Christmas picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. The titles below can be found on my Amazon Storefront under Christmas Picture Books– https://amzn.to/3MAHvmT .)
❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗
The 13th Day of Christmas
by Adam Rex (Author)
Summary: A man receives an overwhelming amount of gifts from his true love, Trudy, which leaves him feeling confused. He tries to call her, but their misunderstanding remains unresolved. He goes to talk to his mom about the situation. However, as he walks through town, everyone and everything seems to follow him, creating a parade, a circus, and eventually a library fundraiser.
Comments: A humorous and engaging parody of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” This would be a delightful read-aloud for students during the chaotic days leading up to Christmas break.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas
by Jory John (Author), Pete Oswald (Illustrator)
Summary: The Big Cheese is preparing to host another one of his extravagant, over-the-top Christmas parties when his washing machine overflows and ruins everything. He calls a friend who offers to host the party in his place. The Big Cheese is unsure about having a quiet and cozy gathering with his friends instead.
Comments: I love Jory John’s humor, and this one is included.
The holiday cards inside are actually gift tags.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise
by Riel Nason (Author), Byron Eggenschwiler (Illustrator)
Summary: Unlike his ghost friends, who were made of sheets, Ghost Quilt was warm as he floated around in the winter. He noticed where the people were gathered and saw that the neighborhood was decorated similarly to Halloween, but with shiny lights everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere. He figured out a way to bring home what he had seen to share with his friends and lift their spirits.
Comments: A heartwarming story about kindness and the joy of sharing.
The illustrations were created with pencil drawings and digital techniques.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
A Cowpoke’s Christmas
by Ann Ingalls (Author), Lauren Gallegos (Illustrator)
Summary: Sam and her dog, Hank, help her grandfather with chores around the ranch before celebrating Christmas with a family dinner and a wagon ride. On Christmas Day, Sam witnesses a special delivery.
Comments: The rhyming and rhythmic text makes this a heartwarming read-aloud.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Llama Llama: A Gift for Mama
by Anna Dewdney (Author), JT Morrow (Illustrator)
Summary: Llama made a beautiful bell ornament for Mama, but he dropped it on the ground on his way to the car, where Grandma was waiting for him after school.
Llama is determined to find Mama a wonderful gift, but cannot figure out what she wants until Christmas Eve.
Comments: A charming book that young readers will enjoy, as they follow Llama’s quest to find a perfect gift. Ideal for reading aloud .
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Cat’s Christmas
by Alison Murray (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: Cat is not a fan of Christmas. He doesn’t like the food, the decorations, or visitors. Fed up, he leaves the house to climb a tall tree and marvels at the beauty of the night sky until it begins to rain. He returns home and finds a new place to sit.
Comments: Who doesn’t love a Scrooge or a Grinch around Christmas time? This grumpy character comes around and finds something positive.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
The Birds of Christmas
by Olivia Armstrong (Author), Mira Miroslavova (Illustrator)
Summary: Raven was flying home during a December night when a bright star shone down announcing that a child, the Prince of Peace, had been born and to tell all of the other birds.
Each bird contributes a gift to the child, except for one bird that thought she had nothing to contribute.
Readers will learn how the robin gets a red chest.
Comments: This is based on a European Folktale.
The illustrations were created with graphite pencils and colored digitally.
This is truly a lovely Christmas folktale about the gifts given to a baby by the birds. In return, Mary offers the robin a special gift, which is also given to the bird’s future children: a red breast that symbolizes a kind heart.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
*I received a free copy of this book.
Gingerbread Dreidels
by Jane Breskin Zalben (Author), Thai Phuong (Illustrator)
Summary: Sophie and Max usually spend Hanukkah and Christmas separately with different grandparents, but this year, the holidays fall at the same time. The grandparents come to their house instead, resulting in a blend of traditions, food, ceremonies, decorations, and gifts.
Comments: This is a wonderful book for children from interfaith families.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
An Anishinaabe Christmas
by Wab Kinew (Author), Erin Hill (Illustrator)
Brief summary: On winter solstice, Baby and parents go from the city to the country to visit Kookom and Mooshom on the Rez for Christmas. Baby asks questions along the way, learning new Anishinaabe words, family traditions, and nearby Nature.
Comments: A pronunciation guide is in the back to help say the Anishinaaabe words.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Christmas Light that Didn’t Shine
by Susan Wallenburg (Author), Madelon Koelinga (Illustrator)
Brief summary: The Christmas tree decorations are brought into the living room. The lights are eager to shine brightly, and all of them do—except for one, which is trying very hard. The other decorations offer suggestions, but nothing seems to work. Finally, they all gather around the light and turn it back into place.
