20 Classic Christmas Books for Children contains affiliate links.

Christmas is just around the corner, a fun and festive holiday that is loved by children and adults alike! Get in on the fun with these classic Christmas books for children, featuring classics like The 12 Days of Christmas, The Polar Express and more! Introduce your little one to all the classic stories that you read or watched as a child. A great gift to be added to your children’s stockings for the perfect stocking stuffer. These classic Christmas books will make great additions to their book library to be read throughout the year again and again. Why not start a new tradition this year by gifting your child one of these 20 Classic Christmas books for children. Some of these classic Christmas books for children are available free for Kindle too!

20 Classic Christmas Books For Children

Christmas in the Manger Ages 2-4

The gentle beauty of the story of the first Christmas is now available as a board book. With a simple, lyrical text and radiant artwork, this book is perfect for the youngest child to be a part of the wonder of the Nativity.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Ages 2-5

Children ages 3-6 will love to read this Little Golden Book retelling of the classic 1964 holiday TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. All of the other reindeer make fun of Rudolph and won’t let him play in their reindeer games because he’s different. But when Christmas is almost cancelled because of a huge snowstorm, Rudolph comes to the rescue with his wonderful shiny red nose.

The Night Before Christmas Ages 2-5

This 1949 Little Golden Book edition of the famous poem, The Night Before Christmas, was a staple in the Golden Book line for many years. Recently found in the Golden Books archives, Corinne Malvern’s artwork for this title has been digitized and beautifully reproduced for today’s kids!

The Nutcracker Ages 2-5

The Nutcracker is back in print as a Little Golden Book, with all-new illustrations by Sheilah Beckett, who started illustrating Golden Books in the 1950s. This lovely retelling of the famous ballet will be a perfect holiday gift for any child who loves the ballet, Christmas stories, and fairy tales!

Frosty the Snowman Ages 2-5

Everyone’s favorite snowman with a magic hat, a button nose, and eyes made out of coal comes to life on Christmas every year. Based on the beloved 1969 television special, this Little Golden Book retells the whole magical story of Frosty the Snowman for boys and girls 2–5!

The Christmas Story Ages 2-5

First published in 1952, this classic Little Golden Book retelling of the Christmas story was illustrated by beloved artist Eloise Wilkin. Its simple but poetic text gently invites children to hear the story of Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem.

God Gave Us Christmas Ages 3-7

As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder…

“Who invented Christmas?” Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that Jesus is the best present of all. This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas Ages 3-7

The astounding talent of Laurel Long brings this beloved song to life with breathtaking style. Set against a lush countryside, each day brings a new gift elegantly rendered. And like in the verses of the song, the previous gifts are repeated in every illustration, giving this striking artwork a hidden aspect, culminating in a staggering spread featuring them all. Readers will pore over every page, searching for golden rings, turtledoves, and all the rest, secretly tucked into each stunning painting.

Madeline’s Christmas Ages 3-7

Something is not right with the famous “twelve little girls in two straight lines.” All are sick in bed except brave Madeline, who must run the school, for even Miss Clavel is not feeling very well. But when Madeline finds help from a magical merchant, the girls embark on a Christmas journey that will surely make them forget their sniffles and sneezes.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Ages 3-7

Bursting with gorgeous illustrations that accompany the lyrics to this classic carol, the festive artwork and jolly characters capture all the merriment of the popular Yuletide tune. Randall’s style feels charmingly classic while also strikingly contemporary, making this particular partidge in a pear tree the perfect one for the modern reader. The joyful pictures and beloved song are sure to make this a recurring holiday favorite.

The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition Ages 4-7

1986 Caldecott Medal Winner – A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . . .Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish.

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Deluxe Edition Ages 4-8

Celebrate Christmas with Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang in this gorgeous deluxe storybook retelling of the beloved Christmas special!

Christmas is almost here, which means ice-skating, Christmas carols, and sparkly lights everywhere—even on Snoopy’s doghouse! Everyone is enjoying the holiday celebrations except Charlie Brown. Can the Peanuts gang help Charlie Brown discover the true meaning of Christmas?

Twas the Night Before Christmas Ages 4-8

Gold Medal Winner 2012 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Best Holiday Book. 1st place winner for the Global International Best Christian Children’s Book. This colorful and bright edition was created for young readers in mind. Attracting global media attention, The BBC, The View, The Colbert Report, New York Post, Huffington Post and many others for what the Kirkus Review calls a legitimate editing of the reference to the pipe and wreath of smoke for the first time in the history of this the most famous poem in the English language. This is the edition that is credited with having Santa stop smoking after 189 years and for taking a small bite out of history. The public health sector, parents, educators and grandparents have applauded and welcomed the addition of this child friendly edition. Printed on FSC certified paper from Wisconsin USA with vegetable ink dyes in hardcover, English, Spanish and French.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Classic Story: Deluxe 50th-Anniversary Edition Ages 4-8

The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television special first aired on NBC December 6, 1964. Fifty years later, it has become a beloved Christmas classic―capturing the heart and wonder of generations of fans. Here is the complete story from the classic TV show, gloriously illustrated in full color and in an elegant gift book edition. Perfect for reading aloud!

Mickey’s Christmas Storybook Treasury Ages 4-8

Celebrate the spirit of the season with this collectible Mickey & Friends volume featuring four beautifully illustrated Christmas stories: “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” “Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s Christmas Wish,” “Donald’s Christmas Tree,” and “The Gift of the Magi.” Bring home the timeless appeal of Disney storytelling and experience the magic again and again!

The Night Before Christmas Oversized Padded Board Book: The Classic Edition Ages 5-8

Since the poem’s inception in 1823, The Night Before Christmas has been a yearly staple of the holiday season told in countless households. Perfectly capturing the memorable charm of Clement C. Moore’s iconic poem, Charles Santore lends his artwork of fantastical splendor to tell the tale of Saint Nick’s visit, this time in a durable oversized board book that captures the same magical detail and charm as editions beforehand. Children will love this book built especially for them!

 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Ages 5-9

The ultimate Dr. Seuss Christmas classic — no holiday season is complete without the Grinch, Max, Cindy-Lou, and all the residents of Who-ville!

“Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot . . . but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!” Not since “’Twas the night before Christmas” has the beginning of a Christmas tale been so instantly recognizable. This heartwarming story about the effects of the Christmas spirit will grow even the coldest and smallest of hearts. Like mistletoe, candy canes, and caroling, the Grinch is a mainstay of the holidays, and his story is the perfect gift for young and old.

And don’t forget to celebrate Grinch-mas this Christmas season, the annual holiday tradition inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas that encourages readers to grow their hearts three sizes by doing good deeds!

A Christmas Carol Ages 5-10

Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly old skinflint. He hates everyone, especially children. But at Christmas three ghosts come to visit him, scare him into mending his ways, and he finds, as he celebrates with Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and their family, that geniality brings its own reward.

Miracle on 34th Street Ages 7-10

Generations of believers in hope and goodwill have made Valentine Davies’ Miracle on 34th Street a treasured part of their holiday traditions. Millions of copies of this award-winning story have sold since its first publication in 1947, delighting readers of all ages. A facsimile edition of the book is now faithfully re-created, offering a new generation–and fans of the original–the beauty of the classic 1940s design. Details of how the book came to be written, and made into a beloved film, are included in a brief historical note.

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol/A Remembrance of Mugby Ages 8-14

Two Christmas classics in a gorgeous graphic novel retelling! You may know the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future from Charles Dickens’s beloved tale, “A Christmas Carol,” but did you know this is not his only ghost story? This edition of Classics Illustrated Deluxe presents “A Christmas Carol” together with another Dickens treasure, “Mugby Junction,” which also features elements of the supernatural and a protagonist to whom his future is revealed. Estelle Meyrand’s expressionist artwork brings a rich palette and dynamism to these two classic Christmas tales by one of the world’s greatest authors.

What are some of your child’s favorite Christmas books? Let me know which Christmas books for children you love so I can add them to this list!