35 Best Christmas Books for Readers of All Ages That Aren't "The Night Before Christmas"
From board books to read with kids to novels you can curl up with alone, we've got your Christmas reading list covered.
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Don't get us wrong, we love Clement C. Moore and his iconic holiday poem, which definitely deserves a place of honor in your annual Christmas traditions. But you don’t have to default to “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as your only seasonal literary choice. There are plenty of other Christmas books that belong up there on the shelf with it — and more come out every year. Building up your holiday library, and adding new volumes each year, is one of the most fun things about the holidays. (And, when it comes to holiday gifts, nobody turns their nose up at a good Christmas story!)
From board books to picture books to middle-grade novels (and a few novels for you, too), these Christmas books are perfect to cozy up with on a snowy winter day. Whether you do it alone with a mug of tea or together with a few kids on your lap is up to you. A few are classics, and some are new, but they all embody the Christmas spirit. Just warm up the nog (alcoholic or non), turn off the festive music playlist, and practice reading these out loud in your best St. Nicholas voice.
It's the beloved E.T.A. Hoffman story, simplified into a board book for the youngest sugar plums. This book is part of the Penguin Bedtime Classics series, which reimagines classic stories with more diverse illustrations.
This kids in your life have probably told the Pigeon not to ride the bus — perhaps over and over and over again? — but what about driving a sleigh? Will the Pigeon get its holiday wish, or will it be another dream thwarted? Either way, this book is worth it to see the Pigeon in its festive jingle-bell hat!
Maisy's hosting a Christmas party, and after she sends out her invites, all of her friends respond with some delightful piece of mail. Each page of this book is an envelope with a pocket that kids can reach into and pull out a letter and a fun surprise, like a recipe or a holiday decoration.
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If you're celebrating a first Christmas, the only thing as cute as your new baby is this board book's illustrations of smiling trees, sugarplums, and sugar cookies.
Random House BYR The Real Santa
The main character in this sweet picture book has a desire we all relate to — he wants to stay up late to see what Santa really looks like. After all, there are plenty of Santa decorations around his house, and they all look a little different, so which one is right? The answer is sure to warm your heart.
From the creative genius who made The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes a tale of a farmer on Christmas Eve who dreams of having a White Christmas with his animal friends.
This book unfolds — and unfolds and unfolds — until it looks like a six-car train. Kids can then lift the flaps and follow Santa as he travels through the cars looking for his lost boot.
Will and Grace's Sean Hayes and composer Scott Icenogle fill in the oft-wondered-about backstory of how the Sugar Plum Fairy came to be.
It's impossible to keep your heart from growing three sizes when you read about how the nefarious Grinch learns how to appreciate the holiday spirit.
Not everyone wants to let it snow, and if you're in a sunny spot this holiday, you'll relate to Pete, who swaps out golden rings for onion rings and calling birds for surfboards. Can you say Christmas beach party?
For kids who are just starting to doubt the magic of Santa, this book gives everyone a reason to keep believing.
Like "The Night Before Christmas," this book, about ways to try and nab one of Santa's helpers, is told in verse, making it perfect for read-aloud nights.
If you're looking for something with a religious tinge to it, this book tells the story of how the poinsettia plant came to be associated with Christmas in Mexican culture.
A beloved stuffed toy goes missing in a department store during holiday shopping in a sweet picture book that'll feel familiar to any kid who gets overwhelmed by the holiday rush.
If You Ever Want to Bring a Pirate to Meet Santa, Don't!
You wouldn't think that pirates and Christmas naturally go together ... and they don't, except in this Christmas book.
Santa may be getting on in years, but what's all this nonsense about other people riding in to save Christmas? In this book, Santa wants to save Christmas himself. It was written by Kevin Maher, a filmmaker and comedian known for puncturing pop-culture tropes, and New Yorker cartoonist Joe Dator. It won't come out until October, but it's available for pre-order now.
This Beatrix Potter story starts out rough, with a tailor who's trying to survive a brutal winter. He gets an important Christmas Day assignment — and some help from a few furry creatures (just like Cinderella).
Raymond Briggs, author and illustrator of The Snowman, creates a gruffer, grumpier version of Santa than normally shown in books, but even this not-so-jolly version can't help himself from singing carols in the shower.
Caldecott Honor-winner Diane Goode lends her lush illustrations to this interpretation of the classic winter ballet.
Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury
Beloved illustrator Jan Brett brings together seven wintry tales, including, The Mitten, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with Trolls, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Hat, Christmas Trolls, and — fine — The Night Before Christmas.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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