With old and new picture books to choose from, we've gathered 25 wonderful Children's Christmas books to read for the holidays. It's a fantastic collection of both secular and Christian themed Christmas picture books to enjoy this year.
Last year I shared 25 of our most Favorite Christmas Picture Books. This year, I wasn't sure I could find nearly as many great children's Christmas books to make a new list. But I set out to try anyway, and it was actually easier than I thought!
Turns out, there are a lot of really wonderful children's Christmas books out there (and I'm even very picky)!
On this list you will find a mix of brand new 2019 Christmas picture books and older favorites too. There are secular holiday stories as well as Christian Christmas stories on this list - something for everyone celebrating Christmas. Every book has beautiful illustrations, excellent writing, and all that Christmas magic.
And if you aren't doing 25 day Picture Book Advent with your kids, it's not too late to find some on this list at the library or bookstore and do a 12 Days of Christmas Books activity with your kids. Just wrap up 12 favorites and unwrap one each day from the 14th to the 25th (or the 13th to the 24th).
You'd be surprised how much more exciting reading time becomes when you get to open a wrapped book from under the tree every day!
Note: The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links.
25 Wonderful Children's Christmas Books
Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever
This is our favorite new Christmas book this year! With gorgeous illustrations, Matt Tavares gives us his version of how Dasher, and the other seven reindeer, came to pull Santa's sleigh. It's an absolutely wonderful book.
Santa's Story
This is the sweetest little story. It's Christmas Eve and Santa is ready to go, but he can't get the reindeer's attention. In the end though, Santa knows just how to get everyone ready for Christmas.
Silent Night
The words to this one are the traditional song lyrics, and the accompanying illustrations are absolutely stunning.
The Tree That's Meant To Be
We have several books by this author/illustrator and we love them all! This one is about a little tree that is left all alone in the forest after all the trees around him are cut down to be Christmas trees. But while it may not have been chosen by families, the animals of the forest need a Christmas tree too.
Angela's Christmas
I laughed so hard the first time I read this one. From the author who brought us Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt brings us the story of 6 year old Angela and how she came to steal the baby Jesus from the altar of St. Joseph's church. (This is also a Netflix movie now too!)
The Christmas Wish
This is actually just one in a series of "Wish" books and they're all wonderful. Inspired by the rich holiday traditions of Norway, this book is filled with stunning photographic illustrations and a lovely story too. I can't get enough of this one!
Tough Cookie
This is a fun retelling of the gingerbread man story. Except in this version, no one wants to eat the gingerbread cookie - he's too tough. It's a fun read.
The Great Santa Stakeout
Leave it to an awesome librarian to write a really fantastic children's Christmas book! Freddy Melcher is Santa's biggest fan and this year he's determined to catch him in action. This one is a really fun read aloud.
Ho Ho Homework
Jack's classroom has a new substitute teacher and there's something very familiar about him. Is it his long white beard? Or the milk and cookies he brings for a snack? Or the way his laugh sounds like a "ho ho ho"? Is he really who they think he is? This one is so much fun!
Last Stop on the Reindeer Express
It's too late to mail a letter to grandpa in time for Christmas, but when Mia stumbles upon a magical mailbox, she finds that with the reindeer express, anything is possible. This book is gorgeous! And kids will love finding all the flaps to lift throughout the book too.
The Christmas Tree Ship
Based on a real historical event, this book tells the story of a ship in 1912 carrying a load of Christmas trees to Chicago. It's fantastic historical fiction for kids and a really great story.
The Christmas Unicorn
If you have any unicorn fans at your house, this sweet book is just the ticket! Christmas is just days away and Milly is feeling sad about having Christmas without her dad this year. And then, one snowy night, she meets Florian, a unicorn who can make Christmas wishes come true. Even if you're not into the unicorn craze, this is a really sweet read.
A Christmas Sweater for Nina
Nina is a homeless cat and when it gets cold she wears a red sweater to keep warm. However, when the sweater starts to unravel, it sends Nina on a wild chase around the city. Luckily it ends with a wonderful Christmas present for Nina.
Finding Christmas
Squirrel, Mouse, and Hare are preparing for Christmas. When the find a sick sparrow in the snow though, their plans change and they realize that Christmas means helping the sparrow. This is a really lovely holiday read.
The Night Tree
Eve Bunting really knows how to write a magical book. This book is about a family with the unique tradition of heading into the woods on Christmas Eve and decorating a tree for the animals. We love it!
Christmas Farm
I adore this tale of a friendship between an older woman and a little boy as they plant and plan for a Christmas tree farm. It's a really fantastic read!
The Christmas Extravaganza Hotel
Bear is settling in for a cozy Christmas at home in front of the fire when there's a knock at the door. Frog read his map wrong and thought he was arriving at the Christmas Extravaganza Hotel. Can bear still help Frog have the exciting Christmas he was expecting? This is such a fun book!
Meerkat Christmas
This is a charming little book! Meerkat isn't satisfied with Christmas in the desert (no snow! no fir trees!), so he sets out on a round the world adventure to find Christmas. Your kids will love it!
The Crayon's Christmas
The Crayons are back! This book is full of fun surprises, with envelopes to open, games to play, and even a pop up Christmas tree. This interactive holiday book is a must read (and it makes a great gift!).
What is Given From the Heart
This book isn't specifically a Christmas book (although there is a Christmas scene), but it really captures what it means to give from the heart. A mother and her son are struggling financially after their husband/father dies unexpectedly. But when another family loses everything in a fire, they realize that even though they have little, there's always something they can give.
The Queen and the First Christmas Tree
This is a lovely historical fiction picture book about how Queen Charlotte brought the Yule tree from Germany to England in 1800 and started the Christmas Tree tradition. The illustrations are darling too!
The Bear and the Star
This is a beautiful new children's Christmas book and a must read! Bear wakes up one winter morning and sees a new star. He follows the star all the way to the most majestic evergreen he's ever seen. What happens next is absolutely delightful!
Shooting at the Stars
This is another historical fiction Christmas picture book, and it's a stellar read. John Hendrix weaves together fact and fiction to tell the story of the Christmas Eve truce between the Germans and the British during World War I. An excellent read!
Maple and Willow's Christmas Tree
This adorable book follows two sisters who are so excited to get their first real Christmas tree. However, when it's time to decorate they realize they have a big problem: Maple is allergic to the tree! But they're determined to have the best Christmas so they come up with a unique solution.
This is Christmas
Little Squirrel wants to know what Christmas is, so as he walks through the forest his mother and the other animals show him all the different parts that add up to Christmas. It's all very sweet with beautiful illustrations.
Paige Cassandra Flamm says
Our kids love The Bear and The Star!