The Best Christmas Books for Babies and Toddlers
Christmas is just around the corner, which means it’s time to break out your favorite holiday books. Not sure how to choose the perfect Christmas books for your little ones? I’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best Christmas books for toddlers and kids to help!
It’s that time of year: It’s Christmas time! Our family loves making new Christmas traditions, and one that we have fallen in love with involves adding new special Christmas books for our kids! Did you know that reading aloud with your children can promote literacy skills even after they’ve become independent readers?
The Christmas season is such a great opportunity to spend extra time together as a family, and reading aloud is a wonderful way to create some really special memories. I created this list of some of the best Christmas books for kids to help inspire you this holiday season.
From board books to holiday classics to read aloud, religious choices and new ones this year aimed specifically at navigating Christmas during a pandemic, I hope this list of the best Christmas books for babies and toddlers helps you as you choose your own selections.
Pick a few or buy them all! And if you’re looking for a fun way to incorporate them, you can wrap and open one each night as a creative 24 Days of Christmas Books for Advent too!
I created this list of the best Christmas books for toddlers and babies as a resource for other parents of little ones (my guys are 1 and 2!).The children’s books on this list are aimed at ages 0-5. They are also split into multiple categories to make it easy to find the types of Christmas books for kids you’re searching for.
If you find some titles on this list that you love for your own family, please be sure to share this post.
Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclaimer here.
The Best Christmas Books for Kids
This list of the best Christmas books for babies and toddlers is split up three books at a time to make it easy to sort through. Click on the photo of each book to find out more information, and scroll down below the photos for details about each selection! Each of these are sure to help you get into the holiday spirit this year.
Looking for more ideas for Christmas fun with your little ones? Be sure to also check out Free Printable Christmas Activity Sheets, 50 Advent Calendar Activities for Toddlers and DIY Christmas Crafts for Toddlers!
The Polar Express
This Caldecott Medal winning book has been delighting readers of all ages for nearly two decades as a Christmas classic, and is a book your family can love reading together for years to come. With its beautiful illustrations, it tells the tale of a boy who takes a Christmas Eve train ride through the night to the North Pole, and is a favorite for families young and old.
Order Here: The Polar Express
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Watching the holiday movie might be a tradition in your home, but there’s something special about reading this Dr. Seuss classic book full of funny rhymes and whimsical images as the Grinch finds the true meaning of Christmas. This book is fun for children of all ages!
Order Here: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Teeny Tiny Santa
Perfect for little ones, this sweet Christmas story shows that big things come in small packages. A teeny tiny fox worries that he might be too small for Santa to reach him, but a teeny tiny Santa arrives to deliver his gift!
Order Here: Teeny Tiny Santa
Dream Snow
Our family loves Eric Carle’s books (especially The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Grouchy Ladybug), and this beautiful book is the perfect holiday addition. With bright, colorful illustrations Dream Snow tells the story of a farmer dreaming of Christmas snow, and how he takes care of his animals once it actually starts.
The animals just so happen to be named One, Two, Three, Four and Five, making the book fun for your toddlers to count along with, too. (Also available as a board book!)
Order Here: Dream Snow
Little Robin’s Christmas
This is a beautiful story that focuses on giving to others in need in way that’s easy for even toddlers to understand. Little Robin has seven brightly colored knit vests for the week leading up to Christmas that he’s very excited to wear. Each day as he heads outdoors, he comes upon an animal who is cold and has nothing to wear to keep them warm, so Little Robin gives up his special vests one by one to help those animals in need. Santa rewards his generosity and kindness to others with a very special gift.
Order Here: Little Robin’s Christmas
I Got the Christmas Spirit
A unique Christmas book for kids that tackles a difficult reality of the season head-on, and shows a young person being compassionate and giving by helping others in need.
Order Here: I Got the Christmas Spirit
Construction Site on Christmas Night
If you’re a fan of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, you will love her holiday-themed book. Each construction vehicle contributes to a big Christmas surprise, and then finds a surprise of their own as they head off to bed.
Order Here: Construction Site on Christmas Night
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
Our family loves the original Little Blue Truck, and this holiday tale is a fun addition to our story time. Follow Little Blue Truck spreading cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. With sturdy cardstock pages, compact and child-friendly text, and flashing lights on the last page, your little ones are sure to delight in this adventure. My oldest son LOVES this book and asks for it year round!
Order Here: Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
Llama Llama Jingle Bells
If your little one is obsessed with Llama Llama Red Pajama too, this short and sweet rhyming book is a perfect addition for your Christmas reading. A sweet book choice that encourages little ones to spread holiday cheer and love through their actions, follow Little llama and his friends as they participate in holiday activities like gift-giving and decorating holiday cookies.
This board book is also great for babies because the thick pages are easy to turn!
Order Here: Llama Llama Jingle Bells
5 More Sleeps ‘Til Christmas
Make the last week until Christmas more fun by counting how many sleeps until the arrival of Father Christmas and his reindeer with this fun book from comedian Jimmy Fallon.
