Christmas Books for Toddlers: 8 Board Books With Matching Activities

By Molly Brennan Updated 9 min read Reviewed by Jess Harper

Christmas books for toddlers are a five-minute tradition that costs very little. This list covers 8 books for ages 0 to 5: 7 board books and 1 hardcover storybook. We checked each book's format, page count, publisher age range and list price on October 26, 2026, and added one simple activity to pair with each so the story goes further than the last page. We did not test them with a group of toddlers, and we left out books we could not verify. Prices run from $6.99 to $12.99 and they change, so compare before you buy.

A cream rug beside a tree with a small stack of picture books, a knit blanket, pine cones and a mug of cocoa Save

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Read our disclosure.

Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.

Key takeaways

  • 8 Christmas books for toddlers, ages 0 to 5, with page counts and publisher list prices checked October 26, 2026.
  • Seven are board books, which survive chewing and dropping. One is a thin-page hardcover.
  • List prices run from $6.99 to $12.99 and change often.
  • Each book is paired with a simple activity that uses things you already own.
  • Flaps and peekaboo parts are the pieces most likely to tear, so check them weekly.
In this post7 sections
  1. How We Picked These Christmas Books for Toddlers
  2. Best Board Books for Babies and Young Toddlers (Ages 0 to 2)
  3. Christmas Books for Toddlers Ages 2 to 3
  4. Christmas Book for Ages 3 to 5
  5. How to Pair Each Book With a Simple Activity
  6. Board Books vs Hardcovers, and Other Safety Notes
  7. FAQ

How We Picked These Christmas Books for Toddlers

We did not sit down and read these with a room of toddlers, so this is not a hands-on test. We chose books from the publishers' own pages and checked three things on each: the format (board book or not), the page count, and the age range the publisher gives. We also left out books where we could not confirm a price or format. List prices below were checked on October 26, 2026 and they change, so treat them as a guide.

Christmas books for toddlers at a glance (publisher list prices, checked Oct 26, 2026)
BookFormat and pagesPublisher age rangeList price
Baby's First Christmas (DK)Board book, 14 pages0 to 3$6.99
Crocodile Christmas (J. D. Forester)Board book, 12 pages0 to 3$7.99
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Christmas Colors (Eric Carle)Board book, 14 pages0 to 3$10.99
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Peekaboo ChristmasBoard book, 10 pages, tree-shaped0 to 3$9.99
Baby Loves Electrical Engineering on Christmas! (Ruth Spiro)Board book, 20 pages0 to 3$8.99
The Christmas Story (DK)Board book, 16 pages0 to 3$12.99
Countdown to Christmas (DK)Board book, 18 pages, 24 flaps3 to 5$8.99
Peter's Christmas Gifts (Beatrix Potter)Hardcover storybook, not a board book1 to 3$9.99
A cozy Christmas reading nook with a round floor cushion, a green knit blanket and a basket of books beside a decorated tree Save

Picture books are one of the easiest Christmas traditions for toddlers because the whole thing takes five minutes and needs nothing but a lap. Most are short, sturdy and re-readable, and a board book can survive being chewed, dropped and thrown.

Best Board Books for Babies and Young Toddlers (Ages 0 to 2)

Pick sturdy pages and very little text. At this age the book is half a toy, so what you want is a book that survives chewing and has big, clear pictures.

Christmas board books for ages 0 to 2

Read the little ones' books with your child on your lap and point at each picture. Name the things you see. You are not reading a story yet, you are building words.

Christmas Books for Toddlers Ages 2 to 3

Toddlers around two and three start to want a plot, a repeated phrase and something to touch. Look for flaps, shapes to find and a short rhythm.

Christmas books for ages 2 to 3

An adult's hand and a toddler's hands holding an open board book with colourful pages on a knit blanket in a lap Save

Christmas Book for Ages 3 to 5

Older toddlers and preschoolers like a countdown. This one gives you a small ritual for the weeks before Christmas.

Christmas book for ages 3 to 5

  • Best for a countdown

    Countdown to Christmas (DK)

    List price $8.99, checked Oct 26, 2026

    18 pages and 24 flaps, one for each day, with a rhyming text. It fits a December routine: open one flap a night. The flaps are fiddly, so help with the first few.

    Check price on Amazon for Countdown to Christmas (DK)

How to Pair Each Book With a Simple Activity

A book lasts five minutes. A matching activity stretches it to twenty. These pairings use things you already have, and none needs a printer. Keep small items bigger than a toilet paper tube is wide for children under 3.

