25 Beautiful Christmas Picture Books to Read Aloud in 2024

Reading Christmas picture books together is one of our top favorite Christmas traditions. To make it extra-special, I usually wrap all of our Christmas books near the end of November, and then each morning in December I let the kids unwrap one or two of them. This way we get a slow trickle of “new” books throughout the whole month, and it all feels just a bit more exciting. It’s especially fun as the kids get older and start to remember the books that we own, and I can hear them guessing which one will be next and exclaiming, “Oh, I remember that one!”

Often times throughout the holiday season of November and December, we homeschoolers get the urge to change things up and create our own little “Christmas school” at home – which is wonderful! If you landed here because you’re looking for more ideas and inspiration for Christmas school at home, check out this blog post full of ideas and tips for a Christmas homeschool routine. However, no matter what sort of holiday unit study, routine, or non-structured days you may choose to do, a good book list is a central part of every Christmas routine.

Let me take just a moment here to dispel the myth that “picture books are only for toddlers.” Have you looked at these books?? They are filled with beautiful artwork, literal “art galleries” in our laps, as Sarah Mackenzie likes to say. And art is for everyone! A good story is for everyone! I enjoy every one of these books just as much as my children do, and I will keep reading picture books aloud to my big kids probably until they leave the house for good. Please don’t stop reading picture books just because your children are entering elementary school. Reading aloud is for everyone, and if you need more convincing, take a look at my blog post on reasons to read aloud.

If you, too, are looking for some beautiful and meaningful Christmas picture books to read together, look no further! The following is our curated list of favorites that we have read over and over – some of them are going on 10 years old, and we still love them. I hope that some of these books will be a blessing to you and your family this Christmas season.

Favorite Christmas Picture Books

• The Story of Holly + Ivy by Rumer Godden (slightly longer and may take more than one sitting, but a beautiful story!)
• Merry Christmas, Curious George by Catherine Hapka
• We Were There by Eve Bunting
• Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant
• Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers
• This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotton
• The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
• Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
• A Christmas Carol by Brett Helquist (a simplified text for children)
• Little Christmas Carol by Joe Sutphin (this one has quite a bit more text, but the pictures are still beautiful and it could make a wonderful addition to your morning time during the month of December)
• Room for A Little One by Martin Waddell
• Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray
• Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo (challenge: see if you can read this one without crying – I haven’t yet succeeded)
• Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares
• A Very Mercy Christmas by Kate DiCamillo
• Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas by Julia Rawlinson
• The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker by Katy Flint
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
• Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
• Sounding Joy by Ellie Holcomb
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
• Madeline’s Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans
• Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne
• The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore

There you have it – plenty of inspiration to fill your holiday season with cozy Christmas picture books! Pick out a stack of these from your local library, add in a few blankets, sprinkle on some cookies or hot cocoa, and you have the perfect recipe for a December afternoon. Plus, your kids will be learning so much while you read! How’s that for a homeschool secret weapon?? Happy reading!

p.s. Don’t forget to download this list, print it off, and stick it in your purse so that you’re all prepared the next time you’re at the library!