Christmas Books for Kids to Read This Season

Grab some cocoa and wrap up in a blanket! It’s time to snuggle up with great New Christmas books for kids! This collection includes re-tellings of classic tales as well as modern stories, but all are perfect to read together again and again.

Disclaimer: I received complimentary copies of some of the books below for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

New Christmas Books for Kids to Read This Season

Here are our favorite new Christmas books for kids to enjoy together!

Are your kids fans of the Where’s Waldo books? Then they will love Where’s Waldo? Santa Spotlight Search, a special Christmas edition! Use the spotlight slider to search for Waldo, Santa, and other festive characters. This fun book features the searches these books are known for, as well as puzzles and games. It’s a great activity for the holidays!

What set of Christmas books would be complete without ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas? In this new edition, this beloved Christmas tale is now accompanied by gorgeous illustrations from P.J. Lynch, which are fresh and original yet still have a classic, timeless feeling. This wonderful new edition of this classic poem is sure to find a place in your family’s Christmas traditions.

Another gorgeous retelling of a classic tale is the new edition of The Robin and the Fir Tree. This beautiful story of friendship is inspired by a story by Hans Christian Andersen. The fir tree tells his friend the robin of how he longs for adventure and freedom. One day, his dreams appeared to come true when he is chosen to be the town’s Christmas tree, but the robin worries for her friend. What will happen when Christmas is over and the town no longer needs him? This thought-provoking tale is enhanced by the incredibly detailed, stylized illustrations.

This Christmas, why not take a trip to the African savanna and celebrate with the animals? The Twelve Days of Christmas Safari is author Wakanyi Hoffman’s beautiful tribute to the animals of her home country of Kenya. Accompanied by the beautiful wildlife paintings of Kenya-based Milena Weichelt, it is a wonderful way to take children on an imaginary Christmas adventure!

In The Nick Of Time is a wonderful story about the true meaning of the season. Nick, like most kids, is excited about Christmas because of all the toys he’ll be getting! Yet when a note intended for St. Nick is accidentally delivered to him, he realizes that life is not so easy for other children. Nick must figure out a way to make Christmas special for a classmate and his family that don’t have a home of their own. Author Deedee Cummings has woven a heartwarming tale that help children see Christmas in a new way, and encourages them to appreciate the power of small acts of kindness. It is also so refreshing to find a Christmas story that centers a Black boy! A lovely story for the whole family.

May Your Life Be Deliciosa is a wonderful story about the importance of traditions and family stories. Based on the author’s own experiences, it shows a family making tamales together at Christmas. As the abuela (grandmother) teaches the children how to make the tamales, she also imparts her wishes for them. For example, as she folds the corn husks over the masa, she recites, “May you always have many hugs.” A powerful example of how food is so often infused with love, and of the importance of passing on our family heritage.

The Little Bell That Wouldn’t Ring: A Christmas Story has the magical quality of a fairy tale, with its gorgeous illustrations of a traditional European village. There is a new little bell in the belfry, but an attentive dove can’t figure out how to help the little bell find its voice. As it collects loving words (“snowflake,” “cake crumbs,” “chocolate”), the dove learns about the spirit of the season, until finally she and her friends discover the key to helping the little bell sing.

Don’t you love seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center every year? It is such a wonderful sign of the season! But did you know the story of the little owl that got caught in the tree one year? The Christmas Owl: Based on the True Story of a Little Owl Named Rockefeller shares the tale of the owl that found itself in the tree that was chosen to be in Rockefeller Center that year and traveled in its branches to Rockefeller Center, much to everyone’s surprise! A sweet story and a tribute to the workers at the rehabilitation center that cared for the owl once it was discovered and released it back to its forest home.

We love the Jasmine Green Rescues chapter book series! You may remember earlier this year when I reviewed A Lamb Called Lucky and A Goat Called Willow. (If not, read my review). Jasmine Green Rescues: A Donkey Called Mistletoe is the Christmas installment of the same series about a young girl who aspires to be a vet. Although her parents have told her absolutely no more pets, Jasmine is determined to find a way to save a beloved donkey whose owner can no longer care for it. A lovely early chapter book for any young animal lover.

I haven’t forgotten about older kids! I recently discovered the Sophie Washington series, about a diverse middle grade series about tween Sophie and her friends and family. In Secret Santa, Sophie must discover who is the mysterious person behind the gifts she starts receiving near Christmas time. This is a feel good story aimed at kids ages 8 – 12. I loved the main character of Sophie and her family, as well as how diverse her group of friends is. The author also does a wonderful job of incorporating issues that many kids face, like dealing with younger siblings, balancing the needs and interests of different friends, and learning to overcome their fears.