The Best Christmas Picture Books of 2023
Happy December and Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas and welcome to the 5th Annual Dad Suggests Best Christmas Books of the Year! I absolutely love doing this list, because there is never a shortage of good new Christmas books. Without fail there are a few that blow me away every year, which makes ranking our top 12 a fun and challenging task!
I like to limit the list to 12 books in honor of the 12 days of Christmas - but it could easily be much longer. So this year I’m going to mention a few honorable mentions as well. For the record, I just following my instincts and pick the books we simply enjoy the most each year.
Technically speaking, the books on this list don’t really have to be about Christmas specifically either. It’s very common for me to choose books about snowmen or sledding as well. My official stance is we’re talking about wintery seasonal books here. All these books were obviously released for the holiday season and you just know it when you see it.
And I have to tell you, this was perhaps the absolutely hardest year yet for me to pick the best Christmas book of the year. Many months ago and up until the very last minute I thought I knew what the obvious number one and number two books were going to be, but I had to follow my gut and make several changes to be honest with my recommendations. It’s important to me that I stick to my instincts and suggest the books I love the most in the right order - and ultimately I’m very proud of this list and I think it’s full of some special ones.
There are some familiar names on this list for certain - both artists and characters. We have sequels to old classics and new classics alike. We have previous Christmas list champions, and some of our all-time favorite authors and illustrators as well. It’s one for the Christmas record books!
I hope you enjoy tracking down all of these new favorites at your local bookshop or library, and I hope you have a very happy holiday season this year. All the best to you and yours, and enjoy reading one of my favorite lists of the year!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. These links will lead you to view the books' listings on Bookshop.org or Amazon.
Honorable Mentions
The following seasonal picture books were in serious consideration for our list this year. If you’re a Christmas completionist, you need to track them down too!
North Pole Village (Set of 3 Board Books)
Otto the Ornament
Decorate the Tree
Just One Flake
Elves are the Worst
Disney Baby: A Christmas Carol
Merry Christmas Strega Nona (Re-Publication)
How to Catch Santa Claus
Santa Yeti
The Santa Book
12. It’s Navidad, El Cucuy!
Written by Donna Barba Higuera and Illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
El Cucuy is a famous bogeyman, but this particular El Cucuy is a gentle star in what I believe is now the second in a series. He’s a friendly monster that lives in Ramón’s bedroom. He’s hesitant to head out and embrace the strange holiday cheer, so Ramón decides to bring Navidad to El Cucuy.
It’s certainly an incredibly original frame for a basic explaining Christmas plot. Not too many Christmas stories out there with monsters in them. It’s funny in a good old-fashioned Christmas curmudgeon, almost grinchy kind of way. El Cucuy doesn’t like the bright lights going up and he’s scared of the snowman in the yard. But he starts to come around towards the end and the book has a very heartwarming and sweet message about family.
11. Merry and Hark: A Christmas Story
Written by April Genevieve Tucholke and Illustrated by Rebecca Santo
Merry is an owl - a small saw-whet owl - that falls asleep in a tree in the woods named Hark, and wakes up in a big city inside a Christmas tree. This might sound a bit like the plot of Red & Lulu but there are a lot of differences in this beautiful book as well. At the heart of this book is a celebration of nature, and it’s very detailed in its description of the various trees in the forest for example.
Conservation is a big part of this story as well, and it even features Merry being rescued and rehabilitated and released into the woods - right next to a new tree planted by Hark’s stump. But I think my favorite part of the story is the creative mythology of the owls. Great imagination is on display in the pages dedicated to tales of adventures taken and wars fought by the heroic owls that Merry looks up to. And it’s sweet when Merry realizes that she’ll be one of those stories now.
10. One Christmas in Our Building
Written by Johanna Lindemann and Illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier
This book is subtitled “A Very Merry Mystery" because the plot follows the story of a missing Christmas turkey in an apartment building. But it’s really about people coming together and caring about each other during Christmas. It’s a very original Christmas picture book, and I truly like the art quite a bit. There’s also a few nice humorous moments and well as honest family portrayals with the squabbling between Dad and Stepmom.
