Best Christmas books for kids

The magic of the holidays often lives in the little, everyday moments, like snuggling up for a quick story, peeling a sticker, or painting a snowflake with just a swish of water. Below you’ll find a cozy guide to Usborne’s Christmas picks: interactive advent calendars, sound and touch books for babies and toddlers, calming make-and-do titles, and festive sticker fun for preschoolers through grades K–2.

Advent calendars you can actually read, paint and play

If your child loves a daily “ta-da!”, Sticker Dolly Dressing Advent Calendar hides 24 mini books (stories and activities) behind numbered doors, making it perfect for 5+ and a quick after-school wind-down.

Prefer a short bedtime story each night? The Usborne Advent Calendar Book Collection 2 offers 24 little storybooks to unwrap and read together, making it ideal for a gentle December ritual.

Have a hands-on artist? Magic Painting Advent Calendar reveals a tiny magic-painting book every day; just add water and watch colors appear for a calming, mess-free morning.

Paint, stick, color: screen-free festive fun

For younger painters, First Magic Painting Christmas keeps things simple with big shapes, bold outlines, and that satisfying “colors appear!” moment. For older siblings, Enchanted Christmas Magic Painting Book adds intricate scenes (think sleigh rides and gingerbread houses) you can bring to life together.

Sticker fans will love First Sticker Book Christmas (3+), full of Santa-town scenes and plenty of stickers for little hands. If your child craves extra sparkle, Sparkly Christmas Trees adds glittering stickers without any real-world glitter cleanup.

Colorers who can happily “fill a page” will settle beautifully with My Big Christmas Coloring Book, which includes over 90 friendly outlines that build pencil control and quiet focus.

Babies & toddlers

For sensory play, Don’t Tickle the Turkey! pairs fuzzy patches with silly sounds, making  it perfect from 6+ months and a cute Thanksgiving-to-Christmas bridge. Jingle Bells Sound Book layers classic carols and festive sound effects onto sturdy pages for shared, musical moments.

Big “wow!” gifts (that still feel calm)

Want something interactive for Christmas morning? Wind-Up Santa’s Sleigh is a chunky board book with a wind-up sleigh that races around built-in tracks. It’s brilliant for turn-taking and cooperative play (3+).

First festive facts & easy make-and-do

Curious kids love peeking behind the scenes. Peek Inside Christmas lets preschoolers lift flaps to see Santa’s workshop, reindeer, and the big night itself, which is great for answering “how does it all work?” questions. 

If you want achievable crafts and calm, five-minute projects, Christmas things to make and do mixes simple art, counting, and writing with seasonal makes using bits you already have at home.

Sticker Dolly Dressing: winter sparkle for ages 5+

When dressing up paper characters is the happy place, Sticker Dolly Dressing: Winter Wonderland and Sticker Dolly Dressing: The Nutcracker bring cozy outfits, ice-skating scenes, and ballet magic. It’s perfect for siblings to share.

How to choose fast

• Match the format to your rhythm. Busy evenings? Pick a sticker-a-day or paint-a-panel activity over a long read.

• Go sensory for under-3s. Touch, tickle and sound books invite interaction without over-stimulating.

• Keep it repeatable. Short, dependable rituals (one door, one page, one song) help children feel secure as the big day approaches.

Ready to build your family’s calm, cozy countdown? Explore these Usborne US picks and choose the one that fits your child’s age and the way you celebrate together.