1. Pick a Pine Tree
by Patricia Toht and illustrated by Jarvis
Part of the magic of the Christmas season stems from the traditions that families and friends take part in every year: hanging up stockings; putting lights in the windows; and, one of the most important of all, picking out and taking home the Christmas tree.
2. The Magic of a Small Town Christmas
by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen
In the town of Heartbeat Falls, where skies are crystal clear, the magic of Christmas is celebrated in many different ways: from picking the perfect tree to decorating it with glittering ornaments; from ice skating to eating yummy gingerbread cookies; from hanging handmade stockings to sharing a home-cooked meal. Here, the residents know the beauty of a small town doesn’t come from its size, but from the love shared by its people, shining brightly in their eyes.
3. The Biggest Little Boy: A Christmas Story
by Poppy Harlow and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki
Luca loves BIG things. BIG trucks. BIG buildings. BIG bowls of pasta. But what he wants most is the biggest Christmas tree of all. With Christmas approaching, Luca goes in search of a special tree. But he soon finds out that what matters most is having a BIG heart.
4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Brandon Gray and Daniel Thompson; illustrated by Carissa Bowser
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, and swear. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale—the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies—has a lot of people up in arms. And their wild antics cause havoc throughout the play’s production. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves, as they ultimately lead the town in finding the true meaning of Christmas. They will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.
5. Countdown to Christmas
by Greg Paprocki
Christmas is coming! Toddlers learn to count down from 10 by finding objects hidden throughout these charming scenes of holiday fun rendered in illustrator Greg Paprocki’s classically retro midcentury art style. From decorating cookies and caroling to hanging ornaments and reading favorite stories, there’s Christmas fun on every page. The final spread is packed with surprises! Discover new details in each illustration with every successive reading.
