Christmas Book Recommendations for Early Years Settings
‘Tis the season! The run-up to Christmas in Early Years is always hectic yet joyous: nativity performances, crafts, decorations, glitter everywhere, alongside the everyday observations and caregiving. All of this makes being an Early Years Practitioner not only challenging but profoundly rewarding. The smiles, the wonder, and the small moments of connection remind us why we do this work; this is what makes Christmas in the profession so special. Amid the swirling excitement of the festive period, there’s nothing more magical than sharing a Christmas story, whether one-to-one to spark conversation or with a small group. In this article, I will highlight some of my favourite festive books and explain why I recommend them.
The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet & Allan Ahlberg
An absolute classic and unique. While it may seem an obvious choice, practitioners new to the profession may not yet have discovered this brilliant book. Full of beautiful rhyming text, witty pictures, and playful references to other literature. But best of all, children get to open envelopes inside to find Christmas cards, games, and lists, making the reading experience interactive and engaging. Rich in so many ways, it remains a must read for me every Christmas.
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How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? By Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Do your children love funny stories that make you think? Then this is the book for you. Beautifully illustrated by the brilliant Jon Klassen (Hat Trilogy, Shape Trilogy), it’s a modern classic. With simple yet characterful pictures, it ponders how Santa delivers presents. This is a book not only children will enjoy, but practitioners will love reading too, sparking conversations about the big question: just how does Santa go down the chimney?
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Joy to the World: Christmas around the Globe by Kate Depalma
This book explores how Christmas is celebrated across the world. With simple illustrations and rhyming text, it is accessible for younger children. At the end, detailed descriptions of each tradition, allowing the book to grow with individual children as they get older. It’s an engaging read, featuring traditions from Ethiopia to Serbia to Australia. A solid choice for teaching children about diversity and the many ways people celebrate Christmas.
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You Choose: Christmas by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart
The You Choose books are brilliant for promoting creative thinking, and the Christmas edition is no exception. The possibilities are endless in this book, and the more time you spend with it, the richer the story becomes. Practitioners will love how it sparks imagination and encourages language development. It’s a book that grows with the children, offering something new each time you explore it together.
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Touchy-feely The Nativity by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells
Everyone knows how accessible and adored the That’s not my… collection of books is. This Nativity story, inspired by that series, takes those familiar elements and adds them to the Christmas story in a way that remains accessible for babies while offering enough narrative to keep toddlers engaged. A surefire hit in Baby Rooms.
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Dear Santa by Rod Campbell
We’ve all heard of the ever-present setting classic Dear Zoo, but do you know Dear Santa? Younger children will love lifting the card flaps to reveal colourful presents and see what Santa has delivered. With simple, bright illustrations and engaging text, it’s perfect for encouraging children to follow along. And of course, the final “perfect” present never fails to delight! A must-have for Christmas story time.
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From laughter and imagination to gentle introductions to traditions, these festive stories will delight children and practitioners alike, ensuring Christmas story time is nothing short of magical. Happy reading!
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