We have a tradition where every year, we buy a new book “from Santa.” These Christmas books for kids are treasured, and we reread them every year.
In fact, I still have the collection of Christmas books my parents gave me growing up, and I love to dig through them and reread them even now. I update this list every year, and the 2026 version adds new picture books, easy readers, and early chapter books for kids ages 5 to 9.
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For kids who’ve outgrown picture books, I have a separate list of Christmas books for tweens and teens. For the littlest ones, my list of Christmas books for toddlers and preschoolers focuses on board books and simple picture books.
Start a new tradition where you give a new Christmas book every year. It’s so much fun and a great way to develop a love of reading.
Christmas Picture Books for Kids
These are great books for that in-between age, when kids still love shorter picture books but may want to read them by themselves, whether they’re ready for chapter books or not.
Dasher
Dasher is a New York Times bestseller, and Matt Tavares’s illustrations are just gorgeous. It’s the first of three Dasher books, so it’s the place to start if your kids fall in love with her.
Dasher is a young reindeer who lives with her family in a traveling circus and dreams of a different life. When she follows the North Star and meets a man in a red suit, her dreams start to come true.
Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas
I love a sequel that’s as good as the first book, and Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas delivers. The countdown to the big night is perfect for kids who can barely stand the wait themselves.
With only one sleep left until Christmas Eve, Dasher sneaks off to see the festivities and gets lost. She has to find her way home in time to help lead Santa’s sleigh.
Dasher and the Polar Bear
Dasher and the Polar Bear is the newest Dasher book, so it’s an easy pick if Santa brought one of the first two in a past year. Its message about sticking by your friends is a great one for this age.
Dasher meets George, a polar bear who has always dreamed of flying, and she sets out to share some Christmas magic with him. When their first flying lesson goes wrong, she refuses to give up on her new friend.
The Christmas Sweater
Jan Brett has been writing Christmas books for decades, and The Christmas Sweater is one of her newest. Kids who love dogs will adore Ari.
Theo takes his pug, Ari, on a snowy hike while Ari wears the jingly red sweater Grandma made for him. When the sweater unravels along the way, its trail of bells and decorations leads them back home.
Gingerbread Baby
Gingerbread Baby is a fun twist on the Gingerbread Man story kids already know. Jan Brett’s detailed borders give kids something new to spot on every page, and your child will love finding the secret at the end.
When Matti opens the oven too soon, out jumps a Gingerbread Baby who leads the whole village on a merry chase. Matti comes up with a clever plan to catch him.
Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker
If your kids already love the Interrupting Chicken books, Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker is a must-read. It’s a fun way to introduce the ballet before a holiday trip to see it, and it goes well with The Nutcracker in the classics section below.
Little Red Chicken promises Papa she’ll behave at The Nutcracker, but she can’t stop jumping into the show to help Clara. It’s a funny new story from Caldecott Honor author David Ezra Stein.
The Old Sleigh
The Old Sleigh is a quieter book, and it’s a lovely one for bedtime. It’s a nice way to talk with kids about the traditions your own family passes down.
For years, an old sleigh has carried firewood through a small town, keeping families warm all winter. As the town grows and a new generation takes over, the tradition carries on.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree first came out in 1963, and it’s still a read-aloud favorite. The rhyming text makes it fun to read out loud, and it’s a great one to read the day you bring your own tree home.
This was one of the books my parents gave me. I still love it, and my kids adored it when they were younger, too.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree is too tall for his parlor, so the top gets snipped off. That treetop is passed from home to home and animal to animal, and each one finds a use for it.
Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas
Give Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas with the original for a fun gift set. It’s a brand-new sequel to a book that first came out more than 60 years ago.
On Christmas Eve, Mr. Willowby’s tree delivery gets stuck in a snowdrift, so Barnaby Bear and his woodland friends set out to bring him the perfect tree. The story was created from a long-lost manuscript and sketches by Robert Barry.
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? is light-hearted and silly, and it’s perfect for the kid who asks a hundred questions about how Santa pulls off Christmas Eve.
Does Santa go down the chimney feet first or head first? What happens if he gets stuck, or if a house doesn’t have a chimney at all? This funny book explores every possibility.
