The Best Christmas Picture Books for Kids

The best Christmas picture books reward reading aloud again and again: strong rhythm, pictures worth lingering over and a story that grown-ups enjoy too. These are real, widely available books, grouped by mood so you can find the right one for the night.

Most titles here are widely held by public libraries, and many classics are free online through Project Gutenberg. Editions, formats and availability vary, so check your local library catalogue.

Modern classics every family should know

If you only read a handful of Christmas picture books, start with these. They have stayed in print for decades because they work beautifully aloud.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985). A boy rides a midnight train to the North Pole and receives the first gift of Christmas. Dreamlike oil-pastel art; it won the 1986 Caldecott Medal. Best for ages 4–8.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss (1957). The rhyming story of a grump whose heart grows three sizes. Irresistible to read with voices. Ages 3–8.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (“A Visit from St. Nicholas”) by attributed to Clement Clarke Moore (1823). First published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel; authorship has been debated, with some scholars crediting Henry Livingston Jr. Dozens of illustrated editions exist, so pick one whose art you love. All ages.
The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (1991). The Jolly Postman delivers real envelopes with letters, cards and a tiny game tucked inside. Ages 3–7.
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry (1963). An enormous tree is trimmed, and trimmed again, as the top passes from house to house. Ages 3–7.

Cozy and funny Christmas read-alouds

These are the books children ask for by name. Most are short enough for bedtime.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman (2004). Bear's friends keep him awake for Christmas for the first time. Gentle rhymes for ages 2–6.
Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry (2014). Blue delivers trees to farm friends; doubles as a counting book. Ages 1–4.
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney (2010). Little Llama struggles with waiting for Christmas, a feeling every child knows. Ages 2–5.
Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh, illustrated by J. Otto Seibold (1997). A dog who mishears a carol decides she must be a reindeer. Ages 4–8.
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don and Audrey Wood (2002). The little mouse from The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear learns about giving. Ages 2–5.
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner (2005). What snowmen do at night on Christmas Eve; look for hidden shapes in the art. Ages 3–7.
Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis (2017). The joyful ritual of choosing and decorating a tree, told in bouncy rhyme. Ages 2–6.

Jan Brett's Christmas and winter books

Jan Brett's detailed, Scandinavian-inspired borders hint at what happens next, making her books great for pre-readers to "read" the pictures.

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett (1990). Teeka learns to train Santa's reindeer with kindness rather than shouting. Ages 3–8.
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett (1999). A gingerbread boy runs off through a Swiss village, with a clever ending. Ages 3–7.
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett (1986). The carol in pictures, packed with details to spot. All ages.

Heartfelt Christmas stories for older children

Longer texts with richer themes, best for ages 6 and up or for reading over two nights.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P.J. Lynch (1995). A grieving woodcarver is softened by a widow and her son. Moving and beautifully painted.
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola (1994). A Mexican folktale about a girl's humble gift that becomes the poinsettia.
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats (1968). The carol illustrated by the author of The Snowy Day.
Santa Calls by William Joyce (1993). An Art Deco adventure in which three children are summoned to the North Pole.
Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present by John Burningham (1993). Father Christmas goes to great lengths to deliver one forgotten gift.

Beyond Christmas: other winter holidays

December is full of celebrations. These well-loved picture books explore other winter holidays and the season itself.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (1989). A clever traveller outwits goblins over eight nights; a Caldecott Honor book. Ages 5–9.
Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story by Fran Manushkin (1990). A family snowed in during Hanukkah finds unexpected luck. Ages 3–7.
Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis (2000). Seven brothers learn to work together, reflecting Kwanzaa's principles. Ages 5–9.
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Carson Ellis (2019). Cooper's solstice poem, written for the Christmas Revels, as a picture book. All ages.

How to choose the right Christmas picture book

Toddlers (1–3): short rhyming texts, bold pictures and repetition, such as Little Blue Truck's Christmas.
Preschoolers (3–5): stories with humour and a simple problem, such as Bear Stays Up for Christmas or Llama Llama Holiday Drama.
Early readers (5–8): richer stories and art to pore over, such as The Polar Express or Jan Brett's books.
Older kids (8+): do not retire picture books. Longer texts like The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey work well for shared reading, and older children enjoy reading favourites aloud to younger siblings.

Tips for reading Christmas books aloud

Preview the book yourself first so you can pace the page turns.
Pause on detailed spreads and let children point things out.
Use voices, especially for rhyming books like the Grinch.
Stop while they still want more; Christmas books are meant to come back next year.

Want to turn these into a December countdown? See our guide to building an advent book calendar.