Reading aloud to your child is a great way to spend time together, enjoy stories, provide a launching point for discussions, learn about the world, other people, perspectives of others, be exposed to new vocabulary in a natural context, be exposed to grammatical forms, etc. There are so many wonderful holiday books to choose from that we thought we would share some of our favorites. Enjoy!
The 12 Bugs of Christmas, Jingle Bugs by David A. Carter (2 pop-up books by a favorite author/illustrator)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Baby’s First Christmas by Tomie DePaola (A board book)
Babushka: A Christmas Tale by Dawn Casey
The Bears’ Christmas by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Can You See What I See? By Walter Wick (various versions)
Carl’s Christmas by Alexandra Day (A wordless book)
Christmas Around the World: A Pop-Up Book by Chuck Fischer (The text is for older students, middle school and above)
Clifford’s Christmas, Clifford’s First Christmas by Norman Bridwell
Harold and the North Pole by Crockett Johnson (Harold draws his way to the North Pole and back home again)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
I Spy Christmas by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick (various versions)
Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Little Tree by e.e. cumings
Madeline’s Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans
Marguerite’s Christmas by India Desjardins (melancholy, but good for perspective-taking)
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! By Don and Audrey Wood
Merry Christmas Mom and Dad (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
National Geographic Kids: Weird but True! Christmas (300 facts about Christmas throughout the world)
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (and various illustrators)
Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Tanya Simon and Richard Simon
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by James Dean and Eric Litwin
Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Red Wings of Christmas by Wesley Eure (chapter book for preteens)
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (Various versions including a wordless version)
Spot’s Christmas, Spot’s First Christmas by Eric Hill
Wild Christmas Reindeer, Home for Christmas, Christmas Trolls, by Jan Brett (Jan Brett’s books typically have pictures on each page to give an idea of what is coming next)
Carol Walck, MS, CCC-SLP