Christmastime is here! I love celebrating the Christmas with my little ones! This post contains the best read-aloud Christmas books for kids along with some of our favorite activities to for the holiday season.

The Best Read-Aloud Christmas Books

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Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle

Little Blue gets five Christmas trees from the farm and delivers them to four of his animal friends – with the last tree left for himself! With rythming text, adorable illustrations, and a light-up Christmas tree on the last page, Little Blue Truck’s Christmas is a great story for younger listeners. (You can also check out Little Blue Truck or Little Blue Truck Leads the Way for more books about Little Blue.)

The Story of Christmas by Patricia Pingry

The Story of series by Patricia Pingry has some of my favorite books for explaining various holidays in a very simple, yet impactful way. The Story of Christmas is a short board book about the meaning behind the holiday of Christmas. Perfect for younger listeners, The Story of Christmas is one of the best Christmas books to read-aloud to preschool-age kids and below.

Jesus Came for Me by Jared Kennedy

Jesus Came for Me is another board book that dives into the meaning of Christmas and the story of Christ’s birth. It is a little longer than The Story of Christmas, but is still simple and short enough for younger listeners. There are prompts throughout the book with questions to help kids connect the story of Christmas to their own lives.

A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schulz

A Charlie Brown Christmas tells the same story made famous by the Charlie Brown Christmas movie. Charlie Brown sets out to discover the true meaning of Christmas and experiences the joy of Christmas for himself.

Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas by Sarah Young

The Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas starts the Christmas story way back at the beginning of creation. Starting with God’s promise to Abraham and the prophets who prophesied about Jesus and then jumping into the Christmas story with the angel who appeared to Mary, this book does an excellent job of going deep while still being brief. Each page contains a “Jesus Calling” box that contains a short statement from Jesus’ perspective. Filled with cute illustrations and meaningful text, this is a great read-aloud for kids.

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Town Bergren

Little Bear and her Mama discuss the fact that Christmas is about so much more than gifts and Santa Claus. When Little Bear asks her mother about Christmas, they set off on a special adventure and Mama Bear explains the true meaning of Christmas through the things they encounter on their adventure. God Gave Us Christmas has a bit longer text on each page and would be best for kids preschool and above with a longer attention-span.

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff

A cute story about Mouse (from the If You Give series), this book is a fun read-aloud about fun holiday activities. Mouse moves from one thing to another in his excitement about Christmas! While there’s no deeper storyline to If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, it is just a fun holiday read for kids and parents alike.

Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

Christmas in Noisy Village tells a story about the children who live in three neighboring farms and their Christmas holiday. Written in 1963, Christmas in Noisy Village is a sweet story set in the country in a time before screens. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is told from the perspective of one of the children. Suitable for older preschoolers or early elementary, this read-aloud is a fun one for kids who can imagine themselves as the children in the story.

Cranberry Christmas by Wende Devlin

Cranberry Christmas is a cute story with a happy ending. Mr. Whiskers who lives has to prove that the pond is his or the children can’t skate on Christmas! With some help from his neighbors – Maggie and her grandmother – Mr. Whiskers cleans his house from top-to-bottom and discovers the proof he needs. Cranberry Christmas is a sweet story and an enjoyable read for younger elementary kids.

Christmas Activities to do with Kids

Make Christmas Cookies

Break out the flour and a recipe or just buy a box mix from the store – whatever you do, baking with kids is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. We enjoy making sugar cookies and cutting them into Christmas shapes with cookie cutters like these. Gingerbread cookies can also be made easily using a mix and cut with cookie cutters as well.

Make Decorative Chains

Cut strips of green and red paper and make a decorative paper chain! Just use a stapler or scotch tape to make an interlocking rings. First tape one strip into a circle, insert the next strip into that circle and tape IT into a circle and continue on, alternating colors as you go. (For more help, you can see a video tutorial from RJ Creations here.)

Make Snowflakes

Use coffee filters or just plain white paper to cut out unique snowflakes. Fold the coffee filter into quarters or eighths (if you are using paper, first cut it into a circular shape before folding). Then cut into the folded side of the filter. Once you unfold the filter, the cuts will make a pattern in the center – creating a snowflake that can be taped to the wall or hung from the ceiling for decoration! (For more help, you can see a video tutorial HERE.)

Make Christmas Tree Cones

This tasty (and unhealthy) snack is a kid favorite! Take ice cream sugar cones, turn them upside down, “paint” the outside with frosting, and then stick candy to the frosting and create an edible Christmas tree.

Let’s Get Reading!

Christmastime can be a busy season, but taking time to connect and read together is a great way to create lasting memories for you and your kids. The books above are some of the best read-aloud Christmas books for kids. I encourage you to grab a few and enjoy a moment of connection with your little ones! Happy Reading!