The best Christmas books for children 2024

A festive treat with bright, bold illustrations from the creator of Dear Zoo. With Dear Santa, little hands can unwrap a present on each page by lifting the flaps to discover what Santa has sent. This children’s Christmas book is a festive classic.

It’s Christmas Eve and Reindeer can’t find Santa anywhere! Lift the felt flaps to help look for him. Which other festive friends will you meet along the way? With soft flaps on every spread that are easy for babies to lift and help develop their fine motor skills, this gorgeous book by Axel Scheffler, bestselling illustrator of The Gruffalo, is the perfect gift to share with little ones.

In Acorn Wood the snow is coming down, and Squirrel plans to create a snowman! Lift the flaps to find out whether she and her friends can find everything they need. Created by cherished author/illustrator duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this winter tale has plenty of rhymes and lovely images to bring festive cheer to little children.

Join national treasure Baroness Floella Benjamin and illustrator Lydia Monks to learn some of our best-loved Christmas songs and hymns, including ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’ in this new interactive picture and songbook. As well as beautiful illustrations, the book comes with a CD with each song sung by Floella Benjamin so your little one can listen to their favourites all season long! 

Get ready for a festive game of peekaboo with Who’s Jolly?, a charming lift-the-flap book perfect for babies and toddlers. Little ones will delight in discovering who's feeling the holiday cheer as they lift soft, felt flaps to reveal adorable animals like a snow-loving mouse and a sledding polar bear. It’s a magical way to make your little one the jolliest of all this Christmas season. 

Discover this interactive board book edition Clement C Moore's classic poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The snow is falling, everyone is tucked up in bed, and Father Christmas is on the way . . . Little ones can push, pull and slide the pages to see reindeers flying through the sky, sugarplum fairies dancing and stockings filling up with presents, as you share this magical Christmas poem together.

When Father Christmas accidentally leaves Bear behind at the North Pole, he’s determined to catch up –and fast! Little ones will love pushing, pulling, and sliding the tabs to help Bear chase Santa’s sleigh across icy seas and snowy forests. With Ian Whybrow’s playful rhymes and Axel Scheffler’s charming illustrations, this interactive book is packed with festive fun. Perfect for preschoolers, it’s a wonderfully hands-on way to celebrate the magic of Christmas!

Penguin is sensible and loves a simple holiday with a cozy tree and a mince pie, while Pup is a whirlwind of excitement, dreaming of giant snow machines and extravagant feasts! When their very different ideas of Christmas collide, chaos – and laughter – ensue. This fun-filled festive caper celebrates friendship and embracing each other’s differences. Whether you’re a Penguin or a Pup, this heartwarming adventure is perfect for bringing joy and giggles to your holiday season.

A Christmas picture book you’ll read time and again, What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas is the festive story in the series by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks. The little ladybird is off to visit her friend the spider, but her Christmas plans go awry when she hears that Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are set to steal children’s Christmas stockings and all of their presents! Follow the charming and festive rhyming story to find out if, and how, she can stop their dastardly plan and save Christmas for everyone. 

Featuring over 300 easy-to-use stickers, this activity book brings your child’s favorite Acorn Wood characters to life with delightful sticker scenes, puzzles, coloring, and matching games. Designed just right for little hands, it’s perfect for kids aged three and up. With Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved woodland creatures, this sticker book is ideal for holiday playtime, long journeys, or cozy days indoors – a wonderful gift for creative little ones this Christmas. 

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland brings festive magic to Lewis Carroll’s classic book. This time, Santa tumbles down the rabbit hole and finds himself in Wonderland, where the Queen of Hearts has banned Christmas as, years ago, the White Rabbit’s late delivery meant no gift for the princess. But one snowy Christmas Eve, Santa finally gets her long-lost letter and so he must race to bring back the holiday cheer. A whimsical mash-up of two beloved stories, this charming adventure reminds us that Christmas is all about kindness.

Celebrate twenty years of The Gruffalo’s Child with this special anniversary edition! Venture back into the deep, dark, snowy wood as the brave Gruffalo’s Child sets off to find the mysterious Big Bad Mouse. With a shiny cover and exciting bonus content – like character headbands and a fun Gruffalo’s Child Song – this edition is the perfect way to mark the occasion. A must-have gift for all Gruffalo fans!

Join Cat on a culinary adventure with Cat’s Cookbook: Book and Jigsaw Set. In this charming lift-the-flap tale from the Tales from Acorn Wood series, Cat visits Acorn Library to find a recipe book, but will she learn to cook? This special gift set also includes a colorful twenty-piece jigsaw puzzle featuring their favorite Acorn Wood characters. With Julia Donaldson’s playful rhymes and Axel Scheffler’s delightful illustrations, this set is the perfect gift for fans of the beloved series.

On a day out to Buckingham Palace, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends play in the snowy gardens, have a thrilling ride on a sledge, and Pooh gets stuck in a snow drift. Then, a surprising discovery leads to an invitation to have tea with the King! A brand-new Winnie-the-Pooh story, Winnie-the-Pooh at the Palace features some of the best-loved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood, including everyone's favourite bear, Winnie-the-Pooh himself. 

