25 Christmas Books For Kids
Last year, during advent I read about a brilliant idea for an alternative advent calendar from My Little Bookcase (apologies for the wrong attribution originally – but the post features several fabulous book ideas for advent and I forgot whose was the original post). Instead of a piece of chocolate the girls got to open one book every day. I let them read it at bedtime as well of their usual stories and it was a really special tradition which we will definitely be repeating this year. It helps to get into the Christmas spirit.
For us this was easy and inexpensive as we already had a large collection of Christmas books to use. I always put them away in the loft so that they are special when we get them out anyway. All I bought was two rolls of wrapping paper, one green and one gold. We wrapped up the books with about 7 in gold and the rest green and then sorted them into a Christmas tree shape. Then finished off with a star decoration from the Christmas tree on top. It looked really cute sitting on top of the piano, at least for a couple of days.
So here is our list of 25 books – one for each day in the run up to Christmas. Our books are mainly Christmas books rather than religious ones.
25 Children’s Books for Christmas
1. The Snowman by Raymand Briggs
2. Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
3. The Nativity Play by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen
4. Lettice A Christmas Wish by Mandy Stanley
5. Mrs Pepperpot’s Christmas by Alf Proysen
6. How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss
7. Dream Snow by Eric Carle
8. Emily’s Ice Dancing Show by Rosalinda Kightley
9. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allen Ahlberg
10. Dear Santa by Rod Cambell
11. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
12. Dear Santa by Amy Husband
13. Kipper’s Christmas Eve by Mick Inkpen
14. The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson
15. Aliens Love Pantaclause by Clare Freedman and Ben Cort
16. Mog’s Christmas by Judith Kerr
17. Father Christmas by Raymand Briggs
18. How Santa Really Works by Alan Snow
19. One SNowy Night by Nick Butterworth
20. Dear Santa by Alan Durant
21. Christmas Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
22. Cops and Robbers by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
23. The First Christmas by Jan Pienkowski
24 ‘Twas The Night before Christmas by Clement Moore
25. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
So what Christmas books would you have on your list?
For another alternative advent calendar have a look at this decoration idea from last year.
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook or get free updates by subscribing to my RSS feed.
If you like this idea then make sure you are following me on Pinterest. I have a board dedicated to fun Christmas ideas.
I am linking up to Get Crafty It’s Playtime Fun Sparks Fun Stuff Fridays Creative Mondays
Counting Down to Christmas Blog Hop
These are the other blogs who are co-hosting:
Rainy Day Mum ~ Mummy Mummy Mum! ~ Life at the Zoo ~ Here Come the Girls
The Fairy and The Frog ~ Jennifer’s Little World ~ Playful Learners
Making Boys Men and The Boy and Me
Link up your Christmas ideas here:
This is such a clever idea, my little boy would love it.
Red Rose Mummy recently posted..Project 365 Rebooted – Thursday 01/11/2012 Pumpkin Patch (1/365)
What a lovely idea. Stickman is a big favourite in our house. xx
Emma @mummymummymum recently posted..When role play almost goes wrong
Yes we love that book too!
Merry Christmas To All. What a wonderful list of Christmas books. I hope one day, our story gets placed along such fine classics. Our story is Belstarr The Lost Toymaker. A rhyming ‘Christmas story’ about a lost toymaker called ‘Belstarr’ who holds the key to Christmas in her heart. Will she find ‘belief’ before Drake Hausen takes over Christmas forever? A magical sleigh ride for all Christmas believers. Ideal for reading on Christmas Eve to start the festive season. It has been compared to the Grinch Who Stole Christmas because of it’s beautiful rhyme.
Dr. Zeuss?
Dr. S-E-U-S-S
I love this idea and today we’ve got all the Christmas/Winter books that could be Christmas down and I’m wrapping them up.
Thank you so much for linking to Tuesday Tots and letting you know that I’m featuring this post over on Rainy Day Mum
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum recently posted..Making Baby’s First Christmas Magical – Starting Traditions
What a brilliant idea! I only wish it would work for 12 year-olds without breaking the bank!
I know what you mean. I just went to the library and checked out as many Christmas books as they would let me.
Hope you enjoy some Christmas reading. I still need to get ours from the loft ready fro this year!
Great ideas, Rebecca! My now-adult kids loved some of those same books in our pre-Christmas reading when they were little! I featured your post and photo in my 40+ Christmas Countdown Activities at http://livingmontessorinow.com/2012/11/27/40-plus-christmas-countdown-activities/
Deb @ Living Montessori Now recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities
I admit I’ve never been able to do the book a day advent idea because I can’t keep books wrapped up for so long. I am much too impatient when it comes to reading! Thanks for linking up your great list to The Children’s Bookshelf. Pinning this, too!
Mom and Kiddo @What Do We Do All Day? recently posted..Free Coloring Page Interfaith Ornaments
We are doing this at our house, too! But I must say, I love the idea of stacking them in the shape of a Christmas tree. (We’ll be stealing that for next year!)
Amy recently posted..Reading With the Seasons: Christmas Edition
I featured this book list on my blog today! Thanks so much for sharing!
Alli Miller @ Cupcake Diaries recently posted..Christmas Pins: Loving and Listing
I was a little taken back by your statement, “So here is our list of 25 books – one for each day in the run up to Christmas. Our books are mainly Christmas books rather than religious ones.”
Christmas is a religious holiday. I think that you meant, “Our books are mainly secular books rather than religious ones.”
Thanks for your comment. You are right secular would be a better word.
This is a wonderful idea! I appreciate you sharing your list.