30+ Kids Christmas Books

There are so many great holiday traditions this time of year. Once Halloween is over, I am totally team “decorate before Thanksgiving” — especially since one of my daughters loves having the home decorated for her birthday. This also means our favorite tunes are blasting, classic Christmas movies are on repeat, and all our Christmas stories for kids are out of storage.

My kids are avid readers, so their Christmas book collection is something they really treasure — especially since we don’t keep the books out year-round. In this post you’ll find my favorite Christmas books for kids that we love to read every year, plus ideas for creating your own collection.

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The Best Christmas Books for Kids by Age 

If you need the best Christmas books fast, start here.

Best Christmas Book for Babies: Dream Snow

Best Classic Christmas Book for Kids: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 

Best Interactive Holiday Book: The Crayons’ Christmas

Best Christmas Books for Tweens: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Best Christmas Tradition Book: The Night Before Christmas

How to Build Your Collection of Christmas Books for Kids

Building your own collection of beloved Christmas books for your kids is a magical way to celebrate the season and create memories that will last a lifetime. Each story becomes more than just a book—it’s a keepsake, a tradition, and a reminder of cozy nights spent together during the holidays. 

If reading seasonal books is part of your family’s holiday traditions (or will be), here are some tips for building your own collection.

• Start with classic Christmas books. There are so many good ones, so I’ll just share a few of my favorites. Picture books like The Polar Express are perfect for younger readers, while stories like How the Grinch Stole Christmas appeal to a wide range of ages. Also, I am not ashamed to admit that I am still nostalgic every time I read The Night Before Christmas. 

• Involve your kids. Let your little ones join in the fun by taking a trip to your favorite bookstore or library and explore the holiday section together. Your kids will love picking out a new title each year! 

• Add books over time. It can be so tempting to buy lots of holiday books! We’ve built our family’s collection slowly over the years with hand-me-down classics from their grandparents and new finds from the local bookstore and library. 

• Do a book exchange. See if your neighbors, friends, or family would like to (temporarily) exchange books for a bit so you can add some new ones to your rotation. You can also offer up any books your kids have outgrown and see if others have books they’d like to gift, too.

• Make holiday books a part of gift-giving. Books are always a great gift to receive. If you’re doing the “5 Gift Rule for Christmas,” a holiday book could be part of the “something to read” category. Another idea is to start a tradition where you gift a holiday book for your kids to open on Christmas Eve.

Ali’s Pro Tip: Don’t forget to write your child’s name and the year inside each book! It’s a sweet way to preserve these special moments and create a lasting connection to the magic of the season.

Christmas Stories for Kids

I love that Christmas books for kids bring the magic of the season to life for all ages (including adults!). They capture the wonder, joy, and anticipation of the holidays in beautifully illustrated pages and heartwarming stories. While there are so many great titles to choose from, here are my personal favorites.

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

Little Blue truck is spreading holiday cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. Babies and toddlers will love counting down from five trees to one. Plus there’s a delightful surprise at the end! Ages 1+ 

Dream Snow

This is a sweet and simple story about a farmer whose dream of a snowy Christmas comes true. It also includes a lift-the-flap section, making it a great addition to your Christmas books for toddlers. Ages 1+

The Snowman

A favorite from my own childhood! This timeless, wordless book captures the wonder of winter and the magic of a child’s imagination. While you can add it to your baby Christmas books, you can also have older kids tell the story. Ages 1+ 

Christmas in the Manger

From the bright star lighting the stable to the baby asleep in the hay, this sweet and simple board book introduces little ones to the story of the very first Christmas. Ages 1+

The Night Before Christmas

A timeless story about Santa, sugarplums, and the magic of Christmas Eve. This oversized book has a vintage feel and includes beautiful illustrations. Ages 1+

Pick a Pine Tree

This story captures the magic and delight of holiday traditions — like picking out and decorating your Christmas tree. Kids will love the rhythmic text and festive scenes, plus it will get them excited for Christmas festivities! Ages 2+  

