Every one of these 12 Great Christmas Books for Kids has been carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.
12 Great Christmas Books for Kids
From literary classics like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to contemporary works you may not yet know. We’ve compiled our list of 12 great Christmas books for kids we know they’ll love.
1. First on our list is a story that we’ve all loved as a family. Our kids love it and we’ve no doubt your kids will enjoy it just as much.
The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet Ahlberg & Allan Ahlberg (1991)
It’s Christmas Eve and the Jolly Postman has the very important job of delivering festive greetings to all the fairy-tale characters. Join him on his rounds and take a peek at the cards and presents he delivers. There’s a get-well-soon gift for Humpty Dumpty, a special note from Mr Wolf to Red Riding Hood, and four more surprise envelopes. The fun rhyming verses and charming illustrations will delight all ages.
Recommended reading age: 3-5 years old
2. Second up is Clement C Moore’s Twas the Night Before Christmas. Clement Clarke Moore (July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863) was an American writer and Professor credited and widely considered the author of the Christmas poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas“, first published anonymously in 1823. Since then this well loved poem has been printed many times over and has often been in the New York Times Best Sellers lists.
The Night Before Christmas – the classic edition, by Clement C Moore
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
This absolute classic is responsible for many of our modern ideas of Santa and was a considerable influence on the writting of Twelve Feasts of Christmas.
Recommended reading age: 3-5 years old
3. Third is one for slightly older kids. The Christmas Pig by J K Rowling. This is a heartwarming, page-turning adventure about one boy’s love for his most treasured possession, and how far he will go to find it. A tale for the whole family to fall in love with, from one of the world’s greatest storytellers.
The Christmas Pig by J K Rowling.
One boy and his toy are about to change everything…
Jack loves his childhood toy, Dur Pig. DP has always been there for him, through good and bad. Until one Christmas Eve, something terrible happens – DP is lost. But Christmas Eve is a night for miracles and lost causes, a night when all things can come to life… even toys.
Recommended reading age: 7-11 years old
4. Number four, despite all of the close contenders, is my all time favourite Christmas book for kids, and adults for that matter. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
When Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843, he created an everlasting gift to the world, capturing the essence of the Christmas season’s love, kindness, and generosity. It is a timeless classic, and the uplifting magic of the story is as powerful today as it was when it was first published.
Recommended reading age: 9+ years old
5. Fifth is a new Christmas book that is from the #1 New York Times best-selling duo Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers. This hilarious interactive book has letters, games, ornaments, a poster and even a pop-up Christmas tree – perfect for the festive season!
The Crayons’ Christmas by Drew Daywalt (Author), Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator)
‘Tis the season for all of us to write our Christmas wish lists. But everyone knows – even the Crayons – that the best presents are the ones that you give. In this unique book, readers join in as Duncan, the Crayons and their families celebrate the festive season. With real, folded letters to pull from their envelopes and read, games, press-out ornaments, a poster and a pop-up tree, this book is the perfect gift
Recommended reading age: 3+ years old
6. Six makes our list as much for the beautiful illustrations as the story. Dasher is a wonderful story about a young doe who dreamed of freedom. She escapes her pen and follows the North Star far away from J.P. Finnegan’s Traveling Circus and Menagerie, but can she save her family?
Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares
Discover the magical story of Dasher, Santa’s very first reindeer, in a Christmas gift-book to treasure year after year.
Dasher is a little doe with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a travelling circus, but she longs for a different life.
Matt Tavares’ beautifully illustrated and evocatively told story bristles with all the magic of the festive season.
Recommended reading age: 3-6 years old
7. Seventh on our list is a lot of fun. With a lot of similarities to Twelve Feasts of Christmas it is understable why we are such big fans.
When Granny gets a sprout stuck up her sneezer, the whole family goes ABSOLUTELY CRAZY as they try to unwedge the veg from her nose. But the more they help, the more Granny yelps and the more festive foods disappear.
Recommended reading age: 4-7 years old
8. Number eight is a great book for the youngest readers. Start to encourage reading with this fun interactive board book. Lift the flaps to find out what Santa has sent in this fun Christmas book from the bestselling creator of the preschool classic, Dear Zoo.
Dear Santa by Rod Campbell
Toddlers will love lifting the flaps to open the presents and find out what Santa has sent. Will he send the perfect present in the end? With gold foil cover, flaps to lift on every page and a touch-and-feel surprise ending, this festive favourite is the ideal Christmas gift or stocking filler for preschoolers.
With bright, bold artwork and a simple, engaging text, Dear Santa by Rod Campbell is sure to delight young children – and the chunky board book format and sturdy card flaps make it perfect for little hands.
Recommended reading age: 1-3 years old
9. There’s an Elf in Your Book (Who’s in Your Book?) makes it into our ninth spot. A festive interactive adventure from bestselling author Tom Fletcher!
There’s an Elf in Your Book (Who’s in Your Book) by Tom Fletcher
GOLLY GUMDROPS . . . A LITTLE ELF HAS FOUND THEIR WAY INTO YOUR BOOK!
What does Elf want?
Oh! Just to see if you’ve been naughty or nice this year!
Elf will ask you a few simple questions to find out. And surely there won’t be any tricks to try and get you to be naughty . . . will there?
Hmmm, this could be quite a tricksy little elf. You’d better keep your wits about you if you want to make it on to Santa’s Nice List!
A fantastically fun and uniquely interactive treat from the creators of There’s a Monster in Your Book. Discover a wonderful new Christmas tradition in a book to read again and again.
Recommended reading age: 3-5 years old
10. When talking about Christmas Books for Kids we need to include the ultimate origin story. This version of the Christmas story will help children to experience the magic of the first Christmas.
The Christmas Story by DK
Experience the magic of the first Christmas in this illustrated board book, an ideal introduction to the nativity story for young children.
The Christmas Story tells the tale of the first Christmas a long, long time ago, when the baby Jesus was born. The sky is filled with angels and a bright new star that tells the shepherds and the three wise men that someone very special has arrived. There’s no room at the inn but Mary and Joseph, and sleeping baby Jesus, are warm and cozy in the stables.
Colorful illustrations and engaging text bring this classic story to life for new readers.
Recommended reading age: Baby-5 years old
11. Where’s Wally? Santa Spotlight Search – The spotlight search is back with a fabulous festive edition! Search for Wally on every page, but good luck, he’s not always easy to find.
Where’s Wally? Santa Spotlight Search by Martin Handford
Ho-ho! Wally, his friends and hundreds of busy Santas are getting ready for the festive countdown. There’s so much to do from shopping in the department store, to helping in the toy factory, baking holiday treats and loading the sleigh – but they still find time to party! For extra sparkle as the excitement builds there are bonus searching games to complete on every page. It’s jingle bells all the way!
Use the paper spotlight-searcher as a magic torch to illuminate six scenes buzzing with busy Santas. With bonus games on every page!
Recommended reading age: 3-5 years old
12. Our final Chistmas Book for Kids is a fantasy classic from the master, C. S. Lewis’s. This version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicals of Narnia) has beautiful illustrations by Tudor Humphries. Whilst some may not consider this to be a true Christmas story, it features Santa and for us it makes the list.
A picture book retelling of C. S. Lewis’s classic story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, abridged for the youngest fans! Introduce them to the magic of Narnia with this picture book featuring illustrations by Tudor Humphries.
Now younger children can share the magical experience, entering into a world of enchantment that will forever lure them back. Four adventurous siblings step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter–but never Christmas–cursed by the power of the White Witch. Only Aslan, the Great Lion, can reverse her wicked spell.
Recommended reading age: 4-8 years old
