Books make great gifts for kids any time of the year. This holiday season, why not give the gift of reading to a child in your life? These holiday-themed books are sure to get your children into the spirit of the season and carry their enthusiasm for reading into the new year.

Max's Christmas
By Rosemary Wells

Max’s sister, Ruby, won’t let him stay up to see Santa Claus. But Max has some ideas of his own for how to see St. Nick! This classic book is destined to be a Christmas tradition.

Arthur's Christmas
By Marc Tolon Brown

Arthur has to get his sister the perfect Christmas present – and time is running out! A fun story that younger children will love having read to them, and older children will love reading with Mom and Dad.

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
By Laura Joffe Numeroff

Following in the tradition of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, this string of delightful events starts when this little mouse is taken to the movies. Everyone knows if you take a mouse to the movies, you’ll have to buy him popcorn, which will of course remind him of stringing popcorn for the Christmas tree! A fun book the whole family will enjoy reading year after year.

The Polar Express
By Chris Van Allsburg

Take a ride with a young boy on a magical train to the North Pole in Chris Van Allsburg’s award-winning book. Children’s imaginations will grow as the young boy does, and by the end of the journey you will remember the true spirit of Christmas. A classic.

Peter Claus and the Naughty List
By Lawrence David

Naughty or nice? Santa must decided, but his son, Peter, doesn’t like putting names on the naughty list, especially since he’s on it, too! Peter sets out to find the naughty kids and make it right in this funny, yet thought-provoking, book.

The Night Before Christmas
By Clement Clarke Moore, Tasha Tudor (Illustrator)

The timeless classic that has been read aloud for generations is made even more charming by Tasha Tudor’s wonderful illustrations. If you haven’t started the tradition of reading this book on Christmas Eve, it’s not too late to start!

Dream Snow
By Eric Carle

The author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar weaves another wonderful tale for children. A farmer wants to decorate for Christmas, but where’s the snow? Children will discover animals and snow with each page they turn. The farmer finds out his dream came true and he can decorate for Christmas in the end. A clever book that ends in song.

Mooseltoe
By Margie Palatini

Mr. Moose is going to have the perfect Christmas – or so he thinks! He’s forgotten the tree! Everything works out in the end when he lets his family decorate … him! The rhyming text makes this a great book to read aloud.

The Rugrat’s Book of Chanukah
By Sarah Willson

Tommy, Chuckie and Angelica put their own unique spin on Chanukah in this book based on the Rugrat’s Chanukah special. By the end of the book, adults and babies alike are lighting the menorah and celebrating Chanukah.

Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story
By Naomi Howland

Sadie goes out for firewood but ends up with a magic frying pan. The pan works, and in the end there’s enough latkes for the whole village to eat! A wonderful story made even better by the delightful illustrations.

A Blue’s Clues Holiday
By Angela C. Santomero, Traci Paige Johnson, Yo-Lynn Hagood (Illustrator)

A fun – and crafty! – way to introduce your little one to all three holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Blue and Steve visit their neighbors and celebrate each holiday with activities such as baking cookies and making paper snowflakes. A fun and interactive book that will quickly become a holiday favorite.

My First Kwanzaa Book
By Deborah M. Newton Chocolate

Introduce your child to the African-American celebration, Kwanzaa. Children will learn about the food, clothing and traditions that make this holiday so special.

Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear!
By Don Wood and Audrey Wood

In the sequel to The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, the little mouse is reminded by the narrator of the big, hungry bear. Mouse's response is to set up barricades and padlocks to keep the bear away from his Christmas gifts. This book is a great way to teach children about sharing and the joy of the season.

Gaspard and Lisa's Christmas Surprise
By Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben

It’s almost Christmas, and Gaspard and Lisa still don’t have a present for Mrs. Dupont. Then Lisa has her first great idea: They'll make a raincoat out of Gaspard's parent's shower curtain. A raincoat out of a shower curtain? The delightful team has a few problems along the way, but it all works out in the end. Children will come away with a sense that anything can be fixed if they put their minds to it.

The Christmas Humbugs
By Colleen Monroe, Michael Glenn Monroe (Illustrator)

Christmas is just around the corner, but someone is playing tricks! The Humbugs are looking for "cheerful houses" where they can cause some mischief this season! So, who are the Humbugs? Are they nasty creatures trying to wreck havoc on the holiday? Quite the opposite is true. The furry little creatures are testing the Christmas spirit to see how strong it is in you! Children will be delighted by these colorful creatures that are sure to reveal that the Christmas spirit is alive and well, no matter what they do to try to sabotage it!

Read an interview with Colleen and Michael Monroe here!

Barbie: The Nutcracker
By Golden Books

Little girls will dream about being Clara and flying off in a beautiful sleigh after reading this charming book. The colorful illustrations are magical and the text simple to follow. It's a book that will stay in your child's heart forever, as the memory of the Kingdom of Sweets will stay in Clara's.

The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas
By Golden Books Little and Justine Korman-Fontes

The Poky Little Puppy is still poky, but he makes a skunk named Herman's Christmas a little brighter after his home is destroyed. Children will love following along the simple chain of events that start when the poky puppy finds an old boot, then sacrifices his warm bed and Christmas present for a new friend.

What books do you enjoy reading with your children? Tell us at the Recommended Reading Discussion Board! Is there a book you think we should add to the list? Send your book recommendations to info@preschoolerstoday.com!

Want to see more?

• iParenting Book Club
• Preschoolers Today Recommended Reading List
• Silly Thanksgiving Stories
• Holiday Headquarters
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