The Crayons’ Christmas
The Day the Crayons Quit was one of my favorite children’s books, and The Crayons’ Christmas has the same humor and style. It’s one of those books kids want to read again and again.
The crayons celebrate the holidays with Duncan, and their story comes with real letters to pull out of envelopes. It also includes games, punch-out ornaments, a poster, and a pop-up tree.
The Jolly Christmas Postman
Remember when we used to write letters instead of emails? The Jolly Christmas Postman brings back the excitement of opening the mail, and it’s a fun one for little hands that love to explore.
The Jolly Postman delivers holiday mail to fairy tale characters, and each envelope holds a letter, card, or surprise to pull out. Look for mail for Humpty Dumpty, the Big Bad Wolf, and more.
Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas
I love cheese, so of course I love the Big Cheese. If your kids already know the Food Group books from Jory John and Pete Oswald, Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas is an easy yes.
The Big Cheese throws the biggest holiday party every year, but just hours before this one, something goes wrong. It’s a funny Food Group story about whether Christmas can still feel special when it’s simpler, and it includes 12 tear-out holiday cards.
The Gingerbread Pirates
Kristin Kladstrup wrote The Gingerbread Pirates, and Matt Tavares, who also wrote the Dasher books, illustrated it. It’s a fun pick for kids who love pirates, and it’s perfect to read before you bake your own gingerbread cookies.
Jim and his mom bake pirate gingerbread cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. That night, Captain Cookie sets off on a daring adventure to rescue his crew from the mysterious Santa Claus.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas According to Max
I love the Grinch and everything about it. The original is the first holiday movie I watch every year, and I adore how they’ve expanded the franchise and characters over the years.
Kids who know the Grinch by heart will love hearing the story from Max’s side in The Grinch According to Max. Pair it with the original Grinch from the classics section below for a fun set.
This retelling of the Dr. Seuss classic is told from the point of view of Max, the Grinch’s loyal dog. Max loves Christmas, and he has to find a way to save the holiday while helping with the Grinch’s plan.
How to Catch Santa Claus
The How to Catch series is a favorite with early elementary kids, and How to Catch Santa Claus is a great place to start. Kids who love STEM projects will want to design their own plan.
Books like this are a great way to get kids interested in reading, where they can see how it connects to things they enjoy outside books. Maybe you can come up with that plan together!
A group of kids builds clever traps to catch Santa on Christmas Eve, but Santa has a trick for every one. This rhyming book is part of the bestselling How to Catch series.
How to Catch a Reindeer
How to Catch a Reindeer is another fun one in the series for kids who can’t get enough of Santa’s reindeer. It goes well with the Dasher books above.
This is also part of the “How to Catch” series, with tons of books in different themes and settings. If your child enjoys these, look for more to keep reading past the holidays.
Kids set clever traps to catch one of Santa’s reindeer before the big night, but the reindeer always seems to get away. Each page is filled with funny rhymes and silly surprises.
How to Catch an Elf
You don’t need to participate in the Elf on the Shelf tradition to enjoy How to Catch an Elf. It’s a fun addition to the season that follows one of Santa’s elves rather than the one you hide each night. It’s quick to read, so it works as a bedtime story on busy December nights.
Kids try to catch one of Santa’s elves on Christmas Eve, but this tricky elf outsmarts them at every turn. The rhyming story is full of traps, surprises, and holiday fun.
The Tree That’s Meant to Be
The Tree That’s Meant to Be is a sweet story about feeling like you don’t fit in, which every kid feels at some point. It’s a great one for a gentle talk about kindness.
A little tree that doesn’t look like the others is left behind when families choose their Christmas trees. The forest animals come together to show him how special he really is.
Elf: The Classic Illustrated Storybook
If Elf is a must-watch movie in your house, this storybook version is a fun companion. Read it together on the night you watch the movie.
This picture book retells the beloved movie, from Buddy’s childhood at the North Pole to his trip to New York City to find his dad. It brings the funniest moments from the film to life with bright illustrations.
Disney: 5-Minute Christmas Stories
I love anthologies where I can read a quick story and choose a different one every night, and Disney: 5-Minute Christmas Stories is perfect for that. They’re short enough to read two or three before bed to make your kid feel like they’re getting something even more special than normal.
