Book Advent Calendar: 24 Christmas Books For Kids

We’re all aware of the traditional Advent Calendar that rewards you with sweet chocolate treats as you and your family countdown to Christmas.

If you’re looking for an alternative that your children will love, lasts a lot longer and is a great way to get them reading; then this Advent Calendar is for you.

If you are starting at the beginning of December, you will need to organise 24 books. This will have you finish the countdown on Christmas Eve. We are really lucky to have access to so many children’s books and you can pick up many of them for under $5. You also have the convenience of ordering them online if you are prepared a little earlier too.

When choosing the books you’d like to include, consider what your child enjoys. You can pick a theme in line with something they really like or; given it is Christmas, stick with books that are festively themed. Regardless, the options are endless and the perfect way to enjoy some quality time with your children reading in the lead up to the silly season.

Below is a list of my top 24 Christmas book picks. Some beautiful must haves for your children with some amazing and renowned authors such as Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie and Hans Christian Andersen.

1. A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)

The infamous Ebenezer Scrooge; a horrible old man, is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Dr. Seuss)

As always, this book delivers a subtle message about the real meaning of Christmas with wit and humour in a way only Dr. Seuss knows how.

3. The Polar Express (Chris Van Allsburg)

A gorgeous story about the anticipation of Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to arrive.

4. Frosty The Snowman (Donald Kasen)

A delightful imaginative tale about Frosty The Snowman coming to life.

5. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree (Robert E. Barry)

A joyous Christmas tale about a Christmas tree so large it wouldn’t fit in Mr. Willowby’s parlour. What happens when the top of the Christmas tree is chopped off by the butler?

6. Bear Stays Up For Christmas (Karma Wilson)

We all know Bear’s sleep during the winter. Discover the spirit of giving in this lovely story of Bear’s friends trying to keep him awake for Christmas.

7. The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition (Carol Aebersold & Chanda Bell)

A rhyming explanation of how Santa knows who’s naughty and who’s nice.

8. Splendiferous Christmas (Jane O’Connor)

A sweet Christmas story of Fancy Nancy and what happens when things don’t go how she planned.

9. Drummer Boy (Loren Long)

A religious tale of the orphan drummer boy whose life changes when he meets the three wise men.

10. The Christmas Magic (Lauren Thompson)

A magical book of joy and wonder as Santa prepares for his maiden voyage.

11. The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever (Steven Kroll)

As part of a series including the book’s main characters Clayton and Desmond, two mice set out to find ‘The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever’.

12. Christmas Carols (Andrew Gant)

The history of our favourite Christmas Carols.

13. The Nutcracker (John Cech)

An imaginative tale of a children’s toy coming to life and the magical wonder it brings.

14. That Christmas (Richard Curtis, Rebecca Cobb)

A story about Christmas tree dwellers and their journey to find Larry the snowman’s brother in time for Christmas Day.

15. Gingerbread Christmas (Jan Brett)

16. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)

This is an absolute personal favourite and will evoke your child’s imagination as they enter the magical world of Narnia through an old wardrobe.

17. The Gift of The Magi (O. Henry)

A story based on a poor young couple who sell their most prized possessions to buy each other gifts for Christmas.

18. Letters From Father Christmas (JRR. Tolkien)

This book is a classic, with beautifully reproduced letters written to JRR Tolkien’s Children from Santa Claus between 1920 and 1940.

19. The Little Match Girl (Hans Christian Andersen)

This is a very sad story which has touched the hearts of many. It’s about a little girl trying to sell matches to earn her keep but finds magic whenever she lights one.

20. The Adventure of The Christmas Pudding (Agatha Christie)

The world renowned Agatha Christie delivers a Christmas tale for the budding investigators. As part of a series, this particular story lends itself to the festive season and a great addition to your Book Advent Calender.

21. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (R.L. May)

A lovely story about the bullied reindeer and how he found his tribe of misfits.

22. Rover Saves Christmas (Roddy Doyle)

Read as Rover steps in to save Rudolph, the fluey reindeer in this witty Christmas adventure.

23. Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer (Nicola Killen)

Once upon a time on a magical, snowy Christmas eve..

24. ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas (Clement C. Moore)

A beautifully illustrated adaptation of the famous poem is a must-haver.

I have chosen books for various age groups. Keep in mind when deciding on the books you’d like to include, your child’s reading levels and length, as not all of the above can be read in one sitting.

Once you’ve collected the books, you need to wrap them individually. This takes some time but again, such a great daily reward for your child and an educational way to count down all the way to Christmas.

Once wrapped, arrange the books from largest to smallest. The largest book goes on the bottom, stacking them on top of each other to make a shape similar to that of a Christmas tree. Add some ribbon to the sides and a little star on top, then pop it out for display.

Finally, following a long day, have your child select a book and settle in for some reading and enjoy the beautiful tales within.

What a beautiful way to watch December disappear and the lead up to one of the most magical times of the year.

Happy Reading!