From sentimental Christmas books for kids to seasonal YA books and adult reads for the holidays, we’ve got them all. You’ll find mysteries, romance, history and so much more. Whatever you’re looking for as your next read, you’ll be sure to find it on this ultimate list of Christmas books. So, get ready to curl up under a blanket and get lost in a new seasonal story! Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
50 Best Christmas Books
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
There’s a reason Charles Dickens’s ghost story has become the ultimate Christmas classic. Everyone from the Muppets to Bill Murray has put their own twist on Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from miserable man to loving friend, after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. The original remains timely and moving. It’s a short yet powerful tale about the ability of people to change for the better.
The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg
In this interactive children’s book, the Jolly Postman delivers Christmas cards to his friends and neighbors, including the Big Bad Wolf and all the King’s men. Kids of all ages will love opening the envelopes and taking out the letters their favorite fairy tale characters write to one another. Even the postage stamps on the letters are thoughtfully drawn.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
People and animals all rock around the Christmas tree in this timeless children’s book. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree is too tall for his parlor, so he chops off the top. The trimmed-off top becomes a tabletop tree for Mr. Willowby’s maid. After she also cuts off the top, it sets off a cycle of woodland animals claiming and decorating the tree as their own. With gorgeous illustrations, Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree is a gift that keeps on giving.
Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
Samantha Silva imagines the frantic six-week period when Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. With sales of Martin Chuzzlewit flagging, Dickens’s publishers demand he write a Christmas story, but the author is feeling anything but festive. Over long nighttime walks through London, inspiration—possibly in a ghostly form—strikes and Dickens writes his now-famous tale. Fans will find a lot to love in Mr. Dickens and His Carol (the author claims he lives in a “bleak house” and his children look at him with great expectations), but even those with just a cursory understanding of A Christmas Carol will enjoy this festive tale.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
This charming holiday romance (from the reigning queen of contemporary romance, Jasmine Guillory) focuses on Viviane Forest, an American tagging along on her daughter’s work trip styling a member of the royal family, and Malcolm Hudson, the Queen’s private secretary. It’s the rare romance novel to focus on Black adults over 50, and a delightful reading experience. Come for the love story, stay for the scones and royal setting.
Best Children’s Christmas Books
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
If you’re looking to grow your heart three sizes, grab a copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. No matter how many times you’ve read—or seen—the story of the Grinch learning to love the holiday season and his neighbors, it’s always worth revisiting. The whimsical, colorful drawings will draw in young readers, while parents will forever appreciate the book’s message.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Polar Express tells the story of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve, too excited to sleep. When a mysterious train going to the North Pole pulls up in front of his house, he boards it and joins dozens of other children on an unforgettable adventure. This Caldecott Award-winning children’s book features stunning art and is beloved by generations of Americans.
Amazing Peace by Maya Angelou, Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
This children’s book illuminates the lyrical, moving poem that Maya Angelou first read at the 2005 White House Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. Angelou’s poem calls for people of all faiths and races to join together in a celebration of hope and unity. The rich art adds a layer to an already affecting poem and makes it more accessible to young children. It’s an enchanting book to read aloud at a family celebration.
Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site on Christmas Night is a truck-loving kid’s dream. A construction crew consisting of friends Bulldozer, Excavator, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck and Crane Truck, team up to build a special gift. Featuring fun rhymes and playful drawings of smiling heavy equipment, this book will light up the faces of children and adults.
Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold
Olive is a happy pup, preparing for Christmas when she hears people singing “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.” After Olive mishears the lyrics “all of the other reindeer,” as “Olive, the other reindeer,” she determines she must be a reindeer. So, the adorable dog sets off for the North Pole to join Santa’s sleigh team and becomes an unlikely hero on Christmas Eve, helping a lost Santa find his way when she sniffs out the scent of fresh-baked cookies.
