Picture Books for Younger Children
(and All Ages)
Click for our list of currently available books from Amazon and other sources.
Out-of-print books may be found in libraries or the used book market.
• = some of our favorites
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• Santa's Prayer
Pauline Books & Media, 2007
Book/CD with story and song
Lovely prayer for children in shaped board book; prayer suitable for elementary children -
The Usborne Christmas Treasury: Stories, Carols and Activitkes, Book and CD
Usborne Publishing Ltd., 2001
Beautifully illustrated anthology, with a particularly nice Saint Nicholas storyPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The Christmas Rose
Charlesbridge Publishing, 2008, first published around 1920 in Germany
First printed as an Advent calendar and recently rediscovered, the new US edition has an illustrated page to read each Advent day. The story tells of St. Nicholas helping children whose mother is very sick. Not shown as a bishop, the book does include introductory information about the good bishop."Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The Saint Who Became Santa Claus
Regina Press, 2002
Attractive small book tells two Nicholas stories (the dowry money and famine) and nicely relates St. Nicholas to Santa Claus, ending, "Most of all, Saint Nicholas wants us to thank God for the gift of the Christ Child, Jesus, who taught us how to love one another; and whose birth makes Christmas a Holy Day for all of us."Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Santa's Secret Story
Pauline Books & Media, 2011
Preview book
Rachel learns who Santa really is and how to share God's lovePurchase from Pauline Books & Media
Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Saint Nicholas
Ars Edition, 1981
English version of popular German book; delightful illustrations -
A Pop-Up Book for Christmas: A Treasury of Celebrations Around the World with an Advent Calendar
Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin, 1994
A full-page spread with a pop-up Saint Nicholas, plus a mention in the Advent calendar with gold coinsPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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My Christmas Stocking: Filled with God's Love
ZonderKidz, Zondervan, 2006
Shaped board book with simple introduction to Saint Nicholas and the stocking tradition; whimsical illustrations.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver
IVP Kids, 2021
Downers Grove, Illinois
Young children
Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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There Really is a Santa Claus
John Knox Press, 1968
Tells about Nicholas ("Claus") and Santa; doesn't show him as bishop except on the cover -
The Saint Nick Story
Book Baby, 2018
Pennsauken, New Jersey
Rhyming introduction to St. Nicholas, pictured as Santa, not as a bishop. Proceeds from sales support A21, an organization working to abolish present-day slavery.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The True Story of St. Nicholas: Who Is Also Called Santa Claus
Mascot Books, 2014
Nicely illustrated simple retelling that relates St. Nicholas to Santa ClausPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Christmas Is . . .
Holiday House, 2001
Good information about Christmas; begins with the Christ Child, introduces Christmas symbols; connects St. Nicholas to Santa.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Santa Who?
Scholastic, 2001
Nice introduction to bishop St. Nicholas; how Santa developed and stories of other gift givers.Purchase from amazon.com
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St Nicholas: Traditional Folklore
Signature Books, 2015
Harpenden, England
Available in both hard or softback
Purchase from Signature Books
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A Special St. Nicholas Day
Mirror Publishing, 2011
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Simple story tells the dowry tale and the Czech tradition of polishing shoes for St.Nicholas to visit and fill with little treats.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Saint Nicholas: story of the real Santa Claus
Lion, 2003; Pauline Books & Media 2006
Nicely illustrated version of the best-known story of Nicholas' kindness and generosityPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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A Legend of Saint Nicholas
Schusters' Printing, 1985, 1994
Spiral bound, simply told, rather fanciful, unconventional Nicholas -
Tales of Saint Nicholas
self-published, 2009
Simple re-telling of 12 Nicholas stories; a couple typos. -
The Gift from Saint Nicholas
North-South Books, 1994
A great storm snows in a small mountain village, St Nicholas helps the villagers discover what is really important (not shown as a bishop)Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Felix's Christmas Around the World
Abbeville Publishing Group, 1998
Felix learns about Christmas around the world, including Sinterklaas in the Netherlands; the book has letters in envelopes for each part of the adventurePurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Night Before Christmas
Minedition, Penguin, 2005
Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Santa, Are You For Real?
Thomas Nelson, 1997
Rhyming story helps children discover that there was a real Saint Nicholas; keeps Jesus at the heart of Christmas; older edition (1977) is a larger format, different illustrations.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Saint Nicholas and the Three Poor Girls
Potamitis Publishing, 2009
$4.00
Printed in Greece
Small book with the dowry storyPurchase from Potamitis Publishing
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The True Story of Santa Claus
Pauline Books & Media, 2000
Santa tells his story to a young boy and that Jesus wants him to take care of the world's children by bringing gifts and reminding them that Jesus is God's greatest gift.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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A St. Nicholas Story or The Fiercest Little Animal In The Forest
Patrick's Press, 2009
Gentle St. Nicholas story, showing generosity and how helping others can change hearts
Also available in Swedish and DutchPurchase from amazon.com
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The Story of Santa Claus
The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, WI, 1959
The founder of Santa's Workshop, North Pole, NY, tells the true story of Saint Nicholas -
Jan and his Clogs
Roy Publishers, 1959
Saint Nicholas story set in the Netherlands -
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
St. Stylianos Books, 2012
Picture book telling the life of St. Nicholas; all major events are included; illustrated with full-color pictures; written particularly for the Orthodox tradition, but useful for others, tooPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Can We Help You, Saint Nicholas?
North-South Books, 1992
Simple story of forest animals helping Saint NicholasPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Story of Amerigo: Sinterklaas' Beloved Horse
Carolyn Stich Studio, 2022
Holland, Michigan
Picture book for young and elementary children
Sweet story with engaging illustrations tells how Amerigo became Sinterklaas' horse. Includes Dutch customs.Purchase from Etsy
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• And Now We Call Him Santa Claus
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1963
Delightful introduction for young and old -
Saint Nicholas: A Veggie Christmas Story
Golden Books, 2009
This story focuses on giving, but is not drawn from established Saint Nicholas tradition. Nicholas is not portrayed as a bishop and he becomes a sort of instant Santa. It is a disappointment, as a good opportunity has been missed. -
The Story of Saint Nicholas: A Children's Adaptation
Wagner Publishing, 2013
Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Basically tells the dowry story simplified, with inaccurate detail having Nicholas living in Turkey and putting gold coins into shoes left outside; nice bright illustrationsPurchase from amazon.com
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• Santa Claus Around the World
Holiday House, 1987
The original Saint Nicholas and how he is seen around the world -
Nicholas of Myra: Giver of Many Gifts
Liguori Publications, 2013
Small book tells the story of St. Nicholas; the illustrations are somewhat confusing as he appears randomly as a Western bishop, as Santa Claus, and fleetingly as an Eastern bishop. The book is part of a six book series, "Saints of Christmas".Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
Basic Books about St. Nicholas
Picture Books for Younger Children (and All Ages)
Picture Books for Older Children
Books for Older Children
Saints Books for Adults
Saints Books for Children
Activity Books and Other Resources
Christmas Books with St. Nicholas
Related Books
Books in Other Languages
Children's Books in Other Languages