Christmas time! Always a favorite holiday around our home and probably around yours as well. Kids already start thinking about Christmas as soon as summer ends around here. We selected to share with you some of the best Christmas board books our kids loved when they were babies and toddlers. Since it might be your child’s first Christmas, you might want to choose a variety of books to see which ones they like the best for future reading.
It’s never to late (or too early!) to start reading to your child! Even babies will love listening their parents read short books and stories daily. It will assist not only in bonding with your baby through daily reading routine, but it will also help them expand their vocabulary in such a simple way.
As you might have heard or seen online, many parents decide to start a Christmas books advent calendar. The premise is simple: instead of candies or activities, they collect 12 (or 24) Christmas themed books to read aloud to their kids, one each day. You can do the same with your babies and toddlers! Choose 12 or 24 from this selection of the best Christmas board books, wrap them individually and unpack one each day to share with a child. You can always choose 12 for the first year and then expand with another 12 next year. And, if you plan on having more kids, put them aside once your toddler overgrow them for your next baby.
BABY’S AND TODDLER’S FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PICTURE BOOKS TO READ ALOUD
If your child is one or two year old, they will love our selection of Christmas themed books.
Our selection for under 2 year old kids is based on one (or more, if we are lucky) things:
- short books with few pages since toddlers have a short attention span
- chunky and durable books to endure rough toddlers
- books with lovely and vivid illustrations
- books with textures or finger puppets for extra sensory experience during reading
You’re My Little Christmas Wish
Get into the holiday spirit and celebrate your little one with You’re My Little Christmas Wish. Featuring Christmas favorites such as snowmen, gingerbread men, and reindeer—and paired with sweet, rhyming text—this board book celebrates parents’ love for their children with a holiday twist. The die-cut, dimensional pieces are perfect for little hands as they follow the adorable Christmas story. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Babies Love Christmas
Introduce your baby or toddler to first Christmas words like star, elves, stockings, candy canes, and more with this adorable lift-a-flap board book. Simple sentences reinforce future language structure while grasping and lifting the sturdy flaps helps develop fine motor skills. Perfect for stocking stuffers, book exchanges, Christmas gifts and more! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Santa’s Big Day
Join Santa as he prepares for his big day! It’s Christmas eve in the North Pole, and Santa’s elves are busy making toys to deliver to good little girls and boys. The sled is all packed, and Santa and his reindeer are ready to go! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Spot’s Christmas
The Christmas season is a very busy time, and Spot knows that as well as anyone else. Everyone in Spot’s house has something to do: there’s the tree to put up and decorate, presents to make and wrap, and Mom needs Spot’s help in the kitchen. Spot is so excited, keeping a sharp eye out for any flying reindeer, he almost forgets to leave milk and cookies for Santa! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Llama Llama Jingle Bells
In Llama Llama Jingle Bells, little llama and his friends give gifts, sing songs, and decorate cookies. It’s a very merry holiday indeed! With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hand. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Dear Santa
In this delightful tale, Santa is looking for the perfect present to send to a special child. Lift the flaps to reveal a big kite, a bouncy ball, and a mask! But nothing seems quite right…until Christmas Eve, when Santa finds the perfect gift to leave under the tree. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Christmas Parade
Written with the irresistible rhythm of a lively marching band and illustrated with Boynton’s signature characters, including chickens with bassoons, mice with piccolos, a tiny bird with a large tuba, and a Santa rhino with a sack full of presents, Christmas Parade is a superb present for young children and families everywhere. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Construction Site: Merry and Bright
When Christmas Eve arrives, there’s just one job left for the big trucks to do—get their construction site ready for a festive night of fun! Lift the flaps on every sturdy page to reveal what each truck is bringing to the celebration, while discovering that the best Christmas present of all is the gift of being together. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Santa and the Goodnight Train Board Book
Next stop, the North Pole! It’s Christmas Eve, and the Goodnight Train is on a roll, racing mischievous Santa through a winter wonderland. Hear the jingle bells, taste some candy canes, and spy a flying hoof or two on a merry ride to Dreamland! Ho-ho-hold on tight for this unforgettable holiday ride! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Christmas Kitten
It’s Christmas Eve, and everyone is getting ready. Kitten is cuddled up next to the fireplace with Mouse. A happy snowman watches for Santa. Finally, Santa’s sleigh sails through the sky with the help of his reindeer, and Santa leaves presents for everyone under the tree. Simple rhyming text, bold and colorful artwork, and touch-and-feel textures on each spread make this a fun, interactive Christmas book for toddlers. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
We Love Christmas!
From a sparkling green tree to Santa’s jolly red coat, there are so many colors to see at Christmas! Learning becomes festive fun with this bright board book. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
The Itsy Bitsy Reindeer
The itsy bitsy reindeer spreads holiday cheer as he helps Santa’s Workshop get ready for Christmas. Little ones will love this fresh holiday spin on the classic nursery rhyme, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?
