Christmas Books for Children
These are truly wonderful books—I love all of them! Many are out-of-print, but are only listed if they are readily available on the secondary book market. Copies in good condition can often be found at reasonable prices.
Out-of-print books may be found in libraries or the used book market. Both Amazon and BookFinder.com are helpful sources.
Nativity Stories
Other Christmas Stories
Christmas Carols
• = some of our special favorites
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• Santa's Favorite Story
Picture Book Studio
Simon & Schuster, 1982, 2007
Natick, Massachusetts
New York, New York
A tired Santa explains to the animals that even if he can't deliver presents, Christmas will come because "Christmas hasn't got anything to do with me." Then he tells the true Christmas story; nice illustrations.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Christmas
Doubleday (undated)
Methuen
Big Tent Entertainment, 1964, 2010
New York, New York
London, UK
This book is great for Dick Bruna fans and anyone with its clear, warm illustrations. In an earlier edition the text was a poem by Eve Merriam. The later text is okay, but the older simple rhyme is better. The newer text was originally titled "The Christmas Book." -
Prepare O Bethlehem: The Feast of the Nativity
St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2000
Crestwood, New York
All ages
Texts from the Orthodox Church's hymns of the prefeast and feast of the Nativity; beautifully illustratedPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
Clarion Books, 1996
New York, New York
All ages
Evocative story of Christmas night and the coming of truth to the earth, told by a wise angelPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Silent Christmas
Boyds Mills Press, 1991
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Beautiful, simple wordless nativity story; gentle illustrations encourage a child to tell the storyPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The Cure for the Christmas Crazies
WestBow Press, division of Thomas Nelson, 2015
Bloomington, Indiana
Boy elf Norbert gets Santa to help get his family escape from holiday craziness to focus on what is really importantPurchase from April Hartmann Shop
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Can It Be True?
Viking Kestrel, 1988
New York, New York
All ages
Picture book for older children with poem inspired by William Blake's "The Oxen." Brings peace to all the warring creatures, who come see, "It is true! It is true! And knelt down."Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• That Baby in the Manger
Paraclete Press, 2017
Brewster, Massachusetts
What did baby Jesus really look like? Like the blond statues we see? Children wonder if he looked like them. This is a good conversation starter about diversity and all God's people.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Christmas Star
North-South Books, 1993
New York, New York
Also available in board book and Advent calendar/book editions
All ages
Unusual story focuses on the Star—the star leads shepherds, kings and animals to the Holy Child; lovely illustrations and shining silver stars on each pagePurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Christmas: The King James Version
Alfred A. Knopf, 1984
Amazing silhouette paper-cut illustrations with traditional King James textPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Nativity
Beach Lane Books / Simon & Schuster, 2017
All ages
Fabulous nativity book with simple, evocative illustrations, King James text. Unusual in moving to grown-up Jesus and the Beatitudes. Highly recommended.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• For All the World
Augsburg Fortress, 1994
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Picture book shows that Jesus came for everyone and what it might have been like if he'd been born in different placesPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Who is Coming to Our House?
