Christmas picture books 2019
I know many of you have the awesome Christmas picture book tradition with your families. Some read one book every night until Christmas starting the night of Thanksgiving, some read a few once per week, or some just have the books out for your kids to look at or read on their own. Whatever the tradition, it’s a great one. Lots of reading memories to be made this time of year.
There are a TON of Christmas picture books but not all are worth buying in my opinion. Many are beautifully illustrated but the story isn’t all that great. Many have a beautiful story, but the pictures don’t draw me in. I guess I’m picky. :/ So, just know, if I’m going to talk about a book on here, it’s a well-written easy-to-follow story with engaging illustrations.
So the Christmas books I loved as a child are now $123.04 on Amazon (The Mole Family’s Christmas), or $5.09 as a used book (A Jolly Christmas at the Patterprints) or it’s only available as a funky-looking video (Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas). But I still have them to this day! Worn covers, dull 70’s printing, but I love them still because of the memories I have growing up with them. If you haven’t started the Christmas book tradition, start it this year! Just buy 2-3 books each year and soon you will have a Christmas library your family will love. When your kids see you reading a book that YOU love, they will want to find a book they love to read too. With so many great Christmas books, they have lots to choose from.
If you’re just starting out, here are the classic must-haves in my opinion (not in any special order):
“The Night Before Christmas” illustrated by Charles Santore. There’s a million versions of this classic poem but none with illustrations like this. Amazing stuff. He also illustrated “The Wizard of Oz” and “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” as picture books - each page is a masterpiece.
“The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Emma Thompson. K, are ya’ll Emma Thompson fans? I love love love her. I’ll just say Sense and Sensibility and stop there. :) This book comes with a CD of dear Emma reading the book to you! Emma Thompson is a huge Beatrix Potter fan (me too!) and decided to write some books in her honor. Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny are trying to save the turkey! It’s funny, and the illustrations are really well-done. She also wrote “The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit” and “The Spectacular Tale of Peter Rabbit”. Yes, I’m a total Beatrix Potter fan. If your kids like Emma Thompson’s Christmas Tale, be sure to get the original “Peter Rabbit” and “Benjamin Bunny” books by Beatrix Potter. You can also get the complete set of all 23 books - don’t bother with the Treasury sets - just get the original Peter Rabbit set in the box, it’s the best and it’s the format the author intended. Book #3 is a great christmas story - the Tailor of Gloucester. One of her more word-y books but so beautiful.
“The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg. Everyone knows this amazing story and the movie too! Beautiful illustrations. It’s an absolute must.
“Snowmen At Christmas” by Caralyn Buehner. Yep, this is the couple who wrote and illustrated “Snowmen at Night”. This one is just as good. They also have a Halloween one but I like the Christmas one better.
“Bear Stays Up For Christmas” by Karma Wilson. My favorite author of bear books! She also wrote, “Bear Snores On”, “Bear Wants More”, “Bear and Friends”, “Bear Says Thanks”, “Bear’s New Friend” and “Bear Feels Sick.” All super cute and all illustrated by Jane Chapman - love her. In this book the bear is so tired and wants to go to bed, but the animals want him to wait to hibernate till after Christmas. So cute. You will love this endearing bear.
“The Berenstain Bears’ Christmas Tree” by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Amazon sells a slightly different version than the original, but it’s still good. Classic Berenstain story, but this one has some of my favorite illustrations ever. The bird’s Christmas tree inside the Christmas tree! So clever.
"Red and Lulu", by Matt Tavares. Beautiful story about the Rockefeller Christmas tree tradition. Loved the friendship between the 2 birds.
“The Tale of Three Trees” by Angela Elwell Hunt. Best version of this traditional folktale. You can also find this in Spanish on Amazon.
Additional Christmas books I love (newest to oldest):
-Dasher, by Matt Tavares, 2019. Gorgeous illustrations plus a story of courage, what’s not to like?
-The Crayons’ Christmas, by Drew Daywalt, 2019. Funny prose with games and gifts from the crayons! “The Day the Crayons Came Home” and “The Day the Crayons Quit” are equally funny and engaging.
-Last Stop on the Reindeer Express, by Maudie Powell-Tuck, 2018. Beautiful unique illustrations with doors for the reader to open and holes that peek through to the next page. Story about a girl who is separated from her Grandpa at Christmas but wishes to send him a christmas card.
-This is Christmas, by Tom Booth, 2018
-The Broken Ornament, by Tony DiTerlizzi, 2018
-Pick a Pine Tree, by Patricia Toht, 2017. Festive story about decorating the Christmas tree. Close-up illlustrations so you feel like you are part of the action.
-The 12 Days of Christmas, by Greg Pizzoli, 2017
-Dream Snow, by Eric Carle (hardcover), 2015. Maybe not as engaging as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” but my daughter was mesmerized when we read this for the first time. Christmas tree lights up at the end!
-The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, by Susan Wojciechowski, 2015. More words than I normally like for a picture book, but this is a beautiful story- worth your time. Beautifully illustrated.
-The Smallest Gift of Christmas, by Peter Reynolds, 2013. Cute short book about a boy who realizes the gift of his family. Awesome author & artist - if you like this one, check out another book he wrote and illustrated - "The Dot". So great.
-The Spirit of Christmas, by Nancy Tillman, 2009. Same author who wrote “On the Night You Were Born” and several other stories about a parent’s love for their child.
-Priscilla and the Great Santa Search, by Nathaniel and Jocelyn Hobbie, 2008. Funny rhyming story about a quirky determined girl. If they liked this one, try “Priscilla and the Pink Planet” - great stuff. Not many people (except Dr Seuss, of course) can rhyme like this author and make it work.
-Christmas Tapestry, by Patricia Polacco, 2008. Prolific author - if you like this book, you will like all her books. “Thunder Cake” and “The Keeping Quilt” are my two favorites by Polacco. Amazing storyteller, unique illustrations. Polacco shares her family’s Russian and Irish traditions in a way that relates to anyone.
-The Story of Holly and Ivy, by Rumer Godden, 2006.
-The Gift of Nothing, by Patrick McDonnell, 2005. This isn’t necessarily a Christmas book but I always put it out at Christmas time. Such a great message without a lot of words. I fall in love with it every time I read it. You will re-think your Christmas gifts when you read this book.
-The Legend of the Poinsettia, by Tomie dePaola. Such a great story about the famous Mexican legend. Tomie dePaola has a signature illustration style. If your kids like these pictures, check out her other books. You can buy “The Legend of the Poinsettia” in a set of 3 that includes 2 of her other Christmas books. For non-Christmas books by her, look no further than “Strega Nona” -Caldecott medal winner in 1976.
If you have favorites not on this list, feel free to contact me! I would love to hear yours. If you’re just starting out, don’t be overwhelmed by this list. Pick the 2 you think you will enjoy the most. Merry Christmas!
4 years ago
