The Best Christmas Books for Kids in 2024

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

Fans of Little Blue Truck will love this Christmas story that helps young kids practice counting. It even includes flashing colored Christmas lights on the final page.

Santa and the Goodnight Train

The Goodnight Train follows Santa’s sleigh through a winter wonderland in this sequel to The Goodnight Train.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

Bear likes to hibernate, but Bear’s friends are determined to keep him awake for Christmas. This book is part of a 10 book series: The Bear Books.

Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho!

If your kids love Click, Clack, Moo, then you’ll want to add this holiday adaptation to your December reading list. This book is part of a 11 book series: Farmer Brown’s Barnyard Tales.

Your family may also enjoy watching the short Christmas film, “CLICK, CLACK, MOO: Christmas on the Farm.”

The Night Before Christmas

Jan Brett’s signature style perfectly illustrates this quintessential holiday poem.

Dream Snow

This board book version of the Eric Carle classic features dreamy snow-covered images that younger children will love.

Good Night North Pole

Little kids will love getting a sneak peek at Santa’s workshop at the North Pole as they say good night to Santa Claus and his elves.This book is part of the 205 book series: Good Night Our World.

Construction Site: Merry and Bright

Celebrate the holidays with the crew of the popular children’s book, Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.

Construction Site fans will also want to check out Construction Site on Christmas Night.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Slide and Find

Toddlers and preschoolers will love sliding the doors on each page to learn more about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his friends from the classic claymation special.

Llama Llama Holiday Drama

Llama Llama is feeling impatient for the big day to arrive. Children will love the rhymes, and parents will sympathize with Mama Llama as she shops for gifts and does everything parents do to create a magical holiday for their kiddos.

Curious George Christmas Countdown

The tabs make it fun for toddlers to help turn the pages in this book that includes a rhyming story as Curious George counts down the days left until Christmas.

The Christmas Pine

Inspired by the annual journey of London’s Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square, this is a Christmas tale about a pine tree deep in the snowy woods that is destined to become the Christmas tree in the city square.

Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve?

From renowned children’s book author and illustrator Jan Brett comes a gorgeous new Christmas picture book! 

Every year, trolls knock down Kyri’s door and gobble up her Christmas feast. But this year, the trolls are in for a surprise: a boy and his pet ice bear on their way to Oslo have come in from the cold. And once the ice bear is finished with the trolls, you can bet they won’t come knocking next Christmas Eve!

The Christmas Mitzvah

Al Rosen, a Jewish man, takes on the jobs of his Christian neighbors on Christmas Eve and day so they can spend the holiday with their families, starting a tradition that lasts for decades.

A mitzvah, as Al explains, is a good deed, especially apt on holidays. A strong cross-over read for the holidays, this warm story is about kindness and differences bringing people together.

The Christmas Elf Tells the Truth

A beautiful Christmas story that can touch your heart. It also teaches kids the real reason to be good and kind and why Christmas presents have nothing to do with that.

When’s It Gonna Be Christmas Again?

This is the first picture book from the creators of the Deck the Hallmark podcast. Join this family of 4 as they navigate their way through all the seasons, making memories along the way.

The Twelve Cats of Christmas

Celebrate the holidays with twelve adorable cats—and one kitten—with this festive feline take on the classic carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas!

Jingle the Christmas Clown

Every year, little Jingle and his family, The Little Circus, travel through the countryside to the city for their special Christmas performance. Each year, they stop at the same little village to put on a show for its residents. It’s Jingle’s favorite night. This year, however, there’s no smoke coming out of the chimneys and everything is closed up. With a little bit of magic, one plucky clown is determined to turn Christmas around for a village that’s down on its luck.

Hello, Tree

This mischievous fox has stolen things from all over town. Then he settles in for a cozy Christmas Eve at home. But when Santa arrives, he scolds the fox and makes him return everything before the heartwarming ending.

The sparse, rhyming words in this book, paired with the beautiful illustrations will encourage kids to pour over the pictures and add more details to the story.

