80+ Picture Books For Christmas
A collection of all our very favorite Christmas picture books
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! As I write this, my wood floor is scattered with various hats and mittens, and puddles of melting snow. My kids are in and out the door, dressed in fluffy snowsuits. These cold days bring a good opportunity to brew some sugared tea and get ready to snuggle up on the couch when their noses get too cold to venture into the winter wonderland outside our window.
My kids and I love a beautifully illustrated Christmas book while sitting near our Christmas tree and having a treat this time of year! Over the last couple of years I've sorted through nearly two hundred Christmas picture books and narrowed them all down to a list of our very favorites, which we can enjoy reading together year after year. Some we have purchased ourselves, many we just repeatedly rent from our library, and all have some memories attached to them.
The following is a master list of all the Christmas books that the kids and I have particularly enjoyed reading together - and as I mentioned, we’ve read many. For this list, I chose the ones that stood out to me either because of the sweet stories, beautiful illustrations, or uplifting messages.
The list is broken up into three sections, depending on what you’re looking for. The books related to the Nativity and the Christian faith are listed first, and there are some beautiful books in there for believers. Not every Christmas book labeled as “Christian” has a biblically solid message or points to Christ, but I feel that these ones did a good job of pointing to the true meaning of Christmas - Christ’s birth!
The next category contains books that focus on Santa. I know some families that like to avoid or minimize the topic of Santa Claus at Christmas, so the ones with a story centered around Santa are separated out for your convenience.
The last category are full of just general Christmas stories, focused on the celebration of the holiday itself. Some of them may reference Santa briefly, but he’s not a big part of the story.
I hope this list is useful for you as you look for Christmas books that resonate with your own family! And don’t forget to scroll to the end of the post for a printable list that you can take to the library!
Christian Christmas Stories:
The Spider Who Saved Christmas by Raymond Arroyo - This is a Christmas fable, about a spider who saves the lives of Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus as they are fleeing to Egypt. This book is very sweet, and I love that it focuses on the Nativity - I do make sure to tell my kids that this story is not in the Bible, it's just an imaginative story. Also note that the story does involve fleeing the soldiers who were killing the baby boys in Bethlehem, so make sure your kids are ready for that part of the story.
The Gift Of The Christmas Cookies by Dandi Daley Mackall - I loved this book! A mom tells her boy about how Christmas cookies got started as a way of telling peasants about the Nativity, and the boy realizes he can use Christmas cookies to spread the good news of Jesus's birth the same way. I think this would be a fun and meaningful book to read before a Christmas baking day, especially if you have nativity-shaped cookie cutters!
Song Of The Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones - A lovely book highlighting all of creation rejoicing in the birth of Christ!
Humphrey's First Christmas by Carol Heyer - A funny story about a camel who loses his greatest treasure - his carpet-blanket! But in the end, he meets the Baby Jesus and gives up his greatest treasure for the King of kings. Very sweet and humorous twist on the Nativity story.
Fear Not, Joseph! by Julie Stiegemeyer - The Nativity story from the perspective of Joseph. This book sticks pretty close to the biblical narrative, with a few details filled in. It seems like Joseph is often left out of the story in Christmas picture books, so I liked that this book focused on his perspective! Great notes from the author in the back too.
The Legend Of St. Nicholas by Dandi Daley Mackall - I love this version of the story of the real St. Nick. A boy is wandering through a mall, thinking about everything he wants to buy for himself, and then hears a mall Santa telling the story of Saint Nicholas and his gift-giving. In the process he refocuses on the joy of giving at Christmas. Very well-done book.
The Little Shepherd's Christmas by Carol Heyer - A beautifully illustrated version of the Christmas story from a shepherd boy's perspective.
Christmas Is Here by Lauren Castillo - The words of this book are just the Scripture text from the KJV, but the illustrations are lovely. The book starts with a family visiting a living Nativity, and then flashing back to what happened on the night Jesus was born.
A Star For Christmas by Trisha Romance - A carpenter moves to a new place and works to build a house in the woods. The local villagers comes to help him, and so he decides to make them a very special gift for Christmas. A sweet story that points to Jesus's birth.
