Christmas Books by Grade Level

Christmas is a special time. Few topics spur greater interest and excitement from young readers. Children often love to read about Christmas stories, and it has been my pleasure to assemble a list of Christmas-themed books that might further your family's enjoyment of this special holiday. I hope you enjoy the list.

I've rated these Christmas books based on input given by hundreds of teachers, multiple reviews found throughout the Internet, my own recommendations, and comments from over 3,500 students. Additional input and book reviews are always welcomed and reviewed. Just leave a comment at the bottom of this site