A child's hands sorting green and red wooden blocks into two bowls on a wooden tray, with red and green felt circles beside it Save
Book and activity pairings
BookActivityAgeSafety note
Christmas ColorsSort green and red blocks or felt into two bowls18 months and upPieces bigger than a toilet paper tube is wide
Peekaboo ChristmasHide large ornaments under a blanket and find them2 and upUse unbreakable, soft ornaments
Crocodile ChristmasSanta hat and mittens dress-up basket2 and upNo ribbons or cords near the neck
Electrical Engineering on ChristmasBattery tea light lantern tray, a grown-up turns them on2 and upSealed battery lights only, never loose batteries
The Christmas StoryWooden nativity toy rug play2 and upLarge, smooth wooden figures only
Countdown to ChristmasOpen one flap a night with a small candy-free treat3 to 5See our fillers post
A living room rug with large soft red and gold balls peeking out from under a cream knit blanket and a woven basket Save
A woven basket with a Santa hat, red mittens and a striped cushion beside a Christmas tree Save
A wooden tray with a jar of fairy lights and battery tea lights on a coffee table with a folded blanket Save
A child's hands setting out large wooden nativity toy figures on a blue felt mat on a patterned rug Save

If you want more ready-made things to do after the story, the Christmas Activity Pack has colouring pages, a countdown and a wish-list drawing page for $6. And for a December book habit, wrap one book a night. Our advent calendar fillers post shows how to mix books with small gifts and activity slips.

A woven basket holding paper-wrapped books tied with twine beside a pine branch and a red ribbon, with a child's hand reaching in Save

Board Books vs Hardcovers, and Other Safety Notes

What we like

  • Board books have thick pages that survive chewing and dropping
  • They are small enough for toddlers to carry
  • Easy to wipe down after a snack

Keep in mind

  • Lift-flaps and peekaboo pieces can still tear off
  • Hardcover storybooks have thin pages that rip, so they suit calmer toddlers
  • Torn-off flap pieces can be a choking risk for the youngest, so check them often

Whatever you pick, check the book each week. If a flap or tab comes loose, take it out of reach. Read at the table or on the sofa, not in a crib or with a loose ribbon. For more, see our play safety page and the toddler Christmas gifts roundup.

Before you buy a Christmas book for a toddler

Frequently asked questions

What are the best Christmas books for toddlers?

For ages 0 to 2, try Baby's First Christmas, The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Christmas Colors or Crocodile Christmas. For ages 2 to 3, try The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Peekaboo Christmas or Peter's Christmas Gifts. For ages 3 to 5, Countdown to Christmas works for a nightly flap.

Are board books better than regular books for toddlers?

For ages 0 to 2, yes. Board books have thick pages that stand up to chewing and dropping. Hardcover storybooks have thin pages, so they suit calmer toddlers who turn pages with care.

How much do Christmas board books cost?

The list prices we checked on October 26, 2026 ranged from $6.99 to $12.99 on the publisher pages. Prices change, so compare before you buy.

How do I make a book advent calendar for a toddler?

Wrap one short book a night in paper and put them in a basket. Pick 24 short books, a mix of Christmas and everyday favourites, so you do not need to buy 24 new ones. Read one a night before bed.

Can I turn a Christmas book into an activity?

Yes. Sort green and red blocks after Christmas Colors, hide large soft ornaments after Peekaboo Christmas, or open one flap a night with Countdown to Christmas.

Four photos of a cozy reading nook, a toddler's hands on a board book and a basket of wrapped books, text reads 8 Christmas Books for Toddlers, board books and activities.

Save it for later

Pin this to your Learning Activities board so it's there when you need it.

Save to Pinterest

About the author

Molly Brennan, Preschool & Crafts Writer

Molly Brennan is a pen name used by the independent publisher of Puddles & Play for its preschool activities, kids crafts and printables. Molly isn't a teacher or childcare professional, so posts are checked for age range, supplies and choking hazards against published child-safety guidance, with AI tools helping on research, drafts and images. Each post is checked against those sources before it goes live and updated when they change. Every activity is meant for adult-supervised play.

Reviewed by Jess Harper, Founder & Editor. Read our editorial guidelines.

A human editor checks every Puddles & Play activity for ages, supplies and safety before it's published.

Love this? Save it for later. Save