Take a look at our top festive books for children! We’re sharing 25 books for each of the 25 days until Christmas Day. Includes fun lift-the-flap books for little hands, heartwarming stories for older children, and even recipe and craft books!
All these books are free to borrow with your library card.
Want more suggested books? Take a look at our recommendations.
Five Little Sprouts
Michael Brownlow and Simon Rickerty
Join five little sprouts for Christmas chaos in this fun rhyming and counting adventure. Lift the soft felt flaps and help the sprouts with festive jobs such as hanging baubles up high on the tree and wrapping up all the toys, just in time for Christmas!
Learning to count is fun with these sturdy board books with bright felt flaps on every spread, ideal for little hands to lift. A festive gift that is perfect for sharing and reading aloud at Christmas!
The Greatest Snowman
Nick Butterworth
Percy the park keeper and his friends are enjoying an action-packed day, playing in the snow. From skating on the frozen pond to playing tunes on giant icicles, there are so many exciting things to do. But poor Hedgehog feels left out.
Can Percy find a way to make this the greatest day ever for Hedgehog too?
Jingle Jumble Santa
Spencer Wilson
Surfing Santa is funny on its own, let alone combined with skiing Santa’s legs! And picture chef Santa in his kitchen on top, combined with fishing Santa sitting in his boat. The final spread shows classic Christmas Santa all ready for Christmas Eve.
Over 144 combinations to keep little ones entertained for hours!
The Street Where Santa Lives
Harriet Howe and Julia Christians
When an old man moves in next door, everyone is too busy to notice, except one little girl. He’s got a white beard and a round tummy and is very handy at repairing toys in his workshop – he must be Santa Claus!
When the old man becomes unwell, the little girl hatches a plan to rally the whole street together to look after Santa. But will he be better in time for Christmas Eve?
How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?!
Rebecca Patterson and Luciano Lozano
Join the countdown to Christmas in this festive family frolic of a picture book! This hilarious and heart-warming story features everyone’s favourite Christmas activities and captures the exciting build-up to the big day.
Full of Christmas chaos and festive fun, such as singing carols (A LOT), decorating the tree, wrapping presents (or siblings!), preparing for Father Christmas’s arrival… and many more sweet family memories.
Christmas Lights on Mistletoe Street
Kate Thompson and Natelle Quek
It’s three days until Christmas and Holly is fizzy with excitement! Her tree is a sparkle-fest, she’s been to the Mistletoe Street Christmas Market and – best of all – she’s met Father Christmas himself! But when Holly notices that there’s one house on her street which isn’t lit up, she’s determined to include its elderly resident, Ivy, in the Christmas fun.
And when a power cut strikes on Christmas Eve, will anyone remember Ivy? And can Holly lead her neighbours to bring joy to the whole of Mistletoe Street?
One Night Before Christmas
Kes Gray
High up in the night sky, Santa is trying desperately to fix his broken-down sleigh. And when he finally manages, he only has three hours left to fly around the whole world! Is Santa too late to deliver Christmas? Or might some old garden gnomes and a sprinkling of magic just save the day?
I Am Wishing Every Minute For Christmas
Lauren Child
I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny. If Lola even thinks about Christmas she can’t sit still on her chair. If you breathe the word Christmas she hops up and down. If you say, ‘Christmas is coming,’ she just runs round and round. Lola is wishing every minute for Christmas, but it is a long way away and too far to wait. Can her brother Charlie think of some clever ways to make the time pass more quickly?
The Night Before Christmas in Neverland
Carys Bexington and Kate Hindley
It’s everyone’s Christmas wish come true! ‘The Night Before Christmas in Neverland’ brings two magical worlds together in one epic, festive adventure – the iconic world of J.M. Barrie’s classic story, ‘Peter Pan in Neverland’, and Clement C. Moore’s beloved poem, ‘The Night Before Christmas’.
Join Captain Hook as he discovers the true meaning of Christmas in this big-hearted festive adventure, featuring Peter Pan, Father Christmas and his crew of squabbling reindeer!