This collection has 12 short Christmas stories starring Disney and Pixar favorites like WALL-E, Aurora, and Mater. Each story takes about five minutes to read aloud.
Disney Villains: How the Villains Ruined Christmas
Sometimes the villains are even more fun than the heroes, and Disney Villains: How the Villains Ruined Christmas leans right into that. It’s great for kids who like their Christmas stories a little bit naughty.
The Disney villains and their minions team up to ruin Christmas for everyone. This rhyming picture book is easy to read aloud or for kids to enjoy on their own.
Christmas at Hogwarts
Christmas at Hogwarts takes a story so many of us already know and makes it far more approachable for younger kids. It’s a great way to introduce them to Harry Potter before they’re ready for the full books.
This illustrated picture book adapts the Christmas chapter from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts is filled with magical traditions and a very special gift.
Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas
Kids who love the Pinkalicious series, and all things pink, will love Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas. It’s a fun one for the kid who has big opinions about how the house should be decorated.
Pinkalicious wants a bright pink Christmas tree, but her parents want a real green one. Find out whether she gets her pink Christmas wish in this festive picture book.
Christmas Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books
As kids start to read on their own, finding books they actually enjoy is so important. These easy readers, graphic novels, and early chapter books are a perfect start, and the longer ones make great family read-alouds.
Christmas Mice!
Christmas Mice! is a Green Light Reader, which makes it a great fit for kids just starting to read on their own. The simple, sweet story keeps new readers from getting frustrated.
Four cheerful mice hang stockings, string popcorn, wrap presents, and sing carols. They’re so busy getting ready for Christmas that they almost forget to watch out for the cat.
Fly Guy’s Ninja Christmas
Fly Guy books are some of the best for kids who are just getting confident with reading. Fly Guy’s Ninja Christmas has the silly humor that keeps them turning pages.
On Christmas Eve, Fly Guy searches for the perfect present for his best friend, Buzz. When a stranger shows up in the house, Fly Guy uses his ninja moves to save the day.
Pinkalicious and the Holiday Sweater
Pinkalicious and the Holiday Sweater is an I Can Read Level 1 book, so it’s perfect for beginning readers. Give it with Merry Pinkmas above for a fun Pinkalicious set.
Pinkalicious decides to knit a holiday sweater for her friend Molly’s Secret Snowman gift. Knitting turns out to be harder than it looks, but she’s determined to make it special.
Christmas Is Here!
We all know the classic Peanuts Christmas story (and it’s one of my all-time favorites), but there are so many other Peanuts books to love. Christmas Is Here! is perfect for kids who adore Snoopy and want to read about him on their own.
Snoopy just wants to enjoy the holiday, but he keeps getting interrupted in this Peanuts Ready-to-Read book. The fast-moving story is a fun pick for early readers.
Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia
As a kid, I read EVERY Amelia Bedelia book I could find because it helped me feel better about the mistakes I made without feeling ashamed of them. I am so glad this series is still around for yet another generation to enjoy.
Amelia Bedelia is constantly mixed up, which makes her such a fun read for kids. Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia is a great way to talk about wordplay, and kids love feeling smarter than Amelia.
Amelia Bedelia is getting the Rogers house ready for a visit from Aunt Myra, and she takes every instruction literally. Somehow, it all works out in the end.
Elephant & Piggie: Happy Holidays!
Elephant & Piggie: Happy Holidays! is a great way to keep Mo Willems fans busy over winter break. It’s perfect for the kid who’s already read every Elephant & Piggie book and still wants more.
This Elephant & Piggie activity book is packed with games, puzzles, mazes, and coloring pages. It also includes holiday stickers and pop-out ornaments.
Christmas Surprise (Peanut, Butter & Crackers)
Kids with pets at home will recognize these two dogs and one cat right away in Christmas Surprise. The comic panels and short bits of text are perfect for kids who are building their reading confidence.
Peanut, Butter, and Crackers can’t wait for Christmas until they discover a stranger living in their tree. This funny graphic novel is the fourth book in the Peanut, Butter & Crackers series by Paige Braddock.
Happy Narwhalidays
The Narwhal and Jelly books are huge with early readers, and Happy Narwhalidays is just as silly as the rest. The graphic novel format makes it easier for new readers to digest.
