Originally published on 19 Dec 2019
Who doesn’t love this festive time of year? The bright lights and cheery songs are enough to lift anyone’s spirits. If you’re looking for some special stories, check out these Christmas audiobooks today.
There’s no shortage of heartwarming holiday tales out there — and thankfully, they’re all available on Spotify! Below, we share our favorite Christmas audiobooks for the whole family. We’ve also given a little early Christmas present to you all — a special Christmas audiobook playlist on Spotify, so you can listen along on your
Jooki, whether you’re at home or on the go.
Related: Discover why Jooki is the perfect Christmas gift for kids!
1. The Night Before Christmas
This Christmas tale by
Clement Clarke Moore (1799-1863) is a classic for a reason. So many of us remember our parents reading it to us on Christmas Eve. Help build anticipation for the big day by playing this story for your children — and watch them grow more and more excited the closer Christmas Day looms.
2. The Steadfast Tin Soldier
This famous literary fairy tale tells a love story between a tin soldier and a paper ballerina. Published in 1838 by
Hans Christian Andersen, this story transformed into a full-length ballet in 1996, and it is still performed each year at Christmas as an alternative to The Nutcracker
3. A Child's Christmas in Wales
This prose written by
Dylan Thomas is a story of Christmas as told from the viewpoint of a little boy. The story looks back with nostalgia for a simpler time. This is a lovely story to share with your family to build happy memories and lasting family traditions.
4. The Little Fir Tree
Written by
Margaret Wise Brown and adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's (very much sadder) version, this sweet Christmas audiobook explores the story of a fir tree that becomes a little boy's Christmas tree. This is the perfect story to enjoy with children.
5. Papa Panov’s Visitors
This Russian story by
Leo Tolstoy is about an old shoemaker who dreams of making shoes for Jesus Christ on Christmas morning. It's a heartwarming tale of charity and goodwill — everything Christmas should be about.
Discover these incredible Christmas songs for kids [With Spotify Playlist]
6. The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry wrote this short story in 1905. It tells the story of a young married couple who deal with the reality that they may not be able to afford to buy each other a Christmas present. This is the perfect story to explore the fact that Christmas should be about family, not gift-giving.
7. The Little Juggler
This short Christmas audiobook explores the old French legend of the Little Juggler and his search for the perfect Christmas gift for the statue of the Virgin Mary. This is a religious miracle story, based on an old medieval legend. Originally written by
Anatole France, the story was later made into an opera by Jules Massenet in 1902.
8. The Little Match Girl
This is a short story by
Hans Christian Andersen. The story follows a little girl on a freezing New Year's Eve, who is afraid to go home because she hasn't sold any matches, and she knows her father will be angry. Deciding to keep herself warm by lighting the unsold matches, the little girl sees comforting visions of holiday feasts and happy families. This is a sad but sweet Christmas tale that is so well-loved, it has been adapted into many different forms over the years.
9. The Greatest of These
This story tells the tale of two farmers who sit in their farmhouse on Christmas Eve and relive fond childhood memories. They hear of a neighbor — another farmer— whose family is struggling. The two farmers, in a show of goodwill and friendship, decide to help the neighbor and his family so everyone can have a Merry Christmas.
10. Little Gretchen and the Wooden Shoe
This Christmas story by
Elizabeth Harrison takes place in Germany. The story describes the lives of a grandmother and granddaughter. The little girl and her granny have no gifts to give, but they enjoy a beautiful Christmas together.
11. A Christmas Carol
Everyone knows this
Charles Dickens classic — the timeless tale of Scrooge, the cruel, ruthless man who is redeemed and saved by the spirit of Christmas. This audiobook follows Scrooge as he encounters the ghost of Christmas past, future, and present. You’ll also get to know Tiny Tim and remind yourself of the power of Christmas, and how it unites us all.
12. A Kidnapped Santa Claus
This book, written by American author
L. Frank Baum, describes how Santa gets abducted by five demons who hate him for making kids happy. Don’t worry, though, the story ends on a happy note and has been called "one of Baum's most beautiful stories".
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