A return to Christmas by Chris Heimerdinger
Of all the Christmas chapters I remember from my childhood, this is the one I remember best. I think it’s out of print now, but you can get a second-hand copy for 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 by his wits as a con artist. We met the author the year we were reading it and told him we read a chapter a day (the book has 25 chapters), and he told us, “You’ll never be able to resist.” And he was right. It was one of those books we couldn’t put down. I think my mother bought a copy for everyone in our extended family the following year. I have read it aloud to my children numerous times and I cry every time.

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

JK Rowling’s Christmas Pig
This was my go-to London souvenir for me in 2021 when we visited – I bought it in one of my favorite bookshops in central London and the girls and I dove into this Christmas reading it aloud straight away and loved it. Jack loves 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 (though keep in mind this is the author of Harry Potter and isn’t 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 paperback copy and an audiobook copy so we could listen while we ran holiday errands or worked on puzzles together (plus, it can be hard to finish a Christmas book in December when we’re gone so many evenings for holiday events!).

Best Christmas show ever by Barbara Robinson
I mean, what would a Christmas chapter list be without this book? I enjoyed reading it with my girls: They made fun of the Herdman brothers, nicknamed “the worst kids in the history of the world” who show up at church because of the free snacks and somehow take over the entire Christmas pageant. This is a nice short 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? It’s THE Christmas book if there ever was one. I especially love this illustrated version by PJ Lynch. A Christmas classic that I can’t pass up!

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

Nancy and Plum by Betty MacDonald
I know Betty MacDonald because I’m a huge fan Mrs. Piggle Wiggleand when I saw this Christmas novel with illustrations done by Mary GrandPré (who did the illustrations for the original Harry Potter books), I was completely hooked. Also, two orphaned sisters in a terrible orphanage? Count on me. It has been republished since the 1950s and at 240 pages is a good choice for the whole month. We read it last year and it’s so sweet and charming.

Andrew Clements’ last holiday concert
You may know Andrew Clements from his very popular book Frindle and this is equally delightful: no one does school stories like Clements! We listened to it on audio a few years ago in the car and everyone was totally hooked on it. Hart Evans is the most popular boy in sixth grade, even among 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 for Hart’s hijinks. When Hart goes too far, the choir teacher says it’s up to the kids to put on the Christmas 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 read aloud for Christmas! This whimsical and delightful story begins when Twinklestar, one of Santa’s reindeer, is terrified by a storm and runs away, leaving Santa stranded on the ground. The neighborhood he arrives in is kind and welcoming, but the Yuleland Council is led by Jeremiah Goblynch who wants to put an end to Christmas greetings and turn the holidays into a bonanza for himself.

Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson
This is 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 the solitary life. Until he meets a poor mother and her three children and feels moved to help them, sharing his house under the bridge with them. Additionally, the illustrations are by Garth Williams, who did the illustrations for Charlotte’s Web and that of Laura Ingalls Wilder Small house series, so you know it’s going to have the coziest, most classic feel.

Kringle by Tony Abbott
I’m always looking for a good backstory, and this one, about an orphan who grows up to become Santa Claus, is a real treat, with him 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 evil goblins, continuing today, as every Christmas Eve, he works to quell goblin riots. We are waiting for this at the library and can’t wait!

The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig
This was a fun vacation for our family. It follows Amelia Wishart who was the first child ever to receive a Christmas present, thanks to her Christmas spirit. But the Christmas spirit is fading since she’s stuck in the hospice while her mother is ill and without it, magic levels at the North Pole are becoming dangerously low. This is the sequel to 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 Christmas Genius by Dan Gutman
We love Dan Gutman around here and Ella included this book in a recent Ella Enjoyed post about her favorite books. On the last day of class before the holidays, 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 to share with the class. That’s IF they can agree on what that wish should be before the final bell rings.

The Best Elf by Caleb Huett
This is the Christmas chapter book that I read to my girls a few years ago and we combined reading it aloud and listening to the audiobook, which was a lot of fun. Santa Claus is looking for a successor and is opening the place for anyone who wants to apply. But the contest is NOT for the faint of heart!