Top 20 Best Christmas Stories for Kids

Get into the Christmas spirit at bedtime with these top 20 best Christmas stories for kids. Why not get them even more excited about Christmas by dipping into some of these classic Christmas tales in book form? Here are some of the Christmas classics.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

by Dr. Seuss.

Follow the Grinch as he transforms from a grumpy Christmas-hating Grinch into a loving caring and sharing Grinch after he attempts to steal Christmas from the people of Who-Ville. This classic tale offers wonderful rhymes and the perfect reminder of what Christmas is all about.

Grab it from Angus & Robertson

Grab it from Angus & Robertson

Construction Site on Christmas Night

By Sherri Duskey Rinker and A.G. Ford

It’s Christmas Eve, and the construction site is bustling with activity.

But one by one, as they head to bed, the trucks find gifts waiting for them for Crane, it’s a new wrecking ball! For Dump Truck, it’s a set of new tires!

For Excavator, it’s a shiny new scoop! Each truck gets a present that excites them and makes them feel appreciated on Christmas. But what have they been so busy building?

It’s the gift of a new fire station for the town’s firetrucks! A celebration of friendship, hard work, and giving thanks, this latest-and-greatest construction site book is sure to be a hit just in time for the holidays!

The Night Before Christmas

By Kes Gray and Claire Powell

Inspired by Clement C. Moore’s classic festive poem, this hilarious Christmas tale is sure to have you ho ho ho-ing – written by the bestselling author of Oi Frog!.

Santa is ever so busy in the run up to Christmas – he’s got presents to wrap, reindeer to wake and a sleigh to start. But has he forgotten something? And will he be ready in time?

‘Twas the night before the night before Christmas (That’s Christmas Eve Eve)
And Santa was wiping his brow on his sleeve.
Green elves were sewing,
Blue elves were counting,
Red elves were carving,
The pressure was mounting!

The Twelve Unicorns of Christmas

By Timothy Knapman and Ada Grey

This year one little girl has asked for a REAL LIFE UNICORN for Christmas. But as Christmas grows closer and closer, she’s not sure how Santa is going to deliver her unicorn. How will he fit it in her stocking or down the chimney? Will she get her Christmas wish?

Join in and sing along in this festive picture book, based on the song of the 12 Days of Christmas. Written by bestselling author Tim Knapman, with illustrations from Ada Grey, this is a funny festive picture book, perfect for fans of Oscar the Hungry Unicorn and Ten Minutes To Bed Little Unicorn.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Michael Hague.

Explore the world of Santa Claus and find out about his life in rich and imaginative detail. The creator of the Wizard of Oz captures the magic that is Saint Nick in this delightful read.  The illustrations are done in a beautiful watercolour that is realistic as well as creative.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

by Rick Bunsen.

We all know the song. Bring it to life with this beautiful rendition of how Rudolph saves Christmas and becomes the hero. Illustrated by David Wenzel, the pictures are beautiful, classic and colourful leaving this classic tale bouncing off the pages and into the hearts of your children.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

By Emma Randall

Bursting with gorgeous illustrations that accompany song’s lyrics, Randall’s festive artwork and jolly characters capture all the merriment of the popular Yuletide tune. Full color.

The Little Drummer Boy

By Ezra Jack Keats

An illustrated version of the Christmas carol about the procession to Bethlehem and the offer of a poor boy to play his drum for the Christ Child. Music for the song appears in the back of the book.

The Nutcracker

By E.T.A. Hoffman

This 1816 story is perhaps best known as the basis for Tchaikovsky’s popular ballet, but Hoffmann’s holiday legend is where the spell begins.

Here is the original tale of seven-year-old Marie and her beloved Nutcracker, beset by a dark mystery that surrounds this story within a story.

Godpapa Drosselmeier, who once served as the royal court’s inventor, recounts to Marie a tale of the trickery of Dame Mouserink, the Queen of Mice. The vengeful queen casts a curse on an innocent princess, forcing Drosselmeier to undertake an arduous quest to break the spell. His mixed success leads to the lasting enmity between the Nutcracker and seven-headed Mouse-King – Dame Mouserink’s son – a conflict that only Marie can help resolve.

One of the world’s greatest fantasy writers and a major figure in late German Romanticism, Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (17761822) created extraordinary works of poetry and supernatural fiction. In tales like The Nutcracker, Hoffmann’s characters come to vivid life in settings that move from the firm ground of reality to a world of enchantment, mystery, and romance.

Aussie Jingle Bells

By Colin Buchanan and Nick Bland

Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute, Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot. Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs, Its summertime and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs. One of the worlds best-loved Christmas carols is given a hilarious Aussie twist. This version has become a staple at end-of-year school concerts. You can enjoy Colin Buchanan singing and then create your very own karaoke session but wait until you hear the unique, once-in-a-lifetime blowfly version! Nick Blands comical illustrations show the whole family enjoying Christmas Day: see who you can recognise!

