Last year, during advent I read about a brilliant idea for an alternative advent calendar from My Little Bookcase. 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

I have a feeling Stickman by Julia Donaldson might make it’s way to the top this year. Either way we will be checking out these Stickman resources from the Forestry Commission.

So what Christmas books would you have on your list?

For our advent calendar of Christmas books and films look here.

For our list of favourite family Christmas films look here.

For our Snowmen homemade advent calendar  look here.

For another alternative advent calendar have a look at this decoration idea from last year.

If you like this idea then make sure you are following me on Pinterest. I have a board dedicated to fun Christmas ideas.

For all of our Christmas idea in one place – check out our Christmas activities for kids which I keep updated as I add a new idea.