Favorite Christmas Books for Kids

Scan my collection of holiday books and you will quickly discover that the biggest section is Christmas books. I think it might be over 30 books.  Just like the magical season, I find Christmas books to echo that wonder and excitement too.  I just can’t help adding to the stack each year.

There are so many beautiful books to celebrate the season, but I’ve narrowed down some of my favorites for you.

Christmas Books for Kids

Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.  Some of the books were provided to me for review. As always, all opinions are my own.

SHOP ALL THE CHRISTMAS BOOKS FAVORITES HERE

Christmas Board Books

There are so many great choices when it comes to books for babies and toddlers that we gave them their own list.  See the Christmas Books for Toddlers HERE.

Best Christmas Picture Books

The book that brings back the most memories for me is The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia M. Scarry.  You know the one where you scratch the stickers and then stick your nose in the book to smell hot chocolate, pine, and oranges!  Ah…memories.

My next pick is my-all-time favorite, Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry.  A too-tall tree is trimmed and the excess discarded.  But the topper becomes a tree for another creature and then another and then another.

I’m a big Mother Bruce fan.  The illustrations are stunning and the humor is perfect for young and old readers.  Check out Santa Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins.  It was bad enough Bruce was mistaken for a mother, but now Santa!

Santa is feeling old and dreams of being younger in Santa Baby by Jonathan Stutzman. His wish to become young again goes a little too far and he turns into a baby.  Will Christmas have to be canceled?  Turns out he just needs a little reminder to find that Christmas spirit.  This is a fun read-aloud and a good pick if you are looking for a recently published book to add to your collection. (New 2020 Pick)

The Christmas Story by Robert Sabuda is a gorgeous pop-up book showcasing the true reason for Christmas.  It’s the most stunning one on this list.

The Great Spruce by John Duvall has Christmas spirit with a dash of environmentalism.  Learn about living trees and how we can enjoy the beauty of Christmas trees and still keep them alive for many more years.  In the author’s notes, we learn that for a few years the tree in Rockefeller Center was a living tree.

The next two books turn up that joyful Christmas spirit.

First up is I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison.  Walk through the streets during the Christmas season and the sights and sounds can only fill you with spirit from the “jingle jingle” of the red kettlebell to the “fa la la” of Christmas carolers.

Keep the joy alive with Todd Parr’s The Joyful Book.  Bright bold reminders that joy is about spending time together, cooking together, decorating together and so much more.  And, this one highlights other winter holiday celebrations such at the Chinese New Year and Kwanzaa. (New 2020 Pick)

Matti and the gingerbread baby are headed to the Christmas Festival in The Gingerbread Christmasby Jan Brett. Studying the side illustrations is always one of the most enjoyable parts of Brett’s books.

Are you a fan of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin?  There is a new Christmas adventure starring Duck. In Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! Farmer Brown is prepping the house for a visit from Santa.  All of a sudden he hears something on the rooftop.  Could it be Santa?  Or, could it be Duck?

The Night Before Christmas is a classic poem that has been illustrated by Loren Long.  Yes, Loren Long of the Otis books.  In fact, don’t miss An Otis Christmas. (New 2020 Pick)

The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas by Laura Murray starts with all kids in class making gifts for workers in the community.  The Gingerbread Man knows exactly who he wants to give a thank you note.  They travel through town meeting different community workers.  Finally, the Gingerbread Man finds the baker that made him.  And, she has a little surprise for him too.

Mouse’s Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corderoy is the story of a little mouse who helps out the big guy on Christmas Eve. Taking excerpts from the traditional poem, Corderoy crafts another sub story of a little mouse who makes a wish for a friend. Mouse helps Santa who in turn helps Mouse find that friend he has been wanting. (New 2020 Pick)

How to Catch Santa by Jean Reagan is a fun book detailing all things you need to do to catch Santa.  Leave Santa a trail to the cookies that lead to your room is just one of the tips.  My kids giggled all the way through this one.  But, I also knew they were taking notes.

Do you remember The Jolly Postman book and The Jolly Christmas Postman where you got to pull out individual cards and letters to read? They were little hidden treasures.  Well, check out Santa Post by Emma Yarlett.  Santa has received a letter with a request but he can’t figure out what the writer wants.  Can anyone at the North Pole help? (New 2020 Pick)

And, for another fun book that lets you take things out of envelopes, check out Maisy’s Christmas Party by Lucy Cousins.

Maybe I like this one so much since I’ve been to New York City at Christmas time.  It is truly magical.  And, Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares captures that feel with a gorgeously illustrated and sweet story about two cardinals finding each other.

I love Karma Wilson’s series of Bear books and Bear Stays Up for Christmas  is such a lovable read.  Bears hibernate for the winter but can Bear stay up for Christmas this year?  Read to find out.

I’m ending with a heart warmer. A Homemade Together Christmas by Maryann Cocca-Leffler is a heart-warming book about the best gifts are those that come from the heart.

Printable Christmas Book Cheer

Grab a printable list of the books above.

And, here is one more free printable for you to remind everyone in your life to read this holiday season.

To remind yourself to read a lot this holiday season, I created this printable poster.  Just click the link below to download it.  The great clip art on the poster is from Whimsy Clips.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE POSTER

Oh my, our Christmas book stack is about to grow.  Enjoy adding to your Christmas reading list too.

RELATED CHRISTMAS THEMED POSTS

How to Create an Advent Book Calendar

Gifts to Give for Every Book Lover on Your List

*This post was first published 11/9/15 and updated in 2016 and 2020.