Everyone's heard about the old lady who swallowed a fly, but now it’s time to meet a little reindeer who, on the most important night of the year (Christmas Eve!), swallows a present. A funny, cumulative rhyming story children will love, packed with elves, stockings, a very full sleigh full of gifts and, of course, Santa Claus. And one very hungry little reindeer — keep an eye on the presents under your tree!

Join everyone's favourite little owl for a winter adventure, and explore lots of different kinds of weather, in WOW! It's Snowing. Your favourite little owl is back, and this time she’s ready to discover the wonders of winter weather, from twinkling icicles to the first snowflake of the season. Little ones will love joining in with the WOWs, as the owl's tree fills up with more and more friendly animals.

When Santa sets off in his sleigh to deliver his presents, poor Bear is left behind. This charming and very funny picture book by Ian Whybrow follows Bear on his travels as he tries to get to Tom’s house in time for Christmas morning. Beautifully illustrated by Axel Scheffler,  this is a Christmas book full of fun.

This hilarious Christmas book for kids stars the wonderfully grumpy Gus. Gus doesn’t like carols, or cake, or Christmas jumpers. And he certainly doesn't like mistletoe. To Gus, a tree is only good for one thing, and it's not for hanging baubles on. Will Gus ever learn to love the festive season? 

An ideal stocking filler for busy little hands this Christmas, the Dear Santa Sticker Activity Book is packed with festive-themed colouring pages, puzzles, spot-the-differences and over 200 colour stickers, all designed for early years children. Perfect for Christmas car journeys to see relatives, rainy days at home or to give as a gift to the little one in your life, this Christmas book for children is a must-have this holiday season. 

Twit Twoo! It’s Christmas time for owls too! In this charming picture book, based on an extraordinary true story, one family gets a huge surprise as they wake up one morning to find an expected visitor snuggled up in their Christmas tree! With its heartwarming story and detailed illustrations, The Owl Who Came For Christmas is a fun, festive story for the whole family to read together.

Mean, green Sproutzilla is back and he's determined to destroy Christmas. Jack and Ruby are getting ready for Christmas when suddenly, Santa's little elves arrive with terrible news – poor Santa's been kidnapped! Can Jack and Ruby rescue Santa from stinky Sproutzilla and his menacing sidekicks Broccolisaurus and Tyrannoparsnip rex, before the villainous vegetables ruin Christmas for everyone? And can Sproutzilla ever be shown the true joy of Christmas?

Classic Christmas Stories is a festive anthology filled with timeless tales perfect for sharing with the whole family. From beloved stories like The Nutcracker and The Fir Tree to heartwarming excerpts from A Christmas Carol and The Wind in the Willows, this collection captures the magic of Christmas. It’s ideal for reading aloud around the Christmas tree or as cosy bedtime stories. Featuring beautiful illustrations and introductions by Ian Whybrow, this enchanting book will be cherished for many holiday seasons to come.

Celebrate The Gruffalo like never before with this special collector’s edition, adapted from the miniature Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House edition at Windsor Castle. Beautifully packaged in a pocket-sized format with gold foil decoration, this unique edition takes you back into the deep dark wood, complete with sixty never-before-seen illustrations by Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo: Queen Mary's Dolls' House Edition has been reworked to create a special miniature gift book – perfect for fans of all ages.

What starts with a simple partridge quickly spirals into hilarious chaos as Grandma’s gifts grow more extravagant by the day. Reimagining the beloved carol, this beautifully illustrated small hardback brings a fresh and witty twist to a Christmas classic. With Alex T. Smith’s signature charm and humor, this playful retelling is sure to become a holiday favorite, guaranteed to bring joy and laughter to your Christmas celebrations. 

Join Winston the mouse on a heartwarming holiday adventure! With only five days until Christmas, Winston has a puzzling mystery to solve – he’s been having fuzzy memories of another mouse who’s lost. Promising his best friend Oliver he’ll return by Christmas, Winston embarks on an exciting round-the-world journey, meeting old and new friends along the way. Filled with charming black-and-white illustrations by Alex T. Smith, this chapter book edition is the perfect gift for young readers ready to dive into a magical Christmas tale. 

Pick and Mix Poetry is a delightful treasure trove of over 300 poems, handpicked by Julia Donaldson herself! Like a bag of pick-and-mix sweets, this special collection offers something for everyone, from timeless classics to fresh, exciting voices. Whether it's about football, pirates, turtles, or family, these poems will capture imaginations and spark joy this Christmas. Beautifully illustrated and with a stunning foil cover and ribbon marker, this elegant book is the perfect gift to inspire a lifelong love of poetry.

This hilarious and heartwarming Christmas book for kids aged six to eight sees Santa find the perfect second job – as a bin man! Santa finds plenty of gifts hidden amongst the rubbish, and soon he’s back on his sleigh delivering recycled gifts. 