Narwhal and Jelly have their own holiday traditions, and Narwhal can’t wait for the Merry Mermicorn to arrive. When Jelly gets a mysterious gift, the pressure is on to find the perfect one for Narwhal.
Karen’s New Year
If you grew up with the Baby-sitters Club, you probably remember Karen. I read every single book when I was a kid and wanted to be Kristy so very badly.
Karen’s New Year introduces her to a new generation, and it’s a fun gift for that week after Christmas when everyone’s talking about resolutions.
Karen makes nine promises for the New Year, but her friends and family start breaking theirs. It’s a Baby-sitters Little Sister graphic novel based on the series by Ann M. Martin.
Christmas in Camelot
The Magic Tree House books are a rite of passage for early chapter book readers, and it was one of the first series my son devoured when he started to read (along with all the Geronimo Stilton books).
Christmas in Camelot is one of the longer Merlin Missions. It’s a great step up for kids who are ready for more than easy readers. Both my kids adored this book.
Jack and Annie are invited to Camelot for Christmas, but they find that King Arthur’s kingdom has lost its joy. They set off on a quest to the Otherworld to bring it back in this Magic Tree House Merlin Mission.
The Christmasaurus
At around 400 pages, The Christmasaurus is long, but it’s written for younger readers and works beautifully as a family read-aloud through December. It’s recommended for ages 5 to 12, so older siblings can enjoy it too.
Santa’s elves discover a frozen dinosaur egg that hatches into the Christmasaurus. When he meets William, a boy who loves dinosaurs, they set off on a magical adventure.
Classic Christmas Books for Kids
Some books that you grew up reading and some that your parents (or THEIR parents) grew up reading are just as good now as they were then. These classic Christmas books for kids belong in your collection.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
If you don’t already have The Grinch in your collection, this is a must-buy. This classic book needs no introduction or explanation. It’s simply one you must own.
The Grinch can’t stand Christmas, so he dresses up as Santa and steals it from Who-ville. He learns that Christmas means more than presents in this Dr. Seuss classic.
The Polar Express
Long before The Polar Express was made into a movie, I was reading it. The glorious message and amazing journey still give me goosebumps today.
Just buy it. Read it. Love it.
On Christmas Eve, a boy boards a magical train to the North Pole and receives the first gift of Christmas from Santa. Chris Van Allsburg’s story has been a holiday classic since 1985.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Has anyone not seen the classic movie? But have you read the book? I grew up loving the book version of A Charlie Brown Christmas, and it never disappoints.
One caveat is that the book has been slightly rewritten, and the play Charlie Brown directs isn’t the nativity play anymore. I can’t find a version of the original story, but this one is still worth adding to your collection.
Charlie Brown is fed up with how commercial Christmas has become, so he sets out to find its true meaning. This illustrated book is based on the classic TV special.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (Classic Edition)
Every family needs a copy of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and this classic edition is the one I’d choose. The illustrations are amazing, so start a tradition of reading it aloud every Christmas Eve.
This classic edition of Clement C. Moore’s poem features Charles Santore’s detailed illustrations. It has an embossed, foil-stamped cover and a four-page foldout.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
I’m pretty sure I had the entire Golden Book catalog as a child, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was no exception. We all know the movie, but the book is just as fun to read.
Rudolph is teased by the other reindeer for his shiny red nose until one foggy Christmas Eve, when Santa needs his help. This Little Golden Book stays true to the original story.
Frosty the Snowman
Just like Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman is a classic that’s as enjoyable to read as it is to watch on TV each year. It’s the story you grew up loving, in a size that’s perfect for little hands.
A group of children builds a snowman, and when they put an old silk hat on his head, Frosty comes to life. This Little Golden Book is based on the classic song.
The Nutcracker
If you plan to take your little one to the ballet, or you already have, The Nutcracker is the perfect companion. Kids will be asking you to read it again and again.
On Christmas Eve, Clara’s nutcracker comes to life, defeats the Mouse King, and takes her to the Land of Sweets. This picture book retells the holiday classic with bright, new illustrations.
What Are Your Favorite Christmas Books for Kids?
Am I missing one of your family’s favorites? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll add it to next year’s list.
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