Our favourite children’s Christmas books to read this December!
20 magical children’s Christmas books – December 2021: I adore Christmas time and in particular bedtime in the winter with the children. There’s something so magical about snuggling up with them after a festive day out, when it’s cold and dark outside and reading stories that build on all the Christmas magic. We have quite a collection of children’s Christmas books now.
I keep them away until 1st December when they are all we focus on reading. One of my favourite types of books at this time of year is one where you read a chapter a day, starting on 1 December. However there are so many gorgeous options to choose from and it really is a joy to take them out to read with the kids every year. In case you are looking for some ideas for children’s Christmas books too, keep reading to find out out favourites…
Note – this blog post about children’s Christmas books contains affiliate links which means that I could make a small commission on purchases made, with absolutely no cost to the reader. Thank you as always for supporting this small business.
1. Peter Rabbit: Christmas is Coming – Beatrix Potter
This is a wonderful Christmas countdown book with a chapter to be read on each day from 1st December. As is to be expected, the story and the illustrations in this book are stunning. This will become a festive favourite in your collection to be read and enjoyed year after year.
<< Purchase Peter Rabbit: Christmas is Coming here >>
2. A Boy Called Christmas – Matt Haig
The true story of Christmas is told in this wonderful book by Matt Haig. We are reading this book each night and my 5 year old and 9 year old don’t want me to stop reading. We can’t wait to see the newly released movie once we have finished. Get ready to believe in the impossible.
<< Purchase A Boy Called Christmas here >>
3. The Christmas Department Store – Maudie Powell-Tuck
New for 2021 this delightful story will make your heart swell as it focusses on the importance of love laughter and family at Christmas. With incredible illustrations and a heart-warming story, this is a book you and your children will enjoy year after year.
<< Purchase The Christmas Department Store here >>
4. The Night Train – Matilda Woods
Another new book for 2021 is the unique story of The Night Train; a train delivering the passengers for people’s dreams. Featuring the Yeti who, along with his dreamer, Lily, has spent the past 3 weeks travelling to The North Pole.
<< Purchase The Night Train here >>
5. I love you more than Christmas – Ellie Hattie
A gorgeous book for children age 3-6 years which is sure to become a firm favourite. Little Bear loves Christmas and this is a celebration of all things festive, focusing on love, friendship and family.
<< Purchase I love you more than Christmas here >>
More of our favourite children’s Christmas books!
6. A Puppy’s First Christmas – Holly Webb
With 128 pages this is perfect for independent readers aged 6 – 8 or, of course, to be read aloud by an adult. Following Arla and her puppy as they navigate celebrating his first Christmas. This is a book that will have you smiling from ear to ear.
<< Purchase A Puppy’s First Christmas here >>
7. The Most Wonderful Gift in the World – Mark Sperring
With a gift under the tree that hasn’t reached it’s intended recipient Esme and Bear set off to find the rightful owner. With gorgeous illustrations and a strong focus on friendship this is perfect as a reminder that Christmas is about more than just presents.
<< Purchase The Most Wonderful Gift in the World here >>
8. The Christmasaurus – Tom Fletcher
The multi-talented Tom Fletcher has re-invented his bestselling story The Christmasaurus as a rhyming picture-book adventure for younger readers. Tom has also just released the third book in the collection The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List.
This is ideal for readers aged 7 – 11. As a true lover of Christmas you can be assured that this is a perfect festive book to add to your collection.
<< Purchase The Christmasaurus here >>
<< Purchase The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List here >>
9. Christmas Pig – J.K. Rowling
The latest book released by J.K. Rowling is a heartwarming story of a boy and his most loved toy. I’ve gifted this to all 10 year old’s who have had a birthday since it’s release date. This is a tale for the whole family to fall in love with.
<< Purchase Christmas Pig here >>
Some of the best children’s Christmas books…
10. The Snowiest Christmas Ever – Jane Chapman
For those who love to dream of snow so thick that it reaches the window ledge, this book would be perfect. Find out what happens as the snow fall around Bear’s cosy cabin gets deeper and deeper – will it ever stop?
