My picks for the best Christmas books for kids, from the classics I grew up to my daughter's favorites. Growing up, my family had a tradition that Santa's elves brought new pajamas and a Christmas book on Christmas Eve. We would all excitedly run to put on the new pajamas and then settle down to listen as my mother read the book. Several of the books in my list of best Christmas books for kids are books we were given on Christmas Eve. It's been fun to continue the tradition with my daughter.
Some of these classic Christmas books have been made into films; we love to read the book first and then watch the movies together.
Best Christmas Books for Kids
I divided my list into books for babies and toddlers, little kids, and big kids to help you find an age-appropriate book.
Babies and Toddlers
These books are short, picture-heavy, and fun for a child's first or second Christmas.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Peekaboo Christmas
A short and sweet book that asks your child to find the tiny caterpillar who is hiding. I think I have read this a hundred times; my daughter can't get enough of it.
This book counts from one to ten while telling a story - reading it is an excellent opportunity for your child to practice counting.
Little Kids
These books have more elaborate illustrations and longer text.
I like the board book edition of this Christmas classic since it holds up to years of being read again and again. Plus, the illustrations in this version are beautiful.
This book is about winter, not Christmas, but it is my four-year-old's favorite. In addition to lovely illustrations, the pages are cut and assembled to create a unique reading experience as your child tries to help the mother fox find her four cubs.
A classic and another book that is winter-themed instead of holiday-themed, The Mitten is about a lost mitten and the animals that find it.
This is available as a board book for little ones or as a paperback and hardcover for older kids.
The Story Orchestra's The Nutcracker
This abridged telling of the Nutcracker is set to music - just press the note on each page to hear an orchestra play segments of Tchaikovsky's music. Reading this book is a good way for a child to become familiar with the story of the Nutcracker before seeing the ballet or watching the film.
The Polar Express isn't just a book; it is a phenomenon that involves a movie and train ride experiences. Of course, I had to include it in this list of best Christmas books for kids! Last year, we read this book to our daughter, watched the movie, and then took her to Chicago's Polar Express. She LOVED it.
Dasher is the story of a reindeer in a traveling circus with big dreams.
Fun fact: this book was one of the first children's books to make it onto the New York Times's bestsellers list! This book tells the story of a young girl getting Santa's reindeer ready for their Christmas Eve flight.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
It's an absolute classic. Reading this book can be followed by watching one of the movies.
Big Kids
I wanted to include one exceptional 208-page book for older children in my list of best Christmas books for kids.
J.R.R. Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas
Iconic author J.R.R. Tolkien created elaborate letters from Father Christmas for his children. These letters had stamps from the North Pole, specific handwriting, and illustrations. The letters tell stories about elves, Polar Bears, and life at the North Pole. This book compiles the letters and illustrations that were created throughout the Tolkien children's childhood.