For parents

Classic Books to Give Kids This Christmas (Ages 6–9)

Five classic stories that make thoughtful Christmas gifts for young readers, and simple ways to make the giving special.

By Sean Lee · October 27, 2026

A note before we start

Meet the Classics is our own series: we make these books. Each one retells a great classic for ages 6–9 in 72 pages and nine short chapters, keeping the whole story and the real characters, with an illustration on every page. We’ve kept this guide honest: here is why we think each story makes a good gift, and who it suits best, so you can choose the right one for the child you have in mind.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

• Why it makes a good gift: it’s the classic holiday story, and it’s about the joy of giving, which makes it a lovely book to give.
• Who it suits: children who enjoy a little spookiness with a warm, happy ending. Marley and the silent third spirit are best read with a grown-up nearby.
• Pairing idea: give it on December 1 with our free Advent reading plan, or wrap it with a mug of cocoa for a cozy Christmas Eve read-aloud.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

• Why it makes a good gift: the story opens at Christmas, with four sisters deciding to share their Christmas breakfast with a family in need.
• Who it suits: children with brothers or sisters, budding writers who will love Jo, and anyone who likes stories about family life.
• Pairing idea: add the free character cards and let each family member pick their favorite March sister.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

• Why it makes a good gift: a winter gift that looks ahead to spring, as a lonely girl finds a hidden garden and brings it back to life.
• Who it suits: nature lovers, animal lovers, and children who like secrets, keys and hidden doors.
• Pairing idea: tuck in a packet of seeds and a small pot to plant when the weather warms, like Mary’s green shoots.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

• Why it makes a good gift: Anne’s big imagination and big feelings make children laugh, and the story has a warm Christmas of its own when Matthew gives Anne a dress she has dreamed of.
• Who it suits: daydreamers, chatterboxes, and children who love to name things and make up stories.
• Pairing idea: give it with a blank notebook for your child’s own stories, or the free Anne character cards.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Why it makes a good gift: a gentle, funny story about family, friendship and changing your mind, and a first taste of a book many children will meet again when they’re older.
• Who it suits: children who enjoy sisters, grand balls, clever heroines and stories without anything frightening.
• Pairing idea: print the free character cards and host a Christmas-week tea party with the Bennet sisters.

How to give a classic

• Inscribe it. Write the date, your name and a line about why you chose this story. A signed book becomes a keepsake.
• Read the first chapter together on Christmas Day, so the book becomes part of the holiday instead of going straight on a shelf.
• Wrap it with something from the story, like holly for A Christmas Carol or a seed packet for The Secret Garden.
• Give a bookmark marking where to stop each night, so the next nine bedtimes are planned.

Our free printables include character cards, a unit study and discussion questions for each book. Printing them ahead of time makes a simple book gift feel like a whole bundle.

For bilingual families

If you’re raising bilingual children, some of our books are also available as bilingual editions, with English and another language side by side. They can be a thoughtful gift from grandparents who want to share the family language. See our Bilingual Editions page for the languages and titles available.