There is something absolutely magical about quality children’s books. The gentle words paired with beautiful illustrations often transport my children and I into another world. I grew up in a household of children’s picture books. When I say “household”, I’m talking about literally thousands of books. My mother, otherwise known as “The Book Lady”, has had a private business selling children’s books for about 30 years. I actually used to be bothered by all the many books around. Now I see what a treasure they are, especially as I have children of my own.
Not only is my mom “The Book Lady”, but she has been a school teacher and a librarian, only recently retiring in 2012. She is the ultimate children’s book expert! She has cultivated the most beautifully classic, quality, handpicked selection of children’s books over the years. I have fond memories of many books she has read and shared with me and have since built my own personal library with her help.
Below is a list of my favorite children’s Christmas books. If you were to ask me just one, it would hands down be “Why Christmas Tree’s Aren’t Perfect” by Richard H. Schneider. The message moves me to tears every time without fail and my children love it too. To me, it is what Christmas is all about. There are many, many others, though. It was actually hard for me to narrow it down to just fifteen! Hope you enjoy the list I’ve compiled and perhaps you will come across something new you’ve never heard of before. Most books below are linked to Amazon in their hardcover copies. You will usually be able to buy a cheaper version by selecting paperback if you so desire. Merry reading!
Book |
Author |
Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect | Richard H. Schneider |
Mr Willowby’s Christmas Tree | Robert Barry |
The Tale of Three Trees | by Angela Elwell Hunt and Tim Jonke (Illustrator) |
The Polar Express | Chris Van Allsburg |
The Mitten |
Jan Brett |
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree | Gloria Houston and Barbara Cooney |
Snowmen at Night | Caralyn and Mark Buehner |
The Legend of the Candy Cane | Lori Walburg |
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey | Susan Wojciechowski |
The Hat | Jan Brett |
The Christmas Wish | Lori Evert |
The Crippled Lamb | Max Lucado |
The Birds of Bethlehem | Tomie dePaola |
Gingerbread Baby | Jan Brett |
Thank you so much for the Christmas book list!!! Please keep posting your favorite children’s books as they come to you!
Thank you for the encouragement Adrienne!
I love your list! I totally forgot about the story of the three christmas trees til you mentioned it here. my parents read that to me when i was young. I am going to have to track it down and read it now!
That is so fun you grew up with it too. I’ve noticed so many of my books that I’ve talked to you about are so nostalgic for me. I couldn’t find my copy of The Tale of Three Trees and so I just went and checked it out at the Orem library. I have LOVED introducing it to my kids!