Reindeer! Reindeer! What Can You See?
Dee Costello and Pintachan
Reindeer! Reindeer! What can you see? Under the tree, who could it be? Lift the flaps to help Reindeer discover who is hiding underneath.
With a mirror under the final flap, this seek-and-find book is perfect for sharing with the very smallest of readers – especially at Christmastime.
Dasher and the Polar Bear
Matt Tavares
One bright night just before Christmas, Dasher the reindeer is out admiring the stunning colours of the northern lights when she meets George, a sweet polar bear. Astounded to see that Dasher can fly, George confides that he has dreamed of soaring through the sky himself.
Dasher would like nothing more than to bestow some Christmas magic on her new friend, but their flying lesson turns out to be a disappointing failure. Even Dasher, an intrepid reindeer in the habit of giving – not giving up – begins to wonder if anyone can make George’s dream take flight.
How to Grow a Reindeer
Rachel Morrisroe and Steven Lenton
It’s nearly Christmas Day when an unexpected visitor arrives – it’s Santa, and he needs their help! His reindeer are in bed with Antler Flu and without them, he can’t deliver his presents on time.
But growing well-behaved reindeer isn’t as easy as it seems and before long the mischievous creatures have created a rather merry mess!
A Christmas Delivery
Andy Shepherd and Sarah Warburton
Tomas and Lolli love Christmas. And they’re not the only ones! Their dragons love Christmas, too. But they have a habit of getting into trouble. When a brand-new snow dragon hatches on Christmas Eve, she unleashes a flurry of snow that transforms their dragon-growing garden into a winter wonderland.
It’s all fun and snowball fights to start with – but there’s one BIG downside. There’s now SO much snow that they’re stuck and won’t be able to deliver the Christmas presents in time! Can Tomas, Lolli, Grandad and the dragons work together to save Christmas and spread a little magic?
Bauble in Trouble
Mattas Carras
It’s Christmas Eve, and Beryl the Bauble is NOT on the tree like she should be. She’s been left in the attic by mistake! It’s time to plan your escape, Beryl – just watch out for those sprouts – and that snowman – and that CAT! Oh dear. Will Beryl ever make it to the tree in time for Christmas?
Peanut, Butter, & Crackers: Christmas Surprise
Paige Braddock
It’s Peanut’s first Christmas and he’s very excited to open the gifts under the tree. Crackers explains that he must wait until Christmas and the dogs go off for their daily walk. But while Peanut and Crackers are having lots of fun with their friends at the dog park, someone sneaks into their house.
Meanwhile, happy to be left alone at last, laid-back cat Butter is so busy enjoying some peace and relaxation, he doesn’t even notice that he’s not alone. And when the dogs get home, it’s not long before they sniff out the stranger living in their Christmas tree and bark a Code Red!
The Very Last Christmas Present
Adam Baron and Benji Davies
Father Christmas has a problem. He’s back from his fast-track journey around the world on Christmas Eve but he’s forgotten to deliver one of the presents! The reindeers are exhausted – they won’t be able to make the return journey. There’s only one option: Father Christmas’s loyal – but very junior – dog, Kado. Can Kado help Father Christmas deliver the very last present?
So begins a magical journey as one young Labrador takes flight on a makeshift bicycle sleigh – through continents and past polar bears, into oceans and over African plains – to find the present’s rightful recipient. Along the way, he’ll discover the beauty and fragility of the natural world and be faced with the biggest surprise of all when he finally finds out what’s inside the present.
Claude at Christmas
Alex T. Smith
Join Claude and Sir Bobblysock as they encounter accidental avalanches, a bottom-shaking showstopper and a bearded burglar who turns out to be Santa Claus!
A collection of three favourite waggy tales, Claude on the Slopes, Claude in the Spotlight and Santa Claude – perfect for new readers, with illustrations on every page.
Secrets From the North Pole
Saskia Gwinn and Daria Danilova
Christmas has been shrouded in secrecy for years – but what really goes on at the North Pole in the run up to the big day? Every year without fail, Santa Claus packs up his sleigh and soars across the night sky pulled by his reindeer to deliver presents to children all over the world. But spreading Christmas magic is no small task and lots must happen to make sure everything is ready for the most special time of the year.
