The Best Christmas Books for Kids 2026
If there's one Christmas tradition I'd keep above all others, it's the Christmas book. In our house the festive books come out of the loft on 1 December and get read so many times that the spines are held together with tape. A new one on Christmas Eve is non-negotiable.
Books are also one of the best gifts you can give a child: they last, they're shared, and they build a love of reading that goes far beyond December. Here are our favourite Christmas books this year, picked by age.
For babies and toddlers (0–3)
At this age you want sturdy pages, simple words and something to do: lift a flap, spot a character, join in with a repeated line. Board books survive chewing and buggy books clip onto the pram for festive walks.
For little ones (3–6)
Picture books with a bit more story and a lot of warmth. These are the ones you'll be asked to read again the moment you finish, so choose ones you love too.
The Snow Beast
£6.99
For curious minds (5–9)
For children who ask a hundred questions a day, a book of festive facts is perfect for car journeys and Christmas dinner trivia. And a choose-your-own-adventure story puts them in charge of the plot.
Activity books for the holidays
Activity and sticker books are brilliant for the long days between Christmas and New Year, travelling to see family, or a quiet half-hour while the dinner's cooking.
A book advent: 24 stories to Christmas
If you'd like to build reading into every day of December, a book advent is a lovely idea. Wrap 24 books (old favourites, library books and a few new ones) and unwrap one each night at bedtime. You don't need 24 new books: rewrapping books you already own is just as exciting for little ones.
Tips for a bookish Christmas
- Start a Christmas Eve book tradition. One new book, read together in new pyjamas.
- Write in the front. A short message and the year turns a book into a keepsake.
- Keep the Christmas books special. Packing them away in January makes them exciting again every December.
- Let older children read to younger ones. It's lovely for both.
Your questions
What is a good Christmas book for a 3 year old?
Look for picture books with a simple, warm story and repetition they can join in with. Percy the Park Keeper: One Christmas Eve and Santa's Lost His Suit are both lovely for this age.
Are books a good Christmas present for kids?
Yes. Books last, get shared and re-read, and build a love of reading. A beautiful hardback with a message written inside becomes a keepsake.
What is a book advent calendar?
It's 24 wrapped books, one opened each night of December. You can mix new books with ones you already own and library books.
Browse all our Christmas books and our full books collection.
Happy reading,
Lucy x