10+ Best Christmas Books for 3-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

As the festive season twinkles on the horizon, finding the perfect Christmas books for 3-year-olds can turn bedtime into a magical holiday journey. Whether you're looking to gift a little one or just want to enrich your nightly reading routine with some seasonal flair, our curated lists of Christmas books are here to sprinkle some joy. Keep reading to discover our favorite picks that are sure to captivate your toddler's imagination and get them into the holiday spirit!

Fun Christmas Books for 3-Year-Olds

• The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: A young boy builds a snowman who comes to life, and they embark on a magical adventure together.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a wordless story that encourages imagination and storytelling skills as children interpret the pictures.
  • Perfect for: Visual learners and young children who enjoy imaginative play.

• Merry Christmas, Curious George by Margret & H.A. Rey, illustrated by Mary O’Keefe Young
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: George the curious monkey gets into holiday mischief and ends up helping his friends prepare for Christmas.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches themes of friendship and the joy of giving, all while engaging with a beloved character.
  • Perfect for: Fans of Curious George and young readers who love playful adventures.

• Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: Bear’s friends keep him awake to experience Christmas, which he has always slept through before.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a heartwarming tale that highlights the value of friendship and sharing special moments.
  • Perfect for: Children who love animal stories and themes of friendship.

• The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Fantasy, Holiday
  • Synopsis: A young boy takes a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
  • Why we recommend this book: The rich, detailed illustrations and enchanting story captivate young readers, sparking a sense of wonder.
  • Perfect for: Dreamers and believers in the magic of Christmas.

• Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: Llama Llama becomes overwhelmed by all the holiday activities and learns a lesson about patience and love.
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses the emotions young children feel during busy holiday times and teaches them how to cope with stress.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who may feel overwhelmed by the holidays and need a comforting story.

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: The Grinch plans to ruin Christmas for the villagers of Whoville but learns about the true spirit of the holiday.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun, rhyming story that teaches the importance of community and the true meaning of Christmas.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy a good rhyme and a meaningful message.

Educational Christmas Books for 3-Year-Olds

• Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: Olivia the pig is back in this festive tale where she gets involved in Christmas preparations, trying to make everything perfect and learning about the true spirit of the holiday.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding holiday traditions, family bonding, creativity
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a humorous and heartwarming story that captures the chaos and joy of preparing for Christmas through the eyes of a beloved character.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love animal characters and stories about family and holiday preparations.

• Dream Snow by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: A farmer dreams of snow covering him and his animals, and when he awakes, he finds his dream has come true. A surprise lift-the-flap ending adds to the children’s delight.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Counting, animal recognition, understanding weather
  • Why we recommend this book: Eric Carle’s distinctive collage illustrations and a simple, enchanting story make this book a magical read for the holiday season.
  • Perfect for: Fans of Eric Carle and young children who enjoy interactive and visually stimulating books.

• Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: On a cold Christmas Eve, various animals find shelter and warmth in a stable, where they are soon joined by a very special newborn.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Empathy, animal names and sounds, the Nativity story
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a gentle, beautifully illustrated story that introduces the spirit of inclusivity and kindness.
  • Perfect for: Young children interested in animal stories and those celebrating the nativity.

• Maisy's Christmas Tree by Lucy Cousins
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: Maisy Mouse and her friends prepare for Christmas by picking out a tree, decorating it, and singing around it, showing the joy of shared activities.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Color recognition, vocabulary building, understanding holiday customs
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s a bright and engaging story that captures the excitement of getting ready for Christmas with friends.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who are fans of Maisy and enjoy festive, interactive stories.

• Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: Little Blue Truck is spreading Christmas cheer by delivering trees to his animal friends, with a light-up surprise at the end.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Counting, animal sounds, friendship
  • Why we recommend this book: The rhythmic text and festive illustrations make this book a joyous read that teaches about giving and sharing.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about vehicles, animals, and holiday surprises.

Challenging Christmas Books for 3-Year-Olds

• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P.J. Lynch
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: The story revolves around Jonathan Toomey, the best woodcarver in the valley, who is always alone and never smiles. His life changes when a widow and her son approach him to carve their Christmas nativity set.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative delves into themes of loss and redemption, which are profound and complex for young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a touching story that beautifully illustrates the healing power of kindness and community during the holiday season.
  • Perfect for: Children who are ready for more emotionally deep stories.

• The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: This book presents the classic Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," with elaborate illustrations that capture the increasing chaos and joy of each day's gifts.
  • Why this book is challenging: The intricate illustrations and cumulative verse structure provide a complex, layered reading experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: The detailed artwork encourages attention to detail and the repetitive, rhythmic lyrics help develop memory and sequencing skills.
  • Perfect for: Visual learners and children who enjoy singing along to books.

• Santa Claus: The Book of Secrets by Russell Ince
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: This book takes children on a magical journey into the world of Santa Claus by revealing secrets and mysteries of Santa's world through beautifully illustrated pages.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features a rich, detailed narrative that goes beyond the simple Santa story, introducing a deeper, imaginative lore.
  • Why we recommend this book: It sparks creativity and curiosity about the mystical aspects of Christmas, enriching the holiday's magic.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who have a deep curiosity and love for the magical elements of Christmas.

• The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann, illustrated by Maurice Sendak
  • Genre(s): Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Holiday
  • Synopsis: This classic tale tells the story of young Marie Stahlbaum and her beloved Nutcracker Prince, who battles the fearsome Mouse King and whisks her away to a magical kingdom.
  • Why this book is challenging: The original text by Hoffmann, complemented by Sendak's intricate illustrations, presents a rich, multi-layered narrative that is more complex than many simplified versions.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a fantastical, engaging story that encourages imagination and introduces children to classic literature.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy fairy tales and are ready to engage with more detailed and challenging text.

• Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Holiday
  • Synopsis: Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree is too tall for his parlor, so he chops the top off, setting off a chain of events where the top of the tree brings joy to many others.
  • Why this book is challenging: The story's cascading sequence and rhyming text challenge young readers to predict and follow a progressively complex narrative.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a delightful story that teaches about sharing and the joy of community during the holiday season.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy stories with rhythmic texts and a message about kindness and sharing.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Reading with your little one can be a magical experience, especially around the festive season. Here are some engaging exercises to pair with Christmas books for 3-year-olds, designed to nurture their love for reading and boost their early literacy skills.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Flip through the pages of the Christmas book and talk about the pictures before reading.
  • How it helps: Enhances prediction skills and sets the stage for understanding the story.
  • Tips: Ask your child to guess what might happen in the story based on the pictures.

• Story Role-Play
  • What it is: Act out the story with your child after reading.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and memory by bringing the story to life.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes to make the role-play more fun and engaging.

• Read and Repeat
  • What it is: Have your child repeat phrases from the story after you.
  • How it helps: Builds vocabulary and helps with language development.
  • Tips: Emphasize rhythmic phrases or repeated lines in the book to make them easier to remember.

• Story Sequencing
  • What it is: Use illustrations or key story points to sequence the events of the book.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of narrative structure and logical order.
  • Tips: Create simple, hand-drawn pictures of major events and help your child arrange them in order.

• Interactive Reading
  • What it is: Ask questions and encourage your child to point to things in the book as you read together.
  • How it helps: Promotes engagement and interactive learning.
  • Tips: Tailor your questions to be about colors, numbers, or specific characters to keep them relevant to the story.

These exercises are not only fun but are also stepping stones to developing strong reading habits in your young reader. By incorporating these activities into your reading routine, you're setting a foundation for a lifelong love of books. Happy reading this Christmas season!