The 25 Best Picture Books to Celebrate Christmas

If you’re a parent from a certain era, you might recall holding tight to your 10th-anniversary edition of The Polar Express and cherishing it. Maybe you even kept the bell and cassette tape that came with it—all still tucked away at home today.

On our list of Christmas picture books, you’ll find timeless classics like The Polar Express and Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect, alongside newer favorites such as Dasher and Pick a Pine Tree.

So grab a cozy blanket, warm up some cocoa, and take your time browsing through this collection. Remember, whichever books you pick, you’re in for a treat. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

For more gift ideas, check out the Holiday Hub!

Dive into the tale of the Sugar Cookie Man in this charming holiday book! When a fox catches him and takes a bite, Sugar Cookie Man is shocked to discover he’s not sweet at all. What’s a sugar cookie if it isn’t sweet?

To make matters worse, he realizes he’s not good at a lot of things he thought he should be—ugh.

But don’t worry, there’s a fun twist at the end about being loved for who you are. Plus, check out the bonus recipes in the back!

2 | The Nutcracker by New York City Ballet

This delightful book is based on The Nutcracker by the New York City Ballet. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the story is perfect for helping kids understand the ballet.

And be sure to check out the Nutcracker Fun Facts at the end—they are a lot of fun, too!

3 | Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Ringer

“Down in the big construction site, there’s work to do for Christmas night.”

This is a festive addition to the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series. Excavator, Bulldozer, Dump Truck, Crane, and Cement Mixer team up to build a home for the fire engines. As they wrap up the job, each one gets a special Christmas surprise!

4 | Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh by Mo Willems

The pigeon really, really, REALLY wants to drive the sleigh. It would be a Christmas miracle! Come on, can’t you make his holiday dream come true?

This is a fun new holiday addition to one of our favorite book series that you’ll want to read again and again.

5 | Little Red Sleigh by Erin Guendelsberger

The Little Red Sleigh dreams of becoming Santa’s sleigh someday. But everyone says she’s too small, too slow, and too young. So, she sets off on a journey to find Santa Claus.

On the way, she meets friends who help her see what makes her special and unique. And of course, there’s a magical Christmas ending!

6 | Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett

How does Santa go down the chimney?

Does he go feet first or head first? Or neither? Does he shrink himself? Does he ever get stuck? What if there’s no chimney? And what does Santa do once he’s inside?

These are the questions every kid asks, and this book has some funny (and practical) ideas!

7 | ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

“‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”

You probably already have a few versions of this classic, but if you don’t, it’s time to add this beloved Christmas poem to your collection. This edition features fun, colorful illustrations in a modern style.

8 | Dasher by Matt Tavares

You’ve heard about Santa’s famous reindeer team, but did you know it wasn’t always that way?

This charming story is about how a brave young doe and her family changed Christmas forever!

9 | Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht

In this cute rhyming book, follow a family as they enjoy one of the best Christmas traditions: picking and decorating the tree!

First, they head to the tree lot, pick the perfect one (“smell that piney scent!”), and bring it home. Then, they invite friends over, add lights and ornaments, and gather around to celebrate!

“Gather ’round the tree to sing; let your joyful voices ring. Celebrate as nighttime falls…Merry Christmas, one and all!”

10 | The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen

Jingle, jingle, jingle.

Ollie wakes up to a jingling sound, and her dreams come true! She meets a reindeer in the forest, and they embark on a magical Christmas night adventure.

With beautiful die-cut pages, foil highlights, and festive pops of red, this book is a visual treat!

11 | Together by Heather Stricker

“Over the years, images of gifts will fade, but we will never forget the holiday memories we made.”

In this Christmas picture book, a young visits Santa with a special request. Instead of asking for gifts, he tells Santa he wants to spend Christmas with his family, enjoying his favorite holiday traditions.

It’s a heartwarming holiday tale with adorable illustrations that capture the boy’s sentiment: “Simply being with my family is enough.”

12 | The Cool Bean Presents: As Cool as It Gets

Cool Bean has to pick the absolute coolest gift for the annual exchange! But now he’s feeling the pressure and getting nervous about the party—what’s the perfect gift for the coolest bean he knows?