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1988, 2001
New York, New York
Ages one to four
The animals rush around getting ready; a nice early nativity story, providing opportunity to talk about the animals and the Holy FamilyPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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A Christmas Story
Alfred A. Knopf
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989, 1998
Preschool and up
Sweet story with sumptuous illustrations; told through the story of a little girl with a donkeyPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• B Is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet
Dutton Children's Books, 1990
Delightful, rhyming alphabet book with mixed media illustrations; each letter relates to the Nativity storyPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Holly, Reindeer, and Colored Lights
Seabury Press
Houghton Mifflin, 1971, 1981
New York, New York
Traces the story and development of many Christmas symbols: Christmas star, Christmas tree, ornaments, plants, candles and lights, Yule log, Santa Claus, gifts, manger scenes, the three kings, angels, shepherds and creatures, feasting, bells and cards.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Sugar-Plum Christmas Book
Hodder and Stoughton, 1977, 1982
Elementary age and up
A nicely illustrated anthology of story, song, background information and craft ideas, too.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Family Christmas Tree Book
Holiday House, 1980
New York, New York
Everything you ever wanted to know about Christmas trees told with facts and imagination as two children and their parents get a tree and put it up. Information about symbols drawn from Christian tradition and more.Purchase from Kindle
Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1986
Four to eight years
In this beloved book Strega Nona is getting ready for Christmas, lighting the Advent wreath is part of her preparations. However, many mishaps happen—how will it all end?Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The Night of Las Posadas
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1999
New York, New York
Elementary age
A beautiful and sensitive telling of Las Posadas tradition, with a bit of mystery in, tooPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The Legend of the Poinsettia
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1994
New York, New York
Poinsettias are everywhere and in most churches at Christmas; here is the lovely legend from Mexico that tells of their origin and relationship to ChristmasPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Baby's First Christmas
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1988, new edition 2008
New York, New York
New edition: My First Christmas
Ages two to three
Simple introduction to the season's symbols with clear, vivid illustrationsPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico
The Viking Press, 1959
New York, New York
Ages four and up
Caldecott Medal winner tells the story of little Ceci and her first Posada partyPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Joy to the World: Christmas Stories from Around the Globe
HarperCollins, 1998
New York, New York
Beautifully illustrated less familiar Christmas stories drawn from early Christian folklore in Syria, Malta, Mexico, Ghana and RussiaPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
HarperCollins, 1972, 2005
Ages eight to twelve
Classic Christmas book; a fun read and can be read a chapter a night -
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
New American Library & many others, 1965
Many editions available
All ages
Classic Christmas special with Charlie Brown looking for the true meaning of Christmas; you may want to read as well as watch itPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Candlewick Press, 1995
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Ages elementary to adult
Poignant story shows how even grudging giving can transform a heartPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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46 Days of Christmas: A Cycle of Old World Songs, Legends and Customs
Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1960
New York, New York
A collection of songs, poems and customs from usual European countries and beyond: Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Syria. -
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Random House, 1957
New York, New York
Elementary age
Classic tale of what Christmas is really about; especially good for kids who aren't very churchyPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Saint Francis Celebrates Christmas
Loyola Press, 1998
Chicago, Illinois
Elementary age
Picture book story of the first crèche; nice illustrationsPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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Make a Joyful Noise: A Pop-Up Book of Christmas Carols
Little Simon, Simon & Schuster, 1997
New edition: "Ding Dong! Merrily on High: A Pop-Up Book of Christmas Carols"
All ages
Especially beautiful pop-up book with an additional moving part on three of the scenes.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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The Huron Carol
Dutton Children's Books, 1926 (text) 1990 (illustrations)
New York, New York
Now in Kindle
The Huron Carol was written by Jesuit missionary Fr de Brebeuf in the early 1600s for the Huron people. It was later translated into French and into English in 1926. Beautiful carol from Canada.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Tomie dePaola's Book of Christmas Carols
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1987
New York, New York
All ages
32 carols exquisitely illustratedPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Friendly Beasts: an old English Christmas Carol
G. P. Putnam's Sons
Puffin, 1981, 1998
New York, New York
Perfect illustrations from Tomie dePaola illuminate this lovely carol—each animal brings its own gift to the Christ Child; music includedPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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We Wish You a Merry Christmas: Songs of the Season for Young People
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Arcade Publishing, Little, Brown and Company, 1989
New York, New York
All ages
25 easy to play Christmas carols, nicely illustratedPurchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• The Carolers
Greenwillow, William Morrow & Company, 1992
New York, New York
The is my very favorite book of carols—it is hard to find, but the cut-paper collage illustrations are a complete delight. The music goes along the bottom of the page under the illustrations.Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca
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• Christmas Carols
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1983
New York, New York
All ages
41 popular Christmas carols illustrated with art from the Metropolitan Museum of ArtPurchase from Metropolitan Museum of Art Store
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 & Resource Books
Christmas Books with St. Nicholas
Related Books
Books in Other Languages
Children's Books in Other Languages
Church Year General Resource Books
Advent, Christmas & Epiphany Resource Books
Lent, Easter & Pentecost Resource Books
Children's BooksChurch Year & Holiday Cycle Books
Christmas Books
Spring & Easter Books
Story Bibles for Children
Children's Books about God and Faith
Books of Prayers