Santa’s Lost Sleigh

Santa’s sleigh in now missing! Have you heard the news? It’s all ONE big mistake… over TWO large canoes!

We’re Going on a Sleigh Ride

In this lift-the-flap adventure, you’ll help Santa and Bunny deliver presents and avoid obstacles along the way.

The Christmas Princess

Like Mariah Carey’s record-breaking song “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” this story is an inclusive family holiday classic. Little Mariah doesn’t have much and doesn’t want a lot, but there is just one thing she longs for: a peaceful and joyous holiday season. Feeling outcast and alone, Little Mariah sets off on a wintry, wondrous journey, ultimately discovering the healing power of her voice to spread the spirit of Christmas at home and all around the world.

Dasher

This is the story of a brave little doe who meets Santa and changes Christmas forever.

The Animals’ Santa

This modern Christmas classic includes Jann Brett’s signature illustration style with side panels that encourage kids to discuss the story beyond the words on the page.

Last Stop on the Reindeer Express

This modern Christmas classic includes Jann Brett’s signature illustration style with side panels that encourage kids to discuss the story beyond the words on the page.

The Crayons’ Christmas

‘Tis the season for all of us to write our holiday wishlists. But everyone–even the crayons–know the best presents are the ones that you give. In this unique book, readers get to see how Duncan, the crayons, and their families celebrate the holidays. With real, folded letters from the Crayons that you can pull from their envelopes and read, games, punch-out ornaments, a poster, and a pop-up tree, this book is the perfect gift for for the holidays and for fans of The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home.

Pick a Pine Tree

For many families, picking a pine tree and decorating it as a Christmas tree marks the official start of the holiday season. This festive read-aloud captures all of that magic.

The Nutcracker

The New York City Ballet presents this classic ballet tale in a gorgeous story book format.

There are many other wonderful picture book versions of the Nutcracker, including:
-Jan Brett’s The Nutcracker
-Little Golden Book The Nutcracker
–The Nutcracker with a pop-up finale

The Christmas Owl

This book – which tells the true story of an owl that captivated the country – is co-written by Ellen Kalish, the caretaker of the real owl found inside the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

Red and Lulu

This heart-tugging story combines the cheer of Christmas, the magic of New York City, and a focus of the holiday season: how important it is to be surrounded by love.

Santa is Coming to…

Steve Smallman and Robert Dunn have collaborated to create this fun series of books with titles for many regions and hometowns. Kids will love reading about Santa’s sleigh flying over landmarks they recognize on Christmas Eve.

Little Robin’s Christmas

One frosty evening, a week before Christmas, Little Robin prepares for the chilly nights to come by washing his seven warm knit vests. But as the days go by, he comes across lots of shivering animals and kindly offers them his vests to wear. By Christmas Eve, Little Robin is cold and alone with no vests left. That is, until a special someone arrives to reward his kindness in this heartwarming holiday tale about the gift of sharing.

How Santa Got His Job

Have you ever thought about what Santa’s job might have been if he wasn’t Santa? This fun book examines all of the jobs that didn’t work out.

Olive, The Other Reindeer

Olive may look like a dog, but as far as she’s concerned, she’s a reindeer! With Christmas Eve approaching, Olive takes a bus to the North Pole. Is she just what Santa’s sleigh-pulling team needs?

Everybody’s Tree

This is a beautiful story of a spruce tree that grows along side the young boy who first planted it. Once the boy has become a grandfather, his tree is chosen as the Christmas tree for a big city celebration.

Native American Night Before Christmas

Renowned Cherokee artist Jesse Hummingbird’s illustrations bring this innovative retelling of the classic Christmas tale to life. It’s a whimsical look at Christmas Eve for a Native American family when Old Red Shirt (the Native American Santa Claus) comes a-calling with his team of flying white buffalo to deliver fry bread, commodities, and other goodies.

How to Catch an Elf

Follow the adventures of a mischievous elf as he tries to dodge all the traps that have been set for him by the children of the house.