The Velveteen Rabbit

By Margery Williams

Beloved children’s classics are old friends. But they can become even more magnificent after makeovers with lush, gorgeous illustrations. This edition by legendary illustrator Don Daily is just such a book. It’s stunningly beautiful and full of the pictorial details children love to search over and over looking for new, undiscovered treasures. The story of a precious little stuffed rabbit, his love for a boy, and his journey to become real” is sure to delight toddlers and preschoolers and become a treasured keepsake in every family library.

All I Want for Christmas is Rain

By Cori Brooke

An Australian Christmas is threatened when drought takes hold.

A little girl has only one wish for rain.

Will her wish come true?

The Very First Christmas

by Paul L. Meir.

Looking for a good edition that tells the story of the Baby Jesus? This is a great option. Teach your children that there is more to Christmas than just Santa, reindeer and a magic snowman with this beautifully illustrated version of the Nativity.

The Polar Express

by Chris Van Allsburg.

This is not only a wonderful Christmas movie but it is also a great story with vivid illustrations. Follow a group of young children on a magical journey to the North Pole and bring back a little magic to Christmas. If your little one loves trains, then this is definitely one to pick up and read night after night.

Madeline’s Christmas

By Ludwig Bemelmans

‘In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines…’ It’s Christmas Eve, and Miss Clavel and her charges are all in bed with colds. All except Madeline, who answers the door to a rug-seller. But when she discovers that the rug-seller is also a magician, the little girls are whisked away on a magic Christmas carpet ride! The small but feisty heroine, Madeline, and her charming Parisian world have been loved by children and adults alike for seventy years.

A Christmas For Bear

By Bonny Becker and Kady MacDonald Denton

Bear had never had a real Christmas… Clearly, the most important thing was pickles.

Get ready for Christmas and the best kind of surprises as grumpy Bear and eager Mouse return in a funny tale full of festive cheer and friendship. One frosty night, Bear hears a tap, tap, tapping on his front door. “Merry Christmas!” cries Mouse, who has arrived for a Christmas party. Bear has never had one before, but he’s certain that pickles are essential, along with the reading of a long and difficult poem.

The problem is, whenever Bear comes back from the kitchen with treats, Mouse has vanished only to be found, small and grey and guilty-eyed, scurrying under the bed or searching the cupboard. Will there be a present for Mouse? Even just a tiny one?

• The sixth instalment in the beloved Bear and Mouse series, which has sold 850K+ copies and been translated into 13 languages worldwide.
• Brings the series full circle with many clever allusions to the first book, A Visitor for Bear, that long-time fans will be delighted to discover.
• The loveable grump Bear and his ever enthusiastic friend Mouse celebrate Christmas in signature style, with tons of humour and lots of heart.

The Elves and the Shoemaker

By the Brothers Grimm

Sure, most of these stories have now been adapted into a film but reliving the stories in book form is a great way to get your children even more revved up for the festive season. If purchasing Christmas books is not in the budget this year, then head down to the local library and see what collection they have.

The Jolly Christmas Postman

By Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg

It’s Christmas Eve and the JOLLY POSTMAN is delivering greetings to various fairy-tale characters – there’s a card for Baby Bear, a game appropriately called ‘Beware’ for Red Riding Hood from Mr Wolf, a get-well jigsaw for hospitalised Humpty Dumpty and three more surprise envelopes containing letters, cards, etc. Everyone’s favourite postman keeps on peddling his bicycle up hill and down dale . . . and into everybody’s hearts.

Father Christmas’s Fake Beard

By Terry Pratchett and Mark Beech

A collection of wonderful Christmas stories from the fantastically funny Terry Pratchett. With incredible illustrations from Mark Beech.

Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different?

Turkey and carols, presents and crackers – they all start to feel a bit…samey.

How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store or, was even, arrested for burglary!?

Dive into the fantastically funny world of Terry Pratchett, for a festive treat like no other. These ten stories will have you laughing, gasping and crying (with laughter) – you’ll never see Christmas in the same way again.

Harry Potter – A Hogwarts Christmas Pop-Up

By J.K. Rowlings

Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Christmas Pop-Up is a one-of-a-kind book that re-creates the iconic Great Hall as seen in the Harry Potter films, complete with a pop-up Christmas tree at the center. The book is also filled with removable and displayable keepsakes of iconic magical artifacts and other elements from the films, which can be used as ornaments to decorate the pop-up tree, creating an interactive experience that lets fans bring the holidays to life in their own magical way.

Included is a softcover booklet packed with behind-the-scenes details on the props, set designs, and special holiday moments featured throughout the films. Recapture the holiday memories from the Harry Potter series, or create your own, as you celebrate the holidays with this must-have collectible for fans of the Wizarding World.