Do you enjoy snuggling up with a captivating Christmas story or indulging in a collection of fictional tales during chilly December days? I have two book lovers in my home who will snuggle up any moment for a nice story book read. These are beautiful memory-making moments and will imprint in your children’s core memories for years to come, so this holiday season, strengthen family bonds by sharing books while nestled under cozy blankets and quilts.
A Curated Christmas book list just for you
I’ve curated a perfect Christmas book list filled with plenty of heartwarming favorites for you this festive season. I am grateful for all the moms who share their favorite books each year. As I come across new books, I keep a running list of those that catch my eye. While I have only included books we own, have read, and fondly love, there is a world of Christmas books we have yet to devour and experience. There are also many books we encounter that have not made the list just because it did not catch our attention or did not feel warm and cozy. I personally believe that many of the books on this list will fill your heart with warmth, evoke emotions, inspire you, convey kindness and unconditional love, or lead you toward a connection with Jesus.
Remember that what one person loves may not always be a book you enjoy, so take the time to read the summaries, look up reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and determine for yourself whether it is a book you will enjoy. You can also find many read-aloud videos on YouTube.
To purchase or not to purchase?
Personally, I heavily rely on the library to gauge a book’s quality. I prefer buying books that we anticipate reading repeatedly, especially when it comes to picture books. When it comes to Christmas books, I am more inclined to make a purchase, considering many can be enjoyed for years to come. I consistently add a few titles to my collection each year. If you would rather not buy, I recommend checking your local library first.. Additionally, I suggest exploring archive.org, especially for older books. Several books on my list are available here. It’s convenient to borrow and read them directly on your device.
And with that, here’s my Christmas booklist.
Fictional stories inspired by the essence of Christmas
Immerse yourself in tales that capture the very essence of the Christmas spirit. Each story is beautiful and touching and reminds us of why we need to be kind, loving, caring, humble, and grateful. It also reminds us that Christmas can bring out the best in us and it is an excellent time to give grace to others just as Christ gives to us. I hope you’ll enjoy reading through this booklist. I have so many favorites in this category such as Mortimer’s Christmas Manger, The Christmas Tapestry, Silver Packages, and Great Joy to names just a few.
| Mouse’s Christmas Gift – Mindy Baker | Amazon Link | |
| Silver Packages, an Appalachian Christmas Story – Cynthia Rylant | Amazon Link | |
| Great Joy – Kate Dicamillo | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| The year of the perfect Christmas tree – Gloria Houston | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| Mortimer’s Christmas manger – Karma Wilson | Amazon Link | |
| The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Barbara Robinson | Amazon Link | |
| The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey – Susan Wojciechowski | Amazon Link | |
| A Simple Christmas on the Farm – Phyllis Aldurf | Amazon Link | |
| There’s a lion in my Nativity – Lizzie Laferton | Amazon Link | |
| A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens | archive.org | |
| Christmas Tapestry – Patricia Polacco | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| Silent night: the song and its story – Margaret Hodges | archive.org | |
| The Best Christmas Present in the World – Michael Morpurgo | archive.org | |
| How Winston Delivered Christmas | Amazon Link |
Books on Christmas Customs and Traditions
We love in times when children forget the true meaning of Christmas and focus on the symbols that represent Christmas. What if I told you many of these symbols are tied to the story of Christmas, bringing people together? This curated booklist unveils the narratives behind stockings, candy canes, poinsettias, Santa Claus, the Rockefeller tree, and various customs and traditions worldwide.
| The Christmas Book Flood – Emily Kilgore | Amazon Link | |
| Twas Nochebuena – Roseanne Greenfield Thong | Amazon Link | |
| The Legend of the Poinsettia – Tomie dePaola | Amazon Link | |
| Joy to the World – Christmas around the Globe – Kate DePalma | Amazon Link | |
| Joy to the world : Christmas stories from around the globe | archive.org | |
| Red and Lulu – Matt Tavares | Amazon Link | |
| The Carpenter’s Gift, A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree – David Rubel | Amazon Link | |
| The legend of the Christmas stocking – Rick Osborne | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| The Legend of the Candy Cane- Lori Walburg | Amazon Link | |
| Saint Nicholas – The real story of the Christmas Legend | Amazon Link | archive.org |
Stories That Point to Jesus
Children adore engaging picture books, and what better story to read to them than one about Jesus, complete with beautiful illustrations that capture their hearts. There are so many books to choose from and each uniquely written. Some of my favorites are The Wise Men who Found Christmas, The Good News of Christmas, and the Donkey who carried a King. While the last one I mentioned is a little long, I highly recommend sticking with it or breaking it up into two days.
