31 Best Christmas Books for Kindergarten Story Time

Christmas books for kindergarten have always been one of our favorite ways to bring calm and connection to a busy December.

Over the years, we’ve found stories that made us laugh out loud, others that sparked great conversations, and a few that quietly became part of our holiday traditions.

This list isn’t just about what looks cute on a shelf, it’s full of the books that actually held attention, invited repeat readings, and made those cozy storytime moments feel extra special.

Whether you’re a parent or teacher, I hope it helps you find a few new favorites too.

Book covers of popular Christmas books for kindergarten, including How to Catch Santa Claus, The Polar Express, and Bear Stays Up for Christmas.

**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**

Kindergarten Christmas Books

Searching for Christmas books your kindergartner will actually want to read?

These are the ones that worked best for us, easy to hold, fun to read aloud, and full of that festive spark kids love.

From sturdy board books to beautifully illustrated favorites, each one is a great fit for cozy storytime at home or quiet moments in the classroom.

How to Catch Santa Claus

This one always gets my son giggling, he loves coming up with his own trap ideas after we read it. The story is lighthearted and imaginative, making it a fun pick for a December afternoon when attention spans are short. We’ve even used it as a jumping-off point for a writing prompt: “What would you say if you actually caught Santa?”

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

No Christmas list feels complete without the Grinch. The rhymes are fun to read aloud, and even though it’s longer, my kindergartner stayed engaged, especially during the big heart-growing moment. We used it to talk about how people show kindness (even grumpy ones) and made Grinch faces out of paper plates after.

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

This one’s pure magic. We always read it with cocoa and the soundtrack playing softly in the background. My son loves the idea of the bell only being heard by those who believe, it opened up sweet conversations about imagination and growing up. It's a bit wordier than most kindergarten reads, but it holds up beautifully as a once-a-season tradition.

The Night Before Christmas Hardcover

A classic we read every Christmas Eve, it's almost a ritual now. The rhythm and rhyme make it easy to follow, and we usually pair it with our Christmas countdown or stocking tradition. I’ve noticed even the youngest kids lean in during this one, especially when we whisper the last few lines before bed.

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree

This one has such a gentle, satisfying story. The idea of one tree bringing joy to so many animals really resonated with my son. It’s a great book for talking about sharing, recycling, and how something small can have a big impact. We read it and then made our own mini trees out of construction paper scraps.

Have fun with our free label the parts of a Christmas tree worksheet too!

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The illustrations are nostalgic, and the message is one that lands every year. My son was curious about the “real meaning of Christmas” after reading this, so we talked about what’s really important during the holidays. It also sparked interest in watching the special, which made it a perfect book-to-screen combo.

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas: Includes Sticker Sheet! A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

If your kindergartner already loves Pete the Cat, this one's a hit. It’s got that same chill rhythm and fun energy, but with a holiday twist. We read this one when my son needed a reminder that helping out, even in small ways, really matters. Plus, the included sticker sheet kept him busy for a good 10 minutes after the story, which felt like a gift in itself.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Spoon!

Total crowd-pleaser. This one is fast, silly, and familiar, which makes it perfect for wiggly December mornings. We read it aloud and then made up our own versions (e.g., “swallowed a gingerbread man” or “a candy cane train”). It’s also an easy pick for classroom read-alouds that won’t lose the room.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

This story has a cozy, woodland charm that really draws kids in. The pacing is gentle, but the idea of Bear staying up to experience Christmas for the first time made it especially fun for bedtime. We used it to talk about hibernation and made paper bear masks afterward just for fun.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Even if kids know the song, the storybook version adds that extra bit of wonder. It gave us a chance to talk about what it means to be different and how those differences can be a strength. My son also loved matching this book with our reindeer crafts and name game, which tied everything together nicely.

Have fun with our free reindeer printables for preschool too.

Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas

This is a playful spin on the classic carol, and the illustrations keep younger readers engaged from start to finish. It’s become one of our December go-to’s for reading + counting practice. We even use our 12 days of Christmas coloring pages alongside it, it turns into a whole themed morning.

Santa’s Sleigh Is on Its Way to Florida: A Christmas Adventure

We first picked this one up when we lived in Florida, and it made my son light up to see familiar places mentioned. Even now, it’s a fun reminder that Christmas isn’t just snow and sleigh bells, Santa travels everywhere. It’s a good pick for families in warmer climates or anyone wanting something a little different.

Pick a Pine Tree

This one captures the whole experience of decorating a tree from start to finish, and it’s written in such a lovely, rhythmic way. We always read it before we put up our tree, it’s a great way to set the mood and spark conversation about family traditions. My son liked naming the ornaments mentioned, and it turned into a fun vocabulary activity too.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

We’ve read a few versions of this poem, but the interactive one, with hidden pictures, was an instant favorite. It turned our usual reading into a bit of a game, which kept my kindergartner focused all the way through. It’s perfect for Christmas Eve, especially if your child gets a little antsy before bedtime.

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

If your child already loves the Little Blue Truck series, this one fits right in. It’s sweet, short, and ends with a light-up tree that adds just enough excitement without overstimulating. My son loved counting the trees on each page, so we turned it into a little number review without him even realizing.

