15 Best Christmas Books for Kids This Year
If you’re looking for Christmas books for kids this Christmas season, add these 15 to your list!
It’s a magical time of the year for children. It’s also a fun time for book lovers! There are some beautiful, enchanting Christmas books for kids out there, and they make excellent gifts that can be enjoyed year after year.
From chunky, colourful board books with interactive elements, to gorgeous retellings of classic Christmas stories for kids, there should be something on this list for children aged 0-10.
If you’re looking to expand your family’s Christmas library, you can’t go wrong with these beautiful children’s Christmas books.
15 Best Christmas Books for Kids
Baby’s Very First Slide and See Christmas by Usborne Books
How can you celebrate a baby’s first Christmas? With a book! Baby’s Very First Slide and See Christmas is a cute book for the very smallest members of your family.
Babies can slide cut-out areas of the book back and forth to reveal surprises: lights on a tree, a gingerbread man, even Father Christmas himself.
It’s a tactile book about Christmas, and the cute illustrations make it interesting for grown-ups to look at, too.
Even older toddlers will still enjoy playing with this kid’s book, and it’s the perfect, gentle introduction to the concept of Christmas.
Whizzy Santa by Marion Billet
Marion Billet’s illustrations are beautiful, and her ‘Whizzy’ series is great for younger kids. Each book features a vehicle of some kind, which is perfect for transport-obsessed toddlers.
Plus, these books have wheels attached, allowing kids to play with them as well as read them. Double the fun!
Whizzy Santa is a cute story about Santa in crisis. His reindeer have the flu, so how will he manage to deliver the presents?
Luckily, with the help of some Elf magic, Santa can use a special scooter to pull the sleigh instead. Santa delivers all the presents and flies home to celebrate.
It’s a magical Christmas story for kids, an ideal book for 2 year olds.
Kipper’s Christmas Eve by Mick Inkpen
A truly magical story, Kipper’s Christmas Eve manages to capture that fizzy, tingling, excited feeling children have as they wait for the big day to arrive.
Kipper ponders what is better: presents, or the anticipation of presents? Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?
As he prepares by visiting friends and decorating his tree, he comes to the conclusion that Christmas Eve is the best after all.
It’s a lovely story to share with children as you tuck them into bed on Christmas Eve, and it’s a gorgeous book to bring out year after year.
It’s also a nostalgic experience for younger Millennial parents, as Kipper first arrived on the scene in 1998. The illustrations and Kipper’s sardonic, anything-goes personality is comforting to revisit.
The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet & Allan Ahlberg
An absolute classic, The Jolly Christmas Postman makes a beautiful gift for children aged 3-5 (but older children will enjoy reading it, too).
The Jolly Postman is very busy at Christmastime; he has to deliver letters, cards and presents to various fairytale characters, including the three bears, Little Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty, and the gingerbread boy.
Along with the fun story and lovely illustrations, The Jolly Christmas Postman is a special book, because it includes a series of fun ‘gifts’ to discover together.
Each page is an envelope containing a treat, like a small book, a cardboard puzzle, and a board game.
At the end of the book is an old-fashioned paper peep show, which unfolds like an accordion, giving children a special 3D view of the postman receiving presents and cards.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss
A classic children’s book, How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a must-have.
Almost everyone knows the story of the grumpy, Christmas-hating Grinch, and the disaster that unfolds as he decides to take Christmas away from every Who in Whoville, thanks in part to the movie adaptions over the years.
However, many parents love to introduce their children to classic books before watching the movies, and this is definitely a good one to enjoy as a family.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas has Dr Seuss’s lyrical, catchy writing, along with the famous character designs that make his books so iconic.
This particular story is aimed at kids aged between 4-6 years old, but I feel that both younger and older children will enjoy this story, too. It’s a fun book to dig out year after year (and the movies aren’t bad, either).
The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas! by Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter
Illustrated by Garry Parsons
Can you go wrong with pooping dinosaurs? Obviously not, especially if you have a four-year-old kid to entertain.
The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas shares the same silly, joyful tone in Tom Fletcher’s other works, and it’s a silly story that younger kids will love.
Joining with Dougie Poynter (also of McFly fame), Fletcher has written a fun, colourful story about a dinosaur who manages to eat the whole of Christmas.
Of course, what goes in must come out: and much to the relief (and disgust) of the world’s children, the now-giant dinosaur poops everything out again.
It’s a lighthearted, silly book, and stands out among the more serious, traditional stories on this list.
If you have a kid that loves toilet humour, they’ll love this one. It’s also pretty fun to read from an adult’s perspective.
Classic Pop-Up & Play: The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
Illustrated by Laura Barrett
The Snow Queen is a classic fairytale and is at least partly responsible for the existence of the Frozen movies. Over 150 years old, the original story is thrilling: it contains real danger, the presence of evil, and the power of love, which ultimately overcomes the darkness.
This version is presented in a beautiful colour palette of black, white, and blue. Illustrated by Laura Barrett, the book unfolds, giving children a more interesting reading experience.
