12 Christmas Books for Kids
In our family, we store our Christmas books in the attic for most of the year. So it is a cause of great delight, near the beginning of Advent, when we bring them out again. In these books, we find wonderful stories to celebrate the birth of Christ. To be clear, these are not adaptations of sacred scripture, but rather secular stories surrounding the celebration of Christmas. They unfold the meaning of Immanuel, God with us, through stories of generosity, homecoming, wonder, and peace.
We read our favorites each year, and each year, we add a few more by recommendation. In the same spirit, here’s a list of twelve Christmas books for kids, arranged chronologically. It’s a mix of genres and styles, with the hope that every reader finds some new volumes to explore. Do you have a favorite that is not on the list? Please share it in the comments!
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1. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (1823) with Illustrations by Roger Duvoisin (1954)
In a sense, this is where the modern Christmas celebration began. Drawing upon the Dutch celebration of Sinterklass, Anglican Professor Clement C. Moore wrote “The Night Before Christmas” and published it in a New York Newspaper in 1823.
The model for Santa Claus, of course, is Saint Nicholas. He is both generous and winsome. And he appears with the vestments and comportment of a Bishop:
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot…
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow…
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
Over two centuries, the poem has been reprinted many times. The most popular is with illustrations by Charles Santore, but I especially like the illustrations of Roger Duvoisin, because the vertical format works well for the rooftop & chimney themes.
2. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (1905)
O Henry’s modernist fable illustrates the power of elegant writing with Biblical themes. The set-up is simple: a young couple sell treasured possessions to give each other Christmas gifts. And the story is sad, because they sell the very things that the other hopes to adorn.
But with analogy to the Biblical magi, the pay-off is paradoxical and profound.
Here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrifice for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest…
Yes, we cry every year when we read this one.
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (1957)
The Grinch hardly needs any introduction, now that he is ubiquitous in popular culture through movies (1966, 2000, and 2018), clothing, decor, and more. In our family, we have Grinch plates, Grinch sweatshirts, Grinch and Max stuffed animals—and, oh, we read the book too.
But our Grinch pop culture can miss how the story points beyond commercialism and toward the gospel:
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!”
Christmas means a lot more. In fact, the only answer to the Grinch, who lives inside all of us, is to recognize that Christmas is founded in Christ. With the hope of Christ, gratitude can overcome grumpiness.
Find it here. (Or the full-color version here).
4. A Wreath of Christmas Legends by Phylis McGinley (1964)
In this volume, the Roman Catholic poet Phylis McGinley recasts medieval legends of Christmas in a poetic form. Modern poetry is often inaccessible to adults as well as children, but McGinley writes with clarity of concept and rhythmic precision.
On the night that Christ was born
The rivers, one hears, ran fine
And sweetly between their banks,
Filled not with water but wine.And any man who drank
Of that beneficent tide
(Though he had stooped in anger
To drink), grew pacified,
Loving even his foeman
As dearly as his bride;
Wholly at peace with himself,
The world and everything.While the trees in the forest blossomed
As if the winder were spring.
Leonard Weisgard’s simple line illustrations add visual interest to this volume, but the main event is the poetry.
5. Best Christmas Book Ever by Richard Scarry (1981)
For those familiar with Richard Scarry’s Busy Busy Town or Busy, Busy World, this volume follows many of the same characters in their preparations for Christmas. Or, if you are encountering Richard Scarry for the first, time, get excited! This is not just a book, it’s an experience, filled with stories, carols, a game, word board, and even instructions for making pomanders.
My kids repeatedly return to this volume to hear the stories and explore the many details in the marvelous illustrations.
6. The Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble (1984)
Those who enjoy the Little House on the Prairie books will also appreciate The Apple Tree Christmas, situated similarly in family life on the American frontier.
Part of the pleasure here is the atmosphere, with the evocation of apple harvest, the arrival of snow and winter, and the joy these two girls take in their tree.
Now that the apples were picked, Katrina and Josie could climb the tree as much as they wanted. The snowy weather didn’t stop them. Every day after school they would play in its branches.
One one side Papa had pulled a thick vine down low enough to make a swing for Jose. The other side of the tree belonged to Katrina. One limb made a perfect drawing board. She called it her studio. There she would dream and draw until the cold winter sun glowed low behind the trees.
The deeper emotion comes when a blizzard threatens the family and their tree, and in the subsequent surprise Papa delivers on Christmas morning.
7. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston (1988)
Set in Appalachia during World War I, the story follows the family of Mama, Ruthie, and their horse, Old Piedy.
Papa is away at war, but this resilient family still manages to find and cut the perfect balsam fir for the church and its Christmas pageant.
“Did you year the news about the Christmas tree? the preacher said. “A wondrous balsam, from up the high craigs, was found on the belfry porch this morning.”
“Do tell! Do tell! What a wonder,” said Mama.
“And that’s not all. It’s being told hereabouts that folks who live up the holler heard the angels singing high up on the ridge late into the night. And they were singing Christmas songs,” said Preacher Ellis.
Ruthie hid her face in Mama’s patchwork quilt so the preacher would not hear her laugh.
And, of course, there are a few more surprises in store.
8. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett (1997)
One of the fun genres in Christmas books is the carol picture book. These volumes simply use the lyrics of a Christmas carol and then supply illustrations. I enjoy these because they give me a way to sing with my kids.
Jan Brett’s illustration of The Twelve Days of Christmas is a standout in this genre. Each day gets a central illustration of its gifts, but then the details in the margins of the page also tell additional stories.
When I sing this with my kids, we like to flip back to previous pages as we count down the 12 days of Christmas. Sometimes my kids join in the singing, other times they focus on the art.
9. An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco (2004)
Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite children’s authors; she excels in depicting domestic life through written details and expressive art.
This story tells the tale of Frankie, the youngest boy of nine children, waiting for his father to return home with Christmas oranges. We expect pa to return, and we share in Frankie’s joy when he does.
He walked over to the mantle and gazed at the splendid oranges. His heart sang that his pa was home—and safe. He looked at the oranges closer and closer. He could smell the pungent aroma of their skins… Even though he’d been told not to, he gently touched his orange. Then he picked it up. It smelled like sunshine.
But what will happen when Frankie unexpectedly loses his Christmas orange?
10. Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914, by John Hendrix (2014)
Famously, soldiers in the trenches of World War I paused their fighting for Christmas 1914. It’s the kind of moment that would seem contrived if it happened in a movie, but truth is stranger than fiction. In this volume, illustrator John Hendrix immerses us with his vibrant illustration and tells the story through a letter written home from the front:
Altogether, it was a splendid day with our foes. Tomorrow, I suppose we will all fight for our countries. And when the major returns, we will have to follow his orders. But I suspect our side will spend the rest of the night aiming high above their trench, shooting at the stars.
11. The Queen and the First Christmas Tree, by Nancy Churnin (2018)
This book begins with Princess Charlotte in Mecklenburg, Germany, where she has a Christmas tradition of decorating a yule branch. When she moves to England to marry King George III, Queen Charlotte carries on the tradition.
But in 1800, when she is throwing a Christmas party for 100 children, the yule branch isn’t big enough. What will she do?
Charlotte grabbed her hat and coat and went to her favorite place to think: outside. She gazed at the snow in the trees glistening in the lantern light. Suddenly she had an idea. She called the gardener. “Are you sure?” he asked…
In addition the backstory of the Christmas tree, this book reveals Queen Charlotte’s love of children, including the fifteen she had with King George!
12. St Nicholas the Gift-Giver, by Ned Bustard (2021)
Ned Bustard is the creative inspiration behind Square Halo and the illustrator of many books. Recently, he has created a set of popular children’s books focusing on the early Christian saints, including St. Nicholas, St. Patrick, and St. Valentine. Their illustrations are simple and fun, and their language is accessible to even young children:
Folks say that he died in
three hundred forty-three
on December the sixth
…well loved and godly.But SOME stories say
that on Christmas Eve
Nick carries a sack with
gifts, treasures, and treats…
By knitting together the historical figure with the contemporary legend, we get a well-rounded picture of Saint Nick (more than his belly!).
13. The Baker’s Dozen, by Aaron Shepherd (1995)
Of course, the thirteenth book in this article had to be The Baker’s Dozen! But have you ever wondered why a baker’s dozen is thirteen?
Here’s the origin story from colonial America!
“I asked for a dozen. You have given me only twelve.”
“Madam,” said the baker, “everyone knows that a dozen is twelve.”
…
“Van Amsterdam! However honest you may be, your heart is small and your fist is tight.”
Image: photo by Nestea06, courtesy of iStock.
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