<< Purchase The Snowiest Christmas Ever here >>
11. The Christmas Pine – Julia Donaldson
A Christmas story from the much-loved author, Julia Donaldson. The Christmas Pine is based on the true story of the tree in Trafalgar Square. Utterly heartwarming and destined to become an award-winning film at some point in the future.
<< Purchase The Christmas Pine here >>
12. The Christmas Bear Pop Up Book – Ian Whybrow
Follow the adventure of the bear left in Father Christmas’ workshop as he sets off to deliver all of the toys on Christmas Eve. With illustrations by Axel Sheffler and a flap on each page to lift, this is a book to treasure.
<< Purchase The Christmas Bear Pop Up Book here >>
13. Dear Santa – Rod Campbell
With simple text and bright bold illustrations, together with a flap to lift on each page this book is perfect for your toddler. Find out what Santa has sent and if he will send the perfect present in the end.
<< Purchase Dear Santa here >>
14. The Night Before Christmas – Libby Walden
Nothing says Christmas Eve magic like The Night Before Christmas. One of my favourite children’s Christmas books to read, this story is incredibly evocative, reminding me of my own childhood Christmas. Find out what happens in this modern adaptation of Clement C. Moore’s classic tale.
<< Purchase The Night Before Christmas here >>
More of our favourite children’s Christmas books…
15. The Frost Fair – Emma Carroll
For children aged 7 and up this story follows Maya as she travels back in time 200 years to the banks of the frozen River Thames. Immerse yourself in the history of the Frost Fair with this incredible book and stunning illustrations.
<< Purchase The Frost Fair here >>
16. The Twinkly Twinkly Nativity book – Sam Taplin
10 twinkly lights in this beautiful book help to bring the story of the first Christmas alive for little children. This reminds me of a book gifted to me at Sunday School when I was a child. It will become a much-loved classic in your collection which your child will return to again and again.
<< Purchase The Twinkly Twinkly Nativity book here >>
17. How Winston Delivered Christmas – Alex T. Smith
This story is told in 24 and a half chapters, and it is intended that you read one chapter a day from 1st December. We read this last year when one of my children was 4 and the other was 8 years old. We all thoroughly enjoyed the story and were invested in Winston’s adventure. I can’t tell you how much we all looked forward to snuggling up each night to see what happened next.
New for this year is How Winston Came Home for Christmas. Following on from his adventures the previous year and featuring some of the same friends he made along his journey this new story is full of mystery, adventure and the heartwarming magic of Christmas.
<< Purchase How Winston Delivered Christmas here >>
<< Purchase How Winston Came Home for Christmas >>
18. The Crayon’s Christmas – Drew Daywalt
This is a perfectly hilarious, interactive book for all ages to enjoy. Beautifully illustrated by Oliver Jeffers this will be a top choice in your Christmas book collection.
<< Purchase The Crayons’ Christmas here >>
19. There’s an Elf in Your Book – Tom Fletcher
Another brilliant book by Tom Fletcher. This interactive, funny book is a firm favourite in my household. Elf wants to see if you’ve been naughty or nice this year – but be careful he might try to trick you!
<< Purchase There’s an Elf in Your Book here >>
20. One Snowy Night (A Tale from Percy’s Park) – Nick Butterworth
This one is not strictly about Christmas but is definitely one of our seasonal favourites and it felt wrong to miss it off the list. This is a delightful tale of all the animals in the park needing more than just food from Percy as the snow settles and they all find themselves shivering out in the cold.
<< Purchase One Snowy Night here >>
21. Stickman – Julia Donaldson
I wasn’t going to include Stickman as we read it all year round but my Mum thinks it should be in this post, so here it is! Follow Stickman on his adventures trying to get back to the family tree. Will he be reunited with his Sticklady before Christmas?
22. One Christmas Wish
All of the books in this series are just lovely. We have several of them and a few more to buy too. Once Christmas tells the story of a family of baby mice getting excited when they see the first flutters of snow and their quest to find more of it. Have a look at the different books – I’m sure you’ll enjoy them too.
<< Purchase One Christmas Wish here >>
I hope you found this blog post with our children’s Christmas books useful? If you have any classics or indeed new Christmas books that you think should be added too, please do let us know in the comments below….Merry Christmas! x