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Abigail and the Christmas Contest
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Abigail and the Christmas Contest

Cousins + snow + a big shiny trophy = Christmas chaos!

By Bethany McIlrath, illustrated by Katie Saunders
from 8 reviews

Fun, absorbing novel that helps kids aged 7+ to engage with the Bible as they learn that Jesus brings joy that lasts forever.

Part of the Abigail series.

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Description

It's going to be the best Christmas ever. Abigail's cousin is visiting, plus there's snow, presents, and a new puppy to play with. Best of all, Abigail has a plan for an amazing Christmas contest, which she aims to win!

But when the cousins come together, it isn't long before jealousy threatens to steal Abigail's joy.

Join the Christmas chaos as 9-year-old Abigail learns that the joy that Jesus brings is the kind of joy that can never be taken away, and see the good news of the Nativity story come alive in her life!

This fun, exciting novel is the fourth in the Abigail series. It can also be read as a standalone book.

Includes book-club kit with questions for discussion.

Visit the Abigail series website for free downloads, worksheets from the book, games, and more!

About the series
This fictional series for ages 7 and up follows the adventures of 9-year-old Abigail as she figures out what faith means for her everyday life. Young readers are inspired to read the Bible, talk to God, and apply what they believe to their own lives. Free extras are available at abigailseries.com.
Product details

Contents

    1. The Best Christmas Ever
    2. Jesus Brings Joy
    3. Surprise!
    4. Candy-Cane Fishing
    5. Henry Makes a Mess
    6. The Christmas Village
    7. All the Lights
    8. Uncle Thomas's Surprise
    9. Gingerbread Hunt
    10. The Invisible Scoreboard
    11. Presents at Last
    12. I'm Jealous
    13. The Contest Continues
    14. This Game Is Hard
    15. Spread the Word
    16. Treasure
    17. Contest Complete
    18. J.O.Y.
    19. Candlelight
    20. Trophy Time

    Book-Club Questions

Specification

Age range: 7+
Contributors Bethany McIlrath, Katie Saunders
ISBN 9781802543179
Format Paperback
First published November 2025
Dimensions 5.1" x 7.8" x 0.6"
Weight 8.22 oz
Language English
Pages 208
Publisher The Good Book Company
Endorsements

Amanda Cleary Eastep

Author, Tree Street Kids series

Abigail is back, and that will make young readers and their families very happy! That’s because Bethany McIlrath’s entire series also makes kids feel as if they are part of Abigail’s story. Plus, these fun, cheerful, and meaningful books help kids become more deeply aware of the grander story God is writing in their own lives.

Chris Ammen

Founder, Kaleidoscope Kids’ Bibles; Author, Raising Disciples at Home

This latest Abigail adventure is a treat and a treasure! Bethany is a master at helping young children think about their emotions and how they relate to others through the lens of God’s kindness. Your kids will find Abigail and the Christmas Contest relatable, easy-to-read, full of wisdom, and best of all—centered on the grace of God.


Laura Wifler

Cofounder, Risen Motherhood

Bethany has created a delightful series that helps young readers connect their faith with their everyday life. Abigail’s adventures are fun and relatable, delivering valuable lessons for all kids and making this series a great one to add to your bookshelf.

See more endorsements
Customer reviews


April 8, 2026

“Helps children (and adults) to know the joy of Jesus leaves no room for jealousy.”

In this installment of the Abigail series, she struggles with something familiar to kids and adults alike - jealousy! A few missed expectations and comparisons quickly throw things off course for young Abigail. She wrestles with the truth of Scripture from the nativity story during nightly advent readings and how it applies to her life. As a parent, I greatly appreciate the parental guidance in this series. Abigail’s parents are a constant source of gospel truths and consistently point her to Christ in the midst of whatever she’s dealing with. This is another wonderfully relatable book for kids and parents.

