The Best Christmas Books to Read With Your Kids This Holiday Season

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There are so many ways to celebrate the most wonderful time of year. The best Christmas songs must be playing and best Christmas movies for kids are on repeat. Another way that is sure to get the whole family into the holiday spirit is to bring out the picture books. The beautiful illustrations makes them double as decor, while the sentiments inside remind everyone the reason for the season. It's also fun to be reintroduced to all of the best Christmas characters. Plus, books provide cozy indoor entertainment, which is a must in freezing temperatures. There's only so much snow one can handle and even the best snow toys aren't reason enough to stay outside too long. So, put away the Fall Books until next year and get out all of the wintry favorites.

The collection below includes classics from childhood to brand new books that are out this year. Preschoolers will love the board book options with thick, tough pages that hold up even with the most destructive toddlers. For the older crowd there are a few of the best books for teens, but even teenagers will love revisiting their favorite Christmas tales from years past. No one ever really outgrows some The Polar Express and The Night Before Christmas, right? Who would want to! Let'smake everyone get in the matching family Christmas pajamas and get reading. Everyone will love making new memories and traditions together.

A World Full of Winter Stories

Age Range: 5-8

Don't let Christmas get all the attention this Winter. Read all about myths, legends, and more which celebrates everything to do with this cold season.

Kid Christmas of the Claus Brothers Toy Store

Age Range: 4-7

This charming tale tells the story of little Nicky Claus, who wanted to make every child happy, if only just for one day.

Bird Count

Age Range: 4-8

Bird watchers young and old will love reading about Ava and her mom attending the National Audubon's Christmas Bird Count.

The Christmassy Cactus

Age Range: 4-8

Join a beloved cactus as she grapples with feeling left out of the holiday festivities. She feels like she can never stand out next to the gigantic Christmas tree, but a special wish is granted for the cactus on Christmas morning.

It's Christmas Everywhere: Celebrations from Around the World

Age Range: 2-5

Learn about holiday traditions and celebrations from around the world. The book transforms into a fun 3D tree.

The Twelve Hours of Christmas

Age Range: 4-8

This rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas counts down the activities of the day. Five golden rings become five Nana hugs, eight maids a-milking become eight mugs of cocoa

The Night Before Christmas

Age Range: All ages!

This edition of the Christmas classic is re-invented with whimsical illustrations. It's tall and narrow too, perfect for a stocking.

Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Lost Christmas!

Age Range: 3-7

Readers will love heading back to Who-ville and checking in on the most lovable villain, The Grinch! Find out if he really learned the meaning of Christmas in this fun sequel.

The Best Gift for Bear

Age range: 3-7 years

Hedgehog is on the hunt to find a present for Bear, but she discovers that their friendship might be the best gift of all.

Bright Winter Night

Age range: 3-7 years

This beautifully illustrated celebration of woodland creatures will become your new favorite book to read aloud.

When Santa Was a Baby

Age range: 3-7 years

This adorably illustrated book gives reader's a glimpse into Santa's childhood as a quirky kid. Children of all ages will delight in the high jinx that Santa gets himself into while growing up.

A Simple Christmas on the Farm

Age range: 4-8 years

This book focuses on the most important parts of the season: generosity, community, and connecting with loved ones.

The Tree That's Meant to Be

Age range: Preschool and up

This heartfelt tale tells the story of a lonely Christmas tree that learns what it means to be loved when the forest animals adopt it as their own, proving each of us is worthy of love just as we are.

All the Little Snowflakes

Age range: 16 months and up

With die-cut snowflakes decorating the brightly illustrated pages of this board book, All the Little Snowflakes is a perfect choice for the young reader who loves to interact with their stories.

Christmas Parade

Age range: 16 months and up

With an irresistible rhythm and instrument-playing animal marching band (chickens with bassoons, ducks with trombones...even cow saxophonists!), beloved children's book author Sandra Boynton returns with what's sure to be a holiday repeat request in every home with little readers.

Pick a Pine Tree

Age range: preschool and up

Joyous illustrations and fun rhythms lead readers on the nostalgic journey of the traditions of selecting and decorating everyone's favorite holiday centerpiece: a Christmas tree!

All the Colors of Christmas

Age range: preschool and up

A diverse cast of children in All the Colors of Christmas shows us that Christmas is composed of all the colors of the rainbow and best celebrated together with the ones we love.

The Crayons' Christmas

Age range: preschool-2 years

The dynamic children's book duo Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers return with The Crayons' Christmas, a festive story with real holiday letters from the Crayons you can remove from their envelopes and other fun interactive elements. This one is sure to be a hit year after year.

Red and Lulu

Age range: preschool-2 years

When cardinals Red and Lulu becomes separated, they'll stop at nothing and go the distance just to find each other during the season of love and miracles in this beautifully illustrated and heartwarming story.

The Snowy Day Board Book

Age range: baby-2 years

A classic and Caldecott Medal winner, The Snowy Day revives the childlike wonder experienced when you step outside after that very first snow.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Age range: Preschool and up

A classic in every sense of the word, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a must for any holiday reading session and will help spark conversations about the true meaning of the season.

Silent Night (The Christmas Choir)

Age range: Preschool and up

The beloved holiday song is brought to life in this favorite reimagining that highlights the diversity of the world in lush, detailed illustrations.

I Got the Christmas Spirit

Age range: preschool and up

I Got the Christmas Spirit follows one joy-filled little girl on the perfect holiday outing with her mother, spreading holiday happiness to everyone around her and proving that the season really is about giving.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

Age range: 4-8 years

This informative and colorful read explains how one flower became one of the most popular symbols of Christmas.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Age range: 5-9 years

Before you pop in the kid-favorite Christmas movie this year, read the original children's story by Dr. Seuss.

The Polar Express

Age range: 4-7 years

All aboard! You won't want to miss this magical train ride.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Age range: 7-10 years

In this heartwarming children's book, a family fights to keep its brownstone home at Christmastime.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Age range: 8-12 years

See what happens when a set of rowdy siblings takes on the annual church Christmas pageant.

Dream Snow

Age range: 3+ years

Inside this imaginative take on the story of Santa Claus are lift-the-flaps, making the book all the more fun for little ones.

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition

Age range: 3+ years

The Elf on the Shelf has solidified its status as an annual Christmas tradition, and it all starts with this book.

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