A Churchmouse Christmas by Barbara Davoll - Christopher Churchmouse wants to make something to celebrate Jesus's birthday in this sweet story told in rhyme. If you've read any of the other Christopher Churchmouse books, this one is especially fun as all the characters make an appearance.
The Very First Christmas by Paul L. Maier - In this book, a mother tells her son the true story of Christmas from the book of Luke, and answers his many questions! This book was an accurate telling of the facts of the Nativity story, and all based on the Bible. Very good and beautifully illustrated!
The Advent Of Christmas by Matt Maher - This book introduces the meaning of each of the advent candles in an enjoyable rhyme. My kids have been seeing the candles lit at our church each Sunday, so it was neat for them to get a concise introduction to the meanings!
Small Camel Follows The Star by Rachel W. N. Brown - This tells the story of one of the wise men's camels as they journey to find Baby Jesus. A cute angle on the Nativity story!
Hurry, Hurry, Have You Heard? by Laura Krauss Melmed - This is a story of some of the animals coming to see Baby Jesus after He was born, and spreading the word to their animal friends. Cute illustrations in this one!
The Friendly Beasts by Rebecca St. James - The text of this book is just the old Christmas carol itself, but illustrated really nicely. We sang it as we read, and the kids enjoyed it.
The Christmas Miracle Of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wokciechowski - A heart-wrenching story about a grumpy woodcarver who is befriended by two of his customers, and finds the joy of the Christmas season again through their friendship. This is a tear-jerker!
B Is For Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet by Isabel Wilner - This is a Nativity-focused alphabet book, also in rhyme. A great one for little ones!
Christmas Day In The Morning by Pearl S. Buck - This book legitimately makes me cry every time I read it, so I end choking up, and trying not to let the kids hear my voice break while I read! A boy surprises his father by doing all the chores for him on Christmas morning. It doesn’t sound like it would be so emotional, but it is.
The Last Straw by Paula Palangi McDonald - This is a really sweet book about a family that does a Giving Manger-style exchange of acts of kindness. The story is cute, and the illustrations are beautiful. We just got a Giving Manger last year, and we read this book to the kids before we start our “secret pal” exchange.
We Were There: A Nativity Story by Eve Bunting - This is a book about some of the non-traditional animals that may have been present when Jesus was born. If you have a child that likes creeping things, as my littlest one does, this is a cute one!
The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park - A really neat book about what myrrh is and where it comes from. A boy helps gather myrrh resin with his father, and sells some to three strangers who need a gift for a King. It was neat to learn a little more about myrrh and how it was used!
Room For A Little One by Martin Waddell - A sweet story about the animals welcoming each other into the stable, before welcoming Baby Jesus. I thought the illustrations were so sweet and cozy.
Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson - A mouse named Mortimer finds a house that is perfectly sized for him - the problem is that it's filled with statues! He just tosses them out and enjoys the comfortable manger - until he learns the Nativity story. Very cute story, and a creative way to point to the Nativity.
‘Twas The Evening Of Christmas by Glenis Nellist - Written in the metre of “The Night Before Christmas”, this book focuses on the story of Jesus’s birth instead. I love this one!
The Lightlings by R. C. Sproul - A gorgeously illustrated, imaginative retelling of the story of God sending His Son to save us. The additional discussion questions in the back are excellent for guiding a discussion about Jesus's birth and the gospel, complete with Scripture references!
Santa Stories:
Little Red Sleigh by Erin Guendelsberger - A little red sleigh wants desperately to be Santa's sleigh and help bring joy to children everywhere, but on her journey to the North Pole she learns that things in life come more gradually. She brings joy to a little girl as she goes sledding on Christmas Day, and Little Red Sleigh realizes she is already fulfilling her purpose.
The Littlest Christmas Elf by Little Golden Book - This is another book from my childhood that I’m fond of. Allistair is the littlest elf, and can’t help with all the elfish tasks. He is worried that Santa will find out his ineptitude and send him away, so he runs and hides in the stable, making a new friend named Nicholas. I think you can guess where it goes from there. Just a cute little story!
