35 Christmas Books for Kids
These Christmas books for kids will light the magic of the holiday season in just about anyone. Snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate and a few of these wonderful stories to share the love, tradition, wonder, and spirit of Christmas. Share holiday classics such as The Night Before Christmas and enjoy new favorites like Little Blue Truck Christmas from this list of best Christmas books.
Favorite Christmas Books for Kids
If you are in need of a Christmas gift idea, gather a few of your favorite Christmas books for kids, place them in a basket, along with some hot cocoa mix and candy canes for a unique gift idea. All of these books will become a gift you can open again and again. Oh, and don’t forget about those stockings! Any of these books would be great as stocking stuffers.
You’ll want to include these printable Polar Express tickets to add to the fun and magic of reading these Christmas classics.
Christmas is our favorite time of the year. We love making crafts together like this Reindeer Mason Jar Christmas Craft or this Poinsettia Wreath Christmas Ornament. We enjoy Christmas stories and have made reading our favorite children’s Christmas books part of our annual tradition. Although many are geared for preschool and kindergarten, these holiday books aren’t just for the younger kids. The whole family can enjoy them together. There are always lessons for everyone in a great book!
These classic Christmas books are also a great way to encourage young readers to try a new book with a little holiday spirit! I’m all about following interests to encourage a love of reading and learning. And what better way to do that than with the beautiful illustrations in these picture books that your little learners will love?
I love book lists and I love Christmas, so this Christmas books list is a perfect combination of favorite things!
Our Christmas Books List
Everyone knows author Eric Carle from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but did you know he wrote a Christmas story? It’s called Dream Snow and it’s a lift the flap book picture book that will make a great addition to your Christmas book list!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Peekaboo Christmas
Speaking of Eric Carle, he included his beloved very hungry caterpillar in a Christmas book as well! Another fun book full of holiday spirit.
This adorable story from Karma Wilson features Bear and his struggle to stay awake for Christmas. Everyone knows that bears hibernate during the winter, so will he make it? Maybe, with a little help from his friends.
A little boy and his magical snowman. There are no words in this book, but the beautiful illustrations say it all.
Oliver may be the littlest elf in the North Pole, but he has a big desire to discover his very special job in Santa’s workshop! But after getting lost in the toy shop, making a mess at the book shop, and falling in the mixing machine at the bakery, is the littlest elf just too little? Perhaps he just needs the littlest reindeer to remind him what Christmas is all about!
“What if Santa’s lips get chapped?” Stinky Face asks. “What if the sack of toys starts to rip?” As always, Mama lovingly addresses each and every one of her child’s concerns. Of course, Stinky Face leaves Santa lip balm and duct tape . . . just in case.
A sweet little story about a little girl who wants to be one of Santa’s elves. Celebrate the season with this wintry tale that will have readers of all ages believing in the magic of Christmas. This is one to pull out every year and savor all winter long!
When Santa Claus tells the forest animals that he is not looking forward to delivering all those heavy packages, they are worried that there won’t be a Christmas anymore. To help everyone understand that Christmas would still come even if he didn’t, Santa tells the story of the first Christmas, and they all learn a good lesson about the meaning of this special holiday.
The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and Clayton and Desmond feel the chill in the air. The cool weather makes them think of Christmas . . . and Christmas makes them think of Christmas trees! Who’ll find the biggest one?
Who doesn’t love Corduroy the bear? Celebrate the season with Corduroy in this Christmas story that is sure to be a holiday read-aloud favorite.
This charming tale of an overgrown pine always being passed by for Christmas, and what his woodland friends do to help him, is sure to become a Christmas classic.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
What can I say about this Christmas classic from Dr. Seuss, the author of so many great children’s books? Like mistletoe, candy canes, and Christmas carols, the Grinch is a mainstay of the Christmas season, and his story is the perfect gift for readers young and old.
The festive book with amazing illustrations is probably on every list of favorite children’s Christmas books. The Polar Express is a Caldecott Medal winner, and reading the story together is a beloved holiday tradition held by generations of families. (It’s also on our list of best Christmas movies, too.)
A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas
A pirate version of the Night Before Christmas? Yes, it’s true. If you like funny Christmas books, this one’s for you.
This book actually has little twinkle lights to bring some holiday cheer! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Little Blue Truck is spreading cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. Can you help count each green tree from one to five and back again? Don’t forget to save one for Blue!
