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21 Best Christmas Books For Children Xmas 2024
When the days get longer, there is nothing nicer than curling up with a good book, and as Christmas approaches, it's even better to curl up with a classic childrens's Christmas book.
Share the joy of Christmas with a selection of Christmas books for children. Some are Christmas classics from Charles Dickens and J.R.R Tolkein, while some are a new twist on the usual festive themes from Raymond Briggs and Rod Campbell.
Plus we've got some recent book releases from some of the biggest names in children's literature such as Paddington and Julia Donaldson as well as popular celebrity authors such as Stephen Mangan, Tom Fletcher and Ben Miller
There's something for everyone to enjoy here; some will be perfect to share with children, some for reading aloud. You can learn something about Christmas in the past or maybe you just want to relive your childhood!
- Diary of a Christmas Elf
Diary of a Christmas Elf is the first of a series of three Christmas books by comedian and actor Ben Miller. The Death in Paradise and Primeval star has published half a dozen kids books including these festive offerings.
All Tog wants to do is work in Santa's workshop and one wonderful day, the letter from Santa arrives: Tog has been selected as an apprentice elf! But he is not that good at toymaking and ends up cleaning out the reindeer stables, until there is a mystery to be solved. Can Tog save the Christmas presents?
It's a laugh a minute with this blockbuster childrens author.
- The Great Reindeer Rescue
Another Christmas tale from an actor/comedian turned author, The Great Reindeer Rescue is written by Dirk Gently, Green Wing and Bliss actor Stephen Mangan.
In this high-energy, brilliantly silly romp, Santa crash lands on the roof of nine-year-old Holly’s home causing an almighty Christmas lights explosion that blasts the reindeers to far-flung corners of the Earth. It’s up to Dave and Holly to fly round the world to rescue all the reindeers.
- Jim's Spectacular Christmas
Double oscar winner Dame Emma Thompson is the author of Jim's Spectacular Christmas, which magically weaves the real-life tale of Jim - beloved dog of Sir Henry Cole who created the first Christmas card - with a fantastically warm and heartfelt Christmas romp, brilliantly illustrated by bestselling illustrator of The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler.
The Nanny McPhee and Cruella star, who won an Oscar for her screenplay for Sense and Sensibility, has produced a heartwarming festive tale of a dog that lives at the Victoria and Albert Museum that kids of all ages will love.
- The Christmasaurus
Tom Fletcher, one time member of boyband McFly is the author of The Christmasaurus, which in a few short years has become a Christmas classic that has also been turned into a hit seasonal musical.
William Trundle is a boy who meets a dinosaur named the Christmasaurus one frosty Christmas Eve.
Together they have a magical adventure filled with friendship and families, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer. - Granny Got a Sprout Stuck Up Her Sneezer
The prize for the Christmas book with the funniest title goes to Granny Got a Sprout Stuck Up Her Sneezer by Becci Murray.
One of a series of books about an accident-prone grandmother, the whole family go crazy as they try to unwedge the veg from her nose. But the more they help, the more Granny yelps and the more festive foods disappear.
- Peter Rabbit The Christmas Present Hunt
Peter Rabbit is VERY excited about Christmas - the tree is decorated and Mrs Rabbit has made mince pies. But where are his sister's presents? Peter hid them so they would be safe but he can't remember where!
Peter Rabbit's The Christmas Present Hunt is full of flaps to lift, so young readers will love helping Peter find the missing gifts in time for Christmas.
- Where Snow Angels Go
Hamnet author Maggie O'Farrell's Where Snow Angels Go is her first book for children. One night Sylvie awakens to an incredible sight - a glowing figure tiptoeing across her floor, with enormous feathery wings wafting from his back. Could he really be the same angel she made last winter in the snow?
A contemporary tale told with humor and warmth, O'Farrell's words are paired with illustrator Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini’s enchanting artwork.
