20 Delicious Christmas Chapter Books for Kids

A Return to Christmas by Chris Heimerdinger
Of all the Christmas chapters I remember from my childhood, this is the one I remember best. It’s out of print now, I think, but you can get a used copy for just a few dollars. This story follows two eleven-year-old boys, one of whom hates Christmas, due to a tragedy that occurred when he was very young, and the other who lives off his trickster spirit. We met the author the year we were reading it and told him we were reading a chapter a day (the book is 25 chapters), and he told us, “You’ll never keep up.” And he was right. It was one of those books that you couldn’t put down. I think my mother bought a copy for everyone in our extended family the following year. I have read this out loud to my children several times and I cry every time.

The Christmas competition: Advent book for children by Maxime Gillio
I love a good Christmas countdown, and this book captures that same excitement: each chapter is sealed, so it feels like I’m opening a little surprise each day! The story follows Santa Claus as he searches for an apprentice to help him deliver the presents. (You can see it in action here).

The Christmas Pig by JK Rowling
This was my souvenir of London in 2021 during our visit – I bought it in one of my favorite bookstores in central London and the girls and I dove into this Christmas read aloud straight away and loved it. Jack adores his beloved stuffed pig, DP, and when DP is lost, he will do whatever it takes to get him back, including going to the Land of the Lost, which can only happen to a human boy on Christmas Eve. We all loved it (although keep in mind that she is the author of Harry Potter and is not afraid of some dark and scary elements).

Winter Frost by Michelle Houts
This was our Christmas read aloud a few years ago. I received both a hard copy and a copy of the audiobook so we could listen while we ran holiday errands or worked on puzzles together (plus, it can be hard to read a Christmas book in December when we’re gone so many nights for festive events!).

The best Christmas competition ever by Barbara Robinson
I mean, what would a Christmas chapter book list be without this book? I loved reading this one with my daughters – they really enjoyed the Herdman siblings, nicknamed “the worst kids in the history of the world” who show up at church because of the free snacks and take over the whole Christmas show. This one is a short and sweet read, so if you’re looking for something that won’t overwhelm a young reader, this is a good choice.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
I mean, how can you not have A Christmas Carol on this list? This is THE Christmas book if ever there was one. I particularly like this illustrated version by PJ Lynch. Such a classic Christmas book that I can’t pass up!

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
If you like family stories and middle grade realistic fiction, this is the one for you. The Vanderbeeker family loves their brownstone apartment in New York. And they are devastated when, for reasons unknown, their grumpy landlord refuses to renew their lease just before Christmas. The children are determined to keep their families at home, no matter what it takes.

Nancy and Plum by Betty MacDonald
I know Betty MacDonald because I’m a big fan of Mrs. Piggle Wiggleand when I saw this Christmas novel with illustrations by Mary GrandPré (who did the illustrations for the original Harry Potter books), I was totally into it. And also, two orphan sisters in a terrible orphanage? Count on me. It was reissued from the 1950s and at 240 pages it’s a good choice for any month. We read this one last year and it is so sweet and charming.

The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
You may know Andrew Clements from his wildly popular book Frindle and this one is just as delicious – no one makes school fuss like Clements! We listened to this one on audio a few years ago in the car and everyone was totally passionate. Hart Evans is the most popular kid in sixth grade, even with the teachers. Except for the choir teacher who just found out he’s losing his job due to budget cuts and is NOT in the mood to hear Hart’s nonsense. When Hart goes too far, the choir teacher says it’s up to the kids to put on the holiday concert themselves, with Hart at the helm.

When Santa Claus Fell to Earth by Cornelia Funke
We love Cornelia Funke in our house (she’s the author of the Inkheart series!) and this is a perfect Christmas read aloud! This original and delightful story begins when Twinklestar, one of Santa’s reindeer, is terrified by a storm and runs away, leaving Santa stranded on earth. The neighborhood he lands in is kind and welcoming, but the Yuleland Council is led by Jeremiah Goblynch who wants to end Christmas wishes and turn the holiday into a money-making bonanza.

Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson
It’s a classic set in Paris (and I will never say no to Paris), which follows Armand, an old man who lives on the streets and loves his solitary life. Until he meets a poor mother and her three children and feels compelled to help them, including sharing his house under the bridge with them. Additionally, the illustrations are by Garth Williams, who did the illustrations for Charlotte’s website and Laura Ingalls Wilder Little house series, so you know it will have the most comfortable, classic feel.

Kringle by Tony Abbott
I’m always up for a good story, and this one, about an orphan who grows up to become Santa Claus, is a real success, coming of age in 500 AD. If you want goblins, elves, reindeer, and all your good fantasy elements, this story is for you. In this story, goblins kidnap human children and use them as slaves in underground mines. And Kris Kringle makes it his personal mission to free his fellow child slaves from the evil goblins, and continues today as every Christmas Eve he works to contain the goblin uprisings. We’re waiting for this one at the library and I can’t wait!

The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig
It was a fun holiday listening for our family. It follows Amelia Wishart who was the first child to receive a Christmas present, thanks to her Christmas spirit. But that Christmas spirit is wearing thin since she’s stuck in the workshop while her mother is sick, and without it, magic levels at the North Pole are getting dangerously low. This follows A Boy Named Christmas (which I haven’t read yet), but you don’t need to have read it to enjoy it The girl who saved Christmas.

The Genie of Christmas by Dan Gutman
We love Dan Gutman here and Ella included this book in a recent Ella Enjoyed post about her favorite books. On the last day of school before vacation, things go wrong when a meteorite crashes through the window of Mrs. Walter’s fifth grade classroom. And even more surprising? A genie appears from the meteorite and will grant a wish that the class can share. That’s IF they can agree on what that wish should be before the final bell rings.

Top Elf by Caleb Huett
This is the Christmas chapter book that I read to my daughters a few years ago and we did a combination of reading aloud and listening to the audiobook, which was a lot of fun. Santa Claus is looking for a successor and is opening the position to anyone who wishes to apply. But the competition is NOT for the faint of heart!