A book advent calendar is such a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit and helps kids to build up their at-home libraries. Gathering 24 Christmas related books can be expensive, but it doesn’t need to be done all at once. Each year I buy the kids a few new books for their collection and we’ve gathered a bunch of favorites. Some other great places to get books for your collections are used book stores, thrift stores, and even the dollar store or dollar section at Target.
How a Christmas Book Advent Calendar Works
The Christmas book advent calendar is similar to other advent calendars, you’ll open one new book a day for 24 days until Christmas. You can use books you already have and add in a new book or two each year. Wrap 24 books and place them under the Christmas tree or in a stack somewhere. You can write 1-24 on the books or kids can just pick a new wrapped book out of the pile. Unwrap a new book each day and read it together.
Christmas Books for your Advent Calendar
If you’re looking to start a collection of Christmas books that can be used for a book advent calendar here are my 24 suggestions. They’re books my kid’s love, want to read each year and are perfect for wrapping for a book advent.
Santa Post – It’s nearly Christmas Eve when Santa gets a letter – it’s some very late Santa Post. The only problem is, Amy wants just one thing, and Santa can’t read what it is. He asks the elves, Mr. Polar Bear, and the Chief Reindeer for help, and they all do their best, sending back gifts and letters for readers to open, but… is this really what Amy wanted?
Are you There Little Reindeer? – In this beautifully illustrated hide-and-seek book, children can “spot” the reindeer through a hole on each page… but when they turn the page it isn’t the reindeer at all! Very young children will love searching for the elusive reindeer, and all the charming details and other animals they discover along the way.
It’s Christmastime! – It’s Christmastime! Moose, Bear, Squirrel, Mouse, and Fox can’t wait! But they could use some help getting ready. The 15 reusable and repositionable stickers let young readers decorate and play over and over again, in any way they like.
The Nutcracker Sound Book – This sumptuous sound book is based on the beloved classic and retold for younger children to provide an ideal introduction to the story. Press the embedded sounds to hear the music that goes along with the story.
Christmas Stories for Little Children – A collection of six stories taken from Young Reading Series One titles “Stories of Snowmen” and “Stories of Santa.” Featuring stories of fake Santas, stolen diamonds and a best-dressed Snowman competition. Perfect for cozying up with and reading aloud on cold winter nights, or for beginner readers to tackle alone. With jolly illustrations by Philip Webb.
Pop-Up ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – This classic Christmas poem is brought wonderfully to life with gorgeous artwork and stunning pops. Peek inside a cozy house, all ready for Christmas, marvel at Santa and his reindeer, flying across the sky and revel in the magic of Christmas
Pop-Up Christmas – In Pop-up Christmas you’ll find pop-up snowflakes, a snowman that Santa’s elves have built, the elves’ workshop, Santa on his sleigh flying over a town and a magnificent pop-up tree resplendent with presents on Christmas morning.
That’s Not My Elf – There are five mischievous elves to meet in this touchy-feely Christmas board book, with shiny boots, fluffy scarves, and soft hats to keep them warm at the North Pole.
The Twinkly, Twinkly Christmas Tree – This beautifully illustrated board book has lots of electric lights inside it for little children to discover. Mouse has no Christmas lights, so she sets out with her friend, Mole, to find some in the snowy forest. As the story unfolds and more friends join the adventure, there are more and more lights until Mouse finds a stunning Christmas tree at the end.
The Chilly Little Penguin – Perry the penguin has a very special reason for wanting to get warm. Can he find a way to take the chill off his frosty feathers? Read with Usborne has been developed with the help of reading experts to support and motivate children in the early stages of reading. Clear, carefully leveled text and appealing illustrations help children progress and grow in confidence.
Play Hide & Seek with Reindeer – On each spread of this delightful book, there’s an animal hiding, which you can find by lifting the big flap. Charmingly illustrated by Gareth Lucas, these are the perfect way to make little children smile as they enjoy playing hide-and-seek with all the different animals in the Christmas scenes.
1001 Things To Spot At Christmas – This jolly puzzle-book is stuffed full of Christmas things to find and count. Join Santa Claus and his busy team during the most magical holiday of the year.
The Gingerbread Man – A little old woman makes a gingerbread man, but when she opens the oven door, he runs away. Soon, everyone in the village is chasing after him. Will anyone ever catch him?
That’s Not My Polar Bear – Celebrate 20 years of “That’s Not My…” books with this special edition of That’s Not My Polar Bear, complete with shiny silver edges! Little ones will love touching the textured patches as they meet polar bears with bumpy paws and soft ears.
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas– It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Little Blue Truck is spreading cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. Can you help count each green tree from one to five and back again? Don’t forget to save one for Blue! Beep! Beep!
Weird But True Christmas: 300 Festive Facts to Light Up the Holidays– Even Christmas can be weird — it’s true! Get ready to celebrate the holiday season with wacky facts, stats, tidbits, and traditions about the most wonderful time of the year. Did you know that Santa’s reindeer are probably all female? Or that artificial snow can be made from seaweed? Or that “Jingle Bells” was the first Christmas carol sung in space? Every kid will ho ho ho when they unwrap this fun and festive little gift book.
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas – Spend the holidays with your favorite blue cat! In this rockin’ spin on the traditional tale The Night Before Christmas, Pete the Cat proves that giving your all in the spirit of Christmas is the totally groovy thing to do.
Santa Bruce – Bruce is a lot of things. He is a bear. He is a grump. He is a pretty decent cook. And he is a mother. One thing Bruce is not? Santa Claus. But that doesn’t stop the whole forest from lining up to give him their Christmas wishes when he becomes the victim of mistaken identity-again. Kids will howl with laughter as award-winning author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins delivers another hilarious story about this bear who just can’t catch a break.
Don’t Push the Button! A Christmas Adventure – It’s almost Christmas and Santa is coming, so whatever you do―DON’T PUSH THE BUTTON!! Well, maybe just once can’t hurt…uh oh!
The Littlest Elf– Oliver may be the littlest elf in the North Pole, but he has a big desire to discover his very special job in Santa’s workshop! But after getting lost in the toy shop, making a mess at the book shop, and falling in the mixing machine at the bakery, is the littlest elf just too little? Perhaps he just needs the littlest reindeer to remind him what Christmas is all about!
The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish– Will Mr. Fish find perfect gifts for everyone on his list? Will he finish his shopping in time? Swim along with The Pout-Pout Fish on his holiday shopping quest. He might just discover that the best gifts of all come straight from the heart.
How to Build an Elf Trap – Catching elves is no easy task-you need more than candy canes and ribbons! You’ll need the perfect trap with precise calculations and proper engineering― and How to Build an Elf Trap can help!
How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?– From decorating the tree to wrapping presents, little dinosaurs love to celebrate Christmas-and everything about it. With ornaments on the branches and carolers singing at the door, the spirit of Christmas is finally here and filling the hearts of families everywhere. But when the stockings are hung on the chimney, and the cookies are left out for Santa, how can little dinosaurs go to sleep? It’s so exciting! How can they possibly calm down and behave?
What books are under your Christmas Advent tree??
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