- Virtually Christmas
Is there anything David Baddeil can't turn his hand to? The comedian, football pundit, documentary maker and platinum recording artist is now a million selling author too. In Virtually Christmas, the whole festive season is run by robots, while 3D holograms of Santa Claus called Santavatars check if you’ve been naughty or nice – and on Christmas Eve, all of the presents are delivered by ZoneDrones instead of Santa’s reindeer!
Eleven-year-old Etta and her friend Monty find themselves thrown into a fight to bring back Christmas. Can they must find the real Santa before the true meaning of the festive season is lost forever . . .?
- The Snowman
Raymond Briggs' beautiful The Snowman is not just a classic, it is a British Christmas institution. First shown on TV in 1982 the almost wordless animation told a timeless tale and spawned the worldwide hit song "Walking in the Air" too.
This is the book of the film, illustrated by Briggs in his famous illustration style, which should be part of every child's Christmas.
- The Grumpy Reindeer
For younger children The Grumpy Reindeer is a heartwarming tale aimed at 0-5 year olds
It's the most wonderful time of the year! But not for one grumpy reindeer - he huffs and puffs and scares all the other reindeer off.
But when Santa asks for his help, grumpy reindeer soon realises that sometimes being on your own isn't fun after all.
- Dear Santa
- The Christmas Pig
Harry potter writer J.K. Rowling published this festive offering, The Christmas Pig which is a heart-warming, page-turning adventure about one child's love for his most treasured thing, and how far he will go to find it.
It's a gorgeous gift for kids, featuring 9 black and white spreads and decorative inside art from renowned illustrator Jim Field.
- The Night Before Christmas
- How Santa Really Works
- Horrible Christmas
- Letters from Father Christmas
- A Christmas Carol
- Father Christmas
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
- The Nutcracker: A Magical Pop-up Adventure
- The Polar Express
The perfect book to share with a new reader, Dear Santa is a festive book from Rod Campbell, author of Dear Zoo.
A letter to Santa asking for a Christmas present sets off a merry chain of gift-wrapping, but nothing seems quite right and each time Santa thinks better of his choice.
There are lots of versions of The Night Before Christmas, the classic Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore available.
This one is beautifully illustrated by Mary Engelbreit and was a New York Times bestseller. Relive this gentle tale of children's anticipation of Christmas.
Ever wondered how Santa knows when your asleep, if you've been good and just how he keeps so soot-free depite climbing down all those chimneys?
All is revealed in this tell-all book How Santa Really Works by Alan Snow (yes really!).
Find out a very rude pantomime song, why making Christmas pudding used to be a crime and how to get rid of carol singers - horribly!
In this festive book by Terry Deary, Horrible Christmas will show you foul but festive food, seasonal stories to send shivers down your spine and cruel yule disasters.
The creator of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkein wove his literary magic each year as he wrote letters to his children, supposedly from Father Christmas, telling them about his year.
If your children love LOTR and The Hobbit they will find Letters From Father Christmas a festive treat that they will want to revisit year after year.
For older children or as a great read aloud book, the classic Dickens' tale A Christmas Carol is a perfect read. The story has been retold so many times, and made into films and adapted for TV that you sometimes forget you never read the book....
This edition includes other Christmas writings by Charles Dickens as well.
Raymond Briggs' grumpy, cantankerous Father Christmas is a great antidote to some of the more cutesy Christmas books around.
Another great funny book for all ages from the author of Christmas classic The Snowman.
Dr Seuss' take on A Christmas Carol is a classic in it's own right with classic Seuss rhymes. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the reclusive Grinch tries to spoil Christmas by stealing all the presents, but the spirit of Christmas always wins in the end.
The Nutcracker is the classic ballet to take children to at Christmas, and a wonderful way to introduce children to ballet and theatre. Read the story with this beautifully illustrated book The Nutcracker: A Magical Pop-up Adventure, particularly if you plan to take the children to see it this Christmas!
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.
If watching the much-loved movie starring Tom Hanks is a Christmas tradition for you, your children will love to read the book just as much.
Now that you've picked out a book for your reading-mad kid for Christmas, how about letting them make thisr own festive bookmarks with these free printable Christmas book marks to colour in.