24 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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The Complete Guide To Book Advent Calendars
Get the full lowdown on how to create a book advent calendar and tips galore on doing so without breaking the bank!
Our Top Picks For Christmas Books For Babies
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!
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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.
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We follow Father Christmas and the whole crew at the North Pole in this Lift The Flap adventure from Usborne. Fabulously illustrated and a step up from some of the younger books on similar themes but still perfect for those toddlers & pre-schoolers.
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A recent discovery for us and one that has truly delighted! 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.
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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!
Find out more here.
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.
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As Mr Christmas heads out to spend Christmas with Little Miss Late, you can expect the usual array of mishap and adventure that we know and love of the Mr Men world. A bright cheery classic sure to hit the mark. (And another of Lauren’s favourites)
Find out more here.
Favourite Festive Reads For Little Ones
Freelance journalist Lauren John shares four of her favourite Christmas books for toddlers & young children.
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.
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Harry and his friends come together to save Christmas in this endearing rhyming tale from N G K which celebrates kindness and the importance of helping others.
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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.
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Who needs a mince pie for Santa when you could give him a sausage roll instead?! New for 2021 from social media celebs, Mark & Roxanne Hoyle (aka LadBaby), this is a fabulously Christmassy heart-warming tale.
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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.
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New for 2021, 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!
Find out more here.
Thinking about gifts? We’ve got suggestions for everyone from babies & toddlers to children and your Mum friends! Not forgetting our furry pet friends too!
For the complete list of guides, click here.
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!
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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.
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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!
Find out more here.
Author and illustrator Rob Biddulph has served up a wonderful story for us this year as Odd Dog joins Santa to help save the day and rediscover the value of friendship and thoughtful gifting.
Find out more here.
Christmas Crafts For Little Ones
Simple fun festive activities to enjoy at home with your toddler or pre-schooler. We’ve even prepare all the free printables ready for you!
Just the sweetest little uplifting rhythmic story full of reassuring positive messages for your baby to let them know how much they are loved.
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A new 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?
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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.
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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.
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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!
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But of course!! This is a traditional edition of the timeless classic poem, a perfect heirloom to live in your Christmas Eve Box and be enjoyed year upon year!
Find out more here.
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 books do you enjoy reading with your little one? Do let us know in the comments below! We love discovering new Christmas books!
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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