There’s something truly magical about pulling out the Christmas books each year. The stories we read together — about giving, joy, wonder, and the birth of Christ — become as much a part of our family traditions as baking cookies or hanging stockings.
When my oldest was just a toddler, I wanted to bring more meaning and calm to the excitement of December. So, for her second Christmas, we made an Advent calendar of Christmas books. Each night, she opened a new wrapped story to read before bed. Some were about Santa and snowmen, others about the Nativity and the true meaning of Christmas.
That simple tradition began our collection. Each year since, the children receive a few new Christmas books to add to it. Now, on a cool evening in late November, I pull all the Christmas books from the bookshelf and replace our usual reads with the ones we’ve collected over the years. The children’s faces light up as they see their old favourites return and discover which new ones have joined the shelves.
It’s a small ritual that sets the tone for the season — slowing down, gathering close, and soaking in the beauty of stories that only come out once a year.
How to Start Your Collection
You don’t need to gather them all at once. Building a Christmas library can be slow, intentional work — one or two books each year, chosen with care.
Here are a few ways to get started:
1. Choose Books That Reflect the True Meaning of Christmas
Include stories that point little hearts toward Christ. Beautiful retellings of the Nativity, saint stories, and gentle tales of giving all help anchor the joy of Christmas in faith.
A few beloved titles:
- The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
- The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
- The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
- Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell
2. Mix in Cozy Classics and Nostalgic Favorites
Balance faith-based reads with timeless Christmas stories — the kind that make you want to sip cocoa and watch the snow fall.
Consider adding:
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
- The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
- Little Golden Book Christmas Collection
3. Include Family Read-Alouds and Chapter Books
For older children, add chapter books that can be read a few pages at a time throughout Advent. These become family treasures when read aloud year after year.
Favorites include:
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (adapted editions available for children)
- The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson
4. Shop Secondhand or Collect Over Time
Check thrift stores, library sales, and online marketplaces. Sometimes the best finds are the well-loved copies — the ones already softened by other families’ Christmases.
Use Your Local Library
Your local library is a wonderful resource when building a Christmas book collection. Many libraries have beautiful selections of holiday titles — including older classics that might be out of print. Borrowing them first allows you to see which stories truly resonate with your children before buying.
It’s also a great way to fill in the gaps of your own collection or discover “new-to-you” favourites each season. If your library allows, make a weekly trip part of your Advent rhythm — borrowing a handful of Christmas books to enjoy together and returning them just before the New Year.
Ways to Enjoy the Collection
Once you have a small stack of Christmas books gathered, there are many ways to make them part of your holiday traditions:
- Advent Countdown: Wrap 24 books and open one each night leading up to Christmas.
- Christmas Story Basket: Keep all your holiday books in a basket near the tree so little hands can easily choose their favourites.
- Family Read-Alouds: Pick one longer story (like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) to read together over several evenings.
- Quiet Morning Reading: Set out a few books with cocoa or cookies for a cozy December morning activity.
- Library Swap: Borrow a few new titles every week to keep things fresh.
Whatever rhythm you choose, the goal is the same — to slow down and make space for connection.
The Gift That Grows With Them
A Christmas book collection is a gift that grows as your children do. Board books will make way for picture books, and eventually for stories that invite reflection and faith. But no matter their age, they’ll always remember the warmth of being curled up beside you under the glow of the Christmas tree, sharing stories that remind us of what truly matters.
And one day, they may pull those same books from their own shelves — continuing the tradition with their families, one Christmas story at a time.
There’s something magical about curling up with a good book by the twinkle of the Christmas tree lights. The world slows down, the cocoa cools in small hands, and stories that have been loved for generations come alive again.
In a season filled with busyness and noise, reading together invites peace back into our homes — one page at a time.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or building on a well-loved tradition, curating a collection of Christmas books for your children is one of the sweetest ways to celebrate the season.
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