The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas

Everyone in the class comes up with ways to show their appreciation for different people in their community, and the Gingerbread Man wants to join in! This is a sweet story about kindness, gratitude, and how we can spread holiday cheer to those around us. Ages 2+

Olivia Helps With Christmas

From untangling tree lights to singing carols, this book captures all of the fun (and frustration) of getting ready for Christmas. Readers of all ages will love the sweet and silly moments between Olivia and her family. Ages 2+

Gingerbread Friends

The Gingerbread baby is happy in his home, but he longs for some friends of his own. He ventures out into the cold, but his adventures lead him back home where he finds a wonderful surprise. Ages 2+  

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh

As usual, the persistent pigeon wants to do something he isn’t supposed to do — but this time, there’s a fun holiday twist! If your little ones love reading books by Mo Willems, this story will be a great addition to your Christmas books for kids. Ages 2+ 

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

Bear always hibernates in the winter, but his friends won’t let him sleep through Christmas this year! As they try to keep him busy with fun holiday activities, Bear struggles to keep his eyes open — until he discovers a greater reason to stay awake. Ages 2+ 

Madeline’s Christmas

The Madeline stories always bring me right back to my childhood! Told in the style of “It was the night before Christmas…”, this story combines the realities of everyday life with a little bit of holiday magic. Ages 2+

How to Catch a Reindeer

The “How to Catch” series is always entertaining. This playful holiday book is packed with silly schemes and colorful chaos — all to trap Comet and prove that Santa exists. Ages 3+

The Snow Thief

If you’re looking for cute and funny Christmas stories for kids, this book is perfect. Similar to The Leaf Thief, squirrel learns all about snow from bird — from why there’s “smoke” coming out of his mouth to why the puddle is now slippery. Ages 3+ 

Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas

All of the Fletcher books are such sweet stories — and this one is no exception! When the rabbits move, Fletcher wonders how Santa will find their new home. He comes up with a plan to help, and all of his friends quickly join in. Ages 3+

Grumpy Monkey Oh, No! Christmas

The holidays can bring up all kinds of emotions! Despite his friends’ efforts, Jim is having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. Eventually his grumpy mood turns around with the help of a friend who helps him notice all the good things he’s been missing. Ages 3+ 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This is a classic Dr. Seuss story that teaches kids about the true meaning of Christmas. The rhyming text is engaging for all ages and makes it a fun read-aloud for the whole family. Ages 3+ 

How the Grinch Lost Christmas

The Grinch is back in this charming sequel! But has he really changed? He’s eager to prove it to the Whos by planning to win this year’s Christmas Crown with “the most Christmassy” tree. Ages 3+

Little Red Sleigh

This heartwarming story is about a little sleigh with a big dream of becoming Santa’s sleigh. She decides to go see Santa with the help of some friends and discovers an even better purpose along the way. Ages 3+

The Polar Express

A classic story for all who believe in the spirit of Christmas — and one you’ll enjoy reading every year. This is one of the best Christmas books for kids and adults! Ages 3+

Dasher

My kids were enchanted by this beautifully illustrated story. Dasher is about a brave young doe with a big dream that changed Christmas forever. If your kids have ever wondered how Santa’s team of reindeer came to be, this is the story to read. Ages 3+

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona

Every year, Strega Nona prepares a big Christmas feast for the town. Will she be able to pull it off with only one helper and no magic? I love this story because it illustrates the generosity, kindness, and magic of Christmas time. Ages 3+

Olive, the Other Reindeer

After mistaking the lyric, “All of the other reindeer” for “Olive, the other reindeer,” Olive the dog realizes she must actually be a reindeer! Little readers will love seeing what happens next as Olive ventures to the north pole to be part of Santa’s team. Ages 3+