The Complete Alice is the ultimate collector’s edition of Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic. This stunning volume includes both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, along with the 'lost' chapter, The Wasp in a Wig. With intricate embossed details, gold-foiled edges, and vivid illustrations, this beautifully designed edition is a treasure for fans of all ages, making it the perfect gift to mark the 160th anniversary of Alice. 

Get ready to crack the case with Cluedle – The Case of Rudolph's Revenge! This festive puzzle book is the perfect stocking filler for mystery lovers and budding detectives. Team up with world-famous private investigator Hartigan Browne to solve 80 brain-teasing Christmas puzzles.  A fantastic addition to the bestselling Cluedle series, it's the perfect way to add a dash of mystery to your holiday season.

The Ice Children is an exciting, contemporary, magical mystery adventure. At midnight on a December dawn, five-year-old Finn Albedo is found froze in a city park atop an icy pedestal, his heart beating, yet unresponsive. His sister, Bianca, suspects a vanished, enchanting library book holds answers, bu as more children freeze, Bianca's quest for truth leads her into a perilous winter realm. Can she save Finn and the other Ice Children? Gorgeous coloured endpapers and black-and-white illustrations make this hardback a perfect gift for boys and girls aged 8-12.

Christmas Poems is a festive collection of classic and modern poems, carols and songs that celebrates all the best things about Christmas from the Nativity to Father Christmas, including snow, angels, reindeer, Christmas trees and, of course, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Collated by children's poetry expert Gaby Morgan, Christmas Poems is illustrated by Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom. Why not take it in turns to pick a poem to read as a poetry advent calendar of sorts in the run-up to the big day?

The story about a thoroughly modern family from bestselling author Emma Donoghue. In The Lotterys More or Less, nine-year-old Sumac is determined to make sure all of the family’s Christmas traditions are upheld. But from uninvited guests to weird weather and mysterious power cuts, it seems like everything is against the Lotterys having a ‘normal’ family Christmas.

MATCH is the UK’s bestselling football annual and is top of Christmas wish lists for footy fans everywhere. Readers can build the ultimate player using superstars from the Premier League, check out the craziest football haircuts through the years, swot up on the 2025 Women’s Euros, learn about the best academies on the planet, and look back on Jurgen Klopp and Emma Hayes’ rocking reigns in England! Plus, don't miss the best moments from Euro 2024, epic profiles of the world's top wonderkids, tons of brain-busting quizzes, cool cartoons, and the chance to design your own boots.

Step into the magical world of Oz with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Colouring Book! Featuring all your favorite characters – from Dorothy and the Scarecrow to Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West – this beautifully produced book invites you to bring L. Frank Baum’s classic tale to life with color. Filled with sleek, stylish artwork and famous quotes from the original story, it offers hours of creative fun. Printed on high-quality paper, perfect for crayons, paint, or felt pens, it’s an enchanting gift to introduce children to this timeless adventure.

The beloved duo are back for their first on-screen adventure since 2008! Based on the brand-new feature-length film, this action-packed novel follows Gromit as he tries to save Wallace from the clutches of a rogue invention – a 'Smart Gnome' with a mind of its own. Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, bite-sized chapters, and amazing illustrations, this novelisation is perfect for young readers. Fans will love the bonus character profiles and full-color artwork from the film, making it a must-have for Wallace & Gromit lovers.

A Poem for Every Christmas Day is a heartwarming collection of 31 festive poems, compiled by Allie Esiri, perfect for sharing throughout the holiday season. Featuring works by beloved poets like Thomas Hardy, Christina Rossetti, and Robert Burns, this anthology brings the magic of Christmas to life with a poem for each day of December. This beautifully curated collection will fill your days with Christmas spirit, making poetry an enchanting part of your holiday tradition.

A collection of three wonderfully festive stories from Eva Ibbotson, the bestselling author of Journey to the River Sea. With a beautiful cover by Joe Wilson and inside illustrations, The Christmas Star is a wonderful gift to treasure at Christmas and all year round. In Vicky and the Christmas Angel, a young Viennese girl discovers, to her horror, who really brings the children's presents at Christmas; in The Christmas Star a family encounters a fortune teller at the local Christmas market who changes their lives; and The Great Carp Ferdinand is a festive story of a hero with a difference. 

Curated by former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, this classic and contemporary Christmas poetry collection is the perfect addition to any young reader’s bookshelf this festive season. Alongside traditional Christmas verses are poems by contemporary writers and poets, including Neil Gaiman, Hollie McNish, Benjamin Zephaniah and Jackie Kay. 

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a timeless tale of redemption, beloved since its first publication in 1843. Follow the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he is transformed by ghostly visits from his late partner, Marley, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. With its unforgettable characters and evocative storytelling, this novella captures the spirit of Christmas and its message of hope. This stunning clothbound edition, complete with gold-foiled edges and original illustrations, makes a perfect gift for any young book lover to cherish.