Being a former elementary school teacher, and a mom to 3, reading books aloud to my kids is one of my MOST FAVORITE activities I get to do with them! Hearing them laugh and watching them smile as I read is simply the best. Books create wonder, cultivate discussions, and create memories that I always cherish. Books are a simple & wonderful way to connect with your children!
As a new season is here, I’m sharing with you 20 of our most favorite winter and Christmas themed stories that we own and frequently read. I hope you love them just as much as we do!
To build excitement and anticipation, I like setting up seasonal shelves, displaying some our favorites. We include the remaining stories that don’t always fit in bins for easy grabbing! I try to include a few books in each room of the house so there is access wherever the kids are!
I will swap out stories after a week or so, allowing other titles to make their debut on the “seasonal shelf” and circulate to different spots throughout our house (bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc.).
It’s fun to make it festive with some garland, holiday prints, and comfy pillows and chairs. Turning it into a cozy reading nook makes the experience that much more enjoyable! It doesn’t have to be fancy at all. I just like to add special touches to create a fun and engaging ambiance 🙂
To learn more about ALL of the books we love, the ones on these shelves and MANY more I’ve included below, keep reading to hear a brief description/summary for each! Click on the picture/image to take you directly to that link:
A perfect book to transition from Thanksgiving into Christmas! This cute story will make kids giggle, as Turkey creates different disguises in order to get past the elves to speak with Santa. He has a very important request for for Santa to fulfill his Christmas wish! Also check out Turkey Trouble, the first in this series!
A new family favorite is this beautiful holiday book! All the colors of Christmas does a fabulous job attributing colors to special elements of the holidays! It has a very nostalgic feel, leaving a smile on your face as you turn each page. The illustrations do not disappoint and the rhyming pattern on each page make it a perfect, picture book read aloud!
The story of Christmas is a very important one we share with our kids! But I haven’t found many books that keep them fully engaged and curious. This ABC book is fantastic, as it explains so many aspects of the Christmas story in a sweet and simple manner, while also including a bible verse with each letter! It highlights the main components of the people, places, and events within the bible in an easy to understand manner. We give it a two thumbs up!
This is such a sweet book with a truly, wonderful message for all to hear and remember. It highlights the message that memories with those you love are what truly make the holidays special! Snowy days can be a catalyst for making such memories and helping us to slow down, go outside to play, and enjoy time with those around you. Because of the poetic rhythm on each page, it’s an easy story to read over and over with your children!
This book will most definitely be a fan favorite by my daughter! We love ALL of our I SEE ME customized books, and we own a lot. This newest addition will be given to her by our Elf on the Shelf and I can’t wait for the daily requests for me to read it to her. The book spells out her first, middle, and last name with a multitude of holiday characters and details. The illustrations are just so cute and creative. The personalized attributes are adorable and truly bring out the Christmas spirit, making you excited for all that is to come this December!
Another wonderful book available to customize for your child at I SEE ME is the magical snowman story! We got this for my son a couple years ago and he loves seeing his name throughout the pages and the fun details within. These keepsake books are truly wonderful and we can’t get enough of them!
A story about a snowman who is shivering, shaking…so frigidly cold. Some sweet friends try to help him stay warm, but he melts with each attempt. The cycle continues each time they try to rebuild him. None of the traditional things they offer are working, until at last, they find the perfect solution! Come find out what helps Sneezy in the end.
This is a book from one of my all-time favorite winter book series! We own every one of them and never tire of reading them. From Snowmen at Night to Snowmen at Halloween, this one is just as good! The details in the illustrations are one of my favorite parts. What happens when you go to sleep at night and the snowmen are awake and alive? What kinds of adventures do they go on? Read this series to see all the fun they have together! It’s a definite crowd pleaser in our house and know your kids will love them, too!