The Night Santa Got Lost: How Norad Saved Christmas by Micheal Kerne - This was a great find for us this year! The book is written as a twist on "The Night Before Christmas", but the real treasure is the history of NORAD's tradition of tracking Santa on Christmas Eve, and the other Christmas-related military history stories in the back. We found it delightful, and this book would be a great jumping-off point for other studies about history and the military, writing short stories, etc.
Mouse's Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corduroy - It turns out there was a mouse stirring on Christmas Eve, and this book shares the story of how a mouse helps Santa, and Santa helps the mouse find a friend. Very cute!
Rudolph Shines Again by Robert L. May - Rudolph starts to feel sorry for himself as all the reindeer pick on him for being Santa's favorite...until one day, Rudolph's nose stops shining. This is a cute story about the "continuing adventures" of Rudolph beyond the traditional tale!
The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett - All of Brett's illustrations are so Christmas-y, and in this story, Teeka must train the reindeer to pull Santa's sleigh.
Truffle's Christmas by Anna Currey - Truffle can't decide whether to ask Santa for a hula hoop or a blanket. He settles on asking for the hula hoop, but the next night he gives up his blanket for the baby mice. So he goes on a journey to see if he can change his request to a new blanket instead. Really cute little story!
The Finest Christmas Tree by John and Ann Hassett - A quirky story about Farmer Tuttle, who was a Christmas tree farmer until his customers started to dry up. Then suddenly he gets a note, and tiny little figures carry off one of his Christmas trees!
Santa Claus And The Three Bears by Maria Modugno - We love retellings, and this is a sweet Christmas retelling of Goldilocks! My kids enjoyed it.
The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett - The classic Christmas poem, but with Jan Brett's beautiful illustrations!
Carl's Christmas by Alexandra Day - In this book, the dog Carl is tasked with watching the baby while the parents go out (not realistic, but cute). He takes the baby on all kinds of Christmas adventures through the rest of the book. This is a wordless book, so it would be a fun writing project to have kids write their own words for each page.
Fletcher And The Snowflakes Of Christmas by Julia Rawlinson - Fletcher is a classic in our home at this point, and in this book the little fox Fletcher worries that Santa won't be able to find the home of his rabbit friends, since they just moved to a new burrow. This is a sweet Christmas story, highlighting friendship with beautiful illustrations.
Other Christmas Stories:
The Christmas Owl by Ellen Kalish - In this story, none of the animals know what Christmas is, until an owl's tree is cut down and taken to the big city to be a Christmas tree. He is sent to an owl rescue and shown kindness and care by the humans there, and afterward he thinks he understands a little better what Christmas is.
A Wish To Be A Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe - A large pine tree is never picked as a Christmas tree, and tells his woes to the forest creatures. They appreciate the big tree, and set out to show him how much they love him by making him into a Christmas tree. Really sweet book about friendship.
Red And Lulu by Matt Tavares - This is a really cute story about two cardinals who live in a Norwegian pine tree that is cut down and taken to New York to be the Rockefeller Center tree. My kids remembered this from year to year and enjoy it!
Pick A Pine Tree by Patricia Toht - This is a basic book about the fun of tree decorating, but the illustrations really make this book! They are so colorful and whimsical and festive.
Night Tree by Eve Bunting - This is a story about a family that goes out to the woods to decorate a Christmas tree with popcorn and birdseed balls and fruit, so the woodland animals can celebrate Christmas too. I love this book because we took inspiration from it to decorate our own “night tree” one year!
A Christmas Sweater For Nina by Cecilia Heikkila - This is a book about a cat whose sweater unravels at Christmas, but it leads her to a new home and a new friend. The coziness factor of this book won me over.
The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas by Little Golden Book - I have a special place in my heart for the Poky Little Puppy, ever since I was a toddler watching him on a VHS at my grandma’s house, over and over. This book is about how the Poky Little Puppy learns that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson - We love all the Bear books, and this one is about Bear having a Christmas party with his friends. Very cute illustrations, and the repetitive text is fun for little ones.
