20 Classic Christmas Books for Kids to read in 2024
20 Best Classic Christmas Books for Kids to read in 2024,
such as Polar Express, Presents Through the Window, Jacob's Gift, The Littlest Angel etc..
Today we will share the 20 Classic Christmas Books for Kids to read in 2024. Christmas is not only a holiday but also a state of joy and expectation in children's childhood.
Where does Santa live? What do you usually do? How come down from the sky? What gift will you give me this year? How can I meet Santa Claus?
These questions make children curious, mysterious, and yearning. Children are angels. In the world of angels, Santa Claus and North Pole fairy tales are truly there!
When he grew up and became a mortal, Santa Claus disappeared and never came again.
Come and follow the editor to take a look at the classic children's Christmas books for kids: Polar Express, Presents Through the Window, Jacob's Gift, and The Littlest Angel, let's have a carnival together!
1. Polar Express
A story about believing
Introduction: Catic Gold Award Masterpiece, the most popular Christmas gift book. Is there a Santa Claus in the world? The protagonist in the book believes One Christmas Eve many years ago, the "Polar Express" stopped at my door and took me on a journey to the North Pole.
There, I saw Santa Claus and received him. The first Christmas gift given was a silver bell on the sleigh... In this book, the author narrates a story about "belief" in a tender tone: Belief in beauty, believe in miracles... Believe in power, let The child's heart be full and full.
2. Presents Through the Window
Fun holiday traits
Introduction: Gomi Taro is another book that stimulates children's creativity and imagination. It has been sold for 34 consecutive years, and it has been printed more than 200 times.
Turn it over, and the little cat turns into a big fat pig; turn it over, the big crocodile turns into a bunny; the careless Santa Claus, the magical windows and holes give children a magical reading experience!
Both brains and hands must be used to challenge children's observation, imagination, and memory so that reading is full of game-like discoveries and joy.
3. Jacob's Gift
Jacob is a young boy with a gift for carpentry who is busy finishing up a project for a contest. His teacher, Rabbi Simeon, not only instructs him in carpentry but also teaches him important lessons about God. Rabbi has just taught Jacob that when you give a gift to one of God's children, it's like giving a gift to God.
The night before the contest while working on his project, Jacob has fallen asleep in the workshop and is awakened by a bright light. The light is a star that is directly over Jacob's father's stable. As he approaches the stable, he sees a man, a woman, and a newborn baby which is lying in the straw.
Remembering what Rabbi Simeon had told him, Jacob returns to the workshop and takes his project (a feeding trough) to the new family. The morning of the contest, the Rabbi is pleased to find out that Jacob has acted upon the lesson he learned and has truly given a gift to God.
4. The Littlest Angel
More than 1 million copies sold! One of the best-selling children's books of all time. First released in book form in 1946, this story has since appeared in numerous editions. It tells of a small angel who simply can't get with the program no matter how hard he tries.
Then an understanding elder angel realizes that he's homesick and can retrieve a box of his most treasured possessions from "back home." When it comes time for Jesus to be born on Earth, The Littlest Angel gives his precious box to the Baby, but he is worried that God will think his gift too humble.
However, God is pleased indeed and transforms the box into The Star of Bethlehem. The Littlest Angel is presented with the award-winning artistry of Paul Micich who has won several awards and medals for his work. Young Ari Micich was the model for his father's artwork in The Littest Angel.
5. The Legend of the Candy Cane
The Legend of the Candy Cane: The Inspirational Story of Our Favorite Christmas Candy by Lori Walburg
One dark November night a stranger rides into a small prairie town. Who is he? Why has he come? The townspeople wish he were a doctor, a dressmaker, or a trader. But the children have the greatest wish of all, a deep, quiet, secret wish. Then a young girl named Lucy befriends the newcomer.
When he reveals his identity and shares with her the legend of the candy cane, she discovers the fulfillment of her wishes and the answer to her town's dreams. Now, will she share what she has learned?
Warm, lavish illustrations by James Bernardin bring to life a timeless tale by Lori Walburg, a story that will help families celebrate the mystery and miracle of Christmas--for many Christmases to come.
6. The Tale of the Three Trees
With over a million copies in print in 18 different languages, The Tale of Three Trees is a modern classic! Featuring the wonderful illustrations of Tim Jonke, this best-selling children's book tells the Easter story from a new and unusual point of view.
Children will be deeply touched as they understand, perhaps for the first time, the significance of Christ's life and his atoning sacrifice on the cross.
The storyline is simple: Three trees growing on a hilltop each have grand dreams of what they will become in the future, but God has other plans. Each tree plays an important part in the life of Christ: his birth, his ministry, and his crucifixion.
