Last year, during advent I read about a brilliant idea for an alternative advent calendar from My Little Bookcase. Instead of a piece of chocolate the girls got to open one book every day. I let them read it at bedtime as well of their usual stories and it was a really special tradition which we will definitely be repeating this year. It helps to get into the Christmas spirit. Here are my 25 Christmas books for kids.

For us this was easy and inexpensive as we already had a large collection of Christmas books to use. I always put them away in the loft so that they are special when we get them out anyway. All I bought was two rolls of wrapping paper, one green and one gold. We wrapped up the books with about 7 in gold and the rest green and then sorted them into a Christmas tree shape. Then finished off with a star decoration from the Christmas tree on top. It looked really cute sitting on top of the piano, at least for a couple of days.

So here is our list of 25 books – one for each day in the run up to Christmas. Our books are mainly Christmas books rather than religious ones.

25 Children’s Books for Christmas Advent Calendar

1. The Snowman by Raymand Briggs
2. Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
3. The Nativity Play by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen
4. Lettice A Christmas Wish by Mandy Stanley
5. Mrs Pepperpot’s Christmas by Alf Proysen
6. How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss
7. Dream Snow by Eric Carle
8. Emily’s Ice Dancing Show by Rosalinda Kightley
9. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allen Ahlberg
10. Dear Santa by Rod Cambell
11. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
12. Dear Santa by Amy Husband
13. Kipper’s Christmas Eve by Mick Inkpen
14. The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson
15. Aliens Love Pantaclause by Clare Freedman and Ben Cort
16. Mog’s Christmas by Judith Kerr
17. Father Christmas by Raymand Briggs
18. How Santa Really Works by Alan Snow
19. One SNowy Night by Nick Butterworth
20. Dear Santa by Alan Durant
21. Christmas Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
22. Cops and Robbers by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
23. The First Christmas by Jan Pienkowski
24. ‘Twas The Night before Christmas by Clement Moore
25. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett

I have a feeling Stickman by Julia Donaldson might make it’s way to the top this year. Either way we will be checking out these Stickman resources from the Forestry Commission.

So what do you think about my 25 Christmas Books For Kids? Which Christmas books would you have on your list?

For our advent calendar of Christmas books and films look here.

For our list of favourite family Christmas films look here.

For our Snowmen homemade advent calendar  look here.

For another alternative advent calendar have a look at this decoration idea from last year.

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If you like this idea then make sure you are following me on Pinterest. I have a board dedicated to fun Christmas ideas.

For all of our Christmas idea in one place – check out our Christmas activities for kids which I keep updated as I add a new idea.

This year we were also sent a Playmobil Advent Calendar to review.