Tis the season to read holiday books while snuggled up on the sofa. Here’s a list of our top family favorites — and a few new-to-us titles too.
Some of these books are good for older readers (even grown ups) and some for the littlest listeners. Some are religious and sentimental, others are completely secular. But altogether, I think they make a really good collection.
For each title, I’m including links to Bookshop.org — it’s an online option that supports local independent bookstores. I’ll also include an Amazon link for each title, because I know some of you have credit there you’d like to use.
A great book-related idea: My sister-in-law Erin wraps up 25 Christmas books and uses them as an advent calendar — her kids unwrap one each day and read it as a family. (If you don’t have 25 Christmas books, you could start with what you have and borrow some from the library.)
You’ll notice this list is focused on Christmas books — because that’s the holiday my family celebrates, and it’s the one I know best. But obviously, there are lots of winter holidays that are celebrated across the world, so if you have recommendations for non-Christmas holiday books, I’d love to learn about them. Feel free to add links or titles in the comments.
Design Mom’s Favorite Christmas Books, in no particular order:
A Child’s Christmas in Wales
It’s enjoyable to read, but I think I like it even more as an audio book, so I can hear his lovely accent.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Christmas Alphabet
I love a good pop-up book — they feel like magic! And all of Robert Sabuda’s pop-ups are excellent. I can’t believe this one had a 20 year anniversary.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Christmas Day in the Morning
It’s a great story for helping kids imagine what a meaningful gift of service might look like.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Secret Society of Saint Nicholas
New this year! This book came to be when the author was remarrying and combining two families — one family believed in Santa Claus, the other did not. “This is a story for kids (and their parents) who are heartbroken by certain terrible information about Santa Claus. Think there’s no more magic in the world? Oh, the truth is much more interesting. It’s time to embrace a deeper magic.”
Bookshop.org
Amazon
A Christmas Carol
All those Scrooge movies your kids have watched? (I’m looking at you, Muppets!) This is where it all comes from. If you have young kids, and you think the original might be too hard for them to understand, look for an adaptation for young readers, or you can also try an illustrated edition. The other fun thing about A Christmas Carol is that there are tons of pretty gift editions out there to choose from — with fancy covers, or gilded edges.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Dream Snow
This is an Eric Carle book made for very young children, but we still read it every year because it’s just so sweet and magical — the little button at the end is pure twinkly genius. Get the hardcover, not the boardbook!
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Silent Night
This is a beautiful book; a reverent and accessible adaptation of a favorite carol. It was out-of-stock last year, but is happily available now.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Still an all-time best Christmas book — and the book is better than all the movie versions.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Another story of a change of heart.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
A Christmas Wish
It’s a sweet and simple story, but even if it wasn’t, we would love this for the photographs.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
This is a chapter book. We like to read it aloud, a couple chapters at a time over a few nights — it’s a great one to finish on Christmas Eve.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Gift of the Magi
A story of a young and foolish but loving couple who just want to give each other the best Christmas gifts ever. This is another old story, so there are tons of gift versions available.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Every Man Heart Lay Down
The Christmas story set in Liberia; originally published decades ago and it was long out of print.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Twas The Night Before Christmas
There are lots of versions of this story so you can look around for one that suits you. In my opinion, the best ones have vintage drawings. This one was illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith who is one of my very favorite children’s book illustrators.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Pick a Pine Tree
All about the all-important family tradition: the Christmas Tree.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Olive, the Other Reindeer
The song lyrics: All of the other reindeer, sound like Olive, the Other Reindeer. That’s the basis for this charming story and it does not let you down.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Polar Express
I’m not a fan of the movie, but I adore the book. It’s even a Caldecott winner!
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Snowy Day
Not holiday related, but a great winter time book that we like to keep with the Christmas titles. It’s another Caldecott winner.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Nutcracker
There are dozens of versions of this famous story too. You can pick one with illustrations that you think your kids will especially like.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Who is Coming to Our House?
It’s a board book for very young children and it’s super sweet. You get to watch the animals as they prepare for a little baby visitor.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Ours is basically it’s the lyrics to the song, with illustrations to match. There are lots of versions of this one, so look for an illustrator you enjoy.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
Christmas is here and Mr. Willowby’s tree has arrived. There’s just one big problem: The tree is too tall for his parlor! What will happen next?
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Amazing Peace
This is the book I want to add to our collection this year. The text is a poem by Maya Angelou.
Bookshop.org
Amazon
That’s the list! I first published this post in 2011, and try to update it regularly.
One thing to note: I didn’t include much in the way of “character books” like Eloise at Christmastime or Richard Scarry’s Best Christmas Ever or Peppa Pig’s Christmas Wish, even though some are really good, because there are literally dozens and dozens. But if your kids have a favorite character or author, why not get the related holiday book?
Lastly, I’m sure you have favorites that didn’t make my list — I may not even know about them! I hope you’ll include any of your picks in the comments.