Christmas books have become one of our highly anticipated Christmas traditions each year. Since my oldest son’s first Christmas, we have been adding to our Christmas library collection. A giant box comes out with our holiday decorations and the start of our Christmas reading begins. These books bring back memories, “Oh I remember that one,” that I will always cherish.
Some years I bring out the whole box and let the boys devour them on December 1st, and other years I add one per day, building up the excitement as they eagerly say, “Which one will we get tomorrow.” Some are funny, some are classics and some are special because of who gave them to us.
I have put together a list of our top 24 books that we read each December. Some are Christmas themed and others are winter.
*As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission if you buy a book from one of these links. I personally own all of the books I am recommending and have purchased them all personally.
My kids absolutely love this one! And who wouldn’t? A boy creates a pirate made out of gingerbread who ends up protecting the house from an intruder on Christmas. We read this at least a hundred times each year and have found that it makes the best gift for friends. Attach a cookie cutter or even some homemade pirate gingerbread cookies to this book and you have a gift that any child will enjoy.
Get the Gingerbread Pirates here
This one was added to our library when my son was 6. We were not sure if he’d be old enough to watch the movie so we read him the book first. He absolutely fell in love with this classic and the nostalgia that goes along with it will even capture adult’s hearts.
Get Home Alone here
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Who doesn’t love this classic? From the rhyming pattern to the heartwarming ending, anyone will fall in love with this classic story. I grew up watching the animated cartoon but really enjoy reading the story while cuddled up on the couch with my boys.
Get How the Grinch Stole Christmas here
4. A Wish to be a Christmas Tree
This is truly one of the most heartwarming Christmas story about friendship. An old pine tree watches year after year as families pass him but for other Christmas trees. The magic happens when his forest friends help to make his dream come true.
Get A Wish to be a Christmas Tree here
This book is funny and interactive. Take a ride down the slopes with bunny and you tilt pages and soar into the air. This one is perfect for children that are active and don’t like to sit still.
Get Bunny Slopes here
What says Christmas more than The Polar Express. We got this book from my mother-in-law along with a train set and it has become a favorite. When my son sees the train packed up high in the garage he begs us to take it down. This magical train ride to visit Santa gets me every time!
Get The Polar Express here
Get the train set here
7. The Tree That’s Meant To Be
This book teaches the sweetest message: You don’t have to be perfect to be special. A little tree learns the message in this adorably illustrated story.
Get The Tree That’s Meant To Be here
This book is just plain fun. A dinosaur is getting ready for Christmas Eve and completes many challenges. Going to bed on Christmas Eve is the last one. Will he succeed?
Get Dinosaur vs. Santa here
We always love a good alphabet book and this one has the best vintage illustrations. Each page is full of Christmas details keeping little eyes busy as you read.
Get S is for Santa here
From the creators of Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo, here is a story of a stick man who gets separated from his family at Christmas time. Facing many dangers, Stick Man must find his way back to his home with a little help from You Know Who. This one is sure to be a favorite in your house.
Get Stick Man here
Take a sneak peek into the snowman world and read this rhyming book to see what snowmen really do at night while we are all sleeping. We also own Snowmen at Christmas and both are part of our Christmas library.
Get Snowmen at night here
Get Snowmen at Christmas here
A grumpy old turtle just wants to take a winter nap but he keeps getting interrupted. Find out what finally makes him change his mind about snoozing through the winter season.
Get A Loud Winter’s Nap here
I am always looking for books that will teach my kids about the importance of giving rather than getting at Christmas. Step back to 1920 and a young boy really wants a pair of ice skates that his parents can’t afford. Find out what truly brings him joy on Christmas morning.
Get The Santa Thief here
This is a fun story that gives the reader a glimpse into what Santa was like as a child and how he came to be. See the origins of the chimney and his reindeer.
Get Little Santa here
Traditions are such a huge part of Christmas. Follow this family as they pick out a tree, decorate it and celebrate the season one tradition at a time. The illustrations are cheery and festive and will put you in the holiday mood.
Get Pick a Pine Tree here
Here is another Santa origin story that helps explain the reason Santa looks the way he does and why he loves giving so much. My kids love seeing Christmas from “behind the scenes” in this fun story.
Get When Santa was a Baby here
A farmer goes to bed dreaming of snow and wakes to find a winter wonderland. He then goes out to uncover his animals that have been blanketed by snow (flaps for your children to lift) and delivers them presents. This makes the perfect interactive book for busy toddlers.
Get Dream Snow here
Follow this little mouse as he explores the house on Christmas Eve and experiences all the joys of Christmas and eventually meeting Santa.
Get Mouse’s First Christmas here
19. Merry Christmas Curious George
Who doesn’t love George, the curious little monkey. Follow George as he gets into his usual mischief, but this time at the Christmas tree lot. Find out how he makes his way to the children’s hospital and finds a way to save the day.
Get Merry Christmas Curious George here
20. Walking in a Winter Wonderland
I can’t help but sing along as I read this book based on the classic song, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.” The illustrations are bright and festive and contain all the lyrics. You will be transported to a snowy meadow in the middle of winter.
Get Walking in a Winter Wonderland here
21. The Night Before Christmas
No Christmas library is complete without The Night Before Christmas. We read it each year on Christmas Eve.
Get The Night Before Christmas here
From one of our most favorite author’s, Drew Deywalt, The Crayon’s Christmas shows us how Duncan and the crayons celebrate Christmas. This one has real letters, games and puzzles tucked away in the envelope pages. It truly is one of the best interactive books for older readers.
Get The Crayon’s Christmas here
With all the giving and trees and Santa, sometimes it is good to step back and read the real meaning of Christmas. I love that this version uses the classic poem “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” but instead tells the story of the first Christmas.
Get The First Christmas here
This beautiful pop-up book is always the book I read to my boys before we make paper snowflakes. The reader truly learns the uniqueness of each snowflake.
Get Snowflakes A Pop-Up Book here
A List of the best 24 Christmas Books
- The Gingerbread Pirates
- Home Alone
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- A Wish to be a Christmas Tree
- Bunny Slope
- Polar Express
- The Tree That’s Meant to Be
- Dinosaur vs. Santa
- S is for Santa
- Stick Man
- Snowmen at Night/Christmas
- A Loud Winter’s Nap
- The Santa Thief
- Little Santa
- Pick a Pine Tree
- When Santa was a Baby
- Dream Snow
- Mouse’s First Christmas
- Merry Christmas Curious George
- Walking in a Winter Wonderland
- The Night Before Christmas
- The Crayon’s Christmas
- The First Christmas Night
- Snowflakes A pop-up book
