25 Christmas Books About Christ
There’s nothing like stopping whatever you’re doing to sit on the couch with a fuzzy blanket to read Christmas stories about Christ to your children. These are 25 Christmas books about Christ that have been tried and tested by my own kids. They are must-reads to pair with your best Christmas activities for preschoolers.
Now, there are only so many ways you can retell the Christmas story, but the picture books I’m sharing with you today are from all different perspectives, and books your children are sure to love. Some do tell the traditional story, but in such an amazing and lovely way, while others tell the story from a completely new perspective.
Christian Christmas Books For Kids
Twenty-five books about Christ for 25 days counting down to Christmas. That means you get to remind your children of the true meaning of Christmas every single day. And if you’re going to have 25 books about the same topic, Christmas is a great collection to have!
Plus, we love using Christmas hands-on activities alongside our Christmas stories! We have a Christmas activity pack filled with games and puzzles, Christmas alphabet activities, and Christmas counting activities.
25 Christmas Books about Christ
This post includes books about the true meaning of Christmas! With board books, pop-up books, and even counting books, we have pulled in the most engaging stories to teach the story of the first Christmas.
We’ve included timeless classics and stories with stunning illustrations of the nativity scene and the journey through Bethlehem. We hope you find love and light in these Christmas stories and the true meaning of Christmas shines through!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may earn a small sum if you click through and make a purchase.
Christmas Story Books
Goodnight, Manger by Laura Sassi tells the story of how Mary and Joseph try to lull Baby Jesus to sleep in the noisy stable after his birth. Mary and Joseph and the animals try everything they can think of to hush the noises of the stable. Who knew it could be so noisy on the silent night? This book offers the same rhythmic text of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and tells the classic manger story, mingling the routines of bedtime books and the Christmas story.
- Sassi, Laura (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 10/11/2016 (Publication Date) – Zonderkidz (Publisher)
A Star for Jesus by Crystal Bowman
A sweet story of how God made the stars for the world to see… But God also made a special star, one He chose to send the message that Jesus our Savior has come. Looking at the stars, we can think of Jesus’ star and his love for us.
- Crystal Bowman (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 14 Pages – 08/29/2006 (Publication Date) – Zondervan (Publisher)
Stable Where Jesus Was Born by Rhonda Gowler Greene
This warm and comforting retelling of the Nativity shares the excitement and overjoy of the birth of the Christ Child. All who were in attendance could sense the miracle of Jesus’ birth from Mary and Joseph to the barn animals and more. Such a precious story for sharing the miracle of our Lord.
- Greene, Rhonda Gowler (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 10/01/2002 (Publication Date) – Aladdin Paperbacks (Publisher)
The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson
This classic retelling of the first Christmas told in vibrant picture and detailed text. The message of love and Christ is clear and is a great Christmas book about the love that Jesus has for us.
The Birds of Bethlehem by Tomie dePaola is a beautifully written story about the signs of Christmas. All the birds have gathered to eat in the fields, however they soon notice changes in Bethlehem. People gathering, an angel in the night sky, a new star. The birds realize that something wonderful is about to happen and off they fly to find the stable and manger where the Christ child has been born.
- Hardcover Book
- dePaola, Tomie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Mary’s First Christmas by Walter Wangerin Jr.
Listen through Mary’s point of view as she tells five-year-old Jesus of the first Christmas, the story of his own birth and the incredible first Christmas. This incredible story is told in four parts so it gives your child a beautiful message to glean over four nights.
- Hardcover Book
- Wangerin Jr., Walter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Children’s Books About the True Meaning of Christmas
Despite the holiday shuffle, it’s important that the true meaning of Christmas shines through. These books spotlight the birth of Jesus and the miracle of his life.
The Wonder of Christmas by Dandi Daley Mackall
In an engaging format of using open-ended questions, this book transports young readers to the night of Jesus’ birth. With a lovely and poignant poem, this wonderful storybook engages children in the wonder of Christmas in a very different way.
- Hardcover Book
- Mackall, Dandi Daley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story Sally Lloyd-Jones
Snuggle close with little ones as you read through this beautiful story about how all living things are waiting with anticipation for the arrival of the baby Jesus. With poetic rhyming and bold and inviting illustrations, this book is a family favorite.
- Hardcover Book
- Lloyd-Jones, Sally (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Christmas Baby by Marion Dane Bauer
When Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, people and animals celebrated all around! They traveled far and wide to great the new baby, because every baby is a miracle from the Lord.
- Bauer, Marion Dane (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 34 Pages – 09/22/2015 (Publication Date) – Little Simon (Publisher)
Little One, We Knew You’d Come is a lyrical text that speaks not only to young children but also to mothers is it retells the marvel of Christ’s birth. As you read along you find Mary and Joseph making preparations for their Little One. They are filled with anticipation and hope. The reader goes with them to Bethlehem where they make night in a lowly and humble stable, delivering on the promise that a Savior would be born. The illustrations in this book are incredible. While the poetic nature of the text stands out, they do not stand without the beautiful and detailed illustrations.
