SIX BOOKS AND MOVIES
I love Christmas time entertainment. Today I am going to share with you the three books in heavy rotation right now with my kids, and my three favorite Christmas time movies.
1. The Little Engine That Could and the Snowy, Blowy Christmas. I 
2. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. My version of this book doesn't look like the cover of this one, but I couldn't find my version on bn.com. It's from way back when I was young and read it over and over. Mine is yellowed and dog-eared. I started reading it to Ethan a few days ago, and at the end of every chapter he asks, "What's going to happen next?" I say, "We have been reading for 30 minutes now. How about if we put it down and read some more tomorrow?" And he replies, "No, let's just read one more chapter." He loves it.
3. The Night Before Christmas in Hawaii. This one is actually one of my favorites. It follows the original story by Clement Moore, but the pictures are of two cats who live in Hawaii, complete with pictures of surf boards, a pineapple for a Christmas tree and a Santa who is wearing skin tight shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. Christian's grandma gave this book to us before she died 11 years ago, and his mom lived in Hawaii for 25 years (and Christian did for 5). That is why this book is important.
4.Jim Carrey's version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The first time I watched this, I was amazed that he could wear those contact lenses and become the grinch. I love this movie.
5. Christmas with the Kranks. Christian totally makes fun of me for this one, but I think it's cute. Yes, it's corny. But that's why I like it.
6. Can I choose one that's only slightly related to Christmas? Yes I can, because it's my blog and I can do what I want. The Holiday. Besides Jude Law being eye candy, I love the English countryside in this movie. And the story overall is kind of cute. And I'm sure a lot of the reason behind me loving this movie is because I saw it at the theater with a bunch of girls from my ward in Orem two years ago. We talked and laughed and I miss those girls!What are your favorite holiday books and/or movies?
39 people wanted to leave a comment:
Good choices! Unfortunately I haven't read any of those books, yet... But the Grinch is amazing, one of the best ever! I've never seen Christmas with the Kranks, but I'm going to go rent it now and check it out. And the Holiday is such a good movie too! Love it!
I love The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! I think my kids would love it as well. I don't know that they've ever read it.
Well The Polar Express is always a favorite around here.
Have ever heard of Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree? LOVE that book. That brings back childhood memories.
Hey, I thought WE saw the Holiday together? I don't even remember The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. Did we read it a lot?
Oh.my.gorgeous. I love The Holiday mostly because Jude Law is so dang sexy in it. It's not often I'm totally smitten by an actor in a movie, but I am in this.
If you like CHristmas with the Kranks, try reading Skipping Christmas, which is the book by John Grisham which it was based on. I read it every year. It's a favorite for a lot of reasons.
And I read the Best Christmas Pageant Ever to my kids every year. This year it's packed away, and I've considered buying a cheap new one. (Or I guess I could haul myself to the library) I cry like a little girl at the end every time!
Great post.
Best Christmas Pageant Ever is such a great book. Read it to my kids last December and laughed and cried my way through it (as usual).
I love the Grinch book, but not so much the Jim Carey movie. He did a fantastic job, of course, and the makeup is downright incredible. But it bugged me that the Who village people were totally changed--in the book, they already GOT the meaning of Christmas and taught it to the Grinch. In the movie, they're materialistic and a selfish and have to learn it too. Kinda ruined the point of the story for me. But then, I'm hyper-opinionated and I don't know a soul who agrees with me on this one. :)
I love watching movies this time of year. It is so cozy and fun with the tree all lit up. Thanks for the list.
I read the book "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham a few weeks ago. This is the book that "Christmas with the Kranks" is based on. I was almost convinced to skip Christmas until the end of the book.
We haven't really read any books about Christmas this year, I am happy to now know of some good ones. I wish I could find a book about the real meaning of Christmas for children...that is fun for kids, but I haven't come across one yet. We love The Polar Express and the Santa Claus movies, they are pretty fun!
These are great and I totally agree. I also like Charlie Brown Christmas
My favorite christmas movies are It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th St. Elf, and Family Stone.
Its the best time of year for movies!!!
I like all of those movies but my favorite Christmas movie is Elf. It makes me laugh out loud every time.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is MY FAVORITE BOOK!!! Sorry to yell, but that is a classic from my childhood. My mom would always read it to us and she does the best voices. I make James endure me reading it aloud to him each year because it is one that has to be read. Last year he recorded me reading it for a project in one of his audio classes. Love Love Love Love It!
