Fresh and Festive:
Brand-New Children’s Books To Read This Christmas
by Dena McMurdie
One of my favorite Christmas activities is gathering a stack of holiday-themed picture books and reading them with my kids while we snuggle under a blanket. Even as my kids get older, we all look forward to this tradition. Of course, this also means that we like to keep our eyes peeled for brand-new children’s books to add to our reading stack each year. Here are the titles we’re excited to dive into this Christmas.
-
The Littlest Christmas Tree
Available from:Children will love this festive new title from beloved author Jane Chapman. Cubby and his dad find the perfect Christmas tree, take it home, and decorate it. But when Christmas is over, and they take down their decorations, Cubby can’t bear to part with his beloved tree. Thankfully, his dad knows how to save the tree.
Also available from: -
Bluey: Awesome Advent Book Bundle
Available from:Count down the days to Christmas with Bluey and Bingo with this interactive advent calendar! Featuring 24 mini-books, including stories such as Grannies, Butterflies, coloring books, and a special Christmas story for Christmas Eve, it's a great gift for kickstarting the holiday season.
Also available from: -
Tamales for Christmas
Available from:This heartwarming holiday story is based on the author’s real grandmother. Grandma wants to buy gifts for all her children and grandchildren but does not have enough money. So, long before the holiday season begins, she starts making tamales. As the days and weeks pass, her tamale stash grows larger until she has enough to sell and buy gifts for her family. She then shares the extras with people who need them.
Also available from: -
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Available from:Kids will love following their favorite characters from the classic 1964 TV special through the pages of this brightly illustrated book. This beautiful picture book is the perfect way to introduce this beloved story to a new generation.
Also available from: -
Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas
Available from:Country music and animal lovers will enjoy this picture book series from iconic music legend Dolly Parton! Join a little French bulldog named Billy the Kid as he gears up for the holidays. Even though he has reached his goals of fame and fortune, Billy longs to spend Christmas at home with his family. When he gets booked for a show on Christmas day, he must decide whether to put his career or family first.
Also available from:
RELATED: Fun and Funny Picture Books by Celebrity Authors
-
Mr. Santa
Available from:What would you do if you had one-on-one time with the big man himself? When a little girl comes face-to-face with Santa on Christmas Eve, she wastes no time asking every question she can think of. This adorable book is the perfect addition to every holiday collection!
Also available from: -
The Little Engine That Could Saves Christmas
Available from:When Santa falls ill on Christmas Eve, he asks the Little Engine for help delivering the presents. Thankfully, the Little Engine is up to the task. Children and adults will love this delightful holiday tale featuring everyone’s favorite train engine!
Also available from: -
Busy Betty and the Perfect Christmas Present
Available from:Join Busy Betty as she dives into the holiday season with the latest edition of the bestselling picture book series by actress Reese Witherspoon! To earn money to buy presents for her family, Betty turns her lemonade stand into a cookie stand. But sales are non-existent, and Betty worries she will never earn enough money. Thankfully, she comes up with a creative (and tasty) solution.
Also available from: -
Santa's First Christmas
Available from:After a night of delivering presents, Santa usually just grants himself an extra half-hour of sleep before resuming his duties. This year, to show their appreciation, the elves decide to surprise him with a festive celebration: they start with breakfast in bed, then cut down a splendid spruce, deck the North Pole with lights, and whip up some cookies for the jolly old man himself. Cute and cozy, this story is sure to become a Christmas classic.
Also available from: -
Elmore the Moose
Available from:From the creators of Don’t Eat Bees and I Don’t Want to Be a Frog comes a giggle-worthy holiday story about a Moose with high-flying aspirations. Elmore wants to help pull Santa’s sleigh, but moose can’t fly — or can they? Elmore tries everything he can think of to learn how to fly and relays his efforts in a series of hilarious letters to Santa. Eventually, Elmore and Santa devise a way to make his dream come true.
Also available from: -
I Am NOT Santa Claus!
Available from:Can you tell if the man in this book is the real Santa Claus? He says he isn’t Santa, but several clues indicate otherwise. This hilarious Christmas romp features dry humor that will have kids giggling through every page leading up to the satisfying conclusion.
Also available from:
RELATED: Is That You, Santa Claus? 13 Picture Books With Fresh Takes on Saint Nick
-
An Anishinaabe Christmas
Available from:Bestselling and award-winning Indigenous author Wab Kinew brings little readers an adorable holiday story that combines Santa with Anishinaabe traditions. When Baby’s mother announces they will spend Christmas on the Rez, he feels nervous. But on the journey there, Baby learns about the traditions, words, and beliefs that have sustained their family for generations.
Also available from: -
How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas
Available from:As Christmas day approaches, Carrot and Cookie stress over finding gifts for each other. But when an ill-feeling Santa crashes his sleigh, the two friends combine forces to save the day. Humor, friendship, and festivities will make this book a seasonal favorite!
Also available from: -
A Stickler Christmas
Available from:Readers of all ages will laugh along with this quirky and hilarious holiday story. Stickler is a small woodland creature covered in sticks who has picked out the perfect stick for all his friends. But Douglas-the-Fir is too nervous about being the center of attention to accept a gift. So, Stickler comes up with a rib-tickling solution that makes this holiday season unforgettable.
Also available from: -
Christmas Forever
Available from:This beautifully illustrated picture book will appeal to Toy Story fans. Three Christmas ornaments are tired of spending most of the year in storage and plan to run away to the North Pole. But when they discover a stowaway, their plans get derailed. Soon, the ornaments learn that family is more important than celebrating the holiday year-round.
Also available from: -
Everett Green: The Not-So-Christmas Tree
Available from:It’s Christmastime in Hawaii, and Everett Green is a little palm tree with festive dreams. He wants to become the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City more than anything. However, when he gets stuck in the airport, he realizes that spreading Christmas cheer wherever you are is more important than fame.
Also available from:
You might also like:
- Books That Celebrate Diverse Holidays and Traditions
- Christmas Books for Kids and Families
- The Reason for the Season: Books That Celebrate the Meaning of Christmas
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2024.