Christmas picture books for toddlers and preschoolers

The best Christmas picture books for toddlers are short, warm and easy to join in with: lift-the-flap books for 1–3 year olds, and gentle Christmas Eve stories such as Kipper’s Christmas Eve, Mog’s Christmas or Bentley and the Big Snow Day for ages 2–6.

Honest disclosure: this guide is written by the publisher of the A Bentley Story books, so one book on it is ours and is clearly marked. Every other book is an independent pick by well-known authors and publishers. Nobody paid to be included, and there are no affiliate links on this site.

What to look for

For under-3s: sturdy board books, flaps and touchy-feely pages.
For ages 3–6: a simple Christmas story with a character they love and a cosy ending.
For Christmas Eve boxes: something calm enough to read at bedtime on the most exciting night of the year.
For stockings: a paperback picture book is light, flat and easy to wrap.
For reading all winter: snow and family stories last beyond 25 December.

Our picks

Dear Santa by Rod Campbell. A lift-the-flap Christmas board book from the author of Dear Zoo. Ideal for ages 1–3.
That’s Not My Reindeer… by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells. An Usborne touchy-feely board book for babies and toddlers.
Kipper’s Christmas Eve by Mick Inkpen. Kipper and his friends on the night before Christmas. Gentle and funny for ages 2–5.
Mog’s Christmas by Judith Kerr. Mog the cat is confused by all the Christmas fuss and ends up on the roof. A much-loved British classic.
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Stick Man’s long journey home to his family tree, with a Christmas ending. Rhyming and great to read aloud.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. The wordless classic about a boy and the snowman who comes to life. Lovely for talking through the pictures together.
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear’s friends wake him from his winter sleep so he won’t miss Christmas. Rhyming and cosy.
Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis. A family chooses and decorates their Christmas tree. Calm, lyrical and happy.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. The classic Christmas Eve poem, available in many illustrated editions for little ones.
Bentley and the Big Snow Day by A. W. Bren (our book). A cosy Christmas Eve snow-day story about a big, fluffy family dog and a snowman who keeps losing his carrot nose. Funny in the middle, calm at the end, with a join-in “wag, wag, wag!”

Our book

Bentley and the Big Snow Day by A. W. Bren (ages 2–6)

A cosy Christmas Eve story for ages 2–6: snow falls, Bentley the big fluffy family dog has the best day of his life, and the snowman keeps losing his carrot nose. Ends calmly, so it is a natural Christmas Eve bedtime book. Paperback for stockings, Kindle for tonight.

Kindle and paperback on Amazon UK and Amazon US; ebook on Apple Books and Kobo and more.

If you are filling a Christmas Eve box, pair one calm Christmas story with new pyjamas and a warm drink, then read it last thing before bed.

Questions parents ask

What is a good Christmas book for a 2 year old?

Lift-the-flap and touchy-feely board books such as Dear Santa or That’s Not My Reindeer… are ideal at two. Short Christmas Eve stories such as Kipper’s Christmas Eve work from about two and a half.

What is a good Christmas book for a 3, 4 or 5 year old?

Three to five year olds enjoy a proper Christmas story with a lovable character, such as Mog’s Christmas, Stick Man, Bear Stays Up for Christmas or Bentley and the Big Snow Day.

What book should go in a Christmas Eve box?

Choose a calm Christmas Eve story that ends with everyone cosy and ready for sleep, such as The Night Before Christmas, Kipper’s Christmas Eve or Bentley and the Big Snow Day.

Are picture books good stocking fillers?

Yes. A paperback picture book is flat, light and affordable, and unlike most stocking fillers it gets used long after Christmas.

Last updated 8 November 2026. Found a mistake or have a suggestion? Tell us on Instagram.