One of our favorite holiday traditions during Christmas time is to gather around the Christmas tree and read a Christmas story together. We do this every night in the month of December. I’ve been on the hunt for over twenty years for the very best Christmas picture books, and we have an excellent collection now that our whole family loves. In this blog post I will share some of the children’s books that we enjoy during the holiday season – I hope you enjoy them too!
These books are great for family read-alouds, but are also great for preschool, kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade storytime. I note the books that are overtly religious in case that is a concern. There are many great Christmas picture books that work for a secular setting on this list.
Religious Christmas Picture Books
The Legend of the Christmas Tree: The Inspirational Story of a Treasured Tradition by Rick Osborne
We read this book when we put up our Christmas tree. It is a great way to remind our family about the symbolism of the Christmas tree and all the ways it helps remind us of the reason for the Christmas season. This book is religious in nature, so it may not be appropriate for all settings.
If You’re Missing Baby Jesus: A True Story that Embraces the Spirit of Christmas by Jean Gietzen
The title says it best – this story really does embrace the spirit of Christmas, and I love that it is a true story. It is about a family that comes to the aid of another family in need and feels the thrill of giving. This is the perfect story if you are missing baby Jesus at Christmas time! It probably goes without saying, but there are some overtly religious references in this story.
The First Christmas According to Luke
This is the Christmas story taken straight from Luke. Some parts of the account are left out to help with the flow of the story. I really like being able to read Luke’s account with these lovely illustrations. It makes the Bible passage much more accessible and enjoyable for young children especially. We read this book on Christmas Day to help us stay focused on Christ. This book is obviously overtly religious.
God Bless Your Way: A Christmas Journey by Emily Freeman
This book is a treasure. It is about an elderly man who is traveling behind Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem, and the kindness he receives on the way. The man meets baby Jesus in a tender ending to the story. The story and illustrations are beautiful. This one is a tear-jerker!
Pippin the Christmas Pig by Jean Little
This is a sweet story about how Pippin and the other animals in the barn learn the true meaning of Christmas when they take in a traveling woman and her baby. This was one of my daughter’s favorites as a little girl, so it has a special place in our hearts.
Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
This is another Christmas book that I enjoyed as a child. It is a sweet story about the unruly Herdman children and how they, and their community, learned what Christmas is really about. There is a picture book version which is based on the original version. The original version is pretty short – only 80 pages long, which makes it a great Christmas chapter book for a read-aloud! This book is not overly religious in content, but it does mention baby Jesus and church, so it may not be appropriate for every setting.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
This is another classic Christmas story. It is about a poor husband and wife who sacrificed their dearest possessions in order to give each other a special gift. A lovely story to remind us of the importance of selfless giving at Christmas time. This story does have some overtly religious references at the very end.
Christmas Prayer by Rian Anderson
This is a lovely story about a young man in a small rural village in the late 1800s who receives the true spirit of Christmas through an act of service. A wonderful reminder of what Christmas is really about!
The Legend of the Candy Cane: The Inspirational Story of Our Favorite Christmas Candy by Lori Walburg
This book explains the symbolism of the candy cane in story form. I appreciate the way this book reminds us of what Christmas is really about. We hang candy canes on our Christmas tree after we read this one, which my kids really enjoy. This is definitely a religious book, so it may not be appropriate for all settings.
Penny’s Christmas Jar Miracle by Jason F. Wright
This is a delightful story about a little girl named Penny who organizes a special Christmas surprise for her neighbor, Grandpa Charlie, who is ill. This is a sweet and touching story. We always cry during this one!
There are a couple of very vague religious references in this story, so please preview it if you think this might be a concern.
Good King Wenceslas as read by Jane Seymour
The Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas is put into story form in this beautiful book. I love the story and love the illustrations. We like to sing the song after we read the book!
This book does have some light religious references, so please preview it if you have concerns.
Secular Christmas Picture Books
Santa Mouse by Michael Brown
This is a Christmas classic! This has been one of my favorite Christmas picture books since I was a child. The main character of the story is a little mouse who wants to give Santa Claus a present on Christmas Eve and ends up getting to ride in Santa’s sleigh!
When Santa Was a Baby by Linda Bailey
This book is so stinkin’ cute! It is one of our favorite Christmas read-alouds. It is a fun story about Santa growing up, and it includes hilarious little details about the baby and young boy version of Santa, like how he liked to stand in front of the freezer because he liked the cold so much, and how he only wanted to wear red pajamas. I can’t possibly do the book justice in a summary like this, but if you like Santa you will love this book!
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
Is there a book by Patricia Polacco that isn’t fabulous? This one is beautiful, as expected. It is the heartwarming story of Frankie and the Stowell family and the love they express through sacrifice. It is drawn from the author’s family history, so this is a true story about real people. This is the perfect book for getting you into the Christmas spirit! This Christmas picture book has us in tears every year.
Santa Claus: The World’s Number One Toy Expert by Marla Frazee
This is another of our favorite Christmas books. It’s a cute story about how Santa works all year round at his workshop at the North Pole testing toys and finding the perfect Christmas presents for each child.
Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect by Richard H. Schneider
This is the story of Small Pine, a little pine tree who sacrificed its perfect beauty to care for others. This is a great book for sharing the spirit of Christmas, and it does not have any explicitly religious language so it can be shared in any setting.
The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans
This is a poignant Christmas story with beautiful illustrations. It is about a young man who learns the true meaning of Christmas through the magic of a Christmas candle that shows him things he could not previously see. This story is reminiscent of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This is a Christmas picture book you don’t want to miss!
Jolly Old Santa Claus by Maryjane Hooper Tonn
This beloved book takes you back in time to the magical world of childhood Christmas. It’s written for a young audience, but my big kids still like listening to it. It’s been around for a really long time, so there are several versions of it, but the content inside is mostly the same. The illustrations are a feast for a young child’s eyes!
Santa’s Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene
This is a silly story where Santa eats too many cookies and gets stuck in the chimney, so he needs a little help getting out! The story and illustrations are super cute. It’s a fun book to read aloud, especially for younger kids.
The Christmas Train: A True Story by Thomas S. Monson
This is a sweet story of a little boy who learns to overcome selfishness by making a sacrifice for someone else’s happiness on Christmas morning. This is a story from the Great Depression era, so it’s also a great book for working in some history!
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Holly Hobbie
If you like Toot and Puddle, you’ll like this story. It’s a cute story about sharing friendship and love at Christmas time.
The Year Without a Santa Claus by Phyllis McGinley
If you like the old cartoon by the same name, I think you will like this book! Santa feels unappreciated and he decides he wants a break from his regular Christmas activities, so he announces that he is taking the year off. The children of the world rally to show him that they care, and they send him Christmas presents from all over the globe.
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck
This is a great story about a young boy who wants to express his love for his father by giving him something meaningful for Christmas, so he creates a plan to give his dad a break from the farm chores on Christmas morning. A sweet and tender story about love, family, and the power of giving from the heart! This is another of our favorite Christmas picture books!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
This is the expanded story of Rudolph told in rhyme. The text is fun and the illustrations are lovely. Sure to delight the younger crowd!
The Night Before Christmas: The Classic Edition by Clement C. Moore
Is there a more classic Christmas story than The Night Before Christmas? This book is the text of the old poem that we know and love paired with lovely illustrations.
I hope the books on this list of Christmas picture books add to your holiday cheer this year! Merry Christmas!
