Every December, we look for easy ways to add a bit of festive fun to our reading time, and Christmas bookmark ideas have become one of our favorite go-to crafts.
Whether we’re slipping one into a holiday gift or coloring them together during quiet afternoons, these bookmarks turn reading into something even more special.
I’ve gathered a mix of free printable bookmarks and hands-on crafts that are great for different ages, some simple enough for preschoolers, others more detailed for older kids who love to get creative.
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Why We Love Christmas Bookmark Ideas
There’s something about pairing a festive bookmark with a favorite Christmas story that makes reading feel even more magical. When my son was younger, he loved the simple coloring versions with Santa and snowmen.
Now that he’s older, we try more detailed bookmark crafts, cutting, gluing, even adding tassels.
These make sweet gifts for friends, fun stocking stuffers, and cozy afternoon projects. Plus, they’re a sneaky way to encourage more reading during the holiday chaos.
Free Christmas Bookmarks for Kids
We like to print these on cardstock to make them a bit sturdier, especially if the kids plan to gift them or use them all season.
Just grab some markers or crayons, and they’re ready to color and cut, easy to set up and even easier to enjoy.
Free Christmas Bookmarks To Color
These are our own printable Christmas bookmarks, and they’ve become a go-to craft in our house. With six festive designs, Santa, snowmen, gift stacks, cocoa, and more, they’re easy for kids to color and personalize. We often use them as stocking stuffers or pair them with a holiday book as a small gift.
If your kids enjoy the Grinch, these fun bookmarks are a great way to bring the story to life.
My son had a blast coloring Max while we reread the book. They’re simple enough for preschoolers but detailed enough to keep older kids engaged too.
These DIY Grinch bookmarks come in two styles, one to color and one for Cricut users.
We tried the printable version and added glitter glue for some extra fun. They’re a great project for Grinch fans or to go along with a themed movie night or unit study.
This gingerbread man craft is perfect for kids who like hands-on projects. My son enjoyed piecing together the paper cutouts, especially adding the buttons and silly faces.
It’s simple enough for younger kids to manage with a little help and makes a fun companion to any gingerbread-themed book.
This set includes a few different designs to color, making it a great choice if you’re looking for variety.
It works well for a classroom activity or just a quiet afternoon at home. We’ve printed extras and tucked them into books we gifted to friends.
These reindeer corner bookmarks are a fun twist on traditional bookmarks and a nice little challenge for kids who enjoy folding and gluing.
We made a batch one year during a snow day and added red pom-poms for noses. Great for kids who’ve already mastered basic paper crafts.
This elf bookmark is a cute cut-and-paste project that works especially well with preschoolers and early elementary kids.
We used this one during a quiet December morning, and my son added googly eyes to give it a little extra personality.
It’s fun, simple, and makes a great classroom or library craft.
This set features classic Christmas favorites like Rudolph and Santa.
They’re ready to print and color, and they make easy little gifts to include with a holiday book or hot cocoa kit. My son enjoyed adding ribbon to the tops to make them feel more “finished.”
These printable bookmarks double as a craft and a gift. Kids can decorate them with crayons, stickers, or even glitter, then pair them with a small treat.
We’ve used them for homemade gift bags, and they always feel more personal when the kids are involved in the decorating.
While this one isn’t technically a bookmark, it’s a fun printable if you’re working on name recognition with preschoolers.
My son enjoyed customizing it with the different Santa names, and we hung it up near his reading corner. It’s festive and educational, even if it doesn’t mark pages.
This collection includes seven coloring bookmarks with fun, bold designs. We used these during a holiday playdate and set them out with markers and glitter pens.
They’re great for a wide age range and make sweet little extras to add to holiday cards or book gifts.
These five designs include trees, Santa, hot cocoa, and gingerbread men—plenty of options for kids to choose from.
They’re simple enough for younger kids but look nice when colored in carefully. We laminated a few and used them as tags for book-themed presents.
These printable bookmarks are a great pick if you’re looking for a quick, mess-free craft.
My son added a tassel to his with yarn, and we even used a few as gift tags. Once they’ve been well-loved, you can recycle them, or repurpose them into collages or cards.
This snowman bookmark is a little more hands-on and makes a fun weekend craft.
It only takes a few supplies, and you can personalize it with things like mini pom-poms or scrapbook paper. We’ve made a few to slip into winter books as part of our advent calendar.
These gingerbread bookmarks come in color and black-and-white versions, which is great if you’re working with a mix of ages.
We’ve used them as party favors during a gingerbread-themed storytime and added a ribbon to the top for extra flair.
This penguin craft is a fun winter-themed project that works well beyond Christmas.
We made these one snowy afternoon, and my son liked using googly eyes to give his penguin a bit more personality. They’re great for kids who enjoy storytelling and like making their own reading buddies.
Clare Brown is the founder of Homeschool of 1, where she shares free printables and creative learning activities for kids in preschool through 8th grade. Her work has been featured in Parade, HuffPost, Business Insider, Motherly, AOL, and Yahoo. Read more.