Kids will also love the similarly titled, How to Catch Santa – but parents beware, as this book might give your kiddos some sneaky ideas come Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas, Curious George

After helping the Man with the Yellow Hat pick out the perfect Christmas tree, Curious George finds himself delivered to the local children’s hospital, where his antics spread cheer to kids of all ages.

A Christmas Carol

This beautifully illustrated, rhyming picture book makes the perfect retelling of Charles Dickens novel to share with the whole family.

Disney Mickey’s Christmas Carol

If you prefer the Disney version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, then you’ll want to add this hardback picture book to your family’s holiday library.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

This deluxe edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas will bring Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts gang to life for a whole new generation of kids.

Frosty the Snowman

This classic Golden Book is based on the beloved 1969 television special about Frosty the Snowman, who comes to life and spreads Christmas spirit.

12 Days of Christmas

Children love Christmas songs, and the classic Twelve Days of Christmas is always a favorite. Each scene of this traditional poem is illustrated in beautiful detail in this picture book.

The Night Before Christmas: The Classic Edition

Enjoy Clement C. Moore’s classic poem in a beautiful hardback version that includes a large four-page foldout that will immerse your entire family in the story.

A Cars Christmas (Step Into Reading Level 1)

Celebrate the holidays with Lightning McQueen, Mater, and other favorite characters from Disney’s Cars.

Santa’s Little Engine (Step Into Reading Level 1)

Deck the halls with Thomas the Tank Engine featuring favorite characters from Thomas & Friends.

Eloise Decorates for Christmas: Ready-to-Read Level 1

It is holiday time. Eloise hopes she will be the one to place the star atop the Christmas tree!

I Spy a Candy Cane (Beginning Reader- Level 1)

These easy to read riddles include picture clues to help young readers.

Cooking with the Grinch (Step Into Reading Level 1)

Young fans of How the Grinch Stole Christmas will love this Dr. Seuss inspired story that they can read themselves.

Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia (I Can Read Level 2)

Amelia Bedelia has been making little girls and boys laugh since the 1960s, and this silly Christmas story is no exception.

Arthur’s Christmas Cookies (I Can Read Level 2)

Parents who have fond memories of reading about Arthur during their childhoods will enjoy hearing their children read this Arthur story to them.

Home for Christmas (Step Into Reading Level 3)

This adaptation of the PBS Kids’ holiday special The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas is perfect for newly independent readers.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell!

This Christmas version of the classic “There Was an Old Lady” story is perfect for young readers because of the repetitive nature that helps kids gain reading confidence by practicing similar phrases on each page.

Middle School: Winter Blunderland

This is the latest in James Patterson’s popular Middle School Series.

Things heat up at Hills Village Middle School when Rafe gets an invitation from Dr. Daria Deerwin to join a research study on polar bears in Alaska. How many times in life do you get a chance to come face‑to‑face with a real polar bear in the wild? Rafe is ready to find out!

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It’s practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease right before Christmas, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. This is the first book of The Vanderbeekers Book Series.

Letters From Father Christmas

For more than twenty years, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from the North Pole – from Father Christmas himself! They told wonderful stories of mischief and disaster, adventures, and battles: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place, how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house, and many others. In this book, these letters are brought to life with specially arranged holiday music.

Rainbow Magic Holiday Boxed Set

Kids love the Rainbow Magic Fairy books, and this holiday box set includes four Christmas chapter books: Holly the Christmas Fairy, Stella the Star Fairy, Gabriella the Snow Kingdom Fairy, Paige the Christmas Play Fairy.

Deck the Halls, We’re Off the Walls!

This book is a special edition in the My Weird School series that will have kids cracking up throughout the Christmas season. Another Christmas title in the My Weird School series is Miss Holly is Too Jolly.

Geronimo Stilton: A Very Merry Christmas

Young fans of Geronimo Stilton will love to read about his adventures in NYC. His luggage gets switched with another mouse, and he must scurry all over the Big Apple to track down the mouse with all his Christmas presents.

In addition to A Very Merry Christmas, other Christmas titles in series include: Merry Christmas, Geronimo, The Christmas Toy Factory, and Christmas Catastrophe.