Most of the characters appear only briefly in the story, but the way its crafted as a tour of an apartment complex is unique and enjoyable. There’s a lot of detail in the art, and these quick glimpses of their lives is an effective way to tie the building together - and tie the story together as everyone comes by to share food in the end.
9. A Creature Was Stirring
Written by Heather S. Pierczynski and Illustrated by Skylar Hogan
This is a very clever title for a Christmas picture book - because we all know immediately where it comes from. And you can probably guess what it’s about without even seeing any pictures. Yes it’s about a mouse who is in fact “stirring” very much on Christmas Eve. Visually it’s a very attractive book - and it’s a lot of fun too.
The story uses lots of onomatopoeia to make for a fun read aloud - and I’m a big fan of the cats in this book. They’re wearing very cute jingle bells and they’re very grumpy that the mouse isn’t asleep. It’s nice that it addresses how hard it can be to fall asleep on the most exciting night of the year, because lots of kids can of course relate. Little ones that are already familiar with The Night Before Christmas will definitely enjoy this original twist.
8. Red & Green
Written and Illustrated by Lois Ehlert
This is the last picture book from the famous Lois Ehlert - perhaps best known for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. The secret dummy copy was discovered and then edited and digitized after her recent death. And it definitely retains its handcrafted feel. It’s a wonderful little Christmas book, and the die-cuts are so fun and engaging. It’s a joy to experience and a beautiful last gift to little readers.
Red & Green is another book based on The Night Before Christmas and its rhyme and structure. And there are lots of very cute surprises in store for you as you turn the pages. The snowflake, the snowman, and Santa’s legs are real highlights for me. This type of creativity is a great display for what kids books are capable of, and it will be a very memorable and interactive experience for lots of little ones this year and many years to come.
7. How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
Written by Vikki VanSickle and Illustrated by Miki Sato
I adore the art in this book. It’s very special and it makes it stand out in a big way. It’s described as 3D art because it’s built with paper and fabrics before being digitized. But it’s not just the art that makes the book stand out. It’s also paired with a very sweet Christmas tree decorating celebration - and nice moments of humor as well. I particularly like the cat sitting in the box, and when the kids tell mom and dad “no kissing in front of the cat!”
There’s a lot of love in this celebration of traditions and family. And I enjoy how it’s structured around memories that are tied to certain ornaments. I think lots of families can relate with memories like that. There are ornaments tied to vacations and to loved ones that have passed away. And this year there’s a new ornament to hang up for baby’s first Christmas. This one does a good job capturing that Christmas spirit.
6. Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas
Written and Illustrated by Matt Tavares
This is the much-anticipated sequel to Dasher - the modern classic that finished 3rd on our 2019 Christmas books list. In Dasher, we learned how Santa got his reindeer. This new explanation that added to the mythos of the Santa story - coupled with beautiful images of course - is what made Dasher feel like a true instant classic. Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas doesn’t have the same mythos-building cachet that its predecessor had - but it’s a beautiful book and a sweet story.
Dasher gets excited about Christmas and goes on a flight by herself looking for Christmas carols, but she gets lost and can’t find her way home. A nice boy lends her his compass to help her find her way back to the North Pole, and Santa repays the kindness with a special gift. The highlights for me this time around are the beautiful landscapes. And I really love the illustrations of the town lit up with Christmas lights that perfectly capture a certain feeling.
5. How the Grinch Lost Christmas!
Written by Alastair Heim and Illustrated by Aristides Ruiz
This one is yet another Christmas sequel - but this one is almost 50 years in the making! The Dr. Seuss company has been making many new books from their famous properties lately, and this is another example that they are doing a very good and very convincing job at it! I think this is a really wonderful sequel to one of the most famous Christmas picture books out there.
