Top 5 Christmas Reads for Under 5’s

Discover Our Top 5 Christmas Stories to Read to Your Child this Year

Christmas is such a special time for children and adults alike. There is nothing more magical for a young child than the thought of Christmas and all the festivities that accompany it.

I know from my own experience that this year is set to be a great one, with my two-year-old son already starting to show an interest in all things Father Christmas.

Storytelling with young children is something that we can all make time for in our busy lives. Stories can be read as part of a bedtime routine; however, they don’t need to be limited to just that and can be read throughout the day.

As the festive season is upon us, why not have a look at my top 5 Christmas reads to get you and your child into the festive spirit?

1. The Jolly Christmas Postman, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Suitable for ages 3+)

   

   One of my all-time favourite Christmas reads and is a festive addition to the original, ‘The Jolly Postman’. An interactive read, with each page offering children the chance to see their favourite fairy tale characters, whilst opening a little envelope on each page. I love this book and highly recommend it. Although suitable for children aged 3+, my little boy enjoys this book at 2. You may need to be a bit extra imaginative in the making up some of the story to simplify it.

2. All I Want for Christmas, by Rachel Bright (Suitable for ages 2+)

   

   ‘All I Want for Christmas’ is a simple story of a little penguin who is extremely excited about Christmas. With its child-friendly illustrations, it is perfect for those younger readers. What I love about this book, in particular, is the underlying message of the book: Christmas is about giving, not receiving; a message we can often forget in the build-up to Christmas Day.

3. Stick Man, by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler (Suitable for ages 2+)

   

   A favourite in my house is ‘Stick Man’. It is just one of the many books written by the brilliant Julia Donaldson. As Daddy Stick ventures out for a walk, he finds himself on a journey which takes him far from home, wondering if he will ever make it back home for Christmas Day.

4. That’s Not My Elf, by Fiona Watt (Suitable from birth)

   

   ‘That’s Not My Elf’ is just one of the seemingly limitless ‘That’s Not My…’ collection. These books are perfect for babies and children under 2. With lots of tactile, touchy/feely elements to the book, even those children who aren’t speaking yet will enjoy exploring the different textures.

5. Dream Snow, by Eric Carle (Suitable for ages 1+)

   

   From the worldwide hit, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’, Eric Carle brings you ‘Dream Snow’. When a farmer falls asleep on Christmas Eve, he could have only wished to wake up to snow. His dream comes true when he awakes the next morning to find his entire farm covered in snow. He embarks on an adventure to deliver his Christmas presents to all of his animals across his farm. A musical version of this story is also available, which may make it even more enticing for younger readers.

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So, these are just some of my favourite Christmas reads, but there are so many fantastic books that bring forth the magic of Christmas. Whichever stories you choose, I hope you enjoy spending the time reading them with your child over the festive period. And on that note, I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.