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
Eric Carle applied his distinct collage-style illustrations, well-known to anyone who’s read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to a sweet Christmas tale in Dream Snow. On Christmas Eve, an old farmer prepares for a nap, hoping it will snow in time for Christmas. He dreams of a snowstorm that blankets his farm. When he wakes up and discovers it has snowed, the farmer dons a red suit and delivers holiday cheer to his animals. This sturdy board book with bright, colorful pictures is a must-read for anyone with small children this holiday season.
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
Much-loved children’s book author Tomie dePaola, of Strega Nona fame, shares a traditional Mexican folktale explaining why poinsettias are associated with Christmas in this children’s book. Lucida’s family is honored when her mother is asked to make a new blanket for the baby Jesus at church, but her mother becomes sick and can’t finish the gift. At the urging of a mysterious older woman, the young girl brings weeds to church as a present. The whole congregation gasps as the weeds become gorgeous star-shaped red flowers. A lovely read that teaches us that the best gifts don’t need to be expensive.
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Robert Sabuda
While there are countless books depicting the classic Christmas carol, Robert Sabuda’s version is something special. Sabuda, a pop book artist and paper engineer, developed exquisite three-dimensional art for this book. The stunning, intricate pop-ups (the lords leap and the dancers dance right off the page!) will elicit gasps of surprise and delight from children and adults.
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer by Robert May and Antonio Javier Caparo
In 1939, Robert May, a copywriter for the department store Montgomery Ward, wrote Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer as a giveaway for the store’s customers. Americans quickly grew to love the tale of the much-mocked reindeer with the glowing nose, and the book sparked the song and TV special. Children who love the song will likely adore the original text and the colorful, whimsical illustrations from Antonio Javier Caparo.
The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
Esteemed children’s book author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, of Peter Rabbit fame, wrote this sweet story as a gift for Freda Moore, the daughter of her former governess—it became Potter’s favorite of all the books she wrote. At Christmastime, a group of mice, grateful to a tailor who saved them from a hungry cat, secretly finish a critical commission for the man, saving his business.
M is for Manger by Crystal Bowman, Teri McKinley and Claire Keay
This board book is an ideal introduction to the story of Christmas for toddlers and other youngsters. Each letter is paired with rhymed couplets that illuminate an aspect of the tale, as well as biblical verses and citations to provide context to more advanced readers. The soft pastel illustrations provide a soothing reading experience for youngsters.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and Niroot Puttapipat
Niroot Puttapipat’s cut-paper illustrations add an extra touch of magic to Clement C. Moore’s timeless poem. Even those who have heard or read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” dozens of times will enjoy the detailed images and children will delight at the pop-up on the final page. This edition will remind readers why the beloved poem became a classic.
The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
Jan Brett tells the story of Little Teeka’s attempt to train Santa’s reindeer, so they’re ready for their Christmas Eve flight. After a few disastrous trials, she learns to take a more patient, kinder approach. Brett’s stunning and detailed illustrations give a peak into the magical world of Santa’s North Pole. (Careful readers will notice she uses elaborate borders around the pages to tell a story within a story.)
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus by Francis P. Church and Joel Spector
For more than 100 years, readers have enjoyed newspaperman Francis P. Church’s charming response to a letter from 8-year-old Virginia asking if Santa Claus is real. This children’s book, complete with Victorian-style illustrations, brings Church’s joyful words to a new generation. It’s a lovely reminder that “Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders that are unseen and unseeable in the world.”
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas and Trina Schart Hyman
Welsh poet Dylan Thomas recounts his childhood Christmases in this warm, well-loved memoir. In lyrical prose, Thomas offers a series of vignettes about gifts useful and useless, encounters with friends and neighbors, and delicious meals. Illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman will captivate all generations.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
A wonderful option for children who can’t yet read on their own, this timeless book features no words but still manages to tell a memorable story with its lush illustrations. A young boy rushes outside when he sees snow to build a snowman. That night, his sculpture comes to life and takes the boy on an unforgettable adventure.