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving

After Brother and Sister bear spend less on each others’ gifts to save more for themselves, Mama bear is worried they’re more concerned with getting than giving. But after a school play about the very first Christmas, the cubs learn all about the joy of giving back. Ages 3+

The Crayons’ Christmas

This is such a fun one to add to your collection of Christmas stories for kids! Plus it’s interactive. Young readers will love pulling letters out from the envelopes to see how Duncan, the crayons, and their families celebrate the holidays. There are also games, punch-out ornaments, and a poster. Ages 3+

The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker

A must-add to your classic Christmas books! Kids will love this sweet re-telling of the Nutcracker, which includes buttons to push on each scene to hear musical scores from the ballet. Ages 3+

The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear

As the Berenstain Bears go Christmas shopping, Brother and Sister Bear get more excited for all the stuff they want. But they soon realize that the true meaning of Christmas is about giving, not getting. This edition includes stickers, temporary tattoos, and a holiday card game. Ages 3+ 

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree

This is a charming story about one tree spreading holiday cheer to everyone, big and small. I also love the subtle message of how something that seems little and insignificant can seem big and meaningful to someone else. Ages 3+ 

The Christmas Owl

Based on the real owl found inside the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, this is a sweet story about friendship, compassion, and the true meaning of the holiday. Ages 3+ 

Discovering Christmas

This 25-day Advent devotional is a beautiful way to focus on faith and family during the holiday season. My kids love the activities, and I love how it brings us all closer together! Ages 4+

Christmas at Hogwarts

If your family is a big fan of Harry Potter like we are, this is one of the best Christmas books. It’s also a great way to introduce younger ones to the magic of Hogwarts. Ages 6+  

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

This is a hilarious and heartwarming story about a chaotic Christmas play that turns into something unexpectedly magical. My kids love the Herdmans’ wild antics, and I love the touching message about the true spirit of the season! Ages 7+

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

My tweens love this book series! In this heartwarming story about family and community, five siblings band together to change their landlord’s mind after he decides not to renew their lease. Ages 8+

Q&A: Christmas Stories for Kids

When do you bring out your kids Christmas books from storage?

I bring these stories out right after Halloween so my kids have plenty of time to enjoy them. Once Christmas is over, they go back into storage until next year. I’ve always found this makes the books feel extra special and more like a family tradition. As a bonus, it also helps with book clutter!

Are these good Christmas stories for kids of all ages?

Most of the titles listed here are good Christmas books for toddlers, preschoolers, and grade schoolers. You know your kid best, though! Some books are timeless and can be enjoyed at any age. I’ve also included a couple of books with longer text and more complex topics for older kids. 

What do you look for when choosing a kids Christmas book?

I always check the suggested age range for a book and read a sample of it (or others’ reviews) to see if it’s something that would interest my kids. I also like to have a mix of funny and sweet books — as well as classic stories and new titles. Lastly, I love books that focus on the true meaning of Christmas and reflect the values I want to pass on to my kids.

Is there anything I can do to make Christmas books feel more special?

My number one tip is to put them away when Christmas is over so they remain nostalgic and special. Next, you can set up a cozy space for your kids to read — and read books together as a family. You can also add other traditions, like making a hot cocoa station with fun toppings, to your kids’ reading experience.

How can I use Christmas stories to teach important lessons?

Many of these books focus on the importance of friendship and family, giving vs. receiving, spreading kindness to others, and gratitude for what we have. After you’re done reading, you can always ask your kid what they liked best about the book and share what you found memorable. You can then use this as a starting point to talk about what the holidays mean to your family. 

More Christmas Magic

Do you have your own favorite Christmas stories for kids that aren’t on this list? Share them with me in the comments! 

For more holiday support, check out these blog posts:

• Gift ideas: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Kids 6-8, and Tweens

• Experience gift ideas

• Gifts under $25

• Christmas crafts for kids

• Decluttering before Christmas

I love sharing tips and products to make your life easier — so if there are any other holiday topics you’d love more help with, just let me know.