One of my favorite Christmas traditions is reading a different Christmas picture book every night. My husband and I wrap up all our books a few days before December starts and put them under the tree, and then our kids take turns picking what they want to open.
After Christmas, all the books go back into the Christmas decoration box, so it makes it extra special to pull them out just once a year. Each year, I’ve been weeding out some of the more childish ones as my kids get older (Pete the Cat Saves Christmas didn’t make it, for example), and of course there are always some new books I love.
Whether you want to do a Christmas picture book advent or just want some great books to read with your children this season, I hope you find this list helpful! Here are 24 Christmas books to check out.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. It’s a classic for a reason, and last I checked, it was only $9 for a sparkly hardcover on Amazon. My whole family loves this one and the classic cartoon.
When Santa Was a Baby by Linda Bailey. This cute book about what Santa was like as a kid (and how he ended up becoming Santa) has darling illustrations and a sweet story.
I Spy: Christmas by Walter Wick. What kid doesn’t like to find hidden pictures? This holiday-themed I Spy book is really fun to look at and has the most detailed photographs. It’s also the only I Spy book we own (why, I don’t know), so it’s extra-special when we pull it out for Christmas.
The Christmas Train by Thomas S. Monson. A retold story from my church’s former president, this sweet tale about a boy who is reluctant to share with another boy in need has become a favorite in our home. My son loves trains, so he particularly likes the illustrations of the electric train.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. The illustrations make this story absolutely magical. I always hoped that a train would come pick me up as a child on Christmas Eve, and jingle bells remind me of this beautiful book. Also, we always skip the movie. Tom Hanks’ multiple characters were a bit too kooky for me.
Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares. I seriously stopped in my tracks when I read this gorgeous book for the first time. It’s about two birds who end up finding each other again after their tree is cut down to be used as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City. The illustrations are stunning.
The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert. My dad served a mission for our church in Norway 40 years ago, and my family has long had an appreciation for Nordic culture and Christmas traditions. This story is told through amazing photographs of a little girl and her reindeer and always makes me want to live in Norway.
A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas by Philip Yates. A friend recommended this book last year, and I immediately bought it after we checked it out from the library. It is SO GOOD. The rhyming text is spot-on, and you’ll love seeing what the pirates hope Santa will bring them for Christmas. Bonus: You have to read this in a pirate voice. The text just begs it.
The 12 Sleighs of Christmas by Sherri Duskey Rinker. If you have a vehicle-lover in your home, you’ll love this book by the author of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. Santa’s sleigh is broken, so his elves come up with lots of different designs for a new sleigh. My son adores this book.
Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht. I love this cute book about a family that picks out their Christmas tree together and then decorates it. The rhyming text is fun, and the illustrations are just beautiful. This author and illustrator also collaborated on my new favorite Halloween book, Pick a Pumpkin.
The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear by Stan and Jan Berenstain. I grew up reading this one and still love it. Sister Bear is concerned about how Santa Bear will get down their chimney and how many gifts she should ask for. In the end, she learns that Christmas is about giving, not receiving.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry . This is one of my favorites! When the Christmas tree is too tall for Mr. Willowby’s home, the butler chops it off and a bunch of people and animals keep chopping off the top of the tree to make it fit in their own homes. It’s a classic you’ll want to own.
Santa Claus: The World’s Number One Toy Expert by Marla Frazee. I absolutely adore Marla Frazee’s illustrations, and this book is darling. It explains how Santa picks out toys for all the kids and delivers them. Such a sweet book!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski. If you have small children (probably younger than 4), you may want to wait to read this one to them, since it requires a longer attention span. It’s about a gruff carpenter who makes friends with a widow and her young son and begins carving a nativity for them. The pictures are beautiful, and the story is such a great reminder about why we celebrate Christmas.
Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker. Clearly we are big fans of this author, since this is the second book by her on the list. My son just loves all things tractors and trucks, and the rhyming text and fun illustrations make this a great one. All of the trucks and tractors work together to build a new home for the fire engines before Christmas.
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney. I love all of the Llama Llama books, but this one is such a great way to talk to kids about having patience while they wait for Christmas to come — and a gentle reminder to parents that the holidays can be overwhelming for little ones.
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by P.J. Lynch. You can find a bunch of different versions of this classic poem, but I immediately bought this one from our local bookstore when I saw that P.J. Lynch illustrated it. He also illustrated The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey listed above, and I love his work.
The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen. We LOVE all of Nicola Killen’s animal friend books (we also have her Easter and Halloween stories), and this one has beautiful illustrations and a cute story about finding a lost reindeer in the woods. Bonus: The pages have foil, and there are cut-outs!
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner. I wish snowmen really did come alive and have parties at night the way they do in this book (and the other ones in the series). The illustrations make it look so fun!
The Berenstain Bears’ Christmas Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain. There is actually an updated version of this book that apparently isn’t as good as the original, so make sure you buy/check out the one published in 1980. In this story, Papa and the cubs go out to find the perfect Christmas tree in the woods, even though Mama suggested they just get a tree from the nearby lot. It ends up snowing and they come back empty-handed, only to find that there are no Christmas trees left. Luckily, all the woodland creatures have banded together and decorated their treehouse for Christmas to say thank you for not cutting down the trees where they live.
The Princess and the Christmas Rescue by Caryl Hart. All of Caryl Hart’s books are cute, and I love the message of friendship and acceptance in this one. Princess Eliza is bored all alone in her castle, and then she stumbles upon the elves, who are backed up and not going to get the Christmas gifts out in time. She figures out faster ways of making the toys and makes a bunch of new friends in the process.
The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus. This is an off-beat Christmas book about how Santa and a boy named Harold stop believing the other exists. On Christmas morning, however, they both get the surprise of their lives. This story is so funny and charming at the same time!
Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne. If you want a peaceful book that reminds you of Christ’s birth, this is it. Lara Hawthorne’s gorgeous illustrations perfectly complement the lyrics from the hymn “Silent Night,” and you’ll finish this book with more appreciation for Mary and Joseph. I just discovered Lara Hawthorne also illustrated Twelve Days of Christmas. I’m adding that to our collection.
The Nutcracker illustrated by Valeria Docampo. I wanted a whimsical, pretty version of this classic story for my little kids, and this one fits the bill. My daughter and I have begun going to the Nutcracker ballet each year, too, so I love to read this before we go.
Your turn! What are your favorite Christmas books? Do you do a Christmas picture book advent?
Have you read Merry Christmas Mr. Mouse? It’s the same author as Snowmen at Night and I love it. Also You Are My Merry is so cute and makes me a little testy eyed every time I read it. I love doing the Christmas advent with books. It’s something my kids look forward to every year! Thanks for the list. I’ll have to check some of these out!
Somehow I just got this comment! We did read “Merry Christmas, Mr. Mouse” last year, although I could never find “You Are My Merry.” I need to look for it again!