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Books Children

Best Christmas Books

Updated June 2024
BEST OF THE BEST
The Polar Express Chris Van Allsburg
BEST OF THE BEST
The Polar Express
Chris Van Allsburg
A Timeless Classic
Our expert loves the new and enhanced cover and pages in this 30th anniversary edition of a popular Christmas story.
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Pros and Cons

PROS
  • An endearing tale of a child whose faith in Santa is restored after a journey to the North Pole on a train.
  • Durable hardcover edition.
  • Caldecott Medal winner.
  • Comes with a keepsake ornament.
CONS
  • The book jacket explains that Santa isn't real, so it may not be an excellent choice for younger kids.
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK
The Night Before Christmas Clement Moore
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK
The Night Before Christmas
Clement Moore
Bargain Pick
A hardcover edition of a classic story that's packed with gorgeous illustrations.
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Pros and Cons

PROS
  • Adapted from a poem that tells the story of Santa visiting a home on Christmas Eve.
  • Features a high-quality, durable design.
  • Has a four-page illustrated foldout.
  • The shiny, foil-stamped cover is sure to impress.
  • New York Times bestseller.
CONS
  • Some reviewers noted a few differences between this edition and the classic story.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Dr. Seuss
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Dr. Seuss
Customer Favorite
Our expert likes that this classic Christmas book demonstrates how the Christmas spirit can warm even the coldest hearts.
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Pros and Cons

PROS
  • This well-known story features a rhythmic style that keeps young readers engaged.
  • Features color illustrations.
  • Available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook editions.
CONS
  • The illustrations may feel dated to some readers.
Bear Stays Up for Christmas Karma Wilson
Bear Stays Up for Christmas
Karma Wilson
Best for Kids
According to our expert, this feel-good story has cute illustrations.
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Pros and Cons

PROS
  • Each page features a beautiful illustration and a few short lines of text, making it an excellent choice for younger children.
  • It tells the story of Bear and their friends as they do everything they can to keep Bear awake for Christmas.
CONS
  • Some reviewers found the story too simple to be entertaining.
Construction Site on Christmas Night Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction Site on Christmas Night
Sherri Duskey Rinker
Simple Yet Solid
Our expert shares that this book offers surprises with each character in the story.
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Pros and Cons

PROS
  • The illustrations are colorful and exciting.
  • Tells the story of several pieces of construction equipment building a home for fire engines on Christmas day.
  • Each page has short lines of rhyming text.
CONS
  • Some reviewers didn't like that all the characters had male pronouns.
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
How We Tested

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

Click here for testing insights
First Reviewed
May 07, 2023
30
Models
considered
12
Hours
researched
Category cover
Our Top Picks
The Polar Express
Best of the Best
The Polar Express
Chris Van Allsburg
Bottom Line
Our expert loves the new and enhanced cover and pages in this 30th anniversary edition of a popular Christmas story.
Shop Now
The Night Before Christmas
Best Bang for the Buck
The Night Before Christmas
Clement Moore
Bottom Line
A hardcover edition of a classic story that's packed with gorgeous illustrations.
Shop Now
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Top Pick
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Dr. Seuss
Bottom Line
Our expert likes that this classic Christmas book demonstrates how the Christmas spirit can warm even the coldest hearts.
Shop Now
Bear Stays Up for Christmas
Top Pick
Bear Stays Up for Christmas
Karma Wilson
Bottom Line
According to our expert, this feel-good story has cute illustrations.
Shop Now
Construction Site on Christmas Night
Top Pick
Construction Site on Christmas Night
Sherri Duskey Rinker
Bottom Line
Our expert shares that this book offers surprises with each character in the story.
Shop Now
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