7. The First Christmas
No matter if you are 3, or 103, this poetic and wonderfully insightful walk through the events of The First Christmas will fill you with the warmth and love of the true meaning of Christmas like nothing else will.
With each poetic turn of the page, you will feel as though you are present in the stable in Bethlehem as the events of The First Christmas unfold, beginning with Isaiah's proclamation, "For unto us a child is born." You will see Joseph and Mary make the trip to Bethlehem to be taxed.
You will be present as Joseph carefully fills the manger with straw because there is no room for him in the inn. You will see the new star appear in the dark night sky with the birth of the Christ Child. You will be present as angels announce to the shepherds that the Savior of the world has been born. And you will witness the Wise Men from the east follow the star and present the New Born King with gifts.
In addition to wonderful illustrations that bring this holy scene to life, each page is filled with insight and lessons from this wondrous event.
This thoughtful, insightful, and beautifully illustrated story of The First Christmas is simple enough to capture and hold the attention of the youngest listener, and yet it is deep enough to touch the heart of the oldest reader.
8. A Christmas Carol
Scrooge is a miser, and there is an evil idea in his mind: the poor should go to the orphanage or prison. On Christmas Day, he came home and saw the ghost of his partner.
The ghost told him that three Christmas elves would come to him at night. The three Christmas elves represent the past, present, and future respectively.
Therefore, Scrooge was able to travel through time and space, to see himself in poverty in the past, to see how happy each family was at Christmas, and to see his lonely tombstone.
He suddenly realized that he donated a large sum of money to the poor to raise the salary of his fellow. At the end of the novel, Scrooge has become a kind man.
In "Christmas Carol", Dickens tells us that the true spirit of Christmas is to know how to be grateful, care for others, and pay attention to the weak. The past Christmas was also forgotten by Westerners.
It is precisely because of Dickens's "Christmas Carol" that People have re-understood the meaning of Christmas and made Christmas popular again. He is also known as the "man who invented Christmas."
9. Mary, Did You Know
One of the most popular Christmas songs of our time, "Mary, Did You Know?" has dramatically impacted the lives of countless listeners.
Now families will experience the story as never before, as it's brought to life through resplendent illustrations, plus interpretive Scripture verses in easy-to-understand children's text.
The hearts of children and parents alike will be stirred by this wistful, insightful, and awe-inspiring narrative of the extraordinary life of Jesus.
Mary, Did You Know? will give rich enjoyment to your family's "reading together" times, not just at Christmas, but any day of the year.
10. The Little Match Girl
The luminous art of three-time Caldecott Honor recipient Jerry Pinkney transforms the nineteenth-century Danish girl of Andersen's tale into a child plucked straight from America's melting pot, shedding new light on the invisibility of the poor among the prosperous-a circumstance as familiar in Andersen's day as it is in our own.
11. A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree
This charming tale of an overgrown pine always being passed by for Christmas, and what his woodland friends do to help him, is sure to become a Christmas classic.
With delightful illustrations by wildlife artist Michael Monroe and enchanting text from Colleen Monroe, the birds, deer, and squirrel of this story help make their special friend's wish come true. Here's a fun activity to grow your awareness of trees.
12. Father Christmas
The very subversive image of Santa Claus
Introduction: Won the British Greenway Award, the classic masterpiece of "Snowman" author Raymond Briggs. If Santa was just an ordinary old man, what would his life be like? When he gave gifts, he also encountered strong winds, blizzards, and rainy weather.
Step into the life of Father Christmas and embark on a journey of Christmas gift delivery together. Interesting stories carry some disrespect, but they are full of the warmth and joy of Christmas. On Christmas and every day that is not Christmas, children feel a different kind of kindness and happiness.
13. The Night Before Christmas
The Night Before Christmas was first published in 1823 and is considered as being largely responsible for the conception of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today.
The enchanting poem tells the story of a man who, while his wife and children are fast asleep, awakens on Christmas Eve to curious noises outside of his house.
As he looks out of the window he witnesses a sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer, flying high across the sky before landing, to the man's great surprise, on the roof of his very own house. The events that follow mark the beginning of the tradition of Santa Claus and the joy that he brings to children on Christmas night.
This new gift edition brings together the traditional poem with new, stunning illustrations by the award-winning Australian artist Robert Ingpen, each one a delightful evocation of this eternally popular verse.
14. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
With 80 pages of coloring fun, kids are sure to keep the "Holiday" spirit alive this Christmas! Based on Dr. Seuss's classic picture book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas,
and the motion picture screenplay of the same name, this rhyming coloring book is chock-full of lively illustrations of the Grinch (in young and old incarnations), his faithful dog, Max, and the stubbornly cheerful Whos of Whoville.
