Christmas Books to Read Aloud to Your Family

We love books at our home.  Just ask my kids!  So, what are our favorite Christmas books to read aloud?

Although we took a break between Thanksgiving and New Years, my kids did not stop learning. One of the easiest ways for us to have homeschool activities for Christmas is with great Christmas read aloud books.

We read the Bible each morning to help prepare our hearts during Advent and then celebrate Christmas. We began with the Old Testament to remember man’s fall & our sin nature. We moved on to prophecies and the New Testament.

What do you read aloud during Advent?

Our Favorite Christmas Books to Read Aloud

#1 Jotham’s Journey

As many of you know, this is our family’s all-time favorite Christmas book to read aloud. We read it during several Advent seasons. We often made a fire or lit Advent wreath candles for our evening reading time. Each chapter is fairly short so kids of all ages will enjoy this book.

It’s a story of a young boy who gets separated from his family, during the time of Jesus’ birth.  Jotham meets Elizabeth along the way. Throughout the story, he has several tragedies that add to the suspense. If you have young children (early elementary and below), they might be scared, so I recommend Jotham’s Journey for middle elementary and older.

Each chapter stops as a cliff-hanger and your children, if they’re like mine, will beg you to read more.  At the end of each chapter is a short section of what you can discuss. The book also includes the Advent calendar, reading one chapter a night during the four weeks of Advent.

NOTE: We did not enjoy the next two books in the series as much. With Bartholomew’s Passage, we felt like the message was a bit forced. In Tabitha’s Travels, we saw too much political correctness & feminist ideas. So, we went back to reading Jotham’s Journey several years.

#2 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

I remember reading this to my fifth graders when I taught school. They loved listening to this wonderful story and it was an easy way to include the Gospel in a public school classroom. I definitely read it to my own children.

When my daughter was teaching at-risk fourth graders, she read this Christmas book, too. They had a short attention span, but begged her to continue reading each day. These kids LOVED this book.

During her reading of this book, I talked to Ashley. She told me that she had forgotten how many spiritual ideas were included in this book. It’s a Christmas book to read aloud, even in places that don’t want you to talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

You’ll laugh & cry all at the same time…and your kids will learn the true meaning of Christmas, keeping Christ in Christmas.

More Christmas Books to Read Aloud

#3 A Christmas Carol

I love the transformation of Scrooge in this book. Charles Dickens does a remarkable job of drawing you into lives that are polar opposites – Tiny Tim and Scrooge.

Since it’s a classic, I’m sure you know the story. But if you’ve never read this book, it is the story of Scrooge and his encounters with Christmas Past, Present and Future. Along the way Scrooge’s character changes to reflect the true Christmas spirit.

Not only is this a great Christmas book to read aloud, it is can be a foundation in character building. After reading the book, be sure to watch one of the movies made from this classic. Our family favorite is A Christmas Carol with Albert Finney.

#4 How The Grinch Stole Christmas

What a fun book!  Your kids are probably familiar with this title.

The Grinch was a really mean and unfriendly person who lived north of Who-ville, a small town with very kind and good-hearted people. The folks in Who-ville were super nice and never had any mean thoughts. Through the story, your kids will see how the Grinch changes.

What are some ideas you can discuss with this book?

• It’s not about the gifts
• What is the true spirit of Christmas
• Focus on joy, despite any trials you are enduring
• How & why did the Grinch’s small heart grow three sizes

Once again, this Christmas book to read aloud teaches your kidsthe changes in people during Christmas.

#5 The Legend of the Candy Cane

Several years ago, I found this book when I was looking for a Christmas book to read aloud to Ashley’s first graders. I wanted something short, concise & fun pictures. This book tells the legend of the candy cane.  Before reading it, you might discuss what legends are.

After reading, talk about what the following ideas symbolize in the candy cane legend.

• Red stripes
• White color
• Hardness of the candy cane
• Shape of the candy cane
• Sweet fragrance
• A broken candy cane
• The candy cane as a gift

Other Christmas books we loved to read aloud:

• The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore: We read this every Christmas Eve
• One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham: I stumbled on this book one year and we love it
• The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg: A magical story about a boy’s journey to the North Pole on a mysterious train on Christmas Eve.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz: Based on the beloved Peanuts characters, this book captures the essence of Christmas through the eyes of Charlie Brown.
• The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry: A heartwarming short story about love and sacrifice during the Christmas season.
• The Snowman by Raymond Briggs: A beautifully illustrated picture book about a boy’s magical adventure with a snowman that comes to life.
• Christmas in the Big Woods (Little House Picture Book) by Laura Ingalls Wilder: A charming picture book that brings the Little House on the Prairie characters to life during the Christmas season.

What Christmas books will you read aloud this year?

FREE Read Aloud Book Lists & Ebook

In the spirit of Christmas, I have a gift for you: my Read Aloud Books for Your Family ebook. Not only do I share how to use read aloud books, I have a list from each of my kids: their top 10 read aloud books.

Enter your name & email below to get our Family Favorite Read Aloud Books & ebook on how to use read alouds in your homeschool.

Question: What are your favorite Christmas books to read aloud? You can leave a comment below.

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