Our favourite Christmas books for toddlers & pre-schoolers; inspiration for a Book Advent Calendar, Christmas Eve box or simply just a cuddle & read.
Whether you’re looking to add a book to a Christmas Eve Box, create a Book Advent Calendar or simply want to snuggle and read something festive with your little one, our ideas for Christmas books for toddlers & pre-schoolers will be certain to fill your days with happy reading time!
There are so many wonderful Christmas book options available now for little ones and it’s hard to pick just a few. But we’ve rounded up some of our favourites to get you started.
Let the cuddles begin!
Scroll down for all the details and links. Happy Browsing!
Looking for more festive activity inspiration to enjoy? Click here to discover more.
We all know that children learn to read and enjoy stories at difference paces. So use the below purely as a guide and please feel free to check out our other book ideas for more inspiration too.
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Gorgeous rhyming story, stunningly illustrated, about decorating the Christmas tree. This is a perfect choice for tree trimming day and sure to have you all feeling Christmassy!
More winter than Christmas, this wonderful story from Nick Butterworth has been firmly on bookshelves since 1989 (I remember our Mum reading it to Jo!). Parkkeeper Percy reminds us all of the importance of sharing and caring for each other in this sweet snowy tale.
This gorgeous story follows Santa as he tries to decipher what Amy’s damaged letter may have been asking for this Christmas. A sweet take on the Jolly Postman (without the envelopes).
What if Father Christmas actually lived and worked on the nearby farm?! Created in rural Devon and beautifully illustrated, little ones will also enjoy finding Rusty Robin on each page. The whole Farmer Christmas range just fills us with joy!
Guaranteed to enthral readers, young and old, this is a book and treasure trove wrapped as one! We don’t want to give too many spoilers but with letters to open along the way, there’s a jigsaw and game included too! A definite for the bookshelf!
Ever wondered how the robin got his red breast? This Christmas classic tells the story of a kindly generous robin who shares his vests with others and ends up with none of his own. A timeless story of caring for others.
Who pulled Santa’s sleigh before reindeer came along?! This wonderful exploration of dino characters puts a completely new spin on Santa’s Christmas Eve journey! (also a firm favourite of freelance journalist Lauren John.)
Another wonderful story of friendship and fun from Tiberius and crew. The school Christmas party is coming up but will Tiberius be able to hold onto his balloon … or will it hold onto him?!
Jane Ray’s fabulously illustrated book is a great way to introduce little one to the classic Christmas song. Sing together as you snuggle and admire the artwork of the beautiful pictures together.
With lift the flap fun along the way, dodge the obstacles as you set off on a magical festive sleigh ride adventure with this beautiful rhyming story.
More lift-the-flap fun with this sweet Christmas Eve tale. Will Christmas Bear make it to Tom’s room in time? Fabulously illustrated (of course!) and a step up from some of the younger books of this style.
Possibly already on the bookshelf; don’t forget this is a story with a festive theme! Will Stick Man get back to the family tree in time for Christmas? Julia Donaldson weaves her magical words once again in this modern day classic.
This beautifully illustrated story unfurls through a series of letters as we share young girl Holly’s penpal friendship with Father Christmas and learn secrets from the North Pole along the way.
The one and only Julia Donaldson returns with a poetic story of the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. Essentially the story of growing and finding your purpose, it’s slightly more serious than some of Julia’s other books but would pair perfectly with a trip to London to see the tree!
A classic! What more can we say?! Once added to the book advent calendar, this book will last and last, captivating a whole host of ages! Pair it with a movie night or simply enjoy on its own. This is one of those books that just has to be read each Christmas time!
We love Kipper! Mick Inkpen’s charming gentle wit is in full flow as we join Kipper and friends preparing for the big day and discover who else has arrived with Kipper’s little fir tree.
What can we say? Toilet humour is always a winner! This book has been in our Christmas collection for years and my boys still love it now even though they are way out of target age range. And well done Nicholas Allan for pointing out the obvious call of nature when you drink that much milk / sherry or whisky!
Sticking with the toilet humour theme comes this brilliant new dinosaur story. Danny’s new dino eats up all of Christmas, but as we all know, what goes in must come out…
The Dinosaur That Pooped A Reindeer! by Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter
Just the sweetest little uplifting rhythmic story full of reassuring positive messages for your baby to let them know how much they are loved.
Another picture book adventure from loveable rogues-turned-good Shifty & Sam. But can they save the day when things go awry in Lapland and Christmas looks to be in jeopardy?
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: Santa’s Stolen Sleigh by Tracey Corderoy
This touching tale of children missing their parents at Christmas is filled with interactive peep-through and lift-the-flap pages. A wonderful story which reminds children they are loved no matter where they are.
Every child’s favourite pig could easily fill a book advent calendar of her own (and of course she does)! For us the highlight of the collection is this sparkly retelling of the classic Night Before Christmas story, Peppa-style.
No words, just gorgeous illustrations to lead us through one of the most famous of all the Christmas tales. This beautiful story will surely remain in your Book Advent Calendar for years to come!
But of course!! This is a traditional edition of the traditional poem, a perfect heirloom to live in your Christmas Eve Box and be enjoyed year upon year!
Simple christmas Eve Box
Ideas for filling a DIY Christmas Eve Box – perfect for last-minute panics or when you don’t want to splurge.
More Christmas Book Inspiration
Looking for Christmas book ideas for other age children? We’ve got suggestions for everyone. Click below for more.
Which other Christmas books for toddlers do you enjoy reading with your little one? Do let us know in the comments below! We also love discovering new Christmas books!
Looking for more inspiration?
- How to make a Book Advent Calendar
- Christmas Crafts For Young Children
- FREE Printable Santa Beard Countdown
And be sure to check out our Jolly Festive gift guides – we’ve got gift ideas for everyone on your nice list!
Share Your Festive Adventures!
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And be sure to tag #jollyfestive in your photos. We love to see what you’ve been preparing for advent this year!
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