The 10 Best Christmas Picture Books of 2019
Our collection of Christmas picture books has officially come down from the attic for the season. As a lover of picture books, I always feel a bit guilty storing them up there after the Christmas season is over. But, of course, they really are enjoyed most for only one month of the year - and their absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Opening up our box of Christmas books delivers the same kind of special feeling you get when you unbox your Christmas tree ornaments.
I have a lot of childhood nostalgia for the big holidays, and they’re easily some of my favorite parts about being a parent. And that’s why I particularly treasure any new additions to our canon of special Christmas books. Previously we compiled what we thought were the best Christmas picture books ever made, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m not eager to see what artists have new in store for us each year.
Typically there are 2 or 3 special books that rise above the rest each year and cement themselves a place in our hearts. This year is no different. In fact, this was a very good year for Christmas picture books - and there are quite a few books on this list I’m sure we’ll revisit every single December, and have earned themselves a place in our special box.
Now I know it’s only November, but, regardless of your feelings about Christmas music and decorations starting too early, I have a very good reason for posting this Christmas book article early. Some of the books on this list are actually designed to be read a little bit at a time - starting on December 1st like an Advent calendar. So if you’re going to get the proper enjoyment out of those books you have to get your hands on them in time.
And you might even want time to prepare and participate in a Christmas picture book Advent of your own. You can gift wrap 25 Christmas picture books - they don’t all have to be new - and have your kids open one every night of December to read together. It’s just another way to really celebrate and emphasize the magic of books and this special time of year.
We’ve collected what we consider to be the very best new Christmas picture books of 2019. Hopefully this list helps you find a special new book to place by the stockings on Christmas morning and share with your family. Maybe a few of them will even end up in your own Christmas box - stored away to be rediscovered each December for many years to come.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. Clicking on these links will lead you to view the books’ listings on Amazon or IndieBound.
10. The Tree That’s Meant to Be
Written and Illustrated by Yuval Zommer
The Tree That’s Meant to Be is one of those picture books that does a great job of catching my eye immediately with a beautiful cover. I’m probably being a bad role model to kids everywhere by judging books by their covers, but this is a very good looking cover. And thankfully the story itself backs up my initial impressions.
The story reminds me of The Halloween Tree - the picture book that made our list of best Halloween picture books of 2019. Like that book, The Tree That’s Meant to Be features a tree that feels out of place because it isn’t objectively a perfect, beautiful Christmas tree. But, like the sad, little Christmas tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas, this tree still has its moment to shine and bring others together.
Of course there are very good lessons buried inside a story about beauty, love, and self-confidence like this one, but the highlight for me is still just how beautiful the illustrations are. I love Zommer’s animals very much, and the art brings so much charm to this book.
9. Santa’s Story
Written and Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Santa’s Story makes for a fantastic Christmas read aloud with the young ones. It features a lot of alliteration to catch their attention and make them think about the playfulness of the words. Plus they love hearing original stories about familiar characters like Santa and his reindeer. There’s a sense of instant familiarity and engagement with the story.
Santa’s Story is highlighted by Hillenbrand’s beautiful illustrations of snowy landscapes - and a rundown of the various personalities of Santa’s reindeer. And the problem is that Santa can’t find any of them. He’s forgotten about an important tradition they do every year before the head out for Christmas.
On a deeper level, it’s a great reminder to me about the importance of traditions during the holiday season, and how much those traditions can mean to our kids. And it’s obviously endearing and meaningful to me that the tradition the reindeer were waiting for was story time.
8. The Great Santa Stakeout
Written by Betsy Bird and Illustrated by Dan Santat
Caldecott-winning illustrator Dan Santat lends his stand-out art style to this funny Christmas caper picture book. Santa’s biggest fan in the world is obsessed with getting a selfie with his idol, and he puts together an elaborate plan to make it happen on Christmas night.
Betsy Bird crafted this book in a way that really appeals to our son who wants to grow up to be an inventor. There are creative booby traps and step by step instructions laid out in the fashion of Home Alone - a story he’s been obsessed with for a long time. And Santat’s illustrations of the mapped-out plan really capture our little guy’s imagination in much the same way.
Christmas books can often veer towards serious material, so it’s always fun to get new Christmas stories that are really meant to make you laugh. That’s what makes A Christmas Story so endearing after all. And this is certainly one of the funniest Christmas adventures of the year.
7. Christmas is Coming!: An Advent Book
Written by Chronicle Books and Illustrated by Katie Hickey
This is the first Advent book on this list, which means it’s designed to be read a little bit each day of December. The cover itself even doubles as its very own Advent calendar, which is definitely a nice touch. It’s really a very beautifully-crafted book, and Katie Hickey’s amazing illustrations tie it together so well.
Inside you’ll find a bit of everything. Every day has something different to discover. It might be a craft, a poem, a story, a recipe, or even a game. It includes the complete ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, an adaptation of The Nutcracker, and the story of The Elves and the Shoemaker.
I’m not exaggerating when I say there’s a lot of value in this book - it really has a lot to offer. And it will make for an absolutely perfect yearly tradition. We’re going to wrap it up with the other Advent book on this list to open on December 1st - and work our way through this one all December long.
6. Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border
Written by Mitali Perkins and Illustrated by Sara Palacios
This is a very heartfelt and powerful story that would have a deep impact no matter what time of year it was set during. But the fact that it’s set during Christmas adds that extra bit of emotional punch to really drive home this book’s importance.