Plus, it contains a beautiful pop-up castle and stand-up figures to play with. This makes a beautiful Christmas Eve gift for kids aged 5 years old and up.
The Snowman and The Snowdog by Raymond Briggs
I’d actually recommend two books in this entry: the original story of The Snowman, along with the follow-up, The Snowman and The Snowdog.
If you’re an 80’s or early 90’s child, you’ll probably remember the original TV special: the soft, warming animation along with the iconic soundtrack conjures up many Christmas memories.
The books are beautiful, and manage to capture both the magic and the underlying bittersweet feelings that Christmas can conjure for many people.
In The Snowman and The Snowdog, a young boy discovers some ancient magic and goes on an adventure with a snowman and his pet snowdog.
After one unforgettable night of magic and joy, the dog transforms into a real pet. The snowman, however, melts away and is gone by the morning. It’s a poignant story, both happy and sad, and is an absolute classic for children of all ages.
Pip and Posy: The Christmas Tree by Axel Scheffler
The Pip and Posy series of books by Axel Scheffler are sweet, lovely stories about best friends trying to navigate common problems for children: how to share toys, how to manage a sleepover, and how to spend a rainy day.
Scheffler’s iconic style makes these books a comforting, familiar choice for fans of The Gruffalo.
Pip and Posy: The Christmas Tree is a fun story: Pip and Posy are decorating their Christmas tree with delicious chocolate ornaments. Only the ornaments are a little too tasty.
While Pip recovers from a stomach ache, Posy comes up with a new idea for their tree. It’s a light-hearted, sweet story for 3-year-olds.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
Illustrated by Christian Birmingham
This is, of course, the most iconic story about Father Christmas, one that many people have memorized over the years: ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…‘
There have been many beautiful versions of this Christmas story for kids over the years, but this particular one, illustrated by Christian Birmingham, is gorgeous.
The soft, classic illustrations are warm and comforting and add to the sense that children are witnessing something otherworldly. It really brings the story to life.
Mog’s Christmas Calamity by Judith Kerr
Many parents remember the antics of Mog the cat from their own childhood. It’s a beautiful gift to be able to share these stories with your own children, and Mog’s Christmas Calamity, published back in 1976, is a lovely bedtime story.
Mog gets into trouble on Christmas morning. She becomes entangled in tinsel, which she drags through the fireplace.
Quickly, the fire spreads, and Christmas appears to be ruined. Luckily, everybody escapes to safety, and neighbours and friends turn up with gifts, decorations, and food. It’s a heartwarming story about the power of community and the true meaning of Christmas.
Refuge by Anne Booth & Sam Usher
Published by Nosy Crow, Refuge was published to support the charity War Child, which assists refugees across the world.
It tells the classic nativity story from the perspective of the donkey as he leads his own refugees into Bethlehem. It’s a hopeful, beautifully told version of the nativity story.
The illustrations are gorgeous, and it’s the kind of story that parents will read to their children with a lump in their throat. It’s a beautiful gift for families, and it’s lovely to know that War Child receives support for each copy sold.
Ten Sparkly Snowflakes by Russell Julian
A cute little book for younger kids, Ten Sparkly Snowflakes allows little ones to practice their counting skills. It’s a fun, exciting adventure in a snowy landscape, as woodland animals respond to the first snowfall of the season.
A chunky board book, this is a lovely choice for babies and toddlers, and the snowflakes themselves are plastic buttons, so it’s a tactile experience for younger kids to flick through with their parents.
The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
As children get older, the selection of Christmas books begins to narrow. Luckily, there are some excellent chapter books for them, including The Christmasaurus series.
Fletcher’s funny, silly, Dahl-esque writing is very engaging for children aged 6+.
Older children (around 9 years old and above) may be able to read this themselves if they have reached the ‘Free Reader’ stage.
It’s the perfect gift to give a child at the beginning of December, so they can enjoy the story in the run-up to the big day.
In The Christmasaurus, a group of elves finds a frozen dinosaur egg. As they deal with the implications of this, a young boy and his Christmas-loving father are swept into a fun, exciting adventure.
The follow-up books, The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch and The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List, are also fun gifts for primary-aged children.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig
Matt Haig’s books are popular with adults, and his stories are often full of heart and poignancy. His children’s books are similar: The Truth Pixie, for example, is a moving, sweet story with some excellent life lessons for children.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas is a magical story for children aged 7-10 years. At this age, they may start to question the concept of Father Christmas, and it’s common for children to lose their belief at this stage.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas is a magical, fun-packed tale that will help to keep the magic alive, even for older children who have moved beyond the Santa stage.
Hopefully, this has helped you to find the perfect Christmas book for kids. Books are a classic Christmas gift, and these are stories that the whole family will treasure for years to come.
Alternatively, you can use a new book as a bribe to get children into bed on Christmas Eve. Always a handy trick to have up your sleeve!
If you liked this post, check out these:
13 Best Christmas Books
Christmas Films to Watch on Netflix