Comments: This is a lovely story about how working together can solve a problem. It’s a cute read-aloud for young ones.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Littlest Christmas Tree
by Jane Chapman (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: Cubby and Daddy Bear search the woods for a Christmas tree. Daddy Bear digs up Little Tree and places it on a sleigh to take home to decorate. The forest friends celebrate Christmas together. Christmas is over, and everything needs to be put away, including the tree. Daddy Bear and the forest creatures all plant their trees together and nurture them over the season until next Christmas.
Comments: I liked how this story looked at what happens AFTER Christmas and how to take care of the fir tree for the next Christmas.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Christmas (History of Holidays and Festivals)
by Emma Kaiser (Author)
Brief summary: This children’s nonfiction book examines the secular and religious aspects of Christmas around the world. It is full of illustrations, charts, and information boxes.
Comments: The back sections include Important Dates, Sop and Think, Glossary, Online Resources, Learn More, and an Index.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Nisha’s Just-Right Christmas Tree
by Susan Lynn Meyer (Author), Jaya Mehta (Author), Parvati Pillai (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Nisha is excited to go with her father to pick out a live Christmas tree being sure that it is not too tall or small and can hold all of the ornaments from her grandparents in India and from her grandparents in Maine.
Comments: A lovely book of how to combine both cultures to make new and old Christmas traditions together for the next generation. There is an Authors’ Note in the back of the book.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
One Foggy Christmas Eve
by Kerilynn Wilson (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: A girl and her parents want to visit the grandparent’s house on Christmas Eve, but the fog is very thick. After considering this, they use twinkle lights and flashlights to walk towards the house. The girl and her dog get separated from her parents. Will they find each other? Will they make it to Nana and Papa’s house?
Comments: This is a suspenseful read with a happy ending.
The illustrations were created using pen and ink and colored digitally using handmade textures.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Tamales For Christmas
by Stephen Briseño (Author), Sonia Sánchez (Illustrator)
Brief summary: To have money to buy her children and grandchildren gifts for Christmas, Grandma begins to make tamales to sell before the holiday. How many dozens does she need to make before the Christmas tree is full underneath with gifts?
Comments: This story was inspired by the author’s grandmother.
There is a recipe for tamales in the back of the book.
The illustrations were created digitally with handmade brushes and textures.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Days After Christmas
by Maggie C. Rudd (Author), Elisa Chavarri (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Children in various homes are packing up the Christmas decorations and cleaning the house, recalling the memories of celebrating with family and friends.
Comments: This lyrical book would be a good read to acknowledge the quietness in the home after the big celebration.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Very Young Person’s Guide to Christmas and Carols
by Tim Lihoreau (Author), Philip Noyce (Author), Sally Agar (Illustrator)
Brief summary: This interactive narrative nonfiction picture book begins with the story of Arthur and Holly at their school carol concert on Christmas Eve, walking home and hearing Christmas carols everywhere until they get back home again.
Comments: There are beautiful two-page spread illustrations full of Christmas information and a hidden gingerbread man. Includes ten carols with lyrics and sound clips. The reader pushes on a red circle with a golden star to hear the carol discussed in the story.
There is an on-and-off switch at the back of the book.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
A Stickler Christmas
by Lane Smith (Author)
Brief summary: Stickler jumped onto the back of Judy, a reindeer, and traveled through the forest, delivering sticks to his friends for the holidays. He named each present as he gave it—Hop-Higher Stick, Idea Stick, and so on. During his walk, he came across his friend Doug-the-Fir, who was decorated for Christmas by the mice. Doug, however, did not want to be the center of attention. Stickler found a solution to help his friend.
Comments: I love the humor and imagination in these Stickler books.
The illustrations are mixed media—oils, gesso, and cold wax on canvas. Pencil lines were made with an Apple Pencil in Procreate.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Christmas Snow Globe
by Sibylle Delacroix (Author), Polly Lawson (Translator)
Brief summary: Noah and Lucy looked out the window on Christmas Eve, hoping for snow. The girl received a snow globe as a gift and took it with her to bed. That night, she and her brother felt cold snowflakes on their faces and got out of bed to discover that the house was filled with snow. They made a snowman, slid down the stairs, and had a snowball fight. But did it really snow inside the house?
Comments: A delightful bedtime story about the anticipation of snow on Christmas Day, something we can all relate to.
The illustrations were created using graphite pencils, colored pencils, and watercolor paper.
This book is a French translation first published in 2021.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Santa’s First Christmas
by Mac Barnett (Author), Sydney Smith (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A polar bear asks the elves what Santa does on Christmas Day and learns that he sleeps in. The polar bear and the elves decide to work together to surprise Santa with a Christmas celebration. They decorate a tree, prepare special food, hang up lights, and arrange for someone to pretend to be Santa.