What do diggers and tractors and forklifts and tankers do to get ready for the holidays? The same things that your family does! Enjoy the rollicking rhymes as you watch the truck families prepare for Santa and even help pull his sleigh! Children who can’t get enough of trucks will love Brianna Caplan Sayres’s things-that-go holiday story. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Holly Jolly Santa Songs
Kiddos will love exploring every lively, festive page singing along to five favorite Christmas classics selected by Santa himself including We Wish you a Merry Christmas, Deck the Halls, Bells on the Sleigh, Up on the Housetop, and I’m a Little Christmas Tree. Just push a button and start singing to your favorite Christmas song. A perfect family treat to kick off the holidays! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Pop-Up Peekaboo! Christmas
Little ones will soon be joining in with the easy-to-follow story. Each page reveals unique festive-themed pop-ups, as well as rhythmic read-aloud rhymes. This will help develop your child’s language skills. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
With the gentle rhythm and signature illustration style that made Little Blue Truck a household name, Blue’s snowy adventure is full of holiday warmth. Sturdy cardstock pages, a compact and child-friendly text, and flashing colored Christmas lights on the final page come together in a novelty gift book that’s sure to be the favorite treat of the season. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Goodnight Santa
Follow Santa Claus’s journey from his workshop in the North Pole to his magical sleigh and flying reindeer as he brings gifts of every shape and size! In this Christmas picture book, come celebrate the most wonderful time of year as children settle into bed and say “night night” to those sugar plums in their head, perfect for fans of Polar Express! Kids will love saying good night to Santa, his reindeer, and the elves for many holiday nights in what is sure to become a bedtime tradition for families to share. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Moo, Baa, Fa La La La La!
The cast from the bestselling Moo, Baa, La La La! has returned with a silly holiday twist! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so sing along with caroling sheep, giggling pigs, and dancing cows as they celebrate Christmas with this merry tune. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Where’s Santa Claus?
Five beautifully illustrated spreads show a series of friendly Christmassy creatures hiding behind bright felt flaps. With gold foil on the cover and a mirror on the final page, this is a perfect book to share with very little ones. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
The Littlest Elf
Oliver may be the littlest elf in the North Pole, but he has a big desire to discover his very special job in Santa’s workshop! But after getting lost in the toy shop, making a mess at the book shop, and falling in the mixing bowl at the bakery, is the littlest elf just too little? Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Baby Touch and Feel Merry Christmas
Baby Touch and Feel: Christmas is an interactive and fun way to help your child learn about words and textures, as well as the Holiday season. Bold, bright pictures and colorful illustrations will be more than enough to keep your baby’s attention. This Christmas picture book is a perfect first book for preschoolers and makes for an ideal baby gift. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
My First How to Catch Santa Claus
It’s Christmas Eve, one of the most magical nights of the year, and one child has a wish: to catch Santa as he delivers gifts so he can hug him tight! Brimming with sweet rhymes and adorable art, this new holiday story will delight readers as they follow the child and his cat and puppy friends in building playful lures and simple traps for the winter legend himself! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
A Christmas Gift for Little One
What do YOU wish for this Christmas? From bestselling author Sandra Magsamen comes a heartfelt message of love and holiday spirit that reminds us all that the best Christmas gifts are those we feel with the heart. Filled with lively illustrations, gentle rhyming text, and plenty of holiday heart, this adorable elephant board book for ages 0-3 is made for little hands, the perfect way to celebrate the most magical time of the year. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
All I Want for Christmas Is Ewe
Wish your little sugarplum a beary Merry Christmas and jingle all the way with this heartwarming story for babies and toddlers! Combining beautiful illustrations, charming animal puns, and the evergreen message of love, All I Want for Christmas is Ewe is a moovelous way to celebrate the season and share your love for each otter. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Grandma’s Sugar Cookie
Celebrate the special bond between Grandma and grandchild with this oh-so-sweet story about Grandma’s love! Packed with heartfelt rhymes and adorable illustrations, this book will inspire littles one and grandmas to bake some treats (and memories!) together this holiday season. This Christmas board book for ages 0-3 makes a perfect grandma gift, festive stocking stuffer, and Christmas gift for kids. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
My Little Library: Christmas
Books in the set include: Reindeer, Note for Santa, Christmas Cookies, Holiday Card, Snowman, Santa, Stocking, Snow, Christmas Tree, Elf, Christmas Eve, and Ice Skating. This set is a perfect selection if you are planning to make a Christmas book themed advent calendar or if you need to select a Christmas stocking stuffers for many kids. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Not enough books?
We will add more as time goes! For now, you might check and add some of the books from the selection of the best winter themed board books. They will mash well with Christmas, after all Christmas falls during winter season!
Christmas activities to try along with Christmas board books
Here are few simple Christmas activities we suggest, easy enough for the youngest to try:
- Put together Christmas tree sensory bin for babies to explore
- Make torn paper Christmas wreath for your door
- Pretend play with homemade Christmas cookies.
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