Order Here: 5 More Sleeps ‘Til Christmas
How Winston Delivered Christmas
This is the story of a mouse named Winston who sets off on a journey to deliver a lost letter to Santa. Taking place over 24 and a half chapters, each chapter also includes a fun Christmas themed-activity, such as making paper snowflakes and writing a letter to Santa. Like the 12 days of Christmas, you can choose to read this book over 12 or 24 days to make it extra special.
Order Here: How Winston Delivered Christmas
The Crayons’ Christmas
The Crayons from the smash-hit children’s book, The Day the Crayons Quit are back in a special holiday-themed story. Duncan and his crayons are getting ready for Christmas and letters start arriving. Each envelope has something special inside for little ones to discover.
Order Here: The Crayons’ Christmas
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition
No list of Christmas books for babies and toddlers would be completed without the Elf on the Shelf! Elf on the Shelf is a mischievous, fun-loving elf that helps Santa Claus with his Naughty and Nice lists.
I recommend buying the set that includes the book and the elf, so you can hide the elf each morning for your child to find. Reviewers note that seeing how happy this makes their children is the best gift of all. (There are also a TON of groups and blogs with great inspiration for your Elf on the Shelf adventures)
Order Here: The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition
The Story Of Christmas
This beautiful, timeless board book with stunning illustrations introduces children to the Nativity Story and reminds us all of the true meaning of Christmas. Perfect for little hands!
Order Here: The Story of Christmas
The Night Before Christmas
How can you have a list of the best Christmas books for kids without the absolute classic, The Night Before Christmas? This wonderful new version of the classic Christmas poem every family should own is illustrated by renowned New York Times #1 Bestselling artist Charles Santore, and is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a Christmas book that will grow with your little one over the years. (Also available as a board book!)
Order Here: The Night Before Christmas
Religious Christmas Books for Babies and Toddlers
If it’s important for your family to have children’s books on your Christmas reading list that focus on the reason for the season, this list of religious Christmas books for kids are some wonderful choices. There are some great options here to read aloud on Christmas Day, too.
Click on each of the photos below to see more information about these religious Christmas books for babies and toddlers, and scroll down below the photos for more details about each one!
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale
The story of Jesus’ birth in the manger is told in this sweet tale from the perspective of the animals who were there.
It’s a great choice for parents who want to introduce the nativity story to their children in a meaningful way they can understand at a young age. Simple and short enough to keep the attention of preschoolers, it’s also beautifully illustrated and fun for older children to share in as you read as a family.
Order Here: Room For a Little One
The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale
The Tale of Three Trees is a perfect pick for families focusing on Jesus as the reason for the season. Perfect for preschoolers and toddlers, it tells the tale of three pine trees as they dream about what they want to grow up to become. (Spoiler: they grow up to be the wood for Jesus’ manger, boat and cross.)
This simple, classic folktale is a beautiful way to focus on the religious aspect of Christmas with little ones.
Order Here: The Tale of Three Trees
The Beginners Bible: The Very First Christmas
Part of the best selling The Beginner’s Bible Collection, The Beginner’s Bible, The Very First Christmas introduces children to the story of Jesus’s birth in a simple and easy to understand way.
Order Here: The Beginner’s Bible, The Very First Christmas
God Gave Us Christmas
If you find yourself searching for how to include the story of Jesus and Santa in one book, check out this beautiful tale. Mama Bear takes Little Cub around to different sights, and explains to him how God is at work and how each of these places demonstrates God’s presence and love for us.
Throughout this sweet tale there are several explanations of how God gave us Christmas and who and what exactly Jesus was to us (the Light of the World, the Bright Morning Star and the best present of all).
Order Here: God Gave Us Christmas
Christmas Books for Babies
Christmas is such a magical time for all children, but there’s something oh so special about your child’s very first Christmas.
While you can absolutely read any of the books on the above list with your sweet baby, it’s also great to have some safe board book choices they can grab, pull and let’s be honest: shove in their mouths!
Here are some great Christmas books for babies. These picture books are fun for the whole family, and also make a great Christmas gift! Just click on the photos to learn more about each book and to order.
Christmas Books for Toddlers about the Pandemic
Is your little one nervous about Santa not being able to visit this Christmas due to social distancing? There are quite a few books tackling this topic this year!
Click on each photo below to check them out for yourself.
These Best Christmas Books for Kids are A Great Way to Spend Time Together
I hope this list of my favorite Christmas books for babies and toddlers helps you as you find the perfect books to read with your little ones this year too! These books are perfect to do with the 24 Days of Christmas Books for Advent. Much like A Christmas Carol, reading special Christmas books with your kids is sure to become a special tradition.
Which books are you favorite? Are there any of your personal favorite best books that I’m missing? What are some fun Christmas traditions you treasure with your own family?
If you find some titles on this list that you love for your own family, please be sure to share this post and PIN the Best Christmas Books for Babies and Toddlers for later! Merry Christmas and happy reading!