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood - We've read this book a couple years in a row, and aside from the bright and rich illustrations, I love how the little mouse feels compassion for the bear even when the narrator is trying to warn him away.
The Littlest Christmas Tree by R. A. Herman - Classic story of the smallest tree in the lot, wishing he could be a Christmas tree. The illustrations in this one are so cute!
Mistletoe by Tad Hills - Mistletoe loves to be outside in the snow at Christmastime, but her friend Norwell likes to be warm and cozy - so she sets out to make him a present that will allow them to spend more time together. Cute illustrations, and fun for knitters!
The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains by Annie Silvestro - A tree grows in a Christmas tree lot right next to a train track, and loves the feeling of the trains whooshing past...until a family comes and takes the tree to their home. Will she ever see a train again? This is a cute one for kids who love trains.
Finding Christmas by Leslie Evans - In this story, Hare, Mouse, and Squirrel find a wounded Sparrow, and give up all their presents to help a creature in need. I loved the reference to the Bible verse in the very back, and stories that highlight sacrifice and selflessness at Christmas are always welcome.
The Perfect Tree by Corinne Demas - Bunny wants to find the perfect Christmas tree, and all his friends tell him what to look for - but when he finds it, he can't bear to cut it down. This is a basic finding-a-Christmas-tree story, but we enjoyed it!
A Christmas Wish For Corduroy by Don Freeman - If you like the original Corduroy book, you'll enjoy this Christmas backstory that explains how he got his cute green overalls!
Lighthouse Christmas by Tony Buzzeo - Two kids, who have moved to an island with their dad to be the new lighthouse family, try to figure out how to celebrate Christmas with no resources, since their supply ship is delayed by the weather. The information in the back of this book about the "flying Santa" program that brought Christmas cheer to lighthouse families was especially interesting, and would make a great Christmas research project for homeschoolers who do “Christmas School”!
I Love You More Than Christmas by Ellie Hattie - An adorable book about a bear family enjoying all that Christmas brings. Younger kids will enjoy all the interrupted endings of the poem!
The Magic Of A Small-Town Christmas by Megan Alexander - Cute illustrations depicting Christmas traditions in a small town. I enjoyed this book since my little town has some unique Christmas traditions as well.
The Peterkins' Christmas by Elizabeth Spurr - My kids know the Peterkins from A Peterkins Thanksgiving, and so they were greatly amused by this zany Victorian family's Christmas hijinks. This is a longer book, but also pretty fun!
Winter's Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan - An old man finds himself lonely at Christmas, until a lost mare reminds him to always to keep hope - in an unexpected way! This is a sweet Christmas book for horse-loving kids!
Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant - A beautiful picture book about a Christmas train that brings presents to poor boys and girls in the Appalachian mountains - and how one of those boys grows up and finds his way back to Appalachia. This book makes me want to cry for a reason I can't pinpoint - we loved it.
Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray - An old woman and a boy decide to plant a Christmas tree farm - and after ten long years the trees are ready to sell. This book is an imaginative look at what it would be like to grow Christmas trees, and as a homeschool mom I noted that the built-in math problems abound!
An Orange For Frankie by Patricia Polacco - Get ready to tear up at the end of this book. A sweet story about a boy named Frankie, who loses his Christmas orange - but his family pulls together and creates an orange for Frankie.
Cranberry Christmas by Wende and Harry Devlin - We rejoin the gang of Cranberryport, as Mr. Whiskers tries to save the skating pond and also get his house ready for a visit from his sister. The "Cranberryport" books are all delightful, and this is a fun Christmas story!
Christmas In The Country by Cynthia Rylant - A little girl shares her favorite parts of celebrating Christmas in the country with her grandparents. The illustrations in this are very cute, and all the traditions shared are sweet and nostalgic.