The Story of the Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden and Barbara Cooney
In the days leading up to Christmas, Holly, Ivy and Mr. and Mrs. Jones each make a wish. Holly, a doll, dreams of a child to play with; Ivy, an orphan, hopes for a home; and the Joneses yearn for a child to join their family. By Christmas, all three wishes come true as their lives intersect. It’s a poignant and moving story, beautifully illustrated by Barbara Cooney.
Best Middle Grade and YA Christmas Books
Young Santa by Dan Greenburg
Did you ever wonder how Santa became Santa? Dan Greenburg’s hilarious middle-grade novel explains how Santa got his name, where he got that suit and how he came to live at the North Pole. This humorous book, filled with jokes that work on multiple levels, is perfect for the whole family to enjoy and a great gift option for the children in your life.
The Best Worst Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie and Gladys Herdman are the neighborhood bad kids, but they take over the annual Christmas pageant after showing up at rehearsal just for the snacks. The other children are shocked—the Herdmans have never even heard the Christmas story—yet their interpretation shines a light on the true meaning of the holiday. It’s a poignant book, with some laugh-out-loud moments, that kids and their parents will enjoy.
Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Three of the best young adult authors today, John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle, teamed up to write three interconnected short stories about teenagers falling in love during a major snowstorm around Christmas. Perfect for teens and YA-loving adults, these tales will melt the hearts of even the grinchiest readers.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Cynthia Hand puts a contemporary YA spin on A Christmas Carol in The Afterlife of Holly Chase. On Christmas Eve, entitled teen Holly Chase is visited by three ghosts who urge her to change her ways. She ignores their messages, and when she dies a week later, she becomes one of the Scrooge Project’s ghosts of Christmas past. Five years later, Holly secretly begins dating the teen boy she’s supposed to be haunting, setting off a chain of events that help both teenagers grow. Despite being a retelling of a well-known tale, The Afterlife of Holly Chase will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
This sweet YA romance inspired a Netflix adaptation (Dash & Lily) and captures the spirit of New York at Christmastime. Lily leaves a red notebook filled with clues on her favorite bookstore shelf, hoping the right guy will find it. Dash finds the notebook and agrees to play Lily’s game. The two start trading notes and dares in the journal as they begin an adventure that takes them all around the city. As their correspondence continues, they wonder if a written relationship would correspond to a real-life one.
Best Christmas Books for Adults
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Every December, the children of famed Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from Father Christmas detailing his life at the North Pole. With Letters from Father Christmas, all readers, not just the Tolkien family, can enjoy the delightful missives and inventive drawings. The latest edition, published on the 100th anniversary of the first letter, includes a new introduction from Tolkien’s daughter-in-law about what the letters mean to her family.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s beloved sleuth Hercule Poirot can’t even take a break over Christmas. When the patriarch of a wealthy family is murdered after announcing plans to update his will, Poirot puts his famous “little gray cells” to work to solve the case. First published nearly 90 years ago, this locked-room mystery remains a cunning whodunnit with a holiday setting.
A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday
Readers looking for an R-rated Hallmark holiday romance should look no further than A Princess for Christmas. Desperate to make a little extra cash, cab driver Leo Ricci agrees to serve as a wealthy woman’s private driver while she’s in New York. Both Leo and his new passenger Marie are surprised when they develop feelings for each other. Leo is doubly surprised to learn Marie is the princess of a small European country. During a trip to her home, the two try to figure out how a relationship between them could work. The appropriately named Jenny Holiday brings to life a perfectly snowy Christmas market and an impeccably decorated castle.
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
John Grisham departs from his typical legal thrillers in the delightful Skipping Christmas, the story of Luther and Norah Krank, who decide to take a Caribbean cruise instead of participating in their usual festivities. (You may remember the 2004 adaptation starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, Christmas With the Kranks?) The couple eschews office parties, shopping and even decorating their house—much to the chagrin of their light-loving neighbors—and quickly learn that they might just love the holiday chaos they claim to hate. It’s a fun read for everyone, but an extra good pick for anyone feeling overwhelmed with the holiday hubbub.
Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer
The Redpaths don’t particularly like their uncle Willie, but he is family, so they invite him to spend Christmas with them. Unfortunately, their good deed comes with unintended consequences when Willie is found dead in the snow wearing a Santa suit on Boxing Day, and the police suspect the family has killed him. First published in 1944, A Murder After Christmas embodies the best of the Golden Age mysteries, featuring red herrings, misdirection and delicious-sounding desserts.
The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern
It’s a Wonderful Life has made countless viewers cry since its release in 1946, but Philip Van Doren Stern struggled to find a publisher for the short story it’s based on. Stern published the story of George Pratt, who considers suicide until seeing what the world would look like without him and sent it out as a Christmas card. The card reached Frank Capra, who turned it into the movie it is today.
A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries edited by Martin Edward
Christmas is deadly in this short story collection, featuring works from renowned writers, including G.K. Chesterton and Julian Symons. A Surprise for Christmas is perfect for readers looking to squeeze in a detective story between the holiday madness, offering complete narratives in just a few pages.
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
David Sedaris always brings the laughs, and Holidays on Ice is no exception. This collection of short stories and essays includes Sedaris’s reflection on his time working as an elf at a mall during the pre-Christmas rush, satire of over-the-top holiday letters and a hilarious review of a children’s Nativity play. In between the laughs and cynicism, Sedaris offers surprisingly touching moments. It’s the ideal read for someone who alternates between feeling merry and miserable as the holidays approach.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Kate Turner has mostly given up on finding love, focusing instead on her career as a designer and side gig as a baker at her childhood friend Matt’s coffeeshop. But when her best friend signs her up for a “twelve dates of Christmas” program that will pair her with twelve different men during December, she agrees to give it a shot. During the Yuletide season, though, she begins to wonder if her soulmate has been closer than she ever thought possible.
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes solves a mysterious case involving a priceless gemstone, a tattered hat and a Christmas goose in this short story. The world’s first consulting detective uses his famed logical mind to determine how these three seemingly unconnected items tell the story of a bizarre crime. It’s an excellent option for established Holmes fans looking for a seasonal story or those looking to read their first Sherlock installment.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Christmas receives the Groundhog Day treatment in this romance from the beloved writing duo Christina Lauren. Heroine May Jones has been in love with Andrew Hollis, a close family friend, for years, but she makes a drunken mistake while celebrating Christmas and kisses Andrew’s brother. Just as she’s in a car crash, Mae wishes she could figure out what would make her happy, and the universe responds by sending her back in time before she kissed the wrong Hollis. Mae repeats her holiday festivities dozens of times before finally getting it right in this big-hearted romcom.
Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler
Wealthy developer Lana Montgomery is a persona non grata in the small Alaskan town of Moose Springs. Lana dreams of bolstering the small town’s economy by building condos that will attract tourists, but the locals, particularly pool hall owner Rick Harding, oppose the plan. To win them over, Lana sets out to catch the “Santa Moose,” destroying neighbors’ Christmas decorations. Instead, she hits Rick with a tranquilizer, furthering the animosity between the two. But is their hostility hiding something more?
The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories edited by Tara Moore
In “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Andy Williams describes Christmas celebrations complete with “scary ghost stories.” If you’re looking for those tales, consider grabbing a copy of The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories. The collection of 13 stories was first featured in 19th-century periodicals, including installments from Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle and Elizabeth Gaskell, author of North and South.
Hiddensee by Gregory Maguire
Gregory Maguire, who retold the Wizard of Oz from the evil witch’s perspective in Wicked, delivers another fractured fairy tale with Hiddensee, a new take on “The Nutcracker.” Hiddensee describes how the one-eyed toymaker Dirk Drosselmeier came to carve the wooden figure for his goddaughter Klara. The updated version both illuminates themes from the adored ballet and stands on its own as a new contribution to Christmas bookshelves.
