17 of the Most Festive Christmas Picture Books

The lead up to Christmas is a busy time in schools. There are parties, concerts, gift and card making as well as over excited kids to deal with! Have some downtime and enjoy some wonderful Christmas picture books. You can celebrate the festive season with this wonderful collection of traditional, modern, funny, magical and poignant picture books.

You may want to give your students some background to global Christmas traditions, Father Christmas and the Nativity. History.com has a history of Christmas and information about the origins of Santa can be found at National Geographic. CBeebies has an unusual retelling of the Nativity using sand drawings.

Christmas Picture Books

Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares

In the first of the Christmas picture books, Cardinal’s Red and Lulu live in a beautiful evergreen tree in New York City. Every year lights are strung on the tree and people stand and sing ‘O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree’. When the two birds are separated it takes a Christmas miracle to find each other again.

Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht

Follow a family take part in the magical festive tradition of decorating the Christmas tree. They pick out the perfect tree before taking it home on the roof of their car. They dig out boxes of ornaments, tinsel and twinkling lights. The poetic text describes the family as they decorate the tree together.

Presents Through the Window by Taro Gomi

Santa, with a moustache and pink suit, is in a hurry. With so little time he decides to pick in every window and toss in a gift. The problem is he makes assumptions about who lives in each home. Interactive cut-outs show the reader the recipients of the mismatched gifts. Or poor bear who receives nothing. But luckily, it all works out in the end!

A Mustache Baby Christmas by Bridget Heos

Billy is born with a mustache and Javier was born with a beard. When Javier’s beard turns white he becomes Santa Baby. Billy (Elf Baby) helps make the Christmas toys for the other babies. He lands himself on Santa’s naughty list when he but decides to keep all the toys. It takes a visit from Santa Grownup for him to realise it is more fun to give than receive.

One Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland

Bear, Moose and Beaver are getting ready for Christmas. At the last minute, they find the perfect Christmas tree. It is the perfect size with a beautiful scent and soft needles. As Beaver is about the chop the tree down Bear stops him. He can’t bear for this perfect tree to be chopped down. Moose and Beaver disagree. The three of them have compromise and problem-solve to have a perfect Christmas without this particular tree.

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus

Santa has a problem with Harold. Is Harold actually real? At the same, time Harold is questioning whether Santa is real. They both set out to discover each others existence and on Christmas morning their doubts are put to rest. A great book for children starting to doubt the existence of Father Christmas.

Refuge by Anne Booth

A retelling of the Nativity story from the point of view of the donkey who is carrying Mary and baby Jesus as they flee Herod’s soldiers and travel to Egypt. “And we set off… under the starlight, through empty streets, whilst people were sleeping, hoping for the kindness of strangers.” £5 from the sale of each copy in the UK will go to the charity War Child which cares for Syrian refugee children.

Santa Selfie by Peter Bently

Santa has left the Chrismtas responsibilties to the elves while he takes a luxury cruise around the world. Relaxing in his deckchair is he soon spotted by others on the boat. Wherever he goes the other passengers want a selfie with Santa. Trying to relax when you are famous is not that much fun! The reader can take their own selfie with Santa with a pull out frame.

Maisy’s Christmas Party by Lucy Cousins

With the festive season just around the corner Maisy sends invitations to her friends to a Christmas party to play games, sing carols and eat special treat. Her friends, Dotty, Eddie, Cyril, Tallulah, and Charley, all send thank-you notes. Within each note they send Maisy a little gift, including an ornament, a gingerbread recipe, a joke book, an advent calendar and a puzzle.

The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen

A reindeer-obsessed little girl is woken from her sleep when she hears a jingle from outside. It’s Christmas Eve and Ollie discovers a lost reindeer in a forest. The friendly reindeer and Ollie take off on an adventure through the sky. On Christmas morning the girl find a reindeer snow globe to remind her of a magical evening.

The Christmas Story by Robert Sabuda

Robert Sabuda’s pop up book celebrates the Nativity. Six 3D scenes show an angel visiting Mary, Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem, baby Jesus in his bed of straw and his special visitors.

The Nutcracker by New York City Ballet

The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition for many families. This retelling by the The New York City Ballet uses George Balanchine’s famous production as its inspiration. The storyline mimics the famous ballet choreography and scenery from the real production.

The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

A small lump of coal longs to find his place in the world. In his smart suit and tie he is unable to find the meaning in his life. That is until a store based Santa picks up the lump of coal and places it in this naughty step son’s Christmas stocking. The coal and the teenager create a piece of artwork that leads to travel and riches.

Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell

The Nativity told from the perspective of the animals in the stable. A kind ox settles in for the night in a stable next to an inn. When Old Dog comes in looking for somewhere to sleep the ox lets him in saying "There's always room for a little one here." Dog then finds room for Stray Cat who also finds room from Small Mouse. When Tired Donkey enters the stable looking for room for his passengers, Mary and Joseph the Ox says "There is always room for a little one here." The baby Jesus was born during the night surrounded by the animals.

Finding Christmas by Robert Munsch

Robert Munsch’s Christmas story is based on his own family. Julie is excellent at finding her Christmas parents before the special day. It doesn’t matter if her parents hide them in the basement, under the bed or in the garage, Julie will find them. But this year is different. Julie can’t find them anywhere… until she discovers the box of gifts hidden on the roof. Unfortunately, she gets stuck, creating a huge surprise for her family on Christmas morning.

Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo

It is Christmas and Frances can’t stop thinking about the sad-looking organ grinder and his performing monkey she watches from her apartment. She wonders where they disappear to a night and if she can help them. She invites the organ grinder to her church where she is performing in a Christmas pageant. When he finally appears she calls out her line “Behold! I bring you tidings of Great Joy!”

Sarah's Two Nativities by Janine M Fraser

Sarah has two grandmothers, Maria and Azar. At Christmas both of her grandmothers tell her stories of the Nativity, from the Holy Koran and the Bible. The stories are similar in some ways but also different, but either way they are both Sarah's favourite.

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17 of the Most Festive Christmas Picture Books