This book is a twist on the age old classic, The Gingerbread Man. I particularly like this version because it depicts a wiser, braver younger sister as the hero and main character. Although it’s a bit lengthy of a story, it has a lot of fun details of who she meets along her journey! Love how she comes out on top in the end and that the story showcases and celebrates a girl as smart and strong! We certainly need more books like this!
If you haven’t read any of the Fiona books, this is one to try! One of the reasons I love reading them is because of the adorable illustrations and characters/animals within. This story has Fiona wondering what Christmas is all about. This story shares a heartwarming message about an important meaning of this holiday and what truly matters.
I’ve never had a real Christmas tree, so I haven’t ever had the experience of going to cut one down, securing it to the top of our car, coming home to put it up, and the smells that accompany this beautiful tree! So, I think reading through this book is EXTRA magical for those who haven’t gone through such an exciting event. The rhyming words, descriptions, illustrations…all make it a unique and special story. It highlights the sights, sounds, smells so beautifully on each page!
If your child likes lift-the-flap type books or stories with surprises waiting inside, this is the perfect pick! Similar to the Jolly Postman series (a childhood favorite of mine), this is a cleverly written tale about one girl’s Christmas wish that didn’t quite get communicated clearly to Santa. With some help from his friends, all turns out well in the end! Kids will really enjoy the little envelopes and notes tucked inside this book!
You didn’t think I would forget about this classic, did you? Well, if you didn’t know, there is a Christmas version of The Jolly Postman. With special letters from fairytale classics, this will surely be enjoyed by kids of all ages! From Goldilocks to The Gingerbread boy, there are many tales to enjoy. Little Red Riding Hood and Mr. Wolf is one of our favorite pages, as a mini game board is included! Another great twist on an original book!
From the “How To” book series, this one walks you through ways to try and capture SANTA! Providing suggestions of all kinds, some clever while others are silly, kids will definitely have loads of new ideas on how to distract and lure the jolly, big guy, along with things you might decide to gift him!
We love to laugh in our house and this story sure makes my kids giggle! It’s a silly read about Santa’s special Christmas undies that he can’t find! How will he get dressed and do his job without them? With many attempts at try something new, none of the options seemed quite right….until the end.
From the best-selling Construction book series, this Christmas version is a wonderful addition! We own many of the other books and all 3 of my kids love each one. This story adds the perfect holiday touch with the cute characters and pictures. They are always so cleverly written and kids of all ages, both boys and girls, truly enjoy hearing about all the tractors, trucks, and vehicles adventures.
Part of the Quiet and Loud book series, this Christmas edition gives a new look at all the quiet things you experience during the holidays. While there isn’t much “meat” or text on each page, the illustrations really do the talking. They are beautiful and open up discussion about what is seen and shared on each page.
Who doesn’t love The Little Blue Truck book series? After reading them a few times through, you find yourself repeating some of the common phrases like, “Beep, Beep, Coming Through…”! These books are geared toward toddlers and younger children. This Christmas edition has all the same characters and highlights counting and number recognition, too! Little Blue truck is on a mission to deliver Christmas trees to all of his friends!
Part of the Pout Pout Fish series, this one gives a holiday spin! Mr. Fish is struggling as he searches for the perfect gifts for all of his friends. Highly relatable, as many of us have the same problem this time of year (maybe just speaking for myself), he finally figures out the secret to gift giving in the end! It all comes back to the heart, after all!
Growing up in the Chicago area, I have my fair share of experiences with snow! This book highlights nature and is an ode to the many forms of snow and all of its beauty. After reading through these pages, it makes you appreciate snow and just how truly beautiful it is! One of my favorite lines, “And the snow, while it is here, reminds us of this; that nothing lasts forever except memories.” It’s a great reminder to go out and EXPERIENCE life with the people you love. Enjoy the present moment and take it in, all of nature’s beauty….including snow!
My hope is that you take time this season to sit down with a book and enjoy the time with your children! For me, these are some of the most magical moments in motherhood.