A Treasury of African American Christmas edited by Bettye Collier-Thomas
This pioneering collection features short stories and poetry from esteemed Black writers, including Pauline Hopkins, Langston Hughes and John Henrik Clarke. Robin D.G. Kelly, author of Freedom Dreams, called the treasury “a veritable who’s who of Black writers, whose powerful stories and poems ran the gamut of literary expressions—from the tragic to the comic, fables to romance. A book for all seasons, these stories are bound to amuse, educate and inspire all kids, from one to 92.”
The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict
Knives Out fans won’t want to miss The Christmas Murder Game, a devilishly fun murder mystery from U.K. writer Alexandra Benedict. Lily Armitage vowed never to return to Endgame, the lavish family estate where her mother died 21 years ago. Her commitment doesn’t waiver, even when she learns the next winner of the family’s annual Christmas puzzle game will win the whole manor. Lily changes her mind, though, after learning that the puzzle’s clues will reveal the identity of her mother’s murderer. She expects the game to be competitive but is shocked when it turns deadly. Snowed in with at least one murderer, Lily has no choice but to play her family’s dangerous games.
Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce by Stanley Weintraub
Soldiers on both sides of World War I laid down their weapons in a spontaneous Christmastime truce in 1914. Drawing on soldiers’ personal recollections, as well as their letters and journals, historian Stanley Weintraub documents the extraordinary moment in Silent Night. English, French and German soldiers sang carols together and even traded gifts, in recognition of the holiday. All the while, they wondered if the men from other countries were really “the enemy” they had been warned.
The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus: The Mathematics of Christmas by Hannah Fry and Thomas Oléron Evans
Mathematicians Hannah Fry and Thomas Oléron Evans apply game theory and complex formulas to solve such Christmas conundrums as wrapping gifts efficiently, cooking the perfect turkey and, yes, proving the existence of Father Christmas. The mathematically disinclined have nothing to fear: Fry and Evans use clear, straightforward language and plenty of charts to ensure all readers—regardless of their mathematical ability—can follow along.
Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
Each of the Birch family members are keeping a secret as they arrive at their family’s country home to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Because oldest daughter Emma is just back from treating an Ebola-like illness abroad, all the Birches are quarantined together for seven days. Despite the house’s size, it begins to feel claustrophobic as long-simmering resentments rise to the top. It’s a must-read for fans of the movie The Family Stone.
The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays edited by Michelle Clarke and Taylor Plimpton
The ideal present for the cynic on your Christmas list this year, The Dreaded Feast features fiction, nonfiction and poetry on the combination of feelings—joy, dread and obligation—the holidays bring. An all-star group of writers, including P.J. O’Rourke, Dave Barry, Augusten Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson and John Waters, contributed stories on last-minute shopping and the dreaded office party. The pieces are funny and unflinchingly honest, demonstrating there’s no such thing as a perfect holiday.
A Literary Holiday Cookbook by Alison Walsh
Have you ever dreamed of making sugar plums or a roasted goose that rivals the one Ebenezer Scrooge and the Cratchits eat at the end of A Christmas Carol? If so, add A Literary Holiday Cookbook to your collection. It includes 17 scrumptious four-course holiday meals from 25 classic books, including Jo’s Gingerbread from Little Women and Skillet Cornbread from The Little House on the Prairie.
Christmas: A Biography by Judith Flanders
Historian Judith Flanders offers an approachable history of the holiday in Christmas: A Biography, charting the rise of wrapping paper, festive feasts and everything in between. Flanders dismantles the idea that overly commercial celebrations are a new invention, showing instead that it’s almost always been this way. Christmas: A Biography is full of trivia you can use to impress your family during your own holiday meal.
Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Merry Little Meet Cute offers readers heart, heat, humor and holiday cheer. When Bee Hobbes, a successful plus-size adult film star, is cast in a clean made-for-tv holiday movie, she decides to keep her day job a secret. That becomes a lot more difficult after meeting her co-star, Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member and fan of Bee’s work. As the pair starts a secret relationship, a reporter begins snooping around and threatens their holiday happily-ever-after. Next up, Watch This, Read That: What to Read Based on the Fall TV Shows You Love