The Abigail series by @bethanymcilrath has quickly found its place in our hearts and a permanent spot on my Abigail’s bookshelf. She loves that the character has the same name and is the same age (well technically our Abby is a year older now 😭) and is a Christian - just like her! As a mom, I am thrilled to see this series growing as it takes common circumstances amongst kids, like comparison and jealousy, and filters it with Scripture to anchor us to Jesus. My Abigail feels like reading these books is like reading about a friend she knows and can relate to. What could be better than that?

I received a complimentary copy as a reviewer and all opinions shared are my own.

Thank you so much for sharing your review, Mallory! We're so glad to hear that you and your Abigail have been enjoying this series!


Feb. 7, 2026

“A Thoughtful Story About What Truly Matters”

Abigail and the Christmas Contest is a charming and meaningful Christmas story that gently redirects children’s hearts toward the true meaning of the season. Through Abigail’s desire to win a Christmas contest, the story explores themes of comparison, motivation, and the temptation to focus on outward success rather than inward character. The narrative is engaging and relatable, especially for children who naturally want to do well, be noticed, or “win.”

What makes this book stand out is how thoughtfully it handles these themes. Rather than simply correcting behavior, the story invites reflection and growth. Abigail’s journey helps children see that Christmas is not about being the best, the most impressive, or the most celebrated, but about love, humility, and honoring God. The message is clear without feeling heavy-handed, making it accessible and impactful for young readers.

The storytelling flows naturally, and the illustrations add warmth and charm, reinforcing the emotional heart of the book. Each page supports the message that God cares more about our hearts than our performance—a truth that feels especially important during a season often filled with pressure and comparison.

Abigail and the Christmas Contest is a beautiful reminder of why Christmas matters. It offers families a meaningful way to talk about motives, gratitude, and the joy of celebrating Christ. This book is well suited for Christmas read-alouds, family discussions, and helping children refocus on what makes the season truly special.


Jan. 12, 2026

“Sweet, Encouraging, and Relatable for Young Girls”

This beloved series is a favorite in our home, and Abigail and the Christmas Contest is another wonderful addition from Bethany McIlrath, paired once again with Katie Saunders’ charming illustrations.

What I love most about Abigail, as a parent, is just how relatable she is. Her emotions are ones so many young girls experience, and as readers walk alongside her through Christmas contests, family dynamics, and big holiday moments, they also get to see something meaningful modeled—parents who gently offer wisdom, and a child who prays and talks honestly with Jesus.

This series consistently points young hearts to Christ and shares the gospel in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. I especially appreciate the discussion questions at the end of the book, along with the additional activities available online, which invite kids to keep engaging with the story long after the last page.

We loved this Christmas installment—hearing the Nativity story woven into Abigail’s world and watching her work through big emotions during a big holiday was both sweet and encouraging.

✨ Recommended for ages 7+
✨ Can be read as a standalone
✨ Great for families, homeschoolers, and church libraries
✨ Content note: one brief mention of eye-rolling

This is a joyful, faith-filled middle-grade read and a lovely option for read-aloud time, whether it’s Christmas season or not.


Dec. 18, 2025

“My Daughter Loves Abigail”

My daughter loves this series & this book will be under the tree for her this Christmas. I love that I can hand her a book, confidently knowing that it's coming from a Christian worldview. We read lots of books together, but these are great for independent reading.


Dec. 4, 2025

“Abigail is the 'Book Friend' we all want for our daughters!”

Books & stories are formative, and the characters we read become our friends and have influence in our lives in powerful ways. So as the mother of a young daughter who is a voracious reader, I am careful about the influences I allow in her life through the form of book friends. For that reason, I am so thankful for the Abigail series! Abigail is a 9-year-old girl who isn’t perfect, but (along with the biblical guidance from her loving parents) is seeking to grow up in the grace of Jesus. Every story in the series shows Abigail trying, failing, but realizing the truth of the Gospel and the power it holds in her life. This story specifically portrays a comparison/jealously struggle that is very common for young girls, but how through Scripture, wise counsel, and the indwelling Spirit, Christ gives us joy that can never be stolen.

