When I was a kid, we kept all of our Christmas decorations in a pile of huge cardboard boxes up in the attic.
And there was one box in particular that we would get really excited about opening up and digging through every year: the Christmas book box!
I can still remember sitting on the living room carpet with our old favorites strewn about us in every direction, reading and rereading the classics that we hadn’t seen since last Christmas. It usually didn’t take much to convince my dad to stop untangling lights long enough to come sit down and read with us!
There’s something really special about Christmas books. Why not start some special memories with your kids this year- maybe an old cardboard box full of Christmas stories? 😉
By the way, if you’re looking for books for younger kids, you can find my list of best Christmas books for babies and toddlers here!
Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!
Printable Checklist:
32 great Christmas books for preschoolers
32 great Christmas books for preschoolers
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32 great Christmas books for preschoolers
The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
This book is really fun to read to your child in their Christmas pajamas. Bonus: After you read the story, you can watch the movie together!
Bear Stays Up For Christmas
by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
Does your family love the Bear books? If so, definitely add this one to your Christmas book list. It’s just as cute as all the others we know and love.
Snowmen at Christmas
by Caralyn Buehner
This is a magical tale about how the snowmen celebrate Christmas in the middle of the night when you can’t see them! This one got my kids talking. They kept coming back to it days after we read the story, wondering whether it was really true!
Olive, the Other Reindeer
by Vivian Walsh
This is a cute story about a dog named Olive who mishears the lyrics to a Christmas song, and decides that she must be a reindeer. It’s goofy, and prefect for preschoolers- especially ones that love dogs.
The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving
by Jan & Mike Berenstain
If you’re a fan of the Berenstain Bear books, then you know that they are longer books. Still, if your preschooler has the attention span for them, this is a great story.
The Night Before Christmas
by Clement Moore and Charles Santore
This is a really good version of the classic poem. The illustrations are great, and this one is sure to become a favorite.
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Santa Mouse
by Michael Brown
This sweet classic tells the story of a kind little mouse who became Santa’s helper. After reading this story, you can start a fun tradition with your family of leaving a piece of cheese out with Santa’s milk and cookies for Santa Mouse!
How to Catch an Elf
by Adam Wallace
This book is so silly and fun! Watch out- your kids will probably want to create an elf trap after reading this one. 😉
The Christmas Boot
by Lisa Wheeler
This book tells the story of a woman who finds a warm boot in the snowy woods, and what happens as a result. We love the sweet ending of this one. It is on the longer side, but a favorite.
A Homemade Together Christmas
by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
When a cute family of pigs decides to make homemade gifts instead of buying gifts for each other, little Luca has some trouble thinking of ideas. Spoiler alert: He comes up with a great idea at the end. 😉 And it’s a gift that your kids could make as well!
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
by Laura Numeroff
Does your family love Laura Numeroff’s books? We do! This is the Christmas version of If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, and it’s just as good as the rest in this series.
The Christmas Crocodile
by Bonny Becker
What happens when, for a Christmas present, Alice Jayne gets a a friendly crocodile with a big appetite? Your kids will think this story is hilarious!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
by Dr. Seuss
This one is a classic. (Although my kids thought it was a little scary at first.) As a bonus, you can watch the movie after you read the story.
The Snowman
by Raymond Briggs
My kids are a little bit transfixed by this magical tale. Since each page only has one sentence on it, this is a perfect choice for beginner readers, who will be able to read the story by themselves.
Santa’s Underwear
by Marty Rhodes Figley
It’s pretty much a guarantee that my kids will love any book with the word underwear in the title! They’re all giggles and smiles while they listen to this silly story.
If You Ever Want to Bring a Pirate to Meet Santa, DON’T!
by Elise Parsley
This is a bold, colorful, and funny Christmas book about what it takes to tame a pirate before he meets Santa! Perfect for my little preschoolers.
Morris’s Disappearing Bag
by Rosemary Wells
This is a cute story about a youngest child who isn’t allowed to play with his older siblings’ presents. Any kid who has had to share toys with siblings will totally appreciate this book.
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The Legend of the Poinsettia
by Tomie dePaola
This book tells the story of a little girl who is helping her mother weave the blanket for Baby Jesus in the yearly Christmas procession in her village. But when her mother gets sick, Lucida needs to find another gift to bring. I remember reading this story as a little girl, and I love reading it to my own kids now.
Merry Christmas Mom and Dad
by Mercer Mayer
We think the Little Critter books are hilarious. The pictures are what really make this tale so special. It’s short, relatable, and sweet. Your kids will love it.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
by Robert L. May
I really like this version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The story is classic, and the illustrations are colorful and fun.
La Noche Buena: A Christmas Story
by Antonio Sacre
This story is a little bit longer, but it is upbeat and full of Cuban culture. My kids love hearing about Christmas traditions that are different than theirs.
Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury
by Jan Brett
We love all of Jan Brett’s beautifully illustrated stories! She has lots of Christmas stories, and it’s hard to pick a favorite, so why not grab this treasury? It includes: The Night Before Christmas, Trouble with Trolls, Christmas Trolls, The Mitten, The Hat, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and The Wild Christmas Reindeer.
Snowman Magic
by Katherine Tegen
This is a sweet tale about a little boy’s snowman who comes to life. It’s pretty short and simple, and my kids love it.
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale
by Martin Waddell
This tells the story of Jesus’s birth, from the perspective of the kind animals in the stable. It’s unique, and the perfect length to hold the attention of preschoolers.
The Crippled Lamb
by Max Lucado
I know that this is a children’s book, but every year, when I read it to my kids, I feel like it’s speaking to me, personally. It’s a story about a little lamb who wonders whether God has a plan for him, and what happens when he is given the chance to see his own special purpose in life.
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho!
by Doreen Cronin
How will Santa come when duck is stuck in the chimney? If you like Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, then definitely add this one to your Christmas reading list.
Mooseltoe
by Margie Palatini
This is a creative story about a moose who checks off everything on his Christmas to-do list… except one very important detail. What will he do when he forgets the Christmas tree?
The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever
by Steven Kroll
This is a great book to read on the day you put up your Christmas tree. It also contains a good lesson on teamwork.
Sneezy the Snowman
by Maureen Wright
This is a fun story about a snowman who keeps melting! It’s goofy, and your preschooler will love the bright, colorful illustrations.
Froggy’s Best Christmas
by Jonathan London
We like the Froggy book series a lot. (Well… I find some of them slightly annoying, but my 3 year old love-love-loves them… so we read them often and enthusiastically!) This is the Christmas book from the series, and it won’t disappoint.
How to Catch Santa
by Jean Reagan
We love this book! You’ll love reading it, and it might even inspire your own Santa-catching plan. 😉
Santa Duck
by David Milgrim
Kids will love this silly story about a duck who puts on a Santa hat… and suddenly all of the other animals start telling him what they want for Christmas!
Save this list for later:
I hope you enjoy these special Christmas books. I know we have! Don’t forget to download your printable list, or save the list to Pinterest below.
Happy reading!
-Laura
Printable Checklist:
32 great Christmas books for preschoolers
32 great Christmas books for preschoolers
Save to Pinterest:
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