Thematic Reading List: 15 Funny Christmas Books for Reading Aloud
These picture books are ideal for sharing laughs and enjoying time together around the Christmas tree.
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The 12 Days of Christmas By: Greg Pizzoli An elephant parent has to take responsibility for caring for all the gifts that arrive in this newly illustrated version of the traditional song. |
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Fartsy Claus By: Mitch Chivus Illustrated by: Mike Reed When Santa Claus is presented with a plate of franks and beans instead of the usual milk and cookies, the flatulent consequences are more than he ever expected. |
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The Great Reindeer Rebellion By: Lisa Trumbauer Illustrated by: Jannie Ho In verse reminiscent of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” this story tells of the year the reindeer went on strike, forcing Santa to audition a series of other animals to take over their job. |
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How Murray Saved Christmas By: Mike Reiss Illustrated by: David Catrow When Eddie, one of Santa’s elves, accidentally knocks him out on Christmas Eve, Eddie finds an unlikely substitute in the owner of Murray K’s Holiday Diner. |
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The Knights Before Christmas By: Joan Holub Illustrated by: Scott Magoon Twas December 24th, and three brave knights were just settling in for the night when out on the drawbridge, there arose such a clatter! The knights try everything to get rid of this unknown invader (Santa Claus!), a red and white knight with a fleet of dragons. |
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Memoirs of an Elf By: Devin Scillian Illustrated by: Tim Bowers Under Spark Elf’s direction, Santa delivers presents in the allotted twenty-four hours only to arrive at the North Pole with a stowaway in the toy bag, a family’s beloved dog. |
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Merry Christmas, Splat By: Rob Scotton Splat the cat is worried that he has not been good enough to deserve a visit and a present from Santa Claus. |
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The Naughtiest Reindeer By: Nicki Greenberg When Rudolph gets sick on Christmas Eve, he suggests that Santa ask his sister Ruby to take his place, even though the rest of the reindeer are not happy about the possibility because Ruby’s behavior can be so unpredictable. |
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Olive, the Other Reindeer By: Vivian Walsh Illustrated by: J. Otto Marshall Thinking that “all of the other reindeer” she hears people singing about include her, Olive the dog reports to the North Pole to help Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. |
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A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas By: Philip Yates Illustrated by: Sebastia Serra On the first day of Christmas, a gift was sent to me: a parrot in a palm tree! Ahoy mateys–Christmas is coming and even pirates celebrate the holiday! This follow-up to the hugely popular A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas offers a witty re-imagining of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”–with a sly buccaneer twist. |
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Russell’s Christmas Magic By: Rob Scotton Russell the sheep tries to help Santa fix his broken sleigh. |
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Santa Duck By: David Milgrim When Nicholas Duck, wearing a Santa hat and coat he found on his doorstep, goes looking for Santa to tell him what he wants for Christmas, all the other animals mistake him for Mr. Claus. |
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Santa’s Stuck By: Rhonda Gowler Greene Illustrated by: Henry Cole When Santa becomes stuck in the chimney of a house on Christmas Eve, the dog, the cat, the reindeer, and a mouse try to free him. |
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Stick Man By: Julia Donaldson Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler Stick Man ends up far away from his family tree when he is fetched by a dog, thrown by a child, used as a snowman’s arm, and even put in a fireplace. Finally Santa Claus steps in to make sure that Stick Man and his family have a joyous Christmas. |
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Turkey Claus By: Wendi Silvano Illustrated by: Lee Harper Santa Claus finds a way to help Turkey avoid becoming Christmas dinner. |
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