- Hardcover Book
- Lloyd-Jones, Sally (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale Martin Waddell
This is the Christmas story told from the viewpoint of the animals that shared their stable with the Holy Family who had no where else to go. This story teaches the value of stepping up and helping those in need through love and light.
- Hardcover Book
- Martin Waddell (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Christmas Story for Children by Max Lucado
This award-winning book explores the coming of the Messiah, beginning with the angel’s message to Mary and Jesus’s birth in the stable. This story’s message is full of love and sends the reminder that we are cherished by God.
- Lucado, Max (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 10/07/2014 (Publication Date) – Zonderkidz (Publisher)
The Animals’ Christmas Eve by Gale Wiersum
This sweet rhyming story infuses the animals’ point of view of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth in the manger. Animals spend time gathered round retelling the story of their experience that first Christmas and the joy it brought to their hearts.
- Hardcover Book
- Gale Wiersum (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Message of the Birds by Kate Westerlund
Long ago a special child was born, and the animals shared songs of blessing and good will. This powerful story reminds us of our duty to sing far and wide spreading the love of Jesus Christ and the joy of his birth.
- Hardcover Book
- Westerlund, Kate (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Children’s Books About Jesus’ Birth
This Is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten is one of my all-time favorite Christmas books. Slightly reminiscent of the representative text of “This is the House that Jack Built,” this book is a captivating telling of the Christmas story. The book’s brief couplets introduce each part of the story–the manger, the watchful animals, the holy family–always returning to the refrain of the “quiet stable.” The illustrations are bold and beautiful, but rich in detail as each page encourages the creation of its own little story beyond the brief text.
- Cotten, Cynthia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/30/2008 (Publication Date) – Square Fish (Publisher)
The Very First Christmas by Paul L. Maier
Christopher’s mother tells him the amazing and miraculous story of Jesus’ birth. Christopher has many questions and learns more about the birth of baby Jesus and this classic book guides conversation about the Lord and Savior.
- Hardcover Book
- Maier, Paul L. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
One Shining Star: A Christmas Counting Book by Anne Vittur Kennedy
Learning to count is simply beautiful with the beloved story of Jesus’ birth. With gentle rhyme and number fun from 1 to 10, this book is full of shepherds, angels, animals, a precious baby, and a shiny star, all waiting to be counted before a night of restful and peaceful sleep.
- Kennedy, Anne Vittur (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 22 Pages – 09/25/2006 (Publication Date) – Zonderkidz (Publisher)
Santa’s Favorite Story: Santa Tells the Story of the First Christmas by Hisako Aoki
When Santa Claus tells the animals that he is worried about delivering all those heavy packages and gifts, they worry that there won’t be a Christmas. Santa tells the story of the first Christmas with a precious reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. A precious combination of cultural traditions and our religious beliefs coming together in one beautiful story.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Aoki, Hisako (Author)
Itsy Bitsy Christmas by Max Lucado
When two sweet little mice hear that a King is coming to Bethlehem, they set off in search of the Holy King. Along the way, they run into discouragement that they are too little and unimportant. They soon learn that Christ the King has come for all, the smallest creatures included.
- Itsy Bitsy Christmas
- Hardcover Book
- Lucado, Max (Author)
Christmas Books About Jesus
Humphrey’s First Christmas by Carol Heyer is a clever story about a camel named Humphrey who carried a wise man to see the Baby Jesus upon His birth. Several mishaps happen to poor Humphrey as he travels from afar, including loosing his blanket and scheming to get a new one. Once he arrives, Humphrey is so in awe of the love surrounding the Christ Child that he selflessly gives his new blanket to the Baby. His blanket becomes a symbol for the free nature of gifts from the heart.
- Heyer, Carol (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/01/2013 (Publication Date) – WorthyKids (Publisher)
Listen to the Silent Night by Dandi Daley Mackall
The animals and people prove that the night Jesus was born… it was a night of celebration, animals, and all sorts of sounds! Using onomatopoeia, or sound words, this book comes to life with lively animal sounds and the rhythm of this glorious night.
- Hardcover Book
- Mackall, Dandi Daley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
A Stable in Bethlehem by Juliet David
This book is a stand out for young children! With 3D pop-outs and movable figures of the Holy family, it’s a great read to encourage engagement and story telling of the best story of all – the first Christmas.
- Hardcover Book
- Juliet David (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Stars Came Out on Christmas by William Boniface
This counting book is made for little hands as they encounter a new plastic-molded counting piece revealed on each new page. Children count their way up to the wonder of the Christmas miracle and discover Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
- Hardcover Book
- Boniface, William (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Who is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate
The animals make room for the birth of baby Jesus with this warm and light-hearted tale. With rhyme and rhythm, the animals join together to prepare for a King.
- Slate, Joseph (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 09/24/2001 (Publication Date) – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats is the classic tale of the song we all know so well. A joyous procession comes to Bethlehem at the birth of Christ, and the humble drummer boys comes too. However being too poor to give a luxurious gift like gold or myrrh, the boy plays his drums for the Savior. This is a simple story about giving from the heart, and a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
- Keats, Ezra Jack (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 10/02/2000 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)
Christmas Activities for Preschoolers
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
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