December is such a magical time for young children. Picture books are an amazing way to bring the spirit of the holidays alive. Last week, we started the Winter Holidays Series with picture books about Hanukkah. This week, I’ve pulled together my favorite Christmas books for kids!
I’m sharing all of these books on video as well! Check out the Christmas Books for Kids on my Youtube channel.
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Christmas Books for Kids
Dasher by Matt Tavares
A heartfelt story about hope, family, and the origins of Santa’s reindeer team. Dasher, the youngest reindeer in her family, loves her mama’s stories of the North Star and roaming free. Dasher escapes from the traveling circus, follows the North Star, and meets Santa who she helps with his sleigh. Then, Dasher and Santa return for Dasher’s whole family and they all help Santa pull his sleigh.
Santa in the City by Tiffany D. Jackson
When Deja is worried that Santa isn’t real, not to mention he’s worried that he couldn’t get into their apartment building, Mommy helps Deja see how the Christmas magic works. Santa has a magic key that opens up all the apartments in the world, he can use the roof to land, and the Christmas lights in the neighborhood guide the way. In fact, Mommy has answers to all Deja’s questions. And she discovers that Santa is real after all…
The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg
This is a BEAUTIFUL book — the illustrations, the storyline, it’s all amazing. You probably know the movie but this is a not-to-be-missed picture book. The Polar Express is my all-time favorite Christmas book!
Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares
Red and Lulu are birds who live together in a beautiful evergreen tree until the tree is cut down and moved into New York City for Christmas. Unfortunately, when the tree is moved, Red gets left behind. He searches and searches until he finally finds his beloved Lulu in the now festively decorated Christmas tree. Together they enjoy the holidays, then find a new place to live in the city afterward. This lovely story and illustrations capture the beauty of Christmas in NYC and how love prevails.
The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen
The Little Reindeer is an enchanting Christmas story about a magical yet unlikely friendship between a little girl and a lost reindeer.
When a jingling sound wakes her from her sleep, a little girl’s dreams come true when she meets a lost reindeer in the forest. They set off on a magical adventure and it becomes a Christmas never to forget. Nicola Killen’s illustrations are sure to amaze in this beautiful book with die cut pages, foil, and flashes of festive red.
A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Collen Monroe
This charming tale of an overgrown pine always being passed by for Christmas, and what his woodland friends do to help him, is sure to become a Christmas classic. With delightful illustrations by wildlife artist Michael Monroe and enchanting text from Colleen Monroe, the birds, deer and squirrel of this story help make their special friend’s wish come true. This one makes me cry every time!
I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison
In the same feel-good style of I Got the Rhythm, this exuberant picture book explores the joys of the holiday season.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and a mother and daughter are enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. The little girl hears sleigh bells ringing and carolers singing. She smells chestnuts roasting–CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!–and sees the flashing lights of the department store windows–BLING! BLING! BLING! She spreads the spirit of giving wherever she goes. And when she reaches Santa, she tells him her Christmas wish–for peace and love everywhere, all the days of the year.
The Christmas Book Flood by Emily Kilgore
My favorite line in this book is, “Reading is magic–when you have the right book.” But I actually love the whole book and its celebration of the Icelandic tradition of giving books to each other on December 24. Kilgore describes the magic of shopping for books with excitement and giggles, then wrapping them up to give to loved ones for the “book flood” tradition. “With blankets and pillows, loved ones and warmth, they sip their hot chocolate and read, read, read, read…” I think we all should adopt this tradition, too!
Be sure to check out the Hanukkah books and stay tuned for a list of Kwanzaa picture books to share with your students!
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