Join Santa’s Head Elf, Ivy Everjingle, as she reveals secrets from the North Pole. From how Santa’s suit is designed and the magic of reindeer flight to the many different jobs of the Christmas elves and the magic of believing. This is the ultimate festive compendium to capture the magic of Christmas.
Joy to the Whole World
Lucy Brownridge and Sang Miao
This fact-packed around-the-world adventure is designed to be revisited year after year in the lead-up to Christmas, reminding readers all about the value of other cultures and the importance of accepting differences.
Each striking two-page spread covers the traditional Christmas foods, decorations and symbols of 10 different countries, complete with warm and merry illustrations to get readers ready for this wonderful celebration of love, harmony and goodwill to all.
Silent Night
Emma Read
A spooky Christmas read for ages 10 and up!
When Masen, Connor and Joss wake up on Christmas morning, all is calm and oddly bright. Outside it’s snowing, and their presents are waiting – but where are their parents? They set out into the village to find everyone. But with people acting strangely, who can they trust?
And what exactly are those weird mushroomy Christmas trees?
The Secret History of Christmas
Catherine Saunders
Christmas is a day when history is made. Take a festive journey through time and uncover the incredible historical events, amazing scientific discoveries and unique true stories that all happened on December 25th. From William the Conqueror’s dramatic coronation in 1066 and the World War One truce in 1914, to the incredible launch of the James Webb telescope in 2021 and daring Christmas Day heists – a lot has happened on Christmas Days down the years.
Plus, discover quirky traditions and Winter Solstice celebrations from the Vikings to the Mayans, learn about the foods people eat and festivities from around the world, and see December 25th like it’s never been seen before.
Murder at Christmas
Fleur Hitchcock
After another dreary term away at school, Grace is desperate to see her mum and brother again. Excited to spend Christmas with them, she arrives in Bath full of expectation and happiness. But the family’s time together is suddenly interrupted when a shocking murder at their hotel throws everything into chaos. And when Grace’s mum disappears soon afterwards, Grace trusts nobody.
With her mum missing and younger brother Billy in tow, Grace enlists the help of new friends Olive and Doug. Streetwise and clever, they help Grace and Billy come up with a plan to find out why Mum left the hotel and what happened to her. Full of twists and turns, the mystery takes the four friends on an adventure. And as they start to uncover the truth behind the murder, they wonder if anyone at the hotel is really who they say they are.
My Big Fat Christmas Poo Diary
James Smith
Packed full of friendship, festive fun and toilet jokes galore! That’s right, the Poopies take on Christmas in a brand-new, PLOP-tastic collection of stories celebrating the festive holidays!
Join best friends Pedro, Olga and Ozzy – otherwise known as the Poopies – on a series of fun adventure stories… can Pedro, Olga and Ozzy start a successful business selling plastic reindeer poos? Who is stealing Pedro’s special golden toilet paper? And wait a second … is that Santa stuck down the sewage pipe?!
The Merry Christmas Murders
Aleksandra Benedikt
Every year, six local schools compete to win the Christmas Cup. Last year, the rival school to Brooke Parkin’s school won for the most crackers pulled in a minute! This year, the cup will be judged and awarded to the school with the perfect mince pie.
But when a series of murders seemed to be linked to the very mince pies (each with a clue from a letter from the alphabet imprinted in the pastry) the five neuro-divergent children must turn detective and combine their skill sets to find the killer. Can they prevent another death and save their out-of-school club from being shut down forever?
A Christmas Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom
Angela Ferraro-Fanning and Anneliesdraws
Make the most of the festive season with this charmingly illustrated book packed full of crafting ideas, baking recipes and gardening projects, all perfect for enjoying during Christmas!
Get ready for fun, wholesome crafting activities, then roll up your sleeves and get your apron ready to make simple, tasty and festive recipes to share on Christmas morning!
Skolintis A Christmas Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom →
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