30 Picture Books for Christmas {my top favorites preschool-2nd grade read alouds}

I've been doing the "25 Books for Christmas Countdown/Advent" for years now. It is a really fun one, that I'm sure you have seen by now if you are a blog reader. The other night I stayed up and wrapped up my favorite ones for my kids. Well... I have WAY too many Christmas books- like probably over 100....and more than we can possibly read. Since I have small children, I picked the ones that they would enjoy the most for reading aloud. I thought I would share my list with you, even though I really could make it about 5 times this long. {If you have a 2 year old, don't spend a lot of time wrapping these up all fancy- because chances are, if the 2 year old sees them, he will unwrapped them before you want him too....}

 A lot of Christmas picture books are wonderful, but too long to read in one sitting to young children. So keep in mind that these are mostly shorter ones- as in ones that you can read in 10-15 minutes or less. I left off my longer picture books- the ones that have really good stories and illustrations, but too long for my preschooler.

So here is my list for this year:

Read-a-Loud Christmas Picture Book List

1. Come and See by Monica Mayper

2. Santa's New Suit by Laura Rader

3. A Piggie Christmas by Howard Fine

4. A New Improved Santa by Patricia Rae Wolff

5. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer

6. A Visit From St. Nicholas & Santa Mouse too! by Clement C. Mouse

7. Mary's Baby by Jane Chapman

8. Crispin-The Pig Who Had it All by Ted Dewan

 9. The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza by David Shannon (my favorite!!)

10. Santa's Noisy Night by Julie Sykes &Tim Warnes

11. Christmas Crocodile by Bonny Becker

12. Rudolph by Robert L. May

13. Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry & Oakley Haldeman

14. This is the Star by Joyce DunBar

15. Little Tree by E.E. Cummings

16. The 12 Days of Christmas-illustrated by Jan Brett

17. The Night Before Christmas (any version) illustrations by Mary Englebreit or Jan Brett

18. Bear's Christmas by Brigitte Freymoret

19. The Nativity -illustrated by Julie Vivas

20. On Christmas Eve by Margaret Wise Brown

21. When Santa was a Kid by Janice Leotti-Bachem

22. Mr. Christmas by Roger Hargreaves

23. Little Miss Christmas by Roger Hargreaves

24. How Santa Lost His Job by Stephen Krensky

25. Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini

26.Santa's Hawaiian Vacation by (oops it is wrapped)

27. The Holiday Handwriting School by Robin Pulver

28. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff

29. Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell and Jason Cockcroft

30. On Christmas Eve by Peter Collington

My husband likes to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and we try to read that together. This is my list for easy read-a-louds. There are many others out there- some great ones that are a little longer. I'll have to share that list later.

Happy Reading ! I'd love to hear what some of your favorite Christmas Stories are!