thanksgiving-themed movies:

Animated Thanksgiving Movies

Animated Thanksgiving movies for the children (and young at heart) in your life:

Thanksgiving Books

Books to read during this season of gratitude:

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Christmas Children’s Books

Browse through this selection of favorite Christmas children’s books. Purchase a book or two each year to add to your collection:

• This Is Christmas: A Rhyming Board Book About the Nativity for Toddlers and Preschoolers Ages 1-3
• Snowmen At Night: Find the hidden images!
• God Gave Us Christmas Discovering the best gift of all

• A Birthday Party for Jesus Keeping our focus on Jesus at Christmas time
• The Giving Manger: A Christmas Family Tradition – Contains a hardcover picture book, a wooden manger, a bundle of straw, and a sturdy Baby Jesus figure — everything your family needs to start the tradition in your own home.

• Pick A Pine Tree by Patricia Toot – A festive read-aloud brimming with all the joy and excitement of Christmastime — beginning, of course, with picking out a tree!
• Santa’s Prayer by Tom Roberts – Celebrate the real reason for the season with Santa as he takes time from a busy Christmas Eve to pause and offer a prayer to the Lord. 
• It Is Well With My Soul: The True Story of the Writings of the Beloved Hymns by David Warner – This is the fascinating true story of a family tragedy behind the writing of the beloved hymn, It Is Well With My Soul in the 19th century.

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Christmas Collections and Treasuries

Christmas storytelling is simplified with the use of story collections and treasuries. Fill your holiday with the fun and warmth these stories bring:

Christmas Classics

From pop-up books to Peanut classics, these not-to-be-missed books are worth passing down for generations:

• The Mitten: A Classic by Jan Brett
• The Nutcracker: A Christmas Classic
• A Christmas Carol: Deluxe Gift Edition
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: The Classic Edition
• The Snowman Board Book: A classic wordless story of a young boy and his wintertime friend

Christmas Chapter Books

Look no further for the perfect family read-aloud this Christmas season:

• Little Women The classic Civil War story of a family of women overcoming obstacles and finding love.
• Eight Cousins The adventures of a 13-year-old girl
• An Old-Fashioned Girl A timeless story by Louisa May Alcott
• The Long Walk to Water Two intersecting stories within this book will keep you riveted to the end.
• An Elephant in the Garden Based on a true WWII story

• Hitty: Her First Hundred Years Travel through time with Hitty, the doll.
• The Birds’ Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin: I read this aloud to my teens last year and we loved it! It is such a touching story and is filled with humor. We laughed and laughed. A fast and fun read for all ages! Perfect for a family read aloud.
• Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas by Jill Hardie – Faith-centered Christmas tradition for your whole family with The Sparkle Box—a heartwarming story about the power of kindness to transform Christmas. Free Sparkle Box included with every book!

Christmas Count-Down and Advent Books

Christmas Movies

Classic Christmas Movies

Classic Christmas movies like these are a must-see year after year. One of my favorite Christmas movie scenes is in the movie Miracle on 34th Street when Dorie, the single mother and main character, sat curled up on the sofa in front of a roaring fire. Which classic movie would you choose to curl up to?

• The Old Shoemaker: Animated
• Miracle on 34th Street: Original
• White Christmas: Starring Bing Crosby
• The Gift: A boy’s specially chosen gift to his father
• Christmas Classics Sing-Along: with Burl Ives and Fred Astaire
• The Christmas Apron: Magical and Heartwarming Christmas Free Movie
• The Christmas Shoes: Starring Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams-Paisley
• The Coat: A Story of Charity: Heber gave his new coat to the boy, who needed it more than he did.
• Nora’s Christmas Gift: Nora, once energetic and eager to serve, spends her time feeling sorry for herself as she faces hearing problems and blindness

Christian Christmas Movies

Christian films that will leave you feeling inspired:

• Christmas Child by Max Lucado
• Christmas Angel: with Della Reese
• Christmas for a Dollar: a Great Depression movie
• Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir: Full Concert
• The Christ Child: A Nativity Story This unique depiction of the Nativity story recounts in beautiful detail the sacred events found in the Bible, which describes Jesus’s birth over 2,000 years ago.

Free Holiday Printable

Romantic Christmas Movies

Discover Christmas magic, and just the right touch of romance, in these holiday-themed movies:

Conclusion: Christmas Books and Movies

Are you ready to curl up on the couch with a good book or movie? Grab a cup of hot cocoa and let the storytelling begin.

What favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas books and movies are missing from this list?

Happy Holidays!

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Image Credit:

God Jul och Gott Nytt Ar.

https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e3-6f30-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99