The interesting thing, of course, is that at the end of the original, the Grinch found his heart and grew to love Christmas and the Whos. But he still has some valuable lessons to learn. The Grinch pours his whole heart into the annual tree-decorating competition, but he doesn’t win. And he doesn’t understand why Cindy Lou Who beats him at first. It looks great, it sounds great, and it has a great Christmas message. I’d say mission accomplished!
4. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!
Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems
I’m kind of late to the Pigeon bus, but I understand all the commotion now. This book is hilarious and legitimately fun to read and listen to, and I complete get why kids like these books so much. It has great humor and great timing, and kids will be laughing a lot this Christmas.
I also really love the interactive nature of the book. Santa basically asks you the listener to watch his sleigh, and puts you in charge of not letting the Pigeon drive the sleigh. Then the Pigeon talks directly to you as you read the book - kind of like when Grover yells at you not to turn the page. I also like the Christmas images - the cookies, the fireplace, the present wrapping, the Pigeon’s little elf hat. It’s all very festive, and did I mention it’s funny yet?
3. Kid Christmas
Written and Illustrated by David Litchfield
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I like original mythos-building stories, and this is one of the best of the year for sure. I love the work of David Litchfield, and this one definitely has his characteristic touches of magic and imagination and wonder. He’s the perfect artist to tell this origin tale of Santa Claus.
The star of the book is young Nicky Claus - the future St. Nick. And this is the story of how he and his uncles began the tradition of getting a toy for every child on Christmas. They run the Claus Brothers Toy Store, and Nicky is the one with the idea to get a toy to all the kids in town. We also get hints about magic and workshop helpers and a glimpse of the first sleigh being built. And I absolutely love that Krampus even makes an appearance. I love every bit of it.
2. How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
Written by Mac Barnett and Illustrated by Jon Klassen
This has to be the most talked about Christmas book of the year, and you’ve probably seen it all over social media recently - including on our recent edition of Dad’s Bookshelf! Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen are my favorite duo in picture books their combination of storytelling and style is consistently near picture book perfection as far as I’m concerned. And the fact that they teamed up on a Christmas book is almost too good to be true. What a special book!
This book is of course very funny. It’s an exploration of ways Santa might be going down the chimney. Does he shrink? Does he turn into taffy? Does he turn into fire? But my favorite line of the book is probably about the key under the flowerpot.
Maybe Santa knows about the key under the flowerpot, even though nobody is ever, ever supposed to mention the key under the flowerpot.
I also like the insinuation that dogs must be quite fond of Santa, because that certainly has to be true, doesn’t it?
1. I’m Going to Build a Snowman
Written and Illustrated by Jashar Awan
This was an incredibly hard decision this year. The second place book is my very favorite duo in picture books. But I had to go with my gut on this one, and Jashar Awan has crafted something just about perfect in I’m Going to Build a Snowman. And it just so happens it’s his second first place finish in a row after last year’s Strum & Drum. I absolutely love this book.
I love everything about it. The style, the color, the pacing, the humor, the misdirection, the expert use of the two-page spreads and the moments of silence. It’s like a masterpiece and it’s a joy to read and to share. It’s a commentary on childhood and innocence and imagination - and kids and adults alike will both just get it. It’s beautiful and it’s very funny and it’s very sweet.
I really don’t want to give away too much at all, but this is a story about a boy who is very excited to build the BEST SNOWMAN EVER. He has very high hopes for this endeavor, and his very specific instructions are a big part of the comedy. Suffice it to say that things don’t seem to go according to plan, but I think this story is very hard to predict. And I really want you to experience it for yourself. I’m in awe of the storytelling here - both in the words and the pictures. And that’s why it’s earned a very well-deserved landing at number one this year.
Have you read any of these wonderful holiday books yet? What’s your pick for best Christmas picture book of 2023? Let us know in the comments!
If you need more Christmas book ideas, don’t forget to check out our other Christmas picture book lists:
The Best Christmas Picture Books of All Time
The Best Christmas Picture Books of 2019
The Best Christmas Picture Books of 2020
The Best Christmas Picture Books of 2021
The Best Christmas Picture Books of 2022
