24 Beautiful Books for Your Countdown to Christmas!
Back when my oldest (she’s 9!) was still a toddler, I began a family tradition of wrapping 24 Christmas books and putting them in a basket, ready for the first day of December.
Every night before going upstairs to bed, one of the kids choose a book from the basket to unwrap and then we read it together in the living room by the tree. It’s their bedtime story for the entire month (which honestly speeds up that process a little bit in December…haha).
This tradition has become one of the ways we countdown to Christmas every year and it has become something the girls and I look forward to every year!
Whether you do the same or just like to have a stash of beautiful Christmas books to read throughout December, I hope you are able to find at least one new book to add your holiday this year!
I always save one special book for last to be opened and read on Christmas Eve. It’s the last book on this list so make sure to scroll all the way to the end!
Countdown to Christmas Books
Book #1: Christmas Magic
A long time favorite, this charming story with beautiful illustrations tells of a magic Christmas Eve night for a lonely girl named Emily involving the snow-woman she built earlier that day.
Book #2: Red & Lulu
A heart-warming story about two cardinals that get separated during the holiday season.
Book #3: God Gave Us Christmas
In this story from the “God Gave Us” series, Mama and Little Cub head off on an expedition that points to the very first Christmas.
Book #4: The Legend of St. Nicholas
Enjoy the lovely illustrations as you read about the life of the real St. Nicholas.
Book #5: The Legend of the Candy Cane
Enjoy another story, beautifully illustrated by Richard Cowdrey, while learning about the Christian symbolism behind this favorite holiday candy.
Book #6: Christmas in the Big Woods
Step back in time and experience Christmas in a simpler time with this story by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is the Christmas chapter from Little House in the Big Woods written out with beautiful illustrations.
Book #7: The Baker’s Dozen
Enjoy this legend from Dutch colonial New York about why thirteen is considered a baker’s dozen.
Book #8: The Nutcracker
After searching through SEVERAL versions of this book, I landed on this one by author/illustrator Susan Jeffers. The cover and pages are sparkled with glitter, making it feel even more magical. The story is based on the ballet and is a wonderful addition to any Christmas book list.
Book #8: The Legend of the Poinsettia
Another great author/illustrator, Tomie dePaola, shares the Mexican legend that tells how the poinsettia flower came to be.
Book #9: Christmas Day in the Morning
This is a new favorite of mine. It tells the story of Rob who gives a sacrificial gift to his father for Christmas. It’s heart-warming and really shares the true spirit of the holiday.
Book #10: Cranberry Christmas
I love Cranberry Thanksgiving (check out my Thanksgiving book list.) and this one is just as great.
It may be new to us, but this 1976 classic is anything but new as it shares another story of Mr. Whiskers, Maggie, and Grandma. It also includes a cranberry cookie recipe.
Book #11: A Wish to be a Christmas Tree
This is sweet story of an overgrown pine tree who wants nothing more than to be a Christmas tree and his animal friends that help make his wish come true.
Book #12: A Charlie Brown Christmas
What’s Christmas without Charlie Brown? It’s been a tradition for me since I was a kid and enjoy reading it to my own children now.
This version includes music and dialogue that bring the movie right to your story time.
Book #13: Itsy Bitsy Christmas
An endearing retelling of the nativity story through the eyes of two sweet mice who just want to find the King.
Book #14: The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree
The Berenstain Bears have been around for as long as I can remember and we still enjoy them in our family.
Your kids will enjoy this lift-the-flap book that tells the story of the Bear family decorating their tree.
Book #15: Humphrey’s First Christmas
A beautifully illustrated story from the viewpoint of a wiseman’s camel named Humphrey who’s upset that he lost his blanket. It’s a sweet, and sometimes funny, story that doesn’t shy away from the true meaning of Christmas.
Book #16: The Nativity
This unique book was given to us by my mother-in-law and it’s not your typical story book. It’s a six-page pop-up book that retells the nativity story with beautiful scenes from the story.
Book #17: Snowmen at Christmas
From the same author as Snowmen at Night comes this enchanting story of snowmen that come alive to celebrate Christmas. It’s light-hearted, fun, and beautifully illustrated.
Book #18: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
A Christmas classic about a lonely and grumpy Grinch who tries to ruin Christmas for everyone in Who-ville, but finds out that Christmas is about more than things we buy at the store.
Book #19: There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell!
Another book from the “There Was An Old Lady” series that will bring a few chuckles to your read-aloud time. In this rhyming, repetitive story, the old lady swallows a bunch of Christmas items until she notices Santa waiting for a ride.
Book #20: Merry Christmas, Curious George
A sweet Christmas story for any Curious George fans where George finds himself at a children’s hospital cheering up the children while decorating the tree.
Book #21: The Polar Express
We’ve been having a Polar Express themed day in December since my oldest was in preschool. This is a well-written and gorgeously illustrated story about friendship and the spirit of Christmas.
Book #22: Come and See – A Christmas Story
Another beautiful book telling the story of the first Christmas from the viewpoint of the townsfolk being told by the shepherds to “come and see”.
Book #23: The Night Before Christmas
Another Christmas classic known by many, Mary Engelbreit’s version is full of colorful details that are sure to make you want to read it again.
Book #24: The First Christmas Night
Last, but certainly not least, is this nativity story written in the same style as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
The pictures are amazingly realistic, the story is easy to follow because of it’s poetic form, and it is the book I save to read together on Christmas Eve.
And there you have it! Twenty-four of our favorite Christmas picture books. I hope you add one or more of them to your collection this holiday season…or just find them at your local library!!
More December Ideas:
- Christmas Coloring Pages
- 12 Free Christmas Writing Printables
- The Polar Express Activities
- Gather Round Homeschool Christmas Mini-Unit Review
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
