Are you looking for recommendations on the best Christmas books for kids from toddlers to big kids? This comprehensive list of actual Christmas favorites was compiled by a former teacher and parent of three. Grow your holiday book collection with Christmas books from this well-crafted list.
Why own Christmas books for kids?
I love using books as a first experience for kids.
When my oldest was a toddler, he had no understanding or context for what Christmas was or how Christmas fit into our lives. I turned to Christmas books to lay a foundation and expose him to the different parts of the season/holiday.
By the time it was his first toddler Christmas (one he actually might participate in and remember), he was beyond excited. He understood. He had context. The pages of the books we had poured through had come to life.
Books are always a great way to introduce children to something new before they can experience it.
RELATED: Looking for more Christmas activities for little kids? I have the best list!
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Where do you store the Christmas books?
I keep my seasonal books with my seasonal decor. When we go to pull out the Christmas decorations (after Thanksgiving – I’m an on time gal), we grab the Christmas book box.
I don’t do a toy rotation, but I do have a seasonal book rotation on my hands.
This seasonal mini collection (I also have one for Halloween books) is a special set of books for my children that are cherished and treasured. They get so excited to see this group of books again – how cool to see kids excited to see books!
RELATED: Want to see another set of books kids get excited about? You’ve got to see my “30+ best books to give as gifts” list.
What are the best ages for Christmas books for kids?
I love a good holiday themed book, but I also love a book that has years of life ahead of it.
I don’t have time for one-and-done books that only last a season… I don’t have time OR money for that. I’m always looking for holiday books that will span multiple Christmases with my kids.
And that’s exactly what I’ve found.
Books that my kids loved in their first few Christmases are ones they still love today. But as they’ve grown, we’ve added new big kid titles to our collection.
Note: I organized this list by first Christmas books, toddler and preschool, and big kid books (think elementary age).
Christmas books for first Christmases
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Where is Baby’s Christmas Present
The cutest, sweetest first Christmas book. We have had this lift the flap book for 9-Christmases and my kids still read it. So much nostalgia!
Merry Christmas
A touch and feel book that’s perfect for little’s learning about Christmas. My kids are big kids now – they still enjoy the sweetness of this book.
Christmas Peekaboo
A touch and feel AND lift the flap book that couldn’t be a more perfect Christmas book for a baby or young toddler.
Entertaining kids at Christmas? Check out my post on Christmas games for kids to play at holiday parties!
Best Christmas books for toddlers and preschoolers
Busy Toddler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
This is absolutely the cutest book – and it has real working Christmas lights. Oh, I just love this book. They did a good job with this Little Blue Truck re-theme for Christmas.
The Christmas Quiet Book
A great pattern book: each page looks at different ways Christmas can be quiet (like snow angel quiet, cocoa quiet, and reading by the fire quiet). I wish this book was on more lists or getting more Christmas love. It’s a really, really great book.
The Sweet Smell of Christmas
A scratch and sniff book! This was my favorite Christmas book and same with my siblings. Mom still has the original – faded and not much smell left. We each have new copies for our houses at the holidays.
The Snowy Day
One of the greatest and most beloved winter books of all time. This book is decades old, but has to make the list. It needs to stay in circulation with all the future generations.
Pick a Pine Tree
This is such a gorgeous read. The story takes you on the journey of a tree to a Christmas tree – it’s great for explaining the process of selecting a Christmas tree. This book inspired our Christmas Tree Farm activity.
Snowmen at Christmas
I love the whole Snowmen at Night series, but the Snowmen at Christmas book is my favorite of them all. It’s a sweet rhyming book that kids will continue to enjoy Christmas after Christmas.
It’s Christmas, David!
Another series that I will always love because of my years as a teacher – and this Christmas “No David” book was always requested by my students.
Olivia Helps with Christmas
Hands down, this is my son’s favorite Christmas book. So much so, this book hasn’t made it to the Christmas book bin since 2019. It lives in his room and we read it often.
If You Take A Mouse to the Movie
This sweet book takes us back to the original character in the series: mouse. Themed for the Christmas season, this is the book that spurred the Amazon video series.
The Night Before Christmas
Our course: can’t have a list without it! The Little Golden Book version was my favorite as a child and still the one I gravitate towards today.
Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas
If you have a Fancy Nancy fan, this is a must. It’s a great message for the holidays and does the whole series justice.
Best Christmas books for big kids
Busy Toddler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
A World of Cookies for Santa
Love this book! Go around the world with Santa, learn about other cultures, and see the different treats left for him. The book also includes a few recipes.
The Christmas Eve Tree
A deep, sweet book that will start conversations. The Christmas Eve Tree follows the story of a child without a home who is takes a small, unloved tree down by the river in a cardboard box. This is a a beautiful Christmas book for big kids.
The Night Before Christmas
Also appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers, this version of the famous poem shows modern pictures to accompany the words. Following four diverse families, this update on the old classic is wonderfully done.
The Snowman
A wordless book. Told solely with pictures and similar to a comic or graphic novel, this is an awesome choice for big kids.
The Nutcracker in Harlem
My son adores the Nutcracker ballet, and this is his favorite Nutcracker book. It may be long for toddlers and preschoolers, but perfect for elementary students. Set in Harlem, this take on the Nutcracker is fantastic.
Red and Lulu
Oh, this book. An absolutely stunning and emotional story of two birds who live in a tree that heads to Rockefeller Center. One bird is accidentally left in the tree as it heads to NYC. The other must hunt to find them. I cannot recommend this book enough.
The Polar Express
No book list seems complete without The Polar Express. I’m partial to this book for big kids – I think that’s the best crowd for this one.
The (Wonderful) Truth About Santa
If you find yourself with a big kid who is asking some big Santa questions, this book does a beautiful job explaining how Santa is all of us – who secretly give just for the joy of giving. I finally had the opportunity to read this book to one of my kids. I will treasure the moment together, and the joy of now seeing the Christmas spirit grow in him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course not! But I think it’s fun to have holiday and seasonal books – and, like I’ve said – it’s a great way to introduce children to these concepts.
First: let’s clarify that the right amount is the amount that works for your family. For mine, we buy 1-2 new Christmas books a year and that’s given us a fun collection from the past 9 years of parenting.
I don’t but the good news is: my friend at Happily Ever Elephants does. Check out her fantastic list of Hanukkah books for kids.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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