Color in the pictures and tear them out to post on the fridge or give to a favorite friend. But wait, there's more! The back cover features a paper doll cutout of a very grumpy-looking Grinch in Santa wear. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter
15. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Called one of America's favorite Christmas stories, and now a classic television movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has been a favorite of young readers the world over since 1972.
Funny, memorable, and outrageous, it is the story of a family of incorrigible children who discover the Christmas story for the first time and help everyone else rediscover its true meaning.
16. Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
To every little girl, it will be a charming beginning of a story: after walking through a strange wardrobe, you find there was another world filled with white snow and, under a lamp-post, there stood a handsome Faun(what?), with a snow-covered umbrella carried over his hand(This scene reminded me of Totoro~), and several brown-paper parcels in the other hand.
He was so surprised to meet you that he dropped off all his parcels. Then, he told you, you were the very person whom he had been waiting there for long...
Compared with the fantastic opening, the ending seems a little sad: four children grew and changed, and became true Kings and Queens- King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, and Queen Lucy the Valiant. Then you said, it was in a dream, or in the dream of a dream, and threw them back to the real world?
Every time I feel a little sorrow about stories like these: dropping into another fancy world, sensational adventures, meeting different, interesting, or kind people, but at last, leaving without anything- nothing could confirm you had been there.
17. A Charlie Brown Christmas
This ultra-deluxe retelling of the beloved story "A Charlie Brown Christmas" features music, dialogue, and colorful illustrations that will delight fans everywhere.
In the holiday classic TV special "A Charlie Brown Christmas," the Peanuts gang learns the true meaning of Christmas from a scraggly old tree.
In this interactive edition of the story, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and friends come to life with the help of sound prompts that allow readers to listen to the unforgettable dialogue and music we love.
18. The Third Gift
From two extraordinary talents, a beautifully crafted picture book for the Christmas season.
The three wise men, or the three kings, are familiar figures in the Christmas tradition. Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park has taken the brief biblical references to the three as the starting point for a new story.
In it, we meet a boy who is learning his father’s trade; a man who gathers resin from certain trees; a merchant in the marketplace; and three strangers in brightly colored robes who are shopping for a gift for a baby.
Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline with exquisite paintings, this simple, moving tale of ordinary people involved in an extraordinary event brings new resonance to the well-known gift list of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Includes an author’s note.
19. The Christmas Box
Since it was first published, more than seven million people have been touched by the magic of The Christmas Box, a holiday classic that is as beloved in our time as A Christmas Carol was in Dickens.
When Richard Paul Evans wrote The Christmas Box, he intended it as a private expression of love for his two young daughters, Jenna and Allyson.
Though he often told them that he loved them, he didn't feel that they could ever really understand the depth of his feelings until they had experienced the joy of rearing their own children, and by that time their relationship would have changed forever.
In writing The Christmas Box, he hoped that at some time in the future they would read the book and know of their father's love. As Evans began to write, he was amazed at the inspiration that flowed into his mind and heart.
He completed the moving story of a widow and the young family who came to live with her in less than six weeks and bound twenty copies to give as Christmas presents to family and friends.
In the following weeks, those twenty copies were shared and passed along from family to family, from friend to friend, and what began as a tale for two little girls became a message of miracles, hope, and healing for people throughout the world. and healing for people throughout the world. and healing for people throughout the world.
20. The Crippled Lamb
The Crippled Lamb follows the story of Joshua, a lamb with a crippled leg who feels left out because he can't run and play like the other lambs. But God has a special plan for Joshua's life, as He does for all who feel alone.
Readers will feel a gentle tug on their hearts as the little lamb's prayers are answered amazingly on Christmas Day.
Conclusion: Best Christmas Books for Kids in 2024
We want our children to have the experience of being an angel, instead of being born just a mortal without wings.
The significance of Santa Claus coming every year is not about religion, not about gifts, but about this surprise. This experience full of expectations and fantasy is the most precious treasure of childhood.
This warm and endearing book:
- Is great for readers ages 3 to 7
- Has a jacket with beautiful gold foil and an embossed title on the front cover
- Includes original oil-painting illustrations by Liz Bonham
- Is a great choice for kids who have disabilities, deal with anxiety or bullying, or are learning about inclusivity
- Is a perfect gift for Christmas books for kids
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About Muhiuddin Alam
Muhiuddin Alam is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ReadingAndThinking.com. He serves as a consistent contributor to various websites and publications, including Medium, Quora, Reddit, Linkedin, Substack, Vocal, Flipboard, and Amazon KDP. Alam personally read numerous books and, for the past 10 years, has been providing book recommendations and reviews. Find Me: About Me & Google Knowledge Panel.