Between Us and Abuela features a family separated by the wall between the U.S. and Mexico during Christmastime, and two grandchildren who haven’t seen their grandmother in 5 years. But there’s a wonderful tradition called La Posada Sin Fronteras (or the Inn Without Borders) where people on both sides of the fence celebrate together - and it brings them a chance to see their grandmother for Christmas - even if it has to be through a fence.
The children bring homemade presents with them to pass to their grandmother through the fence, but unfortunately they aren’t allowed to pass them through. But the solution they come up with for this is a very beautiful moment in this story. This is a special book capable of opening eyes and building empathy - and it’s a wonderful celebration of family and love.
5. The Crayons’ Christmas
Written by Drew Daywalt and Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
You may have a few books about these crayons already, and so you might already know just how funny they are. The Crayons’ Christmas continues their tradition of hilarity, and it doesn’t miss a beat in quality. This is a fantastic gift with lots of little secrets to discover inside of it.
In The Crayons’ Christmas, Duncan and his crayons are receiving letters and gifts in the mail throughout the book. Almost every page has something you can actually pull out of a pocket and discover - it could be an ornament, a postcard, a recipe, or even an entire board game. This is some high-quality engagement and very well made.
But best of all is the fact that these crayons still really make me laugh a lot. My favorite part is definitely the very old candy cane stored who has been used as a Christmas ornament 10 years in a row. He tries to remind everyone that he is, in fact, candy - and he implores someone to finally eat him and end this madness.
4. How Winston Delivered Christmas
Written and Illustrated by Alex T. Smith
This is the other fantastic Advent book on our list this year, and we’ll wrap it up with Christmas is Coming! to start reading together on December 1st. How Winston Delivered Christmas, however, is a much larger book than Christmas is Coming! (and all of the other books on this list for that matter). And that’s because it not only contains crafts and recipes and other surprises on each day, but it’s actually a complete story split into twenty-four-and-a-half chapters.
And it’s a really fantastic story too. Winston is a mouse who finds an undelivered letter to Santa on Christmas Eve - and he sets off on a mission to get the letter to Santa before it’s too late. It’s designed to be read a little bit each day, and I know this is going to be an amazing tradition.
The book itself is just stunning. The presentation leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. The illustrations are spectacular, it has that handy built-in ribbon for a bookmark, and it simply gives off the aura of a hand-crafted treasure.
3. Dasher
Written and Illustrated by Matt Tavares
With last year’s Red and Lulu and this year’s Dasher - Matt Tavares has definitely made a name for himself as an author and illustrator dedicated to crafting Christmas classic picture books in the vein of beautiful, magical stories like The Polar Express. Tavares’ books have an aura of great import, and his illustrations have a dreamlike quality and the ability to really stick in your mind.
Dasher is an origin story for Santa’s famous reindeer team, and, honestly, this is a fantastic concept for a new Christmas classic. When you’re talking about something like Christmas - which is full of very old traditions and is so widely celebrated - it’s remarkable to be able to come up with any new ideas to add to the official canon.
An origin story for Santa’s team of reindeer is simply brilliant. And since this good idea is backed up by Tavares’ beautiful, classic illustrations and storytelling - with that calm sense of importance I get when I’m reading books by Chris Van Allsburg - I have no doubt that Dasher will be a beloved classic.
1. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Written by Rebecca Gyllenhaal and Illustrated by Kim Smith
That’s right, we’ve skipped straight to number 1 on the list - because this year we have a tie. I’ve never been more torn than I was trying to decide which of the next two books I was more excited for. Both Home Alone 2 and The Muppet Christmas Carol were brilliantly adapted from the big screen and lovingly illustrated by some of our favorite illustrators. In the end it would have been disingenuous to pick one of them over the other, because they both make us very happy.
Kim Smith has definitely done it again with her 7th installment of the outstanding Pop Classics series. I’ve certainly said it before, but this is a special series for anyone who grew up loving these classic films from the 80s and 90s. The first Home Alone in this series made our list of the best Christmas picture books of all time, and it introduced our son to the wonderful world of creative booby traps. Home Alone 2 then became highly anticipated in our household, and it didn’t disappoint at all.
And if you’ve seen the film, you know full well that Home Alone and Home Alone 2 are about much more than outrageous booby traps. They are actually very heartfelt Christmas stories featuring the importance of friendships and family. In Home Alone 2 alone, Kevin builds very meaningful relationships with both the toy store owner and the lady who feeds the birds in the park. And Kim Smith captures it all perfectly.
For a closer look at Home Alone 2, make sure to read our featured article.
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol
Written by Brooke Vitale and Illustrated by Luke Flowers
The Muppet Christmas Carol ties with Home Alone 2 for best Christmas picture book of 2019. It’s the first tie in the history of Dad Suggests, and that’s truly a testament to just how much we love these two books. Both of them are instant holiday traditions.
If you’re a regular reader, you’re probably aware that The Muppet Christmas Carol isn’t just my favorite adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol - it’s by far my favorite Christmas movie, period. Everything from the casting, to the music, to the way it’s framed with Gonzo and Rizzo telling the story - it’s all brilliant.
Several perfect moments from the movie are masterfully captured by illustrator Luke Flowers - just a glance at the front and back cover will tell you all you need to know. I’m particularly touched by the beauty of Kermit looking up at the moon while walking home on Christmas Eve. And I also appreciate very much that author Brooke Vitale chose to frame the story with narration from Gonzo and Rizzo just like the film.
Almost 30 years ago, Brian Henson gave us the perfect way to share A Christmas Carol with the family - and this year Brooke Vitale and Luke Flowers have given us the same gift in the form of a beloved picture book.
Have you discovered any new Christmas picture books this year yet? Do you think you’ve found any new yearly traditions? Let us know in the comments!