Can’t you just imagine Santa’s sleigh flying across the night sky on Christmas Eve as you read The Night Before Christmas? This Christmas classic names each of Santa’s reindeer, too. Do you know them all?
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
This is a sweet story for Christmas time! What do the horrible Herdmans learn when they hear the story of baby Jesus for the first time?
Have you ever wondered what Santa Claus did before he was Santa Claus? When Santa was young and needed a job, no one was looking for a man in a red suit to deliver gifts on Christmas. So Santa tried just about everything — from a chimney sweep to a postman to a circus performer. But none of these worked out. It wasn’t until he met a group of elves who helped him use all his special talents, that Santa was able to find his dream job.
In Llama Llama Jingle Bells, little llama and his friends give gifts, sing songs, and decorate cookies. It’s a very merry holiday indeed!
This fun story is a wintry take on Itsy Bitsy Spider. Kids will enjoy the cute illustrations and rhyming verse.
If you have kids, you’re likely familiar with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the series of related books. This is Mouse’s Christmas adventure!
Jan Brett is the author of so many beloved children’s books. This is her Christmas story of Teeka and Santa’s Christmas reindeer.
The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas
Most kids go through a dinosaur-loving phase, so why not get a dinosaur Christmas story? The dinosaur fossils in the museum come to life (and sing, dance, and eat gingerbread) in this rollicking twist on the classic poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Another addition to the Pete the Cat series. In this spin on the traditional tale The Night Before Christmas, Pete the Cat proves that giving your all in the spirit of Christmas is the totally groovy thing to do.
Richard Scarry’s Best Christmas Book Ever!
I have fond memories of all the Richard Scarry books, both from my own childhood and my daughters’. Christmas is coming — and where better to celebrate than in Busytown with Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, and all the lovable characters there?
Another classic by Jan Brett. I remember this one when I was a little girl, too. Enjoy the beautiful illustrations and cute and comical story of the mitten when it is dropped in the snow.
This one is lots of fun! The Jolly Postman brings a batch of wonderful letters for Christmas, including notes from the Big Bad Wolf and all the King’s men. Open this book, take out the letters, and discover what favorite characters would write to each other–and reimagine best-loved tales together.
Kids will giggle (and learn a lesson) along with the antics of Bad Kitty in this Christmas story in the series of Bad Kitty books.
The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree
This is a heartwarming story that begins in the Depression-era, but comes full circle when Henry, the main character, grows up. This modern classic Christmas story teaches children the spirit of the season by bringing together two great New York City traditions: the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and the neighbor-helping-neighbor program of Habitat for Humanity.
Legend of the Christmas Stocking
This is just one of the books in the Legends series from Zonderkidz, which I highly recommend. This one looks at the tradition of Christmas stockings and St. Nicholas.
The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet
The Nutcracker is a must-read story at Christmastime! My daughters love the beautiful illustrations in this version. Featuring glorious illustrations by Caldecott Honor-winner, Diane Goode, this beautiful and adventurous classic tale will dance its way into your family’s holiday traditions for years to come.
After waiting for days and days and days, it’s finally Christmas Eve. And that’s when you can try to catch Santa. . . . but only if you know the right tricks! Fun to read aloud with the kids.
Teach your kids about Christmas traditions in other countries with this book. From Ethiopian fringed umbrellas and star-shaped Filipino parol lanterns to candlelit Swedish St. Lucia crowns, Christmas Around the World brings together Christmas traditions from twelve different lands, like decorations on a splendid tree.
This book features the well-loved turtle character, Franklin. In this Franklin Classic Storybook, Franklin can’t decide what to donate to his school’s Christmas toy drive. At first, all of his toys seem too special to give away, then nothing seems special enough. With some inspiration from his Great Aunt Harriet, Franklin finally comes up with the perfect gift.
Ellis the Elephant is back! In Christmas in America, the fifth in Callista Gingrich’s New York Times bestselling series, Ellis discovers the meaning of Christmas and learns how this special holiday has been celebrated throughout American history.
This tried and true picture book has been a favorite for years! Christmas is here and Mr. Willowby’s tree has arrived. There’s just one big problem: The tree is too tall for his parlor! He cuts off the top so it will fit, and soon the top of that tree is passed along again and again to bring holiday cheer to all the animals in the forest.
Did your favorite Christmas books for kids make our list? Share with us in the comments!
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