Our Favourite Christmas Books for Preschoolers

Estimated read time: 3 minutes

Little hands, short attention spans, and big festive feelings call for sturdy, sensory-friendly books. These toddler-tested Christmas picks are all about simple stories, gentle illustrations, and interactive moments like flaps, textures, and sounds. Perfect for calm couch time, pram reads, or a quiet reset before bed. Here are a few of our favourite Christmas books for preschoolers.

Board books and touch-and-feel

• That’s Not My Reindeer (Usborne, touch-and-feel)

Why we love it: Repetitive text, bold outlines, and tactile patches invite little fingers to explore. Great for language building: “rough,” “soft,” “bumpy.”

Best for: 12 months to 3 years

• That’s Not My Santa / That’s Not My Elf (Usborne, touch-and-feel)

Why we love it: Same winning formula with festive twists. Durable, easy to clean, and just the right length for wiggly toddlers.

Best for: 1 to 3 years

• Baby Touch: Happy Christmas! (Ladybird, high-contrast, touch-and-feel)

Why we love it: High-contrast art helps focus. Big, simple textures and peek-through shapes keep attention without overstimulation.

Best for: 6 months to 2 years

Lift-the-flap fun

• Dear Santa (Rod Campbell)

Why we love it: From the creator of Dear Zoo, this has clear flaps, predictable rhythm, and a final “just right” present. Minimal text supports calm reading.

Best for: 1 to 3 years

• Where Is Baby’s Christmas Present? (Karen Katz)

Why we love it: Large, easy flaps, bright but not busy art, and simple positional language: under, behind, inside.

Best for: 1 to 3 years

• Bizzy Bear: Christmas Helper (Benji Davies)

Why we love it: Chunky sliders and tabs ideal for small hands. Short, bouncy text and friendly scenes.

Best for: 18 months to 4 years

Sound and interactive (use on low volume)

• Listen to the Christmas Songs (Marion Billet, sound buttons)

Why we love it: Sturdy sound buttons with classic tunes. Use briefly and keep volume low for sensitive kids.

Best for: 18 months to 4 years

• Jingle Bells: Sing Along With Me! (Nosy Crow, sliders and sound)

Why we love it: Simple lyrics, interactive tabs, and cheery art. Nice for a quick sing and smile.

Best for: 2 to 4 years

Calm storytime staples (still toddler-safe)

• Little Blue Truck’s Christmas (Alice Schertle, light-up last page)

Why we love it: Gentle rhythm, friendly characters, counting trees, and a soft twinkle finale.

Best for: 2 to 5 years

• Dream Snow (Eric Carle, acetate lift pages)

Why we love it: Slow, cozy pacing with transparent lift pages that reveal snow. A soothing pre-bed read.

Best for: 2 to 5 years

• Pip and Posy: The Christmas Tree (Axel Scheffler)

Why we love it: Simple social story about mistakes and making it right. Clear expressions help with emotion talk.

Best for: 2.5 to 5 years

Australian-flavoured options

• Aussie Christmas (board book editions vary)

Why we love it: Familiar summer scenes, beach picnics, and native animals keep things local without loud visuals.

Best for: 2 to 5 years

• Santa’s Aussie Holiday (descriptive text, check for board format)

Why we love it: Light, playful nod to Australian summer Christmas. Choose the sturdiest edition available.

Best for: 3 to 5 years

Sensory-friendly reading tips

• Keep it short and sweet: One or two books, then pause. Quality over quantity.

• Follow their lead: Let them turn pages, lift flaps, and repeat favourites. Repetition builds comfort and language.

• Name textures and actions: “Soft beard,” “shiny star,” “lift the flap.”

• Build a calm nook: Floor cushion, soft lamp, and a small basket of 3 to 5 books to reduce overwhelm.

• Rotate weekly: Swap in a few festive titles and tuck others away to keep interest high.

How Bear and Cub can help Our cosy reading nooks are set for December with a small shelf of sturdy, toddler-friendly Christmas books, soft lighting, and space to snuggle in. Perfect for a gentle reset between play.