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Christmas books for kids: 30 read aloud favorites

Here is the list of the best Christmas books for kids, as of 2024:

30 of our family favorites to read aloud during the Christmas season.

Scroll down to see the books, or download the printable book list here.

And 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!

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

30 great Christmas books for kids

Here is the quick list of all the books with their Amazon links. Scroll down to read more and see age recommendations for each one!

Be sure to check out the Ultimate Christmas Planner for Moms:

A Simple Christmas on the Farm

by Phyllis Alsdurf

Ages 4-8

This book is a great real-aloud about a girl whose family decides to celebrate a simple, homemade Christmas with friends and family on their farm. We also love the Thanksgiving book in this series, Thanksgiving in the Woods.

see on amazon

Bear Stays Up For Christmas

by Karma Wilson

Ages 2-5

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.

see on amazon

The Polar Express

by Chris Van Allsburg

Ages 4+

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!

see on amazon

Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook

based on the story by John Hughes

Ages 3-8

I think older kids (and adults) would love this story, too. Especially if you love the Home Alone movies. There’s also a book for the sequel that is just as delightful.

see on amazon

Snowmen at Christmas

by Caralyn Buehner

Ages 1-6

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.

see on amazon

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Barbara Robinson

Ages 7+

This is a short chapter book, and one of my absolute favorite family read-alouds for Christmas. It’s about a family of the worst kids ever, and what happens when they decide they want to be a part of the small town’s church nativity play one year. It’s an incredibly heartwarming story, and you can watch the movie as a family after you read it!

see on amazon

Too Many Tamales

by Gary Soto

Ages 3-8

This is my 7 year old’s favorite Christmas book. Maria is making tamales when she decides to try on her mom’s diamond ring… and loses it inside one of the tamales! It’s up to the cousins to eat until they find it. This story is sweet and heartwarming, plus a little goofy at the same time.

see on amazon

The Twelve Hours of Christmas

by Jenn Bailey

Ages 4-8

This is a short, fun read. It’s a modern take on the classic song, filled with relatable Christmas experiences, like cousins arriving, uncles telling jokes, and family photo attempts.

see on amazon

Santa Mouse

by Michael Brown

Ages 1-6

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!

see on amazon

Cranberry Christmas

by Wende and Harry Devlin

Ages 5-10

Cranberry Thanksgiving is one of our all-time favorite Thanksgiving read-alouds, so of course we love reading its sequel at Christmas! This is a longer picture book, so great for older kids. The quirky, big-hearted characters make this book a winner.

see on amazon

The Carpenter’s Gift

by David Rubel

Ages 6-12

I think this is the first Christmas picture book to ever make me choke up while I was reading it. What a fantastic story! It’s a little longer, so perfect for older kids, and it gives a lot of history about the Rockefeller Center Tree, so it would be fun to read right before or after the tree lighting.

see on amazon

A Homemade Together Christmas

by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Ages 4-8

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!

see on amazon

The Night Before the Nutcracker

by John Robert Allman

Ages 3-7

What a great story about all the things that go into a performance of the Nutcracker. This book is perfect to read before going to see a show, or watching The Nutcracker on TV.

see on amazon

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree

by Robert Barry

Ages 3-7

This is a funny story about what happens to the tops of Christmas trees that are too tall and need to be cut off. My kids love the goofiness of it!

see on amazon

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

by Dr. Seuss

Ages 3+

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.

see on amazon

Pick a Pine Tree

by Patricia Toht

Ages 2-6

This one is pretty short and sweet- the perfect book to snuggle up and read right after decorating your Christmas tree for the season.

see on amazon

Santa’s Underwear

by Marty Rhodes Figley

Ages 3-6

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.

see on amazon

Christmas Day in the Morning

by Pearl S. Buck

Ages 5-12

If you’re looking for a moving, heartfelt Christmas story, this is it! The text is a little bit longer, making it perfect for older readers.

see on amazon

How to Catch a Reindeer

by Alice Walstead

Ages 3-6

There are lots of books in their series, and they’re all cute and funny. We also love How to Catch an Elf!

see on amazon

The Legend of the Poinsettia

by Tomie dePaola

Ages 5-9

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.

see on amazon

A Very Mercy Christmas

by Kate DiCamillo

Ages 4-7


If your kids love the Mercy Watson books, then this Christmas story is sure to be a huge hit. They’re a little goofy, which my kids love, and the pictures are fantastic.

see on amazon

Weird But True! Christmas: 300 Festive Facts to Light Up the Holidays

by National Geographic Kids

Ages 6-10

My kids love the National Geographic Weird but True books, and this one is all about Christmas!

see on amazon

The Nutcracker

based on the New York City Ballet

Ages 3-8

This is a great retelling of the classic Nutcracker story. Perfect for someone who is about to see a performance!

see on amazon

Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury

by Jan Brett

Ages 3-8

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 favorites like The Mitten, The Hat, and The Wild Christmas Reindeer. (We also love Gingerbread Baby, and Who’s that Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett.)

see on amazon

Sounding Joy

by Ellie Holcomb

Ages 2-5

We love that this sweet book also has a song that goes along with it! (You can listen here.)

see on amazon

Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale

by Martin Waddell

Ages 2-4

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.

see on amazon

The Candymaker’s Gift

by David and Helen Haidle

Ages 6-10

We love this story about a candy maker who wants to create a candy that will tell children everywhere about Jesus.

see on amazon

Christmas Farm

by Mary Lyn Ray

Ages 4-7

I think this book sort of has Little House vibes: It tells the story of a Christmas tree farm, and the people who work to grow it. It’s a cozy, unhurried story, and I think it’s delightful!

see on amazon

Sneezy the Snowman

by Maureen Wright 

Ages 3-6

This is a fun story about a snowman who keeps melting! It’s goofy, and your preschooler will love the bright, colorful illustrations.

see on amazon

Santa Duck

by David Milgrim

Ages 2-6

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!

see on amazon

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.

Happy reading!

-Laura

Save to Pinterest:

25 Family Christmas Movies for Kids

This content presents a list of 25 enjoyable family Christmas movies suitable for kids, catering to various age groups. Each movie is coupled with a streaming platform for convenience. Additionally, a free download offers Christmas resources, including a bucket list, gift planning guides, and activity ideas for families to enhance their holiday experience.

Continue Reading 25 Family Christmas Movies for Kids

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