Comments: A heartwarming story about being considerate of others through mindfulness.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas
by Dolly Parton (Author), Erica S. Perl (Author), MacKenzie Haley (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Billy the Kid and his band were touring and giving concerts all over America. He would send postcards home saying that he would be home for Christmas, until they landed a major gig at Rockefeller Center on December 25th. However, their tour bus broke down. Will they make it to the concert?
Comments: This book was inspired by Dolly Parton’s song “Comin’ Home for Christmas.” The lyrics are included at the back of the book.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
A Mouse Family Christmas
by Deborah Underwood (Author), Leah Hong (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Hugo the mouse and his family are getting ready for Christmas Day by decorating their tree in the attic. Curious, Hugo ventures downstairs to see the large tree, only to find it completely bare. William, an elderly man, spots Hugo and lifts him up, thinking aloud whether to put him outside in the storm. However, he ultimately lets the little mouse return to his family. Grateful for his kindness, the mice come together to repay William for his gesture.
On Christmas Day, William shares his dinner with new friends because his family cannot arrive until later due to the storm.
Comments: This a lovely story about giving and sharing during the Christmas season.
The illustrations were created in gouache and colored pencil on watercolor paper.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Birth of the Chosen One: A First Nations Retelling of the Christmas Story
by Terry M. Wildman (Author), Hannah Noel Buchanan (Illustrator), Holly Buchanan (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Creator’s Mighty One appears to Bitter Tears, a young woman, and tells her that the Great Spirit has chosen her to have a son whom she will name Creator Sets Free. He Gives Sons and Bitter Tears embark on a long journey through the desert to a cave where she gives birth. Many come to visit this special baby.
Comments: This retelling of the birth of Jesus draws upon the rich tradition of Native oral storytellers. It has been adapted to reflect the perspectives of the First Nations people of North America. For further insights into the translation, please refer to the “Note from the Author” at the back of the book.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
*I received a free copy of this book.
Our Italian Christmas Eve
by Danielle Sedita (Author), Francesco Sedita (Author), Luciano Lozano (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Danielle and Francesco tell how their family celebrates the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve at their Aunt Babe’s, where there is a house full of relatives and food. The two realize they must make cheesecake to have enough desserts for the feast.
Comments: What an incredible celebratory story with detailed and humorous illustrations
I was getting hungry reading this book, wanting to taste all these yummy Italian foods.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Otto The Ornament
by Troy Cummings (Author)
Brief summary: Christmas ornament, Otto believes he is too shiny and unique to be in the middle of the tree and looks for one where he can be on the top. Will he realize where he perfectly fits in?
Comments: I knew I would like this book when I saw that the C.I.P. is shaped like a Christmas tree.
Troy Cummings visited our school district and did a superb job! His patience with our students and presentations were top-notch.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!
by Mo Willems (Author)
Brief summary: As soon as Santa leaves, Pigeon wants to drive the sleigh, trying to persuade us how it would be a great idea.
Comments: This is done in the humorous pigeon series style of trying to get the reader to agree with the pigeon’s idea.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Snowmen’s Twelve Nights of Christmas
by Caralyn Buehner (Author), Mark Buehner (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A dog chases different creatures up a pine tree for twelve nights before Christmas in this Twelve Days Of Christmas Carol parody.
Comments: This cumulative story has bright and happy illustrations that any little one would love to have read to them several times.
This husband and wife duo has other Snowmen-themed books such as Snowmen at Night, Snowmen at Play, and Snowmen at Christmas.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Twelve Hours of Christmas
by Jenn Bailey (Author), Bea Jackson (Illustrator)
Brief summary: This Twelve Days of Christmas Carol parody is about a large family gathering twelve hours before Christmas.
Comments: This is a lovely picture book of a family with a nana and grandpa, cousins, aunties, and uncles visiting to celebrate the holiday together.
I was looking forward to each hour to see what would happen next.
The illustrations convey the happiness and love of the family. Be sure to spot the hidden kitten throughout the picture book.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
A Creature Was Stirring
by Heather S. Pierczynski (Author), Skylar Hogan (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A mouse debunks the T’was the Night Before Christmas poem’s line of “not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” by being too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve and full of endless energy.
Comments: This book contains onomatopoeias throughout the mouse’s wide-awake activities. The illustrations are warm and inviting.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
by Mac Barnett (Author), Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Hilariously inventive ideas of how Santa Claus goes down the chimney are explored in this picture book.
Comments: Hilariously inventive ideas of how Santa Claus goes down the chimney are explored in this picture book.
Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen have come up with another creative book together that children will love reading. They are in sync with how children think.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Christmassy Cactus
by Beth Ferry (Author), A. N. Kang (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Tiny Cactus was loved by a little girl every day. The child shared all the beautiful Christmas decorations but soon forgot about Tiny Cactus. The plant truly wanted to belong and celebrate with the family but couldn’t figure out how until something magical happened Christmas morning.
