10 Christmas Books for Kids to Read Together This December

Reading a Christmas book with a child is one of my favorite ways to slow down in December.

I gathered ten Christmas books for kids, from funny Christmas books for children to meaningful Christmas books for kids that start real conversations.

Some are interactive Christmas books for children, some are classic Christmas stories for kids, and a few work beautifully as Christmas read-alouds for toddlers.

Pick the ones that suit your family, and tell me in the comments which one you read first.

The Christmas Tree Mouse by Joseph Coelho and Farah Shah

This picture book felt like one of the most imaginative Christmas Eve stories for children I have read lately, and I smiled all the way through it.

A tiny mouse sneaks out on Christmas Eve to help Santa, checking presents, tidying crumbs, and clearing footprints from her cozy home inside the Christmas tree.

When she notices that baby Ola has been given the wrong gift, she sets off on a brave little adventure to put things right.

I adored how clever and kind she is, and I think kids will fall in love with her secret world.

The pictures are charming, and the rhyme has a lovely bounce that makes it a joy to read aloud.

Choose it when you want a funny, heartwarming Christmas picture book full of holiday wonder.

Daisy and the Trouble with Christmas by Kes Gray, Nick Sharratt and Garry Parsons

Daisy loves Christmas so much that by September she is already dreaming about lights, snowmen, and the school play, and I laughed at her from the first page.

Her enthusiasm runs wild, and the trouble it causes made me chuckle the entire way through.

Chaos arrives when the head of the Baby Jesus doll pops off during the school play, which is exactly the kind of mishap that makes a story memorable.

I liked how true to life it feels, because children really do get overexcited and plans really do go sideways.

It strikes me as a smart pick among funny Christmas books for early readers, since it shows the highs and lows of the season honestly.

Daisy’s Christmas turns out messy, yet love and laughter win in the end.

Hetty Feather’s Christmas by Jacqueline Wilson and Nick Sharratt

Hetty Feather returns in this Christmas story, and I enjoyed how it blends adventure, friendship, and tradition in a Victorian setting.

Poor Hetty lands in trouble on Christmas Day and gets left out of the fun at the Foundling Hospital.

Just when everything looks hopeless, someone special arrives to take her on a surprise Christmas adventure, and that turn lifted my spirits.

It works as a historical Christmas book for children that feels both cozy and exciting, and kids who like stories set in the past should be swept away by the snowy scenes and pretty illustrations.

It also gently reminds readers to be kind during the holidays.

If your child already loves Jacqueline Wilson, this would make a wonderful Christmas gift.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Christmas Eve by Eric Carle

Eric Carle’s famous caterpillar is back just in time for Christmas, and this lift-the-flap story makes a lovely first Christmas book for toddlers.

Little ones peek behind each flap to find out who is getting ready for the holiday, and the question of whether Santa will come keeps the pages turning.

I love how simple and magical it feels, with snowy scenes and cozy pictures that suit quiet moments before bed.

Carle’s classic art style shines on every page, and children get excited to open the next flap.

It gives me the feeling of a gentle holiday cuddle each time I read it, which makes it a sweet pick among Christmas board books for babies and toddlers.

The Robin Who Stole Christmas by Rachel Morrisroe and Richard Merritt

This laugh-out-loud story follows Rotten Robin, a little bird with a big plan to steal Christmas, and I enjoyed its mischievous streak.

He and his gang of birds sneak around swiping decorations, mince pies, and even Santa himself.

Over time Robin discovers that Christmas is about joy, kindness, and love instead of stuff, and that lesson landed with real heart.

The bright, joyful illustrations keep the mood fun, and the message is one I love sharing with children.

Pick it if you want one of the funny Christmas books for children that takes a fresh twist on tradition, because I suspect your little ones will giggle the whole way through.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Dickens’s classic tells a beautiful story about kindness, change, and the true meaning of the season, and it is one of the most meaningful Christmas books for kids I know.

Scrooge begins as a grumpy, cold-hearted man with no holiday spirit, until three magical ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve and everything starts to shift.

I love how it reminds us to be generous and loving even after a tough year.

Older children connect with it, and so do adults, and it sparks the kind of conversations I want from a family read.

I always feel warmer after reading it, so share it by the fire or under the tree with a mug of hot cocoa, because this timeless tale never gets old.

Everybody’s Tree by Barbara Joosse and Renée Graef

This Christmas picture book left my heart full, and I think it is a touching holiday story for children.

A tree grows up beside a little boy, through his childhood, his fatherhood, and even his grandfatherhood.

Once the tree is tall and grand, the city chooses it as its Christmas tree.

I love how the book shows that Christmas joy belongs to everyone, whatever their age or background.

The illustrations are peaceful and warm, which makes it a good bedtime read.

It reminds us of love, time, and community, so I think families will treasure reading it together and talking about what matters most at Christmas.

There’s an Elf in Your Book by Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott

This interactive Christmas book is such fun, and it is one of my favorite Christmas read-alouds for toddlers and younger kids.

A cheeky little elf has snuck into your book to find out whether you belong on Santa’s Nice List.

He tries to trick you into being naughty, so you have to stay alert while you read.

I love how it gets children giggling and moving along with the story, because it is playful, silly, and full of festive cheer.

Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott made something kids cannot resist, and I count it among the best interactive Christmas books for children.

Choose it for a family that likes to shout, sing, and laugh together on a cozy December night.

That Christmas by Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb

That Christmas charmed me completely, since it shows what happens when the holiday does not go to plan.

The story is about breaking with tradition and finding joy in the unexpected, and one year everything goes completely differently for the families in it.

That turns out to be what makes it magical, and I connected with the idea that love and togetherness still shine through the chaos.

The soft, warm illustrations make it feel like a cozy holiday movie in book form.

I think it is a gentle, heartwarming Christmas story for children, and I expect families to treasure it.

It taught me that the best Christmas memories are often the unplanned ones.

A Shirley Hughes Christmas by Shirley Hughes

This treasury gathers three of Shirley Hughes’s most loved holiday stories, Lucy and Tom at Christmas, Alfie’s Christmas, and Dogger’s Christmas, and I adore it.

Each story celebrates family, traditions, and the little things that make the season bright.

What I like most is how calm and warm everything feels, from wrapping gifts to decorating the tree.

Children can spot familiar characters and see Christmas through their eyes.

It is a beautiful choice among traditional Christmas stories for kids, and a book to return to year after year because it carries the feeling of home.

Which One Will You Read First?

That is my list of ten Christmas books for kids, and I would happily read any of them again.

For the youngest children, start with The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Christmas Eve or the elf book by Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott.

For giggles, try Daisy and the Trouble with Christmas or The Robin Who Stole Christmas.

For older kids, open A Christmas Carol or Hetty Feather’s Christmas.

Tell me in the comments which book your child asked for again and again.

Happy reading.