5 Beloved Christmas-Themed Picture Books

The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg
In my house, and the houses of many other families I’m sure, no Christmas book list would be complete without The Polar Express. If I close my eyes now I can still see the gorgeous illustrations of the lush interiors of the train and the stark image of the Christmas bell. I would probably put this 1986 Caldecott Medal Winner on my list of all-time favorite books, let alone all time favorite Christmas reads. If you haven’t experienced the magic of it yet, please do, and I will only tell you that it is the story of a boy who lives out every child’s Christmas dream, and gets chosen by Santa to ride on The Polar Express to the North Pole. And I promise that it will make you feel all of the wonder and joy of being a kid again.

The Jolly Christmas Postman, by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg
Another pick from my childhood favorites list, The Jolly Christmas Postman, written by husband and wife writing team Janet and Allan Ahlberg, is a totally immersive delight to read and explore. Remember how fun it was to get mail? Well today’s kids may not, and this book is the perfect way to share that old-fashioned thrill this holiday season. This adorable book is filled with actual envelopes and real letters to be opened and read by or to your children. The correspondence within is written by classic fairy tale characters—Goldilocks, The Wicked Witch, and The Three Little Pigs all make an appearance! Let’s bring the letter back!

How The Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss
“Every Who down in Who-ville liked Chrstmas a lot…But the Grinch, Who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!” And with this iconic opening Dr. Seuss introduces one of the most infamous Christmas characters of all time, a Grinch with a heart “two sizes too small.” Pair the book with the movie, and you and your little Whos are in for a real feast. The poetry of Dr. Seuss’s language makes this a treat to read out loud, and even the most cynical person will feel a little warmed by the Christmas spirit after meeting little Cindy-Lou Who, and all of the other Whos who refuse to let a lack of material things ruin the true spirit of Christmas, which the Grinch soon learns “doesn’t come from a store” after all.

Too Many Toys, by Heidi Deedman
A much needed message during a time when consumer culture reaches its zenith, this is the story of Lulu, who has way too many toys. But it didn’t start out that way. She began with one beloved teddy bear named Jupiter (my Jupiter was the aforementioned bear named Felix, who I still have stored up in a closet somewhere). But over the years Jupiter gets lost in the barrage of new things, which continue to pile up each birthday and Christmas. When Lulu can no longer squeeze into her own bedroom, she decides to take matters into her own little hands. Lulu solves the problem by putting all of her toys in one mountainous pile and hosting “The Great Toy Giveaway” for her friends. (Don’t worry, Jupiter stays right where he belongs!) Hopefully Lulu will inspire more kids to do the same this holiday season.

Merry Christmas Squirrels, by Nancy Rose
A newly released book sure to make you smile with Christmas cheer, Merry Christmas Squirrels is a one of a kind treat. When I first saw the awesome photography in this book, I was convinced that it was digitally created, but incredibly, it’s not! Author and photographer Nancy Rose was inspired by the squirrels she saw making merry in her backyard; so inspired that she decided to create little holiday themed sets for them and let them do their thing, while she patiently waited and photographed their adventures. The results are ahh-mazing. As someone who always thought of squirrels as rats with tails, (sorry!) this delightful book featuring Mr. Peanut (this is actually the second book in the squirrel series) is the perfect gift for little animal lovers everywhere.
What are your favorite books to read as you wait for Christmas?