“What are the best Children’s books about Christmas?” We looked at 402 of the top Christmas Kids books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 27 titles, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Christmas Children’s” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 350+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

All entries below have links to Amazon, but there is also a Bookshop version of the list available here for anyone wanting to support local shops instead!

Happy Scrolling!

Top 27 Best Children’s Christmas Books Of All Time

27 .) A Piñata in a Pine Tree written by Pat Mora and Magaly Morales

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Colours Of Us
• The Barefoot Mommy

In this adaptation of the folk song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” friends exchange such gifts as a piñata and “cuatro luminarias.” Includes pronunciation and glossary of Spanish words and a description of Christmas foods and other holiday traditions from different Latin American countries.…

26 .) Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree written by Robert E. Barry

Lists It Appears On:

• EW
• Goodreads
• Stewardship

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree is too tall, so he trims off the top and gives the top to the upstairs maid for her tree, and she finds it too tall, so she cuts off the top, which the gardener uses for his tree, but it is too tall …

25 .) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer written by Robert L. May

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Medium
• Real Simple

Although the other reindeer laugh at him because of his bright red nose, Rudolph proves his worth when he is chosen to lead Santa Claus’ sleigh on a foggy night.

24 .) The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll written by Patricia C. McKissack and Jerry Pinkney

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Book Riot
• The Barefoot Mommy

During the Depression, three young sisters get one baby doll for Christmas and must find a way to share.

23 .) The Christmas Eve Tree written by Delia Huddy, illustrated by Emily Sutton

Lists It Appears On:

• Happiness Is Here Blog
• Junior Magazine
• Romper

When the ugly little fir tree is taken to the city, no one wants to buy him; they prefer the big tall trees. But a homeless boy asks the shopkeeper if he can take the tree, and down by the river in a cardboard box, decorated with a few candles, the tree finds itself at the centre of a magical Christmas Eve it will never forget. A Christmas tale with a classic feel but a modern theme at its heart.…

22 .) The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey written by Susan Wojciechowski

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Goodreads
• Medium

The widow McDowell and her seven-year-old son Thomas ask the gruff Jonathan Toomey, the best wood-carver in the valley, to carve the figures for a Christmas creche.

21 .) The Crippled Lamb written by Max Lucado

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Simple Moments Stick
• Whats Up Fagans

A lamb who has always felt different and sad because of his black spots and his limp, feels his true worth when he is called upon to help keep the baby Jesus warm.

20 .) The Elf on the Shelf written by Carol V. Aebersold, Chanda A. Bell, and Coë Steinwart

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Parenting
• The Spruce

An elf who works for and reports to Santa Claus helps children to be on their best behavior.

19 .) The Little Match Girl written by Hans Christian Andersen and Jerry Pinkney

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Goodreads
• Medium

18 .) The Wild Christmas Reindeer written by Jan Brett

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• BuzzFeed
• Parenting

After a few false starts, Teeka discovers the best way to get Santa’s reindeer ready for Christmas Eve.

17 .) Tree of Cranes written by Allen Say

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Colours Of Us
• The Barefoot Mommy

In this radiant tale, a young boy in Japan celebrates his very first Christmas. Two cultures joyously combine for the day as the boy’s mother shares a glimpse of her American childhood with her son. Allen Say’s glowing watercolors and affecting words paint a story rich with the holiday spirit — a story of family, of giving, of goodwill, and the hope for peace.

16 .) A Charlie Brown Christmas written by Charles M. Schulz

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Goodreads
• Real Simple
• Stewardship

Surrounded by other kids with extremely commercial ideas about Christmas, Charlie Brown struggles to understand the true spirit of the holiday.

15 .) Father Christmas written by Raymond Briggs

Lists It Appears On:

• Junior Magazine
• Penguin
• The Guardian
• The School Run

Introduces us to a rather grumpy Father Christmas. In this book, Father Christmas has awoken from a dream of summer sun to discover it is December 24th, Christmas Eve – the start of his longest night’s work of the year.