Soon, Cool Bean learns that the best gifts come straight from the heart.

13 | Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck

Christmas is almost here, and Mia’s worried her handmade card for her daddy won’t reach him in time.

But then she stumbles upon a magical mailbox and ends up aboard the Reindeer Express! With the help of a friendly reindeer, Mia delivers her letter to her daddy in person, just in the nick of time.

With vibrant illustrations and interactive die-cut pages that reveal colorful scenes, this book captures the enchantment of the season. It’s perfect for families who can’t be together at Christmas.

14 | How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith

This cute advent book has 24 and a half chapters (save the last one for Christmas Day!).

After each chapter, you’ll find a fun holiday activity idea, like writing a letter to Santa, crafting a paper chain countdown, or creating your own Christmas box.

In the heartwarming story, Winston the mouse discovers a lost letter to Santa on Christmas Eve. Join him on his quest to deliver it in time for the big day!

Plus, check out the new sequel, How Winston Came Home for Christmas!

15 | The Tree That’s Meant to Be by Yuval Zommer

In this book, there’s a tree in the forest that’s different from the rest. No family picks it for Christmas, so it ends up all alone. But then, the woodland creatures come together around the little tree and celebrate the season as one big happy group.

It’s a heartwarming tale about fitting in, finding your place, having a purpose, and knowing you’re loved.

16 | Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect by Richard H. Schneider

Once upon a time, when all the evergreen trees were flawless, there was a tree named Small Pine growing on the edge of the forest. Small Pine dreamed of keeping its perfect shape and being chosen as the Queen’s official Christmas tree.

But as this kind-hearted tree provided shelter to birds, rabbits, and deer, its branches got a bit battered. Luckily, the Queen had a different view of what makes something perfect.

Your kids will love reading and rereading the story of how Small Pine’s love and kindness towards its forest friends turned it into the most “perfect” Christmas tree of all!

17 | The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker

Introduce your little one to The Nutcracker’s famous music with this musical primer! Each enchanting scene in the book has a button that plays a snippet of the ballet’s music.

In the back, discover a brief biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, along with buttons to replay each musical snippet. There’s also a handy glossary of musical terms included.

18 | The Christmas Owl by Gideon Sterer

When a little owl loses her home to become the world’s most famous Christmas tree, she’s not too thrilled about Christmas.

But then she meets Ellen, a woman whose home is decked out for the holiday and filled with other bird buddies. Slowly, the little owl starts to see that Christmas might be alright after all.

This heartwarming tale is based on a charming true story!

19 | How to Catch Santa by Jean Regan

Get ready for a jolly and hilarious holiday read from the creators of the New York Times bestsellers How to Babysit a Grandpa and How to Babysit a Grandma.

After a whole year of waiting, it’s finally Christmas Eve—the best time to try to catch Santa. Do your kiddos know the right tricks?

20 | 5 More Sleeps ’til Christmas

With just five sleeps left until Christmas, a little boy can hardly contain his excitement as the holiday gets closer. He decorates, savors hot chocolate and candy canes, and bakes cookies in anticipation of Santa’s arrival.

When the big day finally comes, and all the gifts are unwrapped, the boy starts his countdown again: 364 sleeps until next Christmas.

22 | Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh

Meet Olive, a dog who thinks she’s a reindeer and is dead set on making Christmas even merrier for Santa and his reindeer crew.

She jumps aboard the Polar Express bound for the North Pole, catching Santa and his reindeer off guard. Before long, they discover Olive has talents the seasoned reindeer team never knew they were missing.

21 | Claris: Holiday Heist by Megan Hess

Join Claris, the stylish Parisian mouse, on her New York City adventure with her owners. During their visit, they witness a holiday heist at the famous Cartier jewelry store!

With her cat friend, Monsieur, by her side, Claris chases the thief through the bustling streets of New York. Can they catch the culprit and bring some holiday cheer?

Filled with fancy and festive illustrations, this book is a delight for little fashionistas and captures the joyful spirit of the season.

Each page is beautifully illustrated to capture the magic of the season. It’s a perfect pick for reading aloud every night as Christmas approaches!

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