9 Great Children’s Books for the Christmas Season

When it’s cold outside I love to make a cup of tea, curl up under a blanket, and read to myself or out loud to the family. I had so much fun putting together this list of some of the most beloved and recommended books for this time of year. Some of these books for the Christmas season are beloved stories we own, while some we have borrowed from the library, and some are on my wish list.

I hope you enjoy this list of suggested children’s books for the Christmas season as much as I enjoyed making the list (and as much as I enjoy reading some of these stories with my kids)! Seriously, reading together is one of my favorite ways of enjoying the holiday season with my family.

9 Great Children’s Books for the Christmas Season

The Crippled Lamb

I highly recommend this book for the story and the artwork. The artist did all of the original artwork in oil paintings, and they are beautiful. The focus of this book is a small lamb named Joshua. He can’t run and play like the other lambs, but he does have a faithful friend named Abigail who is his constant companion.

This book shows the tender love God has for those who feel alone and different. Abigail tells Joshua that God has a special plan for him and when you see the answer to Joshua’s prayer at the end, you may cry as I do every time I read it to my girls. We read this throughout the year, not just at Christmas because of the amazing message of how we all have a part in God’s plan, even when it seems like we are being left behind because we are different than those around us.

The Tale of Three Trees

This book is read by some at Christmas and Easter because the trees that this traditional folktale revolves around are part of each of those stories. The three trees all have a wish/dream for how they will be used once they are cut down. Time goes on and they continue to grow and forget their dreams. They all have their dreams come true, just not in the way they could have imagined.

This book has a beautiful message for children and adults about how God can use all of us in some way, but sometimes it’s not what we planned on or expected.

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

We are big Tolkien fans and I can’t believe we didn’t already own this, but it is going in our reading rotation for this December. Every December from 1920 – 1943 an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkien’s children. Inside they would find a letter and a drawing or painting from Father Christmas. Each letter told the children about all the adventures Father Christmas had at the North Pole.

I can’t imagine how exciting that must have been for his children, and I think it’s fantastic that we can read them today. I’m pretty sure this will become one of our regular books for the Christmas season that we’ll read every December.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

This book features a sad and Scrooge-like woodcutter named Jonathan Toomey. He is quite content to be angry and unfriendly, while he keeps the real reason for his sadness a secret. Then his life is turned upside down through the grace and kindness shown to him by a widow and her son. This book is very sweet and shows how the Christmas story can change even the saddest heart. The artwork is rich and detailed throughout the book.

 Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas

Fancy Nancy is so fancy that little girls just love her, as do many moms who loved to be fancy at that age too. This book has Fancy Nancy in her most fancy form preparing for all the exciting decorating and splendiferous fun that comes with Christmas.

Following the theme of most Fancy Nancy books, this book has Nancy face a situation that didn’t turn out the way she expected. The book has Nancy learn a heartwarming lesson from her Grandpa on traditions and what you make of them. The illustrations are fun and cheerful, and children can learn a lot of advanced vocabulary from Fancy Nancy.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This book features the Herdman children who are known as the “worst kids in the history of the world,” and who take over the Christmas pageant. They have never been to church and never heard the Christmas Story, so they offer their interpretation of it–which shocks some of the church members.

This book is about the kids that no one wants to go near because they are so bad, but they are the ones who need the Christmas story the most. There are great laughs in this book but also great lessons about how the Christmas Story can deeply impact those who have never heard it before. And maybe–just maybe–it can help those who have heard the story a hundred times see it in a new light.

This book has recently been made into a movie and this Kindle version of the story has the movie tie-in.

The Night Before Christmas

This is the traditional poem by Clement C. Moore, but with beautiful illustrations by Mary Englebreit. The story is a classic and that is unchanged in this edition. The best thing about this book is the rich detail in every drawing that children love to look at over and over. This edition makes a great keepsake or gift.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

“The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.”

As far as books for the Christmas season go, this one is terrific for young children. I have loved this classic Dr. Seuss book since I was a child. From the Who’s in Whoville who are happily going about their lives to the Grinch who can’t stand how happy they are, the story offers a wonderful life lesson.

I think this book is a beautiful lesson for kids on how selfish thoughts and disregard for others can lead to terrible things. Then they can see that what the Grinch did to be mean didn’t affect the Who’s – rather they still sang because they had each other. The impact of that on the Grinch changes his whole outlook and shows children that hearts can change and forgiveness is real.

The Polar Express

In 1986, The Polar Express was awarded the prestigious Caldecott Medal and hit the New York Times bestseller list. My mother read it every year at Christmas when my siblings were small and now she reads it to my girls via Skype each Christmas Eve and she cries every time. The book is fairly short, but so sweet and filled with wonder in addition to beautiful illustrations.

The Polar Express was made into an animated film in 2004, featuring the voice talent of Tom Hanks, and is a fun family movie.

NOTE: This book does introduce the possibility that Santa isn’t real, so be aware of that if you haven’t read it to your kids before. I think this story continues to be one of the most popular books for the Christmas season because even adults like to imagine what it would be like to take a train to the North Pole.

This list of great Children’s books for the Christmas season could have included at least two dozen more books, but I had to narrow it down to fit in one post.

I would love for you to comment and share any books or family reading traditions you recommend.