This is a wonderful chapter book for girls 7-12 years old! We did it as a read-aloud, but I think the writing style is stronger as an independently read book. My 6-year-old daughter has read the whole series, and Abigail is definitely one of her favorite book characters. This Christmas installment is the fourth in the series, but it can certainly be enjoyed as a stand-alone…which will leave your daughters wanting to go back for more!

Thank you to @goodbookcompanyusa for a complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Nov. 29, 2025

“Relatable and edifying”

Abigail is struggling with “ugly, icky, eat-you-up-inside and steal-all-your-joy jealously,” in this newest addition to the Abigail series.

Abigail is so excited that her cousin Evangeline is visiting for Christmas! She makes big plans for a Christmas Cousin Contest and is determined to win. However, once the contest is underway, Abigail is surprised to find her joy slowly fading, and in its place she discovers jealously.

What Abigail will ultimately learn is that jealousy steals our joy. “It makes us miss out on happy things.” It makes “us feel like someone else has everything we want.”
Abigail realizes that the only way to overcome jealousy is to remember that “Jesus brings us joy that lasts forever.” God has given us a gift that no one can take away, and if you stay focused on that, it’ll be hard to be jealous of anyone.

This is another fantastic addition to the Abigail series. Young girls will find Abigail relatable and will be able to apply these stories to everyday life. Jealously can be a hard emotion to overcome and this book provides a blueprint on how to stay focused on Jesus. I appreciated and enjoyed the emphasis on prayer and scripture. We must ask God for help and remember His great love for us. Going through Abigail’s Advent devotional with her and including large sections of scripture were nice additions as well.

There are questions included at the end of the book as well as a chapter from the next Abigail book! We can’t wait. Abigail is one of our favorites and we highly recommend adding the whole series to your home libraries.

*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


Nov. 20, 2025

“Great Chapter Book for Young Girls”

Another great book in this series! I love the Abigail series, I feel like it meets a great need amongst Christian kids books. I get asked all the time as book loving mom about wholesome chapter books with Christian themes for young girls and I am so glad to recommend this series every time. In this one, Abigail is hoping for the perfect Christmas, but when jealousy sneaks in, she has to figure out what real joy looks like. It is a sweet, relatable story that helps children learn how to handle big feelings, love others well, and remember that the joy Jesus gives is lasting. It would be a good independent read for ages 7+, or as a l family read aloud.


Oct. 31, 2025

“A Great, Relatable Story”

This new installment in the Abigail series has a seasonal focus, but it can appeal all year round. The engaging story follows Abigail as she prepares for her relatives to visit, enjoys traditions with her family, and plays a series of games with her younger cousin and toddler brother. Abigail loves creating things and planning activities, but this Christmas competition ratchets up the tension for her. She is tired of her younger cousin comparing herself to Abigail all the time, so she really wants to win. Abigail doesn't want to admit that she feels jealous, especially since she's three years older, but her parents help her work through her feelings. In the end, she learns an important lesson about finding joy in Jesus, regardless of her circumstances.

The story flows well and is entertaining. The illustrations from Katie Saunders add lots of fun energy throughout, and Bethany McIlrath's writing reflects a nine-year-old's perspective on life in a really honest, relatable way. You can really feel Abigail's mounting frustration with her cousin and little brother, even when she isn't handling it well. Because McIlrath sets up Abigail's struggles in such an authentic way, the life lessons fit into the story naturally and feel believable.

"Abigail and the Christmas Contest" is a fast-paced, relatable story that will appeal to kids and adults. This would make a great family read-aloud around the holidays, and it even has discussion questions in the back. Christian parents will appreciate how natural the faith-based elements feel, especially with Abigail learning things from her family's Advent devotions, and kids will relate to Abigail's struggles and enjoy the festive fun and humor. Readers should also note that if they would like to play Christmas games like the ones Abigail planned for her family, they can find instructions on the publisher's website.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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Abigail and the Christmas Contest | Bethany McIlrath, Katie Saunders |
$12.99 $10.99