Christmas picture books for toddlers and preschoolers
Rhymes, flaps, snow and sleigh bells. These picture books are made for reading aloud with a small person on your lap.
Christmas picture books have a lot to do. They need to be exciting enough to hold a wriggly toddler, calm enough for bedtime and, ideally, charming enough for the adult doing the reading for the thirtieth time. The books below manage all three.
They are arranged roughly from youngest to oldest, and each one comes with a tip for sharing it.
What to look for
- Rhythm and rhyme, which make books easy to remember and fun to read aloud.
- Pictures with detail, which reward repeated looking.
- A sense of anticipation, since children love building up to Christmas Eve.
- Warmth over moralising. The best Christmas stories are about love, home and kindness without lecturing.
Picture books to share
Spot’s First Christmas
By Eric Hill
Spot and his friends decorate and look for presents behind the flaps. Tip: let your toddler lift every flap, and make a guess before each reveal.
Mog’s Christmas
By Judith Kerr
Mog, the family cat, is confused by the tree and the decorations. Tip: stop and ask what Mog is thinking on each page. Children love explaining the cat’s mistakes.
Stick Man
By Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Stick Man is plucked from his tree and carried away by a dog, a swan, a snowman and more, until he finds his way home by Christmas. Tip: the refrain is catchy, so pause and let children say it with you.
The Snowman
By Raymond Briggs
A boy builds a snowman who comes to life at midnight. There are no words, so you tell the story. Tip: keep your voice very low and slow for the flying scene, and let your child tell you what they see.
Father Christmas
By Raymond Briggs
A grumbling, practical Father Christmas rises on the morning of Christmas Eve, feeds the reindeer and sets off. Tip: use a gruff voice for the speech bubbles and let older children spot the jokes in the panels.
The Jolly Christmas Postman
By Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Every page has an envelope with a real letter, card or tiny book to take out. Tip: save this one for when you have time, because everyone will want to read each letter.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
By Dr. Seuss
The rhymes bounce along and the Grinch’s change of heart is satisfying. Tip: read the rhymes at speed and slow down at the Grinch’s great realisation.
Christmas in the Barn
By Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
A quiet retelling of the Nativity story in the stable. Tip: a good choice for Christmas Eve, as the pace is gentle.
The Night Before Christmas
By Clement C. Moore
The famous rhyming poem, available in countless illustrated editions. Tip: choose an edition with pictures that you and your child love, and read it on Christmas Eve.
The Polar Express
By Chris Van Allsburg
A boy boards a magical train bound for the North Pole. Tip: turn the lights down and read it slowly, as the pictures are dark and glowing. Best for ages 5 and up.
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
By Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P. J. Lynch
A sad woodcarver is slowly won over by a widow and her small son. Tip: the story is long and gentle, so it works best for children who can sit and listen. The paintings are by Irish illustrator P. J. Lynch.
Reading Christmas books with very young children
- Keep it short. Read a few pages if that is all your toddler can manage.
- Make it physical. Flaps, sounds and actions keep little ones involved.
- Link the story to real life. Point out the tree in the book and the tree in your living room.
- Do not worry about “getting it right.” If your toddler wants the same book every day for a month, that is perfectly normal.
If your child is not yet at picture-book stage, see our books for babies and toddlers. For more story ideas for ages 3 to 5, take a look at books for preschoolers.
Frequently asked questions
What age are Christmas picture books suitable for?
Board books and lift-the-flap books suit babies and toddlers from around one. Rhyming picture books such as Stick Man work from about three, and longer, more reflective stories such as The Polar Express suit children from around five.
Which Christmas picture books have rhymes?
Stick Man, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and The Night Before Christmas are all in rhyme, which makes them especially good for reading aloud.
Is there a Christmas book without words?
Yes. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs tells its story entirely through pictures, which gives children a chance to tell the story in their own words.
What is a good Christmas book for a child who gets overexcited?
Choose a calm, quiet story such as Christmas in the Barn, and read it slowly with the lights low. A regular reading ritual helps children settle.