Make December even more festive with these favorite Christmas picture books! Here’s a list of some of my classroom favorites to make the holidays even more fun!
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- Otto: The Ornament by Troy Cummings- Otto is the new splashy, Christmas ornament. He is excited and proud of his sparkles and glitter, but he also finds that his shine is distracting and decides to go on a journey to find home somewhere else. Follow along to see where he ends up and how he gets his spark back!
- The Ninjabread Man by C.J Leigh & Illustrated by Chris Gall- Chase the Ninjabread Man as he runs away from Sensei and the Ninja Bear, Ninja Snake, Ninja Mouse, and Ninja Fox. Will he get away or will be captured?
- The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst- As if the Gingerbread Boy and the Ninjabread Man weren’t enough, the Gingerbread Girl also has some tricks up her sleeves and attempts her own escape! She may be cute and extra sweet, but don’t underestimate this little sister! She may be the one to show the boys how it’s done to outsmart a fox!
4. The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll & Illustrated by Jeni Bassett- Join the two best friends, Desmond and Clayton, as they team up to create the biggest snowman that Mouseville has ever seen.
5. Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner & Illustrated by Mark Buehner- Have you ever wondered what snowmen do at night? This fun and delightful story gives readers a glimpse of the secret lives of snowmen and all the fun that they have at night when the world is quietly sleeping.
6. Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright & Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin- What is Sneezy the Snowman to do when he is too cold for his own good? He drinks hot cocoa and warm up by the fire and take a warm bath. When he finds that that his solutions are causing another problem for him, the children step in to make him better.
7. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell by Lucille Colandro & Illustrated bu Jared Lee- We all the know the Old Lady who swallowed a fly, but now she is ready for Christmas by swallowing a bell and other holiday-themed items. This silly story will delight your students witha fun surprise at the end.
8. How to Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace & Illustrated by Andy Elkerton- When elves are on the loose and running through your house on Christmas Eve, do you know what to do? This fun and whimsical rhyming book takes readers on an adventure around the house filled with STEAM contraptions and traps to catch elves in their mischieveous act!
9. When Santa Lost His Ho! Ho! Ho! by Laura Radar- Santa is known for his BIG and jolly laughs, but what happens when he lost his Ho! Ho! Ho?! As the elves get straight to work to help Santa find laughter and joy again, they realize it’s just no help. That is until they enlist the help of children all around the world to make Santa feel like himself again.
10. The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett- This iconic Christmas story is brought to life with vibrant and gorgeous illustrations from no other than the immensely talented, Jan Brett. Continue the Christmas tradition of reading this story in your classroom and pass down the joy, memories, and anticipation of the season with this beautiful, classic poem.
For more Christmas-themed classroom activities, check out these resources below!