I also like Jim Carey's "The Grinch." Ours came with a pop-up book too - so that's fun. I also LOVE "The Polar Express."
I am old fashioned, I guess, and my favorite Chirstmas movie ever is I'ts a Wonderful Life.
I saw Jim Carrey on Letterman or Leno the last couple nights and I think he still looks like the Grinch to me.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. My kiddos love those Best Ever books.
I'll be looking out for The Night Before Christmas in Hawaii.
Love your movie picks. I still haven't seen The Holiday. Thanks!
The Holiday made me cry so hard when the little girl tells Cameron Diaz she smells good......*sob* as they are in the tent. Loved it.
Great little choices. I love the Holiday Entertainment, too. Maybe not Shrek the Halls...but most of the others.
the holiday is my most favorite movie ever! in fact, i watched it last night while i made homemade caramels with my mom. sweet memories. ;)
I have never seen The Holiday.
Although, I do make a Jude Law reference in tomorrow's post.
LOVE The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever, as you know... I say order it from that Christian site that I have posted on my blog... it is priced very reasonably. The movie is great and I can not remember the book as it has been over 10 years since I read it to my girls... I need to pull it out and have Elijah read it.
I've never seen the Jim Carrey version, but maybe I'll check it out this year.
I love The Polar Express. And While You Were Sleeping is one of my favorite non-Christmas Christmas movies.
I love all those movies! Those cherry chocolate squares look delish! I'm gonna have to try them...you have REALLY good recipes. We LOVE that brocoli soup!
I am not a big book girl - but I LOVE Christmas Vacation.
I am all about the laughing.
LOVE Best Christmas Pageant Ever! The movie albeit cheesy is cute too.
I must check out the Kranks. I love goofy Christmas movies!
I haven't read any of those books, I need to check them out! I loved the Holiday movie! Fun-fun! Hope you're having a rockin' day!
Today is Georgie's birthday please go wish her a happy one!
http://georgienba.blogspot.com/2008/12/guest-post.html
ps that quote is from my fav book!
happy holidays
I love the movie "The Holiday." I bought it for 4 dollars on black Friday. It's so cute! I love the little girls in the movie too. So cute!
Book: Santa Calls (totally makes me cry at the end)
Movies:
-Home for the Holidays (OK, this one isn't super cheery, but it's hilarious to me, and makes my family seem a lot less dysfunctional).
-Miracle On 34th Street (the Mara Wilson one)
-Elf
I've never seen The Night Before Christmas in Hawaii. Very clever idea.
I have not seen The Holiday bc Cameron bugs, but maybe I'll watch it for Jude!
I have a video clip of a great Christmas scene on my blog today!
I haven't seen Christmas with the Kranks. I think I need to rent it.
And we love if you Take a Mouse to the Movies and Elf!
YOu have time to read? To your kids? In December? And blog, too? Wonderwoman! The Holiday is a great movie and I don't think it has much to do with the fact that you saw it with girls in your ward b/c I saw it on my sofa with the Spouse and it was awesome--I think it has more to do with the eye candy, both the English countryside and the Jude Law variety. (I just keep telling myself that he's super short, like super duper short, and too young for me and what the heck! I'm married! sometimes it works, too!)
I love "The Holiday. Good choice. I love the great books, movies etc too. Did you see my gingerbread houses that I blogged about? Merry Christmas
I haven't seen The Holiday! I need to put it on my Netflix list I guess.
I always watch Little Women (1994) with Christian Bale and Winona Ryder during Christmastime. And of course, we watch A Christmas Story about 300 times.
Great list!
How the grinch stole christmas (the dr suess one) and the night before christmas. The christmas Story and It's a Wonderful life are my all time favs for movies:)
That Hawaii version of the night before christmas is ADORABLE. It's such a clever concept.
We're big fans of Elf and A Christmas Story. And It's A Wonderful Life is my all-time fave.
My husband LOVES It's a Wonderful Life and we both love A Christmas Story. I love the Best Christmas Pageant Ever too :)
That's so funny you mentioned The Holiday because I stayed up super late last night watching it. Great show.
My personal favorites as far as movies go are The Christmas Story, Elf, Charlie Brown, and The Nativity.
Favorite books: TBCPE is such a wonderful story! I am so glad your son loves it :) Also, I read a really fabulous book (for adults, although it could be for a whole family) is called, How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas. I loved this book. The first one is called, The Autobiography of Santa Claus. I haven't read that one, but the Mrs. Claus one is great! Thanks for sharing :)
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