| The Wise Men Who Found Christmas – Raymond Arroyo | Amazon Link | |
| The Christmas Promise – Alison Mitchell | Amazon Link | |
| The First Christmas Night – Keith Christopher | Amazon Link | |
| The Little Drummer Boy – Ezra Jack Keats | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| A Very Noisy Christmas – Tim Thornborough | Amazon Link | |
| The Littlest Watchman – Scott James | Amazon Link | |
| The Christmas Story – The Golden Book | Amazon Link | |
| The Good News of Christmas – Rousseaux Brasseur | Amazon Link | |
| Advent StoryBooks – Laura Richie | Amazon Link | |
| Humphrey’s First Christmas by Carol Heyer | Amazon Link | |
| The Donkey who carried a King – R.C. Sprout | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| The Legend of the Candy Cane- Lori Walburg | Amazon Link |
Winter Themed Books
When cold and frost hit us, we know that the holidays are around the corner. This short booklist is a reminder of the joy that winter brings and the adventures that go along with it.
| Red Sled by Lita Judge | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| Snow by Cynthia Ryland | Amazon Link | |
| The Mitten by Jan Brett | Amazon Link | |
| The lion, The witch, and The wardrobe – C.S Lewis | Amazon Link |
Holiday Themed Books
This booklist is centered around the holidays. For instance, Richard’ Scarry’s Christmas book is filled with the busyness of Christmas that many can relate to. It is fun for the little ones especially. There are some interactive books such as the Pigeon book and the Little Blue Truck.
| Best Christmas Book Ever – Richard Scarry | Amazon link | |
| Don’t let the Pigeon drive the sleigh -Mo Willams | Amazon link | |
| Elf – David Berenbaum | Amazon link | |
| A Charlie Brown Christmas – Charles M. Schulz | Amazon link | archive.org |
| Little Blue Truck’s Christmas – Alex Schertle | Amazon link |
Santa Themed Books
While we don’t incorporate Santa into our home traditions, we will not pass up on beautifully written stories about him. Among this booklist are two books introducing St. Nicholas which we found particularly useful last year when we decided to share the truth about Santa with our children. One of my personal favorites in this booklist is “When Santa Learned the Gospel.” Its a touching narrative that shows us Santa’s humility and willingness to accept that he was also in need of a Savior. Lastly, my boys adore the Dasher books, captivated by the beautiful illustrations that accompany the stories.
| Dasher by Matt Tavares | Amazon Link | |
| Dasher Can’t wait for Christmas by Matt Tavares | Amazon Link | |
| Twas the Night before Christmas – Clement Moore | Amazon Link | |
| Saint Nicholas – The real story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer | Amazon Link | archive.org |
| Just Nicholas – Annie Kratzsch | Amazon Link | |
| When Santa learned the Gospel – Simon Camilleri | Amazon Link | |
| The Polar Express- Chris Van Allsburg | Amazon Link | |
| A World of Cookies for Santa – M.E. Furman | Amazon Link | archive.org |
Nutcracker Christmas Books
Who could resist delving into at least one Nutcracker book during the festive season? There’s an abundance of picture books, and I’ve personally read several of them, five of which did not make the cut. A standout for me on this list is “The Story Orchestra” because it not only immerses you in the narrative but also lets you experience the accompanying orchestra music—a delightful bonus for the holiday season.
| The Nutcracker and the Four Rhelms – Calliope Glass | Amazon Link |
| The Nutcracker comes to America – Christ Barton | Amazon Link |
| Nutcracker – Susan Jeffers | Amazon Link |
| Charlotte and the Nutcracker – Charlotte Nebres | Amazon Link |
| Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite – Anna Harwell Celenza | Amazon Link |
| Nutcracker in Harlem – T.E. McMorrow | Amazon Link |
| The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker | Amazon Link |
Berenstain Bear Christmas Books
My eldest cherished watching the Berenstain Bears during her early years. If you’re not aware, they also have a TV series. Their books are clean, wholesome, and always teach valuable lessons. They have a quite the collection of Christmas books, so we of course grabbed a few of them last year. These are small paperback books, so they are also very affordable.
| Berenstain Bear’s Night before Christmas | Amazon Link |
| The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving | Amazon Link |
| The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel | Amazon Link |
| The Berenstain Bears Merry Christmas | Amazon Link |
| The Wonderful Scents of Christmas | Amazon Link |
Conclusion
I hope you find a treasured read for your family from this booklist. Share with me in the comments what books you have already read. If you have questions about any of the books above, you can leave a comment below and I’ll respond as soon as I see it.. I hope you read many wonderful books this season that bring adventure, joy, and comfort to your home.
(This post contains Amazon affiliate links which means that I will receive a commission without any added cost to you. If you do purchase any of these books, I hope you will consider using these links. Thank you for being in my community.)