Cooking with the Grinch

This is a fun pick if your kindergartner enjoys helping in the kitchen. The story blends holiday cheer with a simple recipe, making it feel like more than just a read-aloud, it’s a little activity too. We used it as an excuse to bake something together and talk about how even the Grinch can show kindness when it counts. It's a nice way to mix literacy and hands-on learning during those slower December afternoons.

The Littlest Elf

This is a great pick for kids who sometimes feel small or left out. The story follows a little elf who’s trying to find his place at the North Pole, and it hits just the right emotional tone for young readers. Afterward, we made mini elf hats out of paper and talked about the different ways we help others, even when we feel too little.

The Biggest Snowman Ever

My son loves stories about working together, and this one really clicked. It’s simple enough for younger readers to follow, but the teamwork message is clear and encouraging. After reading, we did a snowman craft and challenged ourselves to “build the biggest one” out of cotton balls and glue, it made the lesson stick in a really fun way.

Create special memories with our free snowman handprint art.

The Giving Snowman

This one has such a warm message about generosity, and the illustrations feel soft and inviting. We used it to talk about small ways we can show kindness during the holidays, my son even came up with his own ideas for giving to others. It’s a nice book to read when you want to balance the excitement of gifts with something a bit more thoughtful.

The Grumpy Reindeer

This story sparked so many laughs. The reindeer’s bad mood reminded my son of how he sometimes feels when things don’t go his way, so it turned into a great chance to talk about emotions and empathy. We read it again the next day just because he liked the ending so much. Bonus: it’s short enough to squeeze in before dinner or bedtime.

Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story

We love this one. It starts off like a twist on The Gingerbread Man, but ends with a sweet message about being yourself. It opened the door to talk about what makes each of us unique, and how that’s a good thing. My son asked to draw his own “tough cookie” after reading, and it turned into a whole little afternoon project.

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving: The True Meaning of Christmas

This is one of the more meaningful books on our list, it’s calm, reflective, and perfect when you want to slow down a bit. We read it at the start of Advent, and it helped set the tone for the season. The story gently encourages generosity without being preachy, which made it easy to connect to real-life situations.

Sneezy the Snowman

Every time we read this one, my son ends up giggling through the whole thing. The repeating structure and silly solutions are great for early readers who love predictability and surprise. We’ve even acted it out a few times, it’s perfect for a winter-themed storytime that doesn’t require a long attention span.

Never EVER Race a Reindeer

This book is just pure fun. The rhymes are bouncy, the illustrations are full of action, and it always gets a big reaction when we read it out loud. My son liked guessing what wild thing would happen next, and afterward, we created our own silly “reindeer race rules” as a writing prompt.

The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas

This one's a nostalgic pick for me, I remember it from my own childhood. It’s sweet and simple, which makes it a great fit for kindergartners. My son liked how the puppy explores Christmas for the first time, and it opened up a little chat about our own first holiday memories. It’s a great bedtime read when you're winding down after a busy December day.

All the Colors of Christmas

This book is full of rich, warm illustrations and really helped us talk about how Christmas looks and feels in different ways. It’s great for making connections between colors, emotions, and experiences. After reading, we did a little art project where my son picked the colors that reminded him of Christmas and explained why. It turned into one of our favorite seasonal activities.

Little Red Sleigh

This is such a sweet, encouraging story for kids who need a little reminder to believe in themselves. The sleigh’s journey is inspiring without being over-the-top, and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. We read it when my son was feeling a bit discouraged, and it gave us the perfect jumping-off point to talk about perseverance.

The Legend of the Candy Cane

We usually read this one closer to Christmas Day when we’re in a more reflective mood. It blends tradition with a quiet, meaningful message, and it’s sparked a few deeper conversations about the story behind the season. After reading, we always do our candy cane scavenger hunt, it ties in perfectly and keeps things light but connected.

Father Christmas

This one’s completely different from most on the list, there are no words, just illustrations. That’s what makes it so special. We sit together and make up our own version of the story each time, which means it changes a little every year. It’s a great way to encourage storytelling skills and imagination without any pressure to read.

The Spirit of Christmas

This is one of the more lyrical, heartfelt books we read in December. The text is poetic, and the illustrations are really striking. I wouldn’t use it for active group time, but it’s perfect for bedtime or quiet mornings. It helped us reflect on what matters most during the holidays, and I find myself reaching for it year after year.

The Christmas Story

We like to include this one each year to focus on the nativity story in a way that’s gentle and accessible. The language is simple enough for kindergarteners to understand, and the illustrations help bring the story to life without overwhelming them. It’s a quiet, grounding read when the rest of the season starts to feel a little too busy.

More Seasonal Books for Kids

Looking for more holiday stories to enjoy with your kindergartner? These lists are filled with festive read-alouds that are just right for cozy mornings, classroom circles, or quiet time before bed:

Thanksgiving Day read alouds
Picture books about Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving kindergarten books
Best Christmas elf books
Best Christmas read alouds for elementary

Each one has been a hit in our home or homeschool over the years, perfect for adding a little extra warmth (and a lot of fun) to your seasonal story time.

Last Updated on 25 July 2025 by Clare Brown

Kindergarten Christmas Books

More Seasonal Books for Kids

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Let's connect