The All-I’ll-Ever-Want-For-Christmas Doll by Patricia C. McKissack - A story of a family in the south during the Great Depression. A little girl wants a Baby Betty more than anything - and she gets one on Christmas morning! The problem is, there is only one between herself and her two sisters. A sweet story for a reminder that people are more important than things. Some Santa talk in this one, but that's not the focus of the story.
The Story Of Holly And Ivy by Rumer Godden - A doll in a toy shop wants to be given to a little girl, a little girl wants to spend Christmas in a real home, and a woman wishes she had a child to pour her love on at Christmas - and all these stories come together in this adorable and sweet book.
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett - This book along with the next two are a trio of books about Gingerbread people! This book is a fun play off of the traditional gingerbread man story - but the Gingerbread Baby is not obnoxious and gets away in this one.
Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett - In this one, the Gingerbread Baby is lonely when the little girl leaves for school, so he goes in search of a friend.
Gingerbread Christmas by Jan Brett - In this book, a whole gingerbread band joins the Gingerbread Baby and plays sweet music in the town square...until someone decides the band looks pretty tasty!
Construction Site On Christmas Night by Sherry Duskey Rinker and A. G. Ford - Very similar to the classic 'Goodnight, Construction Site', except a Christmas version!
If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff - In the same tradition as If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, one thing leads to another in this Christmas version!
The Gift Of The Magi by O. Henry illustrated by Robert Sauber - A beautifully illustrated version of O. Henry's classic Christmas tale!
A Cowboy Christmas by Audrey Wood - Evan's cowboy friend, Cully, is a big help around the ranch ever since Evan’s father died - but then at Christmas, Cully doesn't come home one night and Even and his mother must go looking for him. A sweet story that gives a peek into what life may have been like in the Old West. This one has a sweet ending.
The Christmas Crocodile by Bonnie Becker - A crocodile causes chaos for a family at Christmas, until the family sends him away - or so they think! A humorous Christmas book!
A Christmas For Bear by Bonny Becker - This is a funny book about a bear who has never hosted a Christmas party before. His friend Mouse arrives and is worried that there are no presents - only pickles! I highly recommend reading the bear with an English accent.
Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble - A story about a terrible blizzard that brings down a family's apple tree. One of the daughters is heartbroken, because the tree used to be her "art studio" - but her father finds a way to bring the feeling of the old tree back for the girls. Sweet, old-fashioned Christmas story.
Suzy Goose And The Christmas Star by Petr Horacek - Suzy Goose spots a star in the sky and goes on a journey to see if she can snatch it for the top of the animal's Christmas tree...until she gets lost! A light, simple Christmas story.
If I Could Give You Christmas by Lynn Plourde - This book features a sweet Christmas-themed poem from a parent to a child. What really makes this book shine, in my opinion, are the absolutely beautiful illustrations of animal kids and parents.
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry - This delightful book features Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree, which keeps getting chopped smaller as small animals use the cut-off top as their own Christmas tree. Very cute and humorous for the kids!
The Twelve Days Of Christmas by Laurel Long - This version of The Twelve Days Of Christmas is just gorgeous, with each of the gifts hidden in the illustrations on every page! My kids poured over this for a long time after we read it.
Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect by Richard H. Schneider - This is a folk tale about a small pine tree, that sacrifices its perfect beauty in order to help forest animals who are in trouble. I liked how the book tied it back to reflecting Christ’s sacrificial love to others on earth. The whole gospel isn’t here, but it’s a nice reminder for believers at Christmastime.
The Nutcracker by Niroot Puttapipatt - This version of the Nutcracker story is really fun because of the surprise pop-up page! I also thought it was cute how Clara met Dr. Drosselmeyer's nephew at the end.
Merry Christmas, Anne by Kallie George - A cute Christmas story surrounding Anne of Green Gables, and inspired by the book! Our family just read L. M. Montgomery's classic together, so this is a fun picture book to add to our stack this year.
The Queen And The First Christmas Tree by Nancy Churnin - This story is based upon the life of Queen Charlotte. The title is a little misleading in that I’m not sure she can claim the first Christmas tree, but she was the first to popularize Christmas trees in England. I love this for a Christmas history tie-in!
