The Oxford Book of Christmas Stories

When your family gets together at Christmastime, this book will prove to be the most treasured gift, bringing together children and parents, young and old. All the great stories of the holidays, along with some wonderful surprises, are waiting to be read aloud around the tree. This superb treasury of 30 seasonal tales, 10 of which were specially commissioned for this collection, brings together all the traditional Christmas characters and customs that children of all ages know and love--Grandfather Frost, Mr. Pickwick, the Snowman, carol-singing, and the birth of Jesus. Some of the stories--by authors such as Charles Dickens, Shirley Jackson, and Sue Townsend--will be familiar to young readers and their parents. Others--by modern writers including Robert Swindells and Philippa Pearche--will quickly become newly-discovered favorites. The selection presents a wide-ranging view of Christmas and its celebrations.