Comments: Such a darling and precious story. I’ll never look at a Christmas Cactus the same way again.
This book is illustrated with Christmas colors and a pink hue throughout.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
10 Things I Love About Christmas
by Danielle McLean (Author), Mark Chambers (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young boy shares everything he loves about Christmas, from opening his advent calendar each day, decorating the Christmas Tree, to many events and traditions he shares with his family.
Comments: This would be a good read-aloud and discussion afterward about what they like about Christmas.
The illustrations are detailed. I found myself stopping and looking at them before continuing with the countdown.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Gingerbread House Jack’s Family Ate
by Kelly DiPucchio (Author), Nate Wragg (Illustrator)
Brief summary: On Christmas Eve, Jack and his family are decorating and preparing for Christmas Day while each take little bits off of the gingerbread house meant for Santa. Will there be any left for Santa?
Comments: This cumulative story is based on “The House That Jack Build.”
The illustrations were made with mixed media and digital painting.
There is a gingerbread recipe in the back of the book.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
A City Full of Santas
by Joanna Ho (Author), Thai My Phuong (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young girl goes to the city with her mother, excited to meet the real Santa for the first time, only to find it full of many fake ones. She knows the real one will smell like peppermint or chocolate, have full laughter, and make her heart feel full of sparkle.
Comments: This is a lovely book to share as a bedtime story during the holiday season.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Letters to Never Send Santa: Confessions, Complaints, and Outlandish Requests from the Files of St. Nick
by David Griswold (Author), Luis San Vicente (Illustrator)
Brief summary: There is a letter from Santa Claus explaining the collection of letters sent to him from children who received coal in their stockings and on the naughty kid list.
Comments: This collection of humorous, poetic letters written to Santa would be a fun read-aloud for the classroom during the holiday season.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The Twelve Days of Petmas
by Anne Sawan (Author), Judi Abbot (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A girl joyfully receives pets each day over the twelve days of Christmas, filling her home with excitement and playful chaos until someone comes along to give her a little break.
Comments: This book is in the cumulative style of the Twelve Days of Christmas Carol.
There are large humorous illustrations with two-page spreads. The rhyming lyrics could be sung to the carol’s original music.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Socks: A Kid’s Christmas Lament
by JD McPherson (Author), Anika Orrock (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A boy wakes up early on Christmas morning to sneak a peek at the gifts under the tree that are meant for him. To his disappointment, he discovers that they are all socks. He searches the entire house for the gifts he had asked Santa to deliver. Frustrated and outraged, he puts on his boots to head outside and protest. However, when he sees his family, he changes his mind.
Comments: This humorous book was inspired by the song “Socks” by JD McPherson.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver: The History and Legends of the Real Santa Claus
by Ned Bustard (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: Nicholas was born in Turkey on March 14, 270, to a wealthy Christian couple who both passed away when he was young. His uncle, an abbot, raised him. As he grew older, Nicholas traveled to the Holy Lands, where he lived in a cave. During this time, King Diocletian made it illegal for anyone to worship Jesus, but later, Constantine the Great granted them freedom to practice their faith. Nicholas eventually became a bishop and helped many people by giving them gifts.
Some celebrate St. Nicholas’ death on December 6, 343, while others celebrate on December 24th, when he is believed to travel around the world in a sleigh full of gifts to give to everyone.
Comments: This biographical rhyming poem also explains why Saint Nicholas gives presents to others.
This book, published in 2021, remains relevant today and could be shared as a yearly tradition in December.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
*I was sent a free copy of this book.
Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho
by William Boniface (Author), Julien Chung (Illustrator)
Brief summary: The ABCs are back with a Christmas Tree instead of a coconut one. In rhyme and rhythm, the letters decorate the tree while noticing the “shape” presents underneath.
Comments: Fun to say and chant aloud. Based on “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”(1989).
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
We Celebrate the Light
by Jane Yolen (Author), Heidi E. Y. Stemple (Author), Jieting Chen (Illustrator)
Brief summary: This nonfiction book describes seven winter holidays: Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year. Each holiday is briefly explained in lyrical stanzas and illustrated with beautiful two-page spreads.
Comments: This would be a superb introduction for teachers to use for a winter holidays unit.
The illustrations were digitally created in Photoshop with a tablet.
It’s important to note that at the beginning of the book, each holiday is named in the upper left corner of the page, followed by some factual information on the bottom right of the next page. However, halfway through the book, the pattern changes. While the text remains relevant to the illustrations, it shifts to a new format that emphasizes the connections between the holidays.
I appreciate the diversity in the illustrations, especially how they highlight family gatherings for celebrations.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The selected children’s books are chosen by a certified, retired elementary school librarian who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.