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I love books and think they are the perfect gift for any holiday or celebration, not just for Christmas. As I mentioned a few weeks ago in my post about Advent calendars, a basket filled with wrapped books, one for each day leading up to Christmas, is wonderful Christmas tradition and makes a great Advent Calendar as well. The holidays are a busy and stressful time filled with parties, buying and wrapping gifts, baking and lots of running around why not take some time to relax and make memories. Le your kids could pick a book each day and sit as a family, with a cup of cocoa and read it together. Those are the “gifts” that you can’t buy and the memories will stay with you and your kids or grand kids forever.
I realize that 25 books at once can be a little expensive, so maybe purchase a few each year, or you could also get some from the library, some from thrift stores or read a few free books on Kindle.
25 Christmas Books for Kids
Christmas Cookies: Bite Size Holiday Lessons
From making the same kind of cookies at the same time each year (tradition) to decorating them with lots of sprinkles (celebrate), emergent readers will gobble up gentle holiday lessons in this charming book.
Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s timeless morsels of wisdom paired with Jane Dyer’s cozy illustrations are as irresistible as the aroma of cookies fresh from the oven. Perfect for learning concept words as well as for readers of all ages as they celebrate the true meaning of Christmas
Secret Santas’ and the 12 Days of Christmas Giving
Children everywhere are learning how they can become members of the real-life, Secret Santa Team! With every page turned an exciting new adventure awaits, showing your child how he or she can spread kindness and cheer throughout the Christmas season. This tradition of hope, joy, and love paves the way for families to introduce their little ones to the joy that comes from giving to others in a magical and exciting way.
“With delightful rhymes, How to Catch an Elf slots itself into place along such classics as “The Night Before
Christmas.”
It’s Christmas Eve and people are snug in their beds, but something is stirring outside. The snowmen are preparing to celebrate! Under the glow of moonlight, all the snow families are slipping away to gather in the town square for a night of caroling, dancing, and an exciting visit from the snowman Santa Claus.
This gorgeously illustrated, full-color classic celebrates a time before email with an interactive picture book full of real letters to read aloud. The Jolly Postman brings a batch of wonderful letters for Christmas, including notes from the Big Bad Wolf and all the King’s men. Open this book, take out the letters, and discover what favorite characters would write to each other–and re imagine best-loved tales together.
Join Little Bear as he prepares for the holidays, all the while giving readers a chance to smell six wonderful scents including apple pie, Christmas tree, hot chocolate, and more! This delectable treat is a perfect way for families to spend the yuletide season.
Bells jingle, sleds dash through the snow, trees are topped with sparkling stars, and children everywhere dream of candy canes and presents. But the best gift of all-the most magical gift of the season-is when we spend Christmas with those we love.
In Llama Llama Jingle Bells, little llama and his friends give gifts, sing songs, and decorate cookies. It’s a very merry holiday indeed!
The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving
In The Berenstain Bears and The Joy of Giving Brother and Sister Bear can’t wait for Christmas and all the presents they’ll open. But during the Christmas Eve pageant, something special happens! The Bear cubs learn a very valuable lesson about the joy of giving to others.
Bear’s friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up — by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!
Girls and boys ages 2 to 5 will have great fun finding more than 30 flaps to lift in this sturdy board book as they counting down the days to Christmas with Elmo and his Sesame Streetfriends. There are loads of fun surprises to peek at under the flaps in the scenes of Sesame Street, illustrated in all its holiday excitement and cheer.
It’s the night before Christmas and everyone is sick in bed. All except brave Madeline, who is up and about and feeling just fine. Taking care of eleven little girls and Miss Clavel is hard work, but when Madeline finds help from a magical merchant, the girls embark on a Christmas journey that will surely make them forget their sniffles and sneezes.
When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing. One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax.
Christmas is coming, and Corduroy has a list of gifts he’d like from Santa-until he discovers the true meaning of Christmas is not about train sets and ice skates, but about good friends. Celebrate the season with Corduroy in this Christmas story that is sure to be a holiday read-aloud favorite.
This unforgettable tale, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Barbara Cooney, has become a seasonal classic-a touching and joyful story about courage and the power of family.
Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter is getting ready for Christmas in this classic, funny, and heartwarming book. Whether he’s making wreaths, eating gingerbread cookies, or putting the star on the top of the tree, both parents and children alike will relate to this beloved story. A perfect way to celebrate the holiday season!
Christian Christmas Books for Kids
Jesus Calling®: The Story of Christmas uniquely teaches the Christmas story to your children by starting at creation and sharing that Jesus has always been present and that God has always had a plan for Christmas. Bible verses and Jesus Calling devotions are on every spread of this beautifully illustrated book with foil and glitter on the cover.
As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder…
The gentle beauty of the story of the first Christmas is now available as a board book. With a simple, lyrical text and radiant artwork, this book is perfect for the youngest child to be a part of the wonder of the Nativity.
The meaning of Christmas is often overshadowed by the wave of commercialism that precedes it. It’s all too easy for kids to lose sight of the true meaning of this holiday when their daily cartoons include a flood of toy commercials and their focus is on their own wish list. This book is a heartwarming reminder to children that Christmas isn’t about Santa or asking for presents; it’s about celebrating Jesus’s birthday.
You can find a few more Christian Christmas books here.
Classic Christmas Book Favorites
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
For a little girl named Susan, Christmas could be any other day. She doesn’t believe in Santa Claus or magic or miracles of any kind. Then one day she meets Kriss Kringle. As she doubtfully tells him the gifts she most wishes for, deep down Susan finds herself hoping that just maybe, he is the real thing. Based on the original holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street is a heartwarming story about generosity, imagination, and the spirit of Christmas.
Christmas classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Everyone’s favorite snowman with a magic hat, a button nose, and eyes made out of coal comes to life on Christmas every year. Based on the beloved 1969 television special, this Little Golden Book retells the whole magical story of Frosty the Snowman for boys and girls 2–5!
Twas the Night Before Christmas
Here are a free Kindle books, A Christmas Carol , The Magic of Friendship Snow, A Wish To Be A Christmas Tree, A Visit From St. Nicholas
I could have linked many more but I thought I would stop at 25, I have also been linking 2 books a week on my Friday Favorites post for several weeks, if you missed them you can find them in My Bookshop.
Do you have a favorite Christmas book that you read to your kids or grand kids? If so, please share them, I would love to add them to my list.
I hope that you have a great day!
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Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod
These are good suggestions!
Hi Elizabeth, Great post and a wonderful idea to read a holiday book everyday till Christmas. The Mercer Mayer “Critter” books were always a family favorite. However, “The Mitten” may be my all time favorite children’s book. The illustration’s are so beautiful. And of course, “The Night Before Christmas” is the perfect book to wrap up the reading. As always, thrifting for books is a great suggestion.
Joyce
The Mitten is a beautiful book and I must say, I am partial to the Critter books.
I loved it when my mom read Christmas books to us when we were children. You found great ideas for books to give to kids to enjoy.
I loved when my mom read to me too and I love reading to my grandkids!
As a former teacher and a great aunt to 8 little ones, I adore giving books. I haven’t seen a few of these so thanks! They’ve been added to the list.
Thank you Kim!
Love a these selections. Thanks for sharing. A friend has little ones and these make great gifts.
Pinned
I think they do too, what could be better than a book!
What a wonderful selection!
Thank you!
Great list! I know we had at least a few of these in my home growing up. I remember a lot of Berenstain Bears books – they were my favorite. A Christmas reading tradition is so fun. <3