25 Christmas Books for Kids
Did you have a favorite Christmas book when you were a kid? I could recite the Night Before Christmas from memory before I could read. Even if you aren’t that passionate about it, there are plenty of great options for Christmas themed books. I’ve rounded up 25 Christmas books - plus a few bonus activity and classics - that can be gifted individually, given as a set, or choose 25 and read one a night during the month of December. Do you have a favorite that is missing from this list? Share it in the comments below!
An absolute Christmas classic.
Follow along with Llama and Mama as they prepare for Christmas.
3. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad
Join Little Critter as he makes wreaths, eat gingerbread cookies, or puts the star on the top of the tree.
4. Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas
A fun take on the traditional 12 Days of Christmas song.
5. Pete the Cat Saves Christmas
A Pete the Cat spin on the Night Before Christmas that proves giving your all in the spirit of Christmas is the totally groovy thing to do.
6. The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits
This charming and funny Christmas story of a grumpy tomte (a Yule gnome) and the hopeful little rabbits is told over twenty-five chapters -- one for each day of Advent -- with delightful festive illustrations.
The beloved classic holiday film The Muppet Christmas Carol comes to life in this illustrated storybook.
8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Follows the shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world” as they take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious and heartwarming tale.
9. The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving
Discover how Christmas is more than receiving gifts when reading about Brother and Sister Bear at the Christmas Eve pageant.
The Christmas version of the popular The Crayons stories. This book includes letters, games, ornaments, a poster, and even a pop-up Christmas tree.
11. Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
The Little Blue Truck spreads holiday cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his friends.
12. Pick a Pine Tree
Explore the magic of traditions that families and friends take part in every year, including hanging up stockings, putting lights in the windows, and, picking out and taking home the Christmas tree.
13. Dasher
The story of a brave little doe who leaves a traveling circus and meets Santa and changes Christmas forever.
14. A World of Cookies for Santa
Travel across the globe to see different treats that await Santa on Christmas Eve.
15. Grandma’s Gift
Eric spends a Christmas holiday with his grandmother where they visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He sees a painting by Diego Velasquez and realizes that he could be an artist when he grows up. Grandma gives Eric a set of paints to use. It would be perfect for gift a paint set with this book.
This story follows a two-dad family, their child, and the retired Fire Chief Grandma as they save Christmas for a family in need. It teaches that even when things don't go your way, the spirit of the holiday season allows magical moments and adventures.
17. Welcome Comfort
Welcome Comfort is a foster child who is moved from home to home and gets picked on by other kids at school. When Christmas comes around, Welcome is taken on an extraordinary adventure that changes his life forever.
A family’s dilemma becomes a community celebration. Written by Sonia Manzano, who is “Maria” on Sesame Street.
19. ‘Twas Nochebuena
Follow a family as they prepare to host Christmas Eve filled with laughter, love, and Latino tradition.
A little mouse who sleeps in a hammock scurries around the house at night doing good deeds to prepare for Christmas.
21. I Got the Christmas Spirit
Written in the same style as I Got the Rhythm, this book explores the joys of the holiday season.
Set in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, this story is a jazz-inspired reinvention of The Nutcracker.
Grace loves celebrating Christmas and has mixed feelings when she find out a friend of her mother's and her daughter are coming to spend Christmas at their house. After a difficult beginning, Grace becomes close friends with the visitor.
24. Red and Lulu
Red and Lulu, a pair of cardinals living year-round in a big beautiful evergreen tree are separated when the tree they live in is cut down and hauled away with Lulu in it. Red searches for Lulu and a happy ending.
25. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How big will your heart grow this holiday season? Read this classic before watching the cartoon or movie this winter.
Bonus: for Elementary Grade Kids
Junie B. Jones, Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!
Junie B. finds the holiday spirit in this story.
Bonus: Christmas Activity Books
Additional Classic Christmas Books
Including a few Christmas classics is always fun! If you are creating an Advent Calendar of 25 books, you may already own some of the suggestions above and can add in some of these childhood favorites.
