Christmas Stories For Children

Sharing Christmas stories with your children in the lead-up to Christmas Day is a wonderful way of introducing them to the history and traditions surrounding this time of year.

These pages contain ideas for sharing some of the classic stories with kids of all ages. They're ideas I've used with my own children over the years and am still using today, even though my three are all teenagers now.

Here's what you'll find in this special Christmas section of Best Books for Kids:

• Christmas books for kids
• Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
• the best Christmas books for all ages
• creating family Christmas traditions
• The Gift of the Magi
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
• A Merry Christmas from Little Women
• the Christmas story
  
  

Why Read Christmas Books?

If, like me, you love reading and think it's an important part of life, you're probably always on the look out for ways to encourage your children to read.

So it makes sense to harness your kids' pre-Christmas excitement by introducing them to some special Christmas books.

If your children are very young, reading aloud together is the way to go. Start this tradition now and it will become a treasured part of your family's Christmas. If your children are older, reading Christmas books aloud is still an option but there are also some great Christmas-themed stories they'll enjoy reading on their own.

Ideas for Christmas Reading

Here are three ideas you might like to try:

• start a small library of Christmas books for your children. Put them in a pretty basket and store them somewhere everyone can get to them. If your children are very young, include books they can look at on their own, as well as books for you to read aloud with them. If you have older kids, there are some great books on my list of the best Christmas books for kids which are guaranteed to spark their interest.

• read one or more Christmas books or stories aloud to your children every day. This works whatever your children's ages.


• start a family Christmas tradition of reading 'Twas The Night Before Christmas together, on Christmas Eve.

Which Christmas Stories?

If you're looking for Christmas stories to share with your children, you may like to check out my list of the very best Christmas books for kids. I've tried to include books for children of all ages, up to and including teenagers, so the list should be a good starting point to get you thinking.

I've also included some free Christmas short stories in this section of Best Books for Kids.

If, like me, you've always wondered where the phrase 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus' comes from, wonder no more! You can read the whole enchanting story here. 

There's also a free copy of the famous poem The Night Before Christmas for you to share here. 

If you're looking for a Christmas story to share with your older kids, try O Henry's famous Christmas short story The Gift of the Magi. It was written in 1906 but has a twist at the end which will move even the most cynical teenager. 

Finally, Chapter Two of Little Women is called A Merry Christmas and makes a lovely short story to read at Christmas time.