It’s almost that time of year. If you are looking for some great books to read to your kids, here you go (we have them all so they have the Not Your Average Kids stamp of approval)! Reserve them at the library now, see if your friends have them, or order your own copies (links provided) so you have them in time for the holidays!
1. The Very Special Christmas (Christine Leeson)
This one has a nice message about working together and celebrating Christmas simply, but the kids mostly love it because when you get to the last page, there are actual twinkling lights. Allow five extra minutes for repeatedly opening and closing the back cover to look at the twinkling lights.
2. Froggy’s Best Christmas (Jonathan London)
My kids love all the Froggy books, and this one is a Christmas favorite. After being woken up by his friends, Froggy’s experiences his first Christmas (because frogs hibernate through winter and miss Christmas so if you really wanted to you could use this as a little frog learning experience).
3. Merry Christmas, Splat (Rob Scotton)
Splat writes a letter to Santa letting him know he wants a “really big present” and stays up all night waiting for Santa, who sneaks in and out without him even noticing (so you can use this one to convince your kids that even if they stay awake, they won’t catch a glimpse of Santa).
4. Bear Stays Up For Christmas (Karma Wilson)
Kind of like us, when we are wrapping the last of the kids’ presents at 3 a.m.
5. It’s Christmas, David! (David Shannon)
David runs naked outside and pees in the snow, so everybody loves this one.
6. Christmas Morning (Cheryl Ryan)
A take off on The House that Jack Built and fun for the little guys.
7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (If You Don’t Know Who Wrote This You Have Been Living Under A Rock Your Entire Life)
This is basically required Christmas reading for all children in existence.
8. Dream Snow (Eric Carle)
Did you know that Eric Carle doesn’t just write about Brown Bears and Very Hungry Caterpillars? Your preschoolers will love this one.
`
9. Angelina’s Christmas (Katharine Holabird)
If your daughter loves the Angelina Ballerina books, she will love this one, too. And no, I’m not being sexist. My daughters just like this book more than my sons.
10. Olivia Helps With Christmas (Ian Falconer)
I love Olivia. So do the kids. And I love this book. And so do the kids.
11. Moostletoe (Margie Palatini)
A cute Christmas story about a forgetful dad moose with a big-ass mustache.
12. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies (Laura Numeroff)
Fun, and if you get the special edition, you get some extra free shiz with it.
13. Duck & Goose It’s time for Christmas! (Tad Hills)
For the younger crowd, especially little guys who like the Duck & Goose books. And it’s super short, so it’s perfect for those days when you don’t really feel like reading a book to your kid.
14. How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? (Jane Yolen and Mark Teague)
If you love the How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight/Eat Their Food/ Play With Their Friends etc, then you’ve gotta add this one to your collection.
15. Frosty the Snowman (Jack Nelson and Steve Rollins)
Okay. So this isn’t technically a Christmas book, but in the movie, Santa does make an appearance in the end. And this is a great way to teach the song to your kids.
16. Christmas in the Manger (Nola Buck)
For all of you who are going to say, “How could you make a list of Christmas books without including at least one about the true story of Christmas?” This is a sweet, simple board book about the birth of Baby Jesus.
17. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer (Robert L. May)
I never read this book as a kid… I only ever saw the classic stop motion movie on television. This is the original story written in 1939. If you want to call yourself a good parent, you should probably make sure your kids read it. And the illustrations are great.
18. The Night Before Christmas (Clement C. Moore)
We have about five different versions of this one. A must-have, obviously.
19. I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles (Jean Marzolo)
A change up from the traditional Christmas story. My kids love these I Spy books. I can’t really stand them, but my kids seriously love them.
20. The Hat, The Mitten, Gingerbread Baby and Gingerbread Friends (Jan Brett)
Okay, these aren’t technically Christmas books, but they might as well be. Jan Brett’s stories and illustrations are beautiful, and should be added to the list of children’s required reading. Favorites of all my kids. If you aren’t booking a plane ticket to Norway by the time you have read her books, there is something wrong with you.
Which brings me to Number 21, 22, 23, and 24.
21. The Animals’ Santa (Jan Brett)
Cause animals need presents, too.
22. Christmas Trolls (Jan Brett)
Naughty trolls are stealing Treva’s Christmas decorations, but rather than kicking their asses, she teaches them about the spirit of Christmas.
23. Home for Christmas (Jan Brett)
Even trolls don’t want to do their chores. And there’s no place like home at Christmastime.
24. Who’s that Knocking on Christmas Eve? (Jan Brett)
Those damn trolls are causing trouble again but a polar bear teaches them a lesson when he scares the living sh*t out of them.
25. The Polar Express (Chris Van Allsburg)
Um… duh.
Great picks! They are perfect to get kids pumped for the holidays!
http://www.artadorned.com
Love this list! I’ve been feeling like I’m in a book rut with my two tiny boys, so I know they’ll appreciate some new Christmas books! Library here we come.