21+ Toddler Christmas Books Your Little Ones Will Love

Ian Falconer

Olivia Helps with Christmas

Olivia is a relatable character to your toddler in that she is super excited for Christmas to come! This cute story highlights how her family prepares for and celebrates Christmas together. This is also part of a series originating from Falconer’s “Olivia“.

Melanie McFadyen & EOne

Merry Christmas, Peppa!

Peppa is likely another well-known pig if you have a toddler. This festive tale about Peppa’s Christmas is a favorite. If it was a hit in your house, there are many other Christmas-themed Peppa books to choose from.

Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline’s Christmas

The Madeline series is classic and well known . In this story, everyone is sick on Christmas Eve and Madeline is busy taking care of them. She even manages to create some magic and help them reunite with their families. Your toddler will enjoy this lovely, easy to follow Christmas story.

Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

This story is all about a sleepy bear woken from hibernation by his forest friends. You follow his journey trying to stay awake for Christmas. This very cute, rhyming book is sure to be a favorite. If your kiddo wants to read more about Bear, there are 8 more books in the collection.

Alice Schertle & Jill McElmurry

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

This is a great companion book to the beloved “Little Blue Truck” series. This sweet and succinct rhyming tale is sure to get your littles excited for the holidays, especially when they see the twinkling, lit up Christmas tree on the last page!

Sherri Duskey Rinker & AG Ford

Construction Site on Christmas Night

If you have construction and “digger” lovers in your house, they will love this one! This adorable story is all about each of the trucks getting a special Christmas present. Construction Site: Merry and Bright is another Christmas book in the Construction Site series that is a lift-the-flap your kids will love!

Patricia Toht & Jarvis

Pick a Pine Tree

Your little ones will love this well-written and rhyming story. This nicely illustrated book takes you through the different steps to get a Christmas tree and what to do with it. This is a fun book you will both enjoy and you can check out similar-formatted books from Toht for a couple other holidays.

Nancy Tillman

The Spirit of Christmas

Nancy Tillman books are truly something special. Not only are her stories heartwarming and cleverly rhymed, her illustrations are stunning. “The Spirit of Christmas” is no exception and one you need to add to your Christmas reading list. It also may or may not make you shed a happy tear.

Caralyn Buehner & Mark Buehner

Snowmen at Christmas

This imaginative story is about what a little boy thinks snowmen do on Christmas Eve while he is fast asleep. This story is fun and playful. If you love this one, definitely check out its predecessor, Snowmen at Night , and the rest of the Snowmen collection of books.

Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers

The Crayons’ Christmas

The Crayons’ Christmas is a creative and interactive story about Duncan’s crayons preparing for and celebrating Christmas. Throughout the story, there are pockets with cards and other surprises your toddler can interact with. There is also mention of Hanukkah, which is a great opportunity to teach your little ones how others celebrate that time of year. If your child is learning their colors, you should also check out “Green is for Christmas“, from the same author and illustrator responsible for the book that started it all, “The Day the Crayons Quit“.

James Dean & Eric Litwin

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

This silly story is about how Pete the Cat stepped in for Santa on Christmas because he was sick. Pete rhymes his way from Key West to the North Pole and saves Christmas by making sure all the good children get their gifts. The story also focuses on a lesson about “giving it your all” in the spirit of helping others.

Patricia Scarry & J.P. Miller

The Sweet Smell of Christmas

Want to stimulate a third sense other than hearing or seeing when reading a book? What about smell? That’s exactly what you will get with this unique Christmas book. Though this book is dated, for example, it mentions getting an orange in your Christmas stocking, its appeal still works today. As you read, you and your kids can scratch and sniff different Christmas items. This book definitely creates a different reading experience.

Dr. Seuss

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Who doesn’t love the Grinch? It’s a Christmas miracle that the grouchy Grinch changed his mind and grew his heart. The original story in this book is a classic that your toddlers will get a kick out of. There is also a lesser-known follow-up – “How the Grinch Lost Christmas“. If they love the book, they will really enjoy the 2018 animated movie version too, which is toddler-friendly.

Clement C. Moore & Charles Santore

The Night Before Christmas

“The Night Before Christmas” is an absolute must. If you have to pick one book from this list, let it be this one. This classic poem is read by families each year for a reason. Give it a read to see why it’s a dearly loved tradition.

T.E. McMorrow & James Ransome

The Nutcracker in Harlem

Harlem may not be where you picture Tchaikovsky’s popular ballet taking place, but this adaptation is definitely worth reading. This unique take on the classic is jazz-inspired and dreamy. The story is inspired by author McMorrow’s personal experience working as a stagehand for the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Katy Flint & Jessica Courtney-Tickle

The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker

Another unique way to experience a book and a classic Christmas tale is with this press-the-note version. This book is a wonderful introduction to The Nutcracker story while also getting a chance to hear the music that accompanies each part. Your toddler will love getting to press the buttons and hear the beautiful, timeless music from the festive ballet. If you have music lovers, check out the rest of books from The Story Orchestra.

Honorable Mentions: Older Toddler and Preschooler Christmas Books (3-5 years old)

The following books are a little longer and may not hold the attention span of a toddler. Despite that, they’re worth mentioning in case your toddler is up for longer stories. The verbiage can be advanced for their age, but it’s a great opportunity for them to learn some new words!

1. The Nutcracker
2. Dasher
3. The Polar Express

New York City Ballet & Valeria Decampo

The Nutcracker

This is another version of “The Nutcracker” and this time it’s by the New York City Ballet based off their annual Christmas performance. The pictures in this book are whimsical and inspiring. If you can get past and explain some of the more advanced vocabulary words, your children will undoubtedly enjoy this book. If this sparks their interest, you can watch the full ballet for free from home.

Matt Tavares

Dasher

Dasher is a young reindeer who is part of a circus with her family. She wants more out of her life and when the opportunity to help Santa presents itself, she seizes it. Eventually, that moment leads to Santa’s sleigh being pulled by reindeer instead of a horse thanks to Dasher. The illustrations are done well, but due to implications of a more mature theme around the circus and its owner, this may be better suited for your Preschoolers or older children.

Chris Van Allsburg

The Polar Express

There cannot be a Christmas book list for kids without this popular tale. This magical story about a little boy’s journey on the Polar Express train to a big city where he makes his Christmas wish will dazzle all ages. This is a long book (32 pages) with lots of words on each page that may be hard to hold your toddler’s attention. If anything, it’s worth trying and if they aren’t ready, you can always try again next year!

This post was all about toddler Christmas books your little ones can understand and will love so much they will remain their favorites even after the holidays are over.