7+ Best Christmas Books For Kids 2023

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?

Written by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen. Published by Candlewick Press c/o Penguin Random House Canada.

How does Santa go down the chimney is an age-old question. And what if a house doesn’t have a chimney? It’s a question most have us asked as kids and then our kids ask us.

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? is a hilarious book that asks questions about the many possible ways Santa might be able to go down the chimney: headfirst, feet first, or can he cinch his belt tight in order to fit?

I read this book to my grandkids who are ages 5 and 2 ½ and after learning the various ways Santa might be able to go down the chimney or enter a house (such as by sliding under a door or pouring himself into a faucet), in unison they would answer ‘No!’ Mac Barnett is a New York best-selling author of several books for children. He uses dead pan humour to create timeless questions with answers that are both ridiculous and plausible.

One unexpected funny bit in the book is when illustrator Jon Klassen (#1 best-selling creator of I Want My Hat Back) depictsSanta going down the chimney headfirst, then feet first and then neither (well actually, bum first with a bit of a wardrobe malfunction). As my five-year-old granddaughter quickly pointed out, “Grandma, you can see Santa’s bum crack!” How do five-year-olds even know about these things? It provided yet another good chuckle from this funny, endearing book which my grandkids begged me to read four times in a row. It certainly passed the ‘kid test’ in my house.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

Written by Vikki VanSickle, Illustrated by Miki Sato

Published by Tundra Books, an imprint o Tundra Book Group, a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited.

This book will captivate audiences young and young at heart as it follows the tale of a little girl (Della Rose Santiago) as she shares all the things that she feels should go on her Christmas tree. Of course there are lights, ornaments, a popcorn string and a few surprises as well.

Author Vikki VanSickle captivates readers as we follow the story of a little girl and her family as they put up a real Christmas tree. Della opens a box of old ornaments and finds her first-ever ornament bearing her name. And then there’s those handmade ornaments that have been saved through the years. This year there’s a new ornament for the tree with the name Clem Taylor Santiago painted on it. It’s for Della’s baby brother Clem.

From Toronto, author Vikki VanSickle has written several children’s books including Words That Start With B; Summer Days, Starry Nights; and the award-winning The Winnowing. In addition to writing, she curates and presents regular book segments for CTV Your Morning.

Illustrator Miki Sator uses cut paper art style and tactile details to create her layered, 3D illustrations. Originally from Ottawa, Miki now resides in Toronto where she studied illustration at the Ontario College of Art and Design.

This book draws children into the process of decorating a tree, but most importantly, it illustrates the importance of family time and how treasured ornaments can evoke special memories year after year.

The Three Little Mittens

Written by Linda Bailey, Illustrated by Natalia Shaloshvili

Published by Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada

You will never throw out a stray mitten again after reading this book!

In a world where wearing everything that matches seems important, The Three Little Mittens is a story a Little Girl and her two pair of mittens: Dotty and the Other Dotty (mittens with polka dots) and Stripes and the Other Stripes (striped mittens).

Dotty and the Other Dotty are a matched pair of mittens. When another mitten named Stripes loses its mate, the single mitten isn’t really needed anymore. She doesn’t ‘match’, so she’s abandoned into a dark pocket. And I’m sure you can guess what happens next; one of the Dotty mittens goes missing. Then what?

The Little Girl bravely asks; why do the mittens have to match? She expresses her individuality and wears mismatched mittens! Author Baily explores what it is like to feel excluded, and then to be included. This book celebrates being one of a kind! It’s a story about how a single mitten is excluded by a matching pair in a tale about friendship and belonging.

Linda Baily has written nearly 40 books for children and has won several literary awards for her work. Natalie Shaloshvili is a former fashion and editorial illustrator who discovered a passion for painting and writing children’s books.

Kids learn that if you want to wear a pink mitten with yellow dots with a blue striped mitten, go for it! If you want to wear mismatched socks, you might just start a fashion trend. It’s a warm, fuzzy and endearing story that inspires kids to be themselves. The book may spark conversations about inclusivity, friendship and belonging.

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive

by Melanie Watt

Published by Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group , a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive is the third book in the NUTTY ADVENTURE series by Melanie Watt. This illustrated picture book has six chapters including Picture Perfect, Holiday Trouble, Gingerbread Plan, Gift Giving 101, The Non-Party and Christmas Morning.

Scaredy Squirrel, like many of us, has a to-do list for Christmas. He’s checked it more than twice WAY ahead of time so what could possibly go wrong? Everything is perfect until his friends Rash and Tim show up and create chaos! But Scaredy is filled with holiday spirit and won’t let this get him down. The graphic novel for young readers explores the themes of friendship and accepting the imperfections that make the holidays special.

Melanie Watt is the bestselling and multi-award-winning author behind several children’s picture books including the Scaredy Squirrel series, the Chester series, Bug in a Vacuum and others. She is a multiple winner of the Ontario Library Association’s Blue Spruce Award and the Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award. The Scaredy Squirrel is also an animated TV series which airs on the Carton Network in the U.S. and YTV in Canada.

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Lost Christmas

by Alistair Helm and Aristides Ruiz

It’s been a year since the Grinch stole Christmas from Who-ville and now the Grinch is back and he wants to prove to Who-ville that he’s changed. A New York Times bestseller, the sequel (Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Lost Christmas) follows the Grinch as he tries to prove that now he LOVES the holiday. So he devises a plan to win Who-ville’s Christmas Crown by making the largest, most spectacular Christmas tree the Whos have ever seen! But when things don’t go as planned, the Grinch goes back to his old ways … until one small, special Who reminds him that Christmas is NOT about winning.

Bluey: 12 Days of Christmas

Kids, get ready to countdown the 12 days of Christmas with Bluey and Bingo! (those popular characters from the wildly popular TV show). In this adorable book (Bluey: 12 Days of Christmas) families get to celebrate the holidays Australian-style (like a fruit bat in a mango tree).

Otto the Ornament

by Troy Cummings

Otto is an ornament that’s colourful, glittery and teaming with Christmas pizzazz! Otto wants to be at the top of the tree instead of being in the middle with all the other ornaments! He’s glittery after all and deserves to shine on top of the tree for all to see! Will Otto be able to find the tree of his dreams and learn about kindness and family? Author Troy Cummings offers some clever puns, wordplay and humour along with a heartfelt message for all.

Santa’s Gotta Go

by Derrick Barnes, llustrated by Courtney Lovett

While most kids ask Santa for a toy or a pony, the number one thing on Monte and Mabel’s Christmas wish list is the chance to hang out with Santa Claus. So when his sleigh breaks down in their yard as he’s finishing up his last delivery, they couldn’t be more delighted! Santa needs to stay with them while he waits for a delivery of spare parts. It’s a dream come true right? Or is it? Monte and Mabel quickly realize that Santa doesn’t have a lot of experience being a houseguest. But how on earth do you kick out Santa Claus?

by Laurie Wallace-Lynch

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