You know it's time. The jack-o'-lanterns have started to rot on the porch (we should probably throw those out), the fake spiderwebs are getting a little too real, and Mariah Carey has fully thawed.

Hopefully, we made our way through our Fall TBR lists because it is time to focus on our Winter/Christmas reads.

As fall fades into memory, we find ourselves reaching for heartwarming tales and winter adventures with a cup of hot cocoa near a cozy fire instead. And for those of us celebrating the Holy Season of Christmas, books that keep our hearts centered on Christ find their way to our coffee table.

My favorite book of all time is the childhood classic, The Polar Express. I have an original from the '80s and loved reading it to my own children every year.

As we transition from the excitement of fall to the wonder of winter, let's fill our homes with stories that capture the beauty of this season. Here are some TBR winter/Christmas reads for kids of all ages.

Ages 3-5

1. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats - A timeless story of a little boy's adventures in freshly fallen snow, capturing the magic of a winter day.
2. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen - A quiet, beautiful story about a father and child going owling on a winter night under the full moon.
3. The Mitten by Jan Brett - A Ukrainian folktale about a lost mitten that becomes a cozy home for woodland animals.
4. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg - A magical Christmas Eve journey to the North Pole that captures the wonder of belief and winter enchantment.
5. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost (illustrated by Susan Jeffers) - The beloved poem brought to life with gorgeous winter illustrations.
6. Red Sled by Lita Judge - A wordless picture book following a bear cub's nighttime sledding adventure with forest friends.
7. The Hat by Jan Brett - A delightful winter tale about a hedgehog who finds a warm woolen stocking and the animals who laugh at his new "hat."
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss - The classic tale of the Grinch's heart growing three sizes on Christmas Day.
9. Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell - A retelling of the nativity from the animals' perspective in the stable.
10. Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones - This Christmas picture book about Jesus' birth has Sally Lloyd-Jones' signature writing style. Song of the Stars shows the whole earth getting ready for the new baby king. The story centers around animals anticipating Jesus' arrival

Ages 6-9

1. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater - A charming story about a house painter who receives a penguin as a gift, leading to hilarious winter adventures.
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - Step into Narnia where it's always winter but never Christmas, until four children arrive to break the spell.
3. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner - A heartwarming and emotional story about a boy, his dog, and a dogsled race to save his grandfather's farm.
4. The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill - Set in an Alaskan village, this story of an unconventional teacher captures winter life in a remote community.
5. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder - Cozy winter evenings, snow days, and family togetherness in the Wisconsin woods.
6. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson - A hilarious story about the terrible Herdman kids taking over the church Christmas pageant.
7. The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle (Author of A Wrinkle in Time)- An Advent story following a family's daily Christmas preparations with religious themes woven throughout.
8. The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado - A touching story about a lamb with a wounded leg who finds his purpose on the night Jesus is born.
9. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg - A story connecting the candy cane's symbolism to the Christmas story.
10. The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola - A beautiful retelling of the Mexican legend about a young girl named Lucinda who has no gift for Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.
11. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston - Set during WWI, Ruthie and her mother must honor their promise to provide the village Christmas tree while her father is away at war.

Ages 10+

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - The full, unabridged classic tale of redemption, ghosts, and the true spirit of Christmas.
2. Greenglass House by Kate Milford - A cozy winter mystery set at Christmas at a smuggler's inn where 12-year-old Milo expects a quiet holiday but instead finds the inn filling with mysterious guests.
3. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George - A survival story set in the Alaskan wilderness where a girl finds family among a wolf pack.
4. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen - Though it begins in summer, the sequel Brian's Winter explores survival through a harsh Canadian winter.
5. A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig - A heartwarming origin story of Father Christmas that's perfect for this age group. (Some kids may find content upsetting)
6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Opening on Christmas during the Civil War, this beloved story of the March sisters is perfect for winter reading.
7. Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies - A classic story about faith, hope, and believing, as a man claiming to be the real Santa Claus goes on trial to prove his identity.
8. A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene - Nancy solves mysteries at a Montana ski resort during Christmas break when sabotage threatens to ruin the holiday season.
9. Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John (original version 1948/50-not 1999) - Set in Switzerland at Christmas, this powerful story explores forgiveness, repentance, and Christian faith as Annette struggles with hatred after a tragic accident involving her little brother.