Today I’m sharing 5 great Christmas books for preschoolers. If you’re a regular MotherGeek reader, you’ll know I love Christmas, and books. So it’ll come as no surprise that I’ve created a series of posts, packed full of festive family reads I recommend.

Whether you’re looking for Christmas books for kids, tweens, teens or grown ups, I’m sharing something for everyone. So without further ado, let’s get started on my Christmas books for preschoolers, top five.

Christmas Books for Preschoolers

For the purpose of this post, I’m going to say preschoolers is under 5’s. Now we’ve clarified that, let’s jump straight in with my top picks of Christmas books for preschoolers:

Elf on the Shelf

I strongly recommend you think very carefully before considering buying The Elf on the Shelf – This book (and cartoon) were a huge part of my kids’ Christmases, but it was a huge commitment, and a lot of work to come up with new ideas for 25 nights on the run, ten years running. I won’t judge you if you tell your kids that only naughty kids need an Elf to keep an eye on them!

That said, this book shares the original story of the Elf, and how they came to be in homes. It emphasises the fact you cannot touch them, or they lose their magic. So again, only buy this if you want your elves to be off limits to little hands. You’ll also get an authentic elf with this book, so you can begin creating magic in your own home.

T’was The Night Before Christmas

T’Was The Night Before Christmas is a Christmas Eve staple in our house. The original poem was written by Clement C. Moore in 1823, and this book version is illustrated with traditional pictures, true to that period. This story is responsible for many modern day Santa traditions, including the red suit, flying reindeer and his use of the chimney.

We sit down to read it right after getting into our Christmas PJs, and before we leave treats out for Father Christmas. While she story is suitable for preschoolers, it’s a Christmas tradition which your kids will enjoy year after year. It’s my absolute favourite of the festive family reads I’m sharing today.

The Story of Christmas (Nativity)

If you want your children to know about the origin of Christmas, it seems only fair to introduce them to The Nativity story. This version is a gentle retelling, which will help children understand how Jesus was born, and where Christmas began. If I’m being honest, we never introduced our kids to this story until they were in school and doing their own Nativity, as we aren’t a religious family. This version is a great introduction though.

Elmer’s Christmas

My son absolutely loved Elmer, and Elmer’s Christmas was always one of his favourite festive family reads when he was small. It’s only £2 at The Works right now, and at that price, it’s an absolute steal! It’s a super cute festive read, and perfect for preschoolers.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

The Grinch is a Christmas staple in most homes now, but have you read the book? Originally published in 1957, The Grinch who Stole Christmas has been around a long time. It’s been made even more popular since it made it onto screen. This story is packed with hilarious rhymes and beautiful illustrations. It’s become a favourite for good reason and teaches readers the true meaning of Christmas. A great story for preschoolers, kids and older kids as well.

Final Thoughts

I have to say, narrowing this post down to just five books was hard work. I suspect I’ll end up adding more to this list over the years. Finally, let me know in the comments if you can think of any more great Christmas books for preschoolers.