Families who loved Angels, Arguments and a Furry, Merry Christmas by Karen McCombie often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent might reach for this book when the idyllic image of a perfect family Christmas is clashing with the noisy, messy reality of sibling squabbles and holiday stress. This story follows Angel, who is dreading the holidays because her family does nothing but argue. Between her sister's new boyfriend, her chaotic younger siblings, and a disastrous nativity play, Christmas seems doomed. But when a sweet stray dog appears, the family finds a common focus, learning to find joy and love amidst their perfectly imperfect holiday. It's a humorous and reassuring read for kids 8-12 that normalizes the friction of family life and shows that love underlies the bickering. It's a great choice to lighten the mood and foster empathy during a potentially stressful time of year.
