Holiday Picture Books for Kids

Is it possible to have too many books?

I spent way, way too much time sorting through our holiday books when I had a morning off work the other day. I separated our picture and board books into stacks based on a few main categories: Christmas, winter, and Hanukkah. While we celebrate a more commercial version of Christmas with Elwyn our Jellycat Elf on the Shelf, it’s important to me to introduce other religious celebrations and cultures to our children, hence the diverse titles. Most of these books were either gifted by publishers (marked * below) or purchased second-hand from a used book store. My favorite time of year to shop for books is actually right now when one of our stores has a Buy 5 get 5 free sale on children’s books! Because I’ve slowly collected these books over the past 5 years, our selection is very eclectic.

I’ve linked to Bookshop.org when available below. If you choose to purchase using my affiliate links, your money will help support local indie booksellers. That being said, I highly encourage you to seek out used books where you can or even check out books ahead of the holidays from your library. You don’t have to have the newest titles and most aesthetic collection to embrace the holiday season with your kids.

Picture Books with Winter Themes

Bobble and Pom Pom by Oili Tanninen

If I Had a Polar Bear* by Gabby Dawnay

Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer

Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle

Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro

Frindleswylde by Natalia O'Hara

Bruno: Short Stories for Long Nights by Serena Romanelli

Celebrate with Me!: Recipes, Crafts, and Holiday Fun from Around the World edited by Laura Gladwin and illustrated by local artist and my husband’s fabulous co-worker, Dawn M. Cardona

Snow Horses by Patricia MacLachlan

Do Penguins Like the Cold?* by Huw Lewis Jones

Hanukkah Books

Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg

D is for Dreidel by Greg Paprocki

Happy All-idays! by Cindy Jin

Happy Llamakkah! by Laura Gehl

The Dreidel that Wouldn’t Spin by Martha Simpson

Christmas Picture Books

Christmas is Every Day by Isabel Otter

Santa Post by Emma Yarlett

Santa and the Goodnight Train by June Sobel

Sofie the First: Holiday in Enchancia by Catherine Hapka

Disney Christmas Storybook Collection

Peas on Earth* by Huw Lewis Jones

The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen

It’s a Regular Life by Max Brallier

Mistletoe: A Christmas Story by Tad Hills

The Elf on the Shelf by Bell Chanda and Carol V. Aebersold

Claris: Holiday Heist by Megan Hess

How to Catch Santa by Jean Reagan

Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck

Santa on the Loose!: A Seek and Solve Mystery! by Bruce Hale

From this list, a family favorite of ours is Santa Post by Emma Yarlett. I grew up with The Jolly Postman and this book has the same interactive elements.

Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck wins my award for most beautiful and captivating illustrations.

D is for Dreidel by Greg Paprocki is from our favorite alphabet primer series and I’ll be sharing more of his board books in the coming days.

Do you have any of these books on your shelves?

I’d love to hear what your favorite holiday picture book is and a story about what makes it so special to your family.