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25 Christmas Living Books to Read Aloud This December: A Homeschool Advent Book Basket
Updated: 3 days ago
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend books I'd put in my own kids' hands.
Christmas is one of the few times of year you can create magic from practically nothing. You can visit lights and markets, and you can fill your home with the feeling of the season. But what kids remember most is how those days felt.
One of the simplest ways to build that feeling is to read aloud. Read at breakfast, at bedtime, or in the bath. Or bundle up on the porch with hot tea and a story.
That's why I love having a shelf of Christmas living books: well-illustrated stories you can read again and again. Like all living books, they build vocabulary, show children beautiful art, and quietly teach good values about themselves and the world.
Why I Trust These Books
Over the years, these types of stories have become part of how our family celebrates. There's a stack we pull out every year the day after Thanksgiving, and my son now reminds me when it's time to bring it down from the shelf.
What I've noticed as a homeschooling parent is that a great Christmas read-aloud does double duty. It fills our December mornings with warmth, and it quietly does the work of our best lessons: new vocabulary, questions about kindness and sacrifice, and a bit of history or geography along the way. Some of our best conversations have started with "Mom, why did she do that?" halfway through a story. I can't script that kind of learning, but a good book can spark it every time.
My son is in elementary now and still asks for read-alouds. It slows everything down and gives us so much to talk about. I hope I never have to stop.
How to Use This List
As an Advent calendar: There are 25 books, so wrap them (or tuck them in a basket) and read one a day through December.
As a slow build: Pick two or three new titles each year and save this post for next Christmas.
As gift ideas: I often buy extras for friends and grandparents. The book is nice under the tree, but the bonding time that comes with it is the real gift.
I've grouped the books by type, since that's how most of us shop: quick cozy picture books, Nativity and faith stories, and longer family read-alouds.
Cozy Picture Books (Short Enough for One Sitting)
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston (illustrated by Barbara Cooney). A historical story about a girl whose father is away at war. It's beautiful and moving, and a good place to start.
Night Tree by Eve Bunting. A family decorates a tree in the woods for the animals. It's quiet and gentle, and it makes a lovely new tradition.
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski. A story about grief, kindness, and healing. It has the truest living-book feel on this list, and it's one to keep for years.
Peter and Lotta's Christmas by Elsa Beskow. Old-fashioned Swedish charm with soft, classic illustrations. It's perfect if you love a European Christmas atmosphere.
The Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco. A warm story about a tapestry and the people it connects. Keep tissues nearby.
The Christmas Tree by Julie Salamon. Follow one tree from a nursery all the way to Rockefeller Center. It's a more unusual pick, and kids love the journey.
The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden. An orphan girl, a doll, and a longing for home. It's a classic for good reason.
The Christmas Cobwebs by Odds Bodkin. A folk-style tale with a touch of magic. It's great for reading by candlelight.
The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter. Potter's own favorite of her stories, full of kindness and gorgeous vocabulary. It's a little longer, so save it for a slow evening.
A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz. The familiar story in book form, and a natural bridge to talking about what Christmas is really about.
Nativity & Faith Stories
Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell. Animals make room, one by one, in the stable. It's a soothing rhythm that toddlers and older kids both enjoy.
The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie dePaola. A clear retelling of the journey of the Magi, with dePaola's warm, folk-art style.
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola. A Mexican Christmas legend about giving what you have. It's a good chance to bring in a little geography.
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg. A short, sweet story that pairs well with peppermint hot cocoa.
Mary's Little Donkey by Gunhild Sehlin. The flight to Egypt, told from a donkey's point of view. You don't see this part of the story in many Christmas books.
The Donkey's Dream by Barbara Helen Berger. A gentle, poetic Nativity told through Mary's donkey. The art is dreamlike and lovely.
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats. A beautifully illustrated retelling of the traditional carol. It's short and sweet.
The Christmas Story by Gennadii Spirin. Rich, old-world paintings that make this a special Nativity book. It's one to display on the coffee table.
All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss. Animals waiting out winter, one for each day of Advent. It's wonderful for nature study and quiet reflection.
Longer Read-Alouds for the Whole Family
Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide. A storybook for Advent, with a chapter for each day leading to Christmas. It's a natural fit for a homeschool morning basket.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The classic, and rich in vocabulary. For younger kids, look for a well-illustrated edition and read it in short chunks.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. A short story about sacrifice and love that opens up great conversations with older kids.
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Not only a Christmas book, but its Christmas chapter is a treasure. It's a great pick if you'd like to start a new family read-aloud.
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck. A tender story about a boy and a secret gift for his father. It's short but powerful.
Miracle on 10th Street & Other Christmas Writings by Madeleine L'Engle. Thoughtful essays and reflections that are really a treat for the parent to read first.
Bonus: Two Extras I Couldn't Leave Out
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren. Not strictly a Christmas story, but a quiet, atmospheric winter read that suits Advent.
The Golden Christmas Tree by Jane Werner. A vintage-feeling Golden Book about forest animals preparing for Christmas. It's an easy, nostalgic addition.
Where to Start
If you only buy three, start with Jonathan Toomey, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, and Jotham's Journey. They give you a picture book, a heartfelt story, and a daily Advent read.
Whichever books you choose, the point is the time together. Grab a blanket, make the cocoa, and read.
Which of these is already on your shelf? Tell me in the comments so I can build next year's list!
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