14 .) Snowmen at Christmas written by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Goodreads
• Parenting
• Real Simple

13 .) The Girl Who Saved Christmas written by Matt Haig

Lists It Appears On:

• Childhood 101
• Read Brightly
• Real Simple
• The Childrens Book review

If magic has a beginning, can it also have an end? When Amelia wants a wish to come true she knows just the man to ask – Father Christmas. But the magic she wants to believe in is starting to fade, and Father Christmas has more than impossible wishes to worry about. Upset elves, reindeers dropping out of the sky, angry trolls and the chance that Christmas might be cancelled. But Amelia isn’t just any ordinary girl. And – as Father Christmas is going to find out – if Christmas is going to be saved, he might not be able to do it alone .

12 .) The Legend of the Poinsettia written by Tomie dePaola

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• BuzzFeed
• Colours Of Us
• EW

When Lucida is unable to finish her gift for the Baby Jesus in time for the Christmas procession, a miracle enables her to offer the beautiful flower we now call the poinsettia.

11 .) Dream Snow written by Eric Carle

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Junior Magazine
• Parenting
• Stewardship
• The Spruce

In this musical and sound effects book, a farmer celebrates Christmas after the first snowfall.

10 .) Olive, the Other Reindeer written by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• BuzzFeed
• Goodreads
• Parenting
• The Spruce

Thinking that “all of the other reindeer” she hears people singing about include her, Olive the dog reports to the North Pole to help Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

9 .) Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale written by Martin Waddell

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Goodreads
• Parenting
• The Spruce
• Whats Up Fagans

Kind Ox welcomes Old Dog, Stray Cat, Small Mouse, Tired Donkey, and finally the baby Jesus into his stable on the first Christmas night.

8 .) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever written by Barbara Robinson

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Book Riot
• EW
• Medium
• Stewardship

The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant.

7 .) The Jolly Christmas Postman written by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Lists It Appears On:

• Creative Bloq
• Junior Magazine
• Penguin
• The Book People
• The Guardian
• The School Run

A Jolly Postman delivers Christmas cards to several famous fairy-tale characters. Each card may be removed from its envelope page and read separately.

6 .) The Twelve Days of Christmas written by Jan Brett

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Junior Magazine
• Read Brightly
• Real Simple
• The Barefoot Mommy
• The School Run

A young woman’s true love sends her extravagant gifts on each of the twelve days of Christmas.

5 .) A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• EW
• Junior Magazine
• Medium
• Penguin
• Real Simple
• Stewardship

Una grabacion completa por un elenco de artistas, en espa?ol, de la obra clasica de Charles Dickens Un Cuento de Navidad (A Christmas Carol). Se le da la oportunidad a un hombre llamado Scrooge de cambiar un destino maldito por ser tomado en un viaje a traves del tiempo por los fantasmas de las Navidades pasadas, presentes, y futuras.…

4 .) The Snowman written by Raymond Briggs

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Book Riot
• BuzzFeed
• Creative Bloq
• Medium
• Penguin
• The School Run

When his snowman comes to life, a little boy invites him home and in return is taken on a flight high above the countryside.

3 .) The Night Before Christmas written by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• BuzzFeed
• Colours Of Us
• EW
• Goodreads
• Junior Magazine
• Parenting
• Real Simple
• Romper
• Stewardship
• The School Run

Presents the well-known poem about an important Christmas visitor.

2 .) The Polar Express written by Chris Van Allsburg

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• BuzzFeed
• EW
• Globe Totting
• Goodreads
• Medium
• Parenting
• Real Simple
• Stewardship
• The Guardian
• The Spruce

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.

1 .) How the Grinch Stole Christmas! written by Dr. Seuss

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Bub
• Book Riot
• BuzzFeed
• EW
• Happiness Is Here Blog
• Junior Magazine
• Medium
• Parenting
• Read Brightly
• Real Simple
• Stewardship
• The Spruce

The Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway.

The 350+ Additional Best Christmas Kids Books For The Holiday Season

29 Best Children’s Christmas And Holiday Book Sources/Lists