60 Christmas Books We Love That Will Brighten Your Season

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 BakerAmazon Link
Silver Packages, an Appalachian Christmas Story – Cynthia RylantAmazon Link
Great Joy – Kate DicamilloAmazon Linkarchive.org
The year of the perfect Christmas tree – Gloria HoustonAmazon Linkarchive.org
Mortimer’s Christmas manger – Karma WilsonAmazon Link
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Barbara RobinsonAmazon Link
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey – Susan WojciechowskiAmazon Link
A Simple Christmas on the Farm – Phyllis AldurfAmazon Link
There’s a lion in my Nativity – Lizzie LafertonAmazon Link
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickensarchive.org
Christmas Tapestry – Patricia PolaccoAmazon Linkarchive.org
Silent night: the song and its story – Margaret Hodgesarchive.org
The Best Christmas Present in the World – Michael Morpurgoarchive.org
How Winston Delivered ChristmasAmazon 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 KilgoreAmazon Link
Twas Nochebuena – Roseanne Greenfield Thong Amazon Link
The Legend of the Poinsettia – Tomie dePaolaAmazon Link
Joy to the World – Christmas around the Globe – Kate DePalmaAmazon Link
Joy to the world : Christmas stories from around the globearchive.org
Red and Lulu – Matt TavaresAmazon Link
The Carpenter’s Gift, A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree –
David Rubel
Amazon Link
The legend of the Christmas stocking – Rick OsborneAmazon Linkarchive.org
The Legend of the Candy Cane- Lori WalburgAmazon Link
Saint Nicholas – The real story of the Christmas LegendAmazon Linkarchive.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 ArroyoAmazon Link
The Christmas Promise – Alison MitchellAmazon Link
The First Christmas Night – Keith ChristopherAmazon Link
The Little Drummer Boy – Ezra Jack KeatsAmazon Linkarchive.org
A Very Noisy Christmas – Tim ThornboroughAmazon Link
The Littlest Watchman – Scott JamesAmazon Link
The Christmas Story – The Golden Book Amazon Link
The Good News of Christmas – Rousseaux BrasseurAmazon Link
Advent StoryBooks – Laura RichieAmazon Link
Humphrey’s First Christmas by Carol HeyerAmazon Link
The Donkey who carried a King – R.C. SproutAmazon Linkarchive.org
The Legend of the Candy Cane- Lori WalburgAmazon 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 JudgeAmazon Linkarchive.org
Snow by Cynthia RylandAmazon Link
The Mitten by Jan BrettAmazon 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 ScarryAmazon link
Don’t let the Pigeon drive the sleigh -Mo WillamsAmazon link
Elf – David BerenbaumAmazon link
A Charlie Brown Christmas – Charles M. SchulzAmazon linkarchive.org
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas – Alex SchertleAmazon 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 TavaresAmazon Link
Dasher Can’t wait for Christmas by Matt TavaresAmazon Link
Twas the Night before Christmas –   Clement MooreAmazon Link
Saint Nicholas – The real story of the Christmas Legend by Julie StiegemeyerAmazon Linkarchive.org
Just Nicholas – Annie KratzschAmazon Link
When Santa learned the Gospel – Simon CamilleriAmazon Link
The Polar Express-  Chris Van AllsburgAmazon Link
A World of Cookies for Santa – M.E. FurmanAmazon Linkarchive.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 GlassAmazon Link
The Nutcracker comes to America – Christ BartonAmazon Link
Nutcracker – Susan JeffersAmazon Link
Charlotte and the Nutcracker – Charlotte NebresAmazon Link
Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite – Anna Harwell CelenzaAmazon Link
Nutcracker in Harlem – T.E. McMorrow Amazon Link
The Story Orchestra: The NutcrackerAmazon 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 ChristmasAmazon Link
The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of GivingAmazon Link
The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas AngelAmazon Link
The Berenstain Bears Merry ChristmasAmazon Link
The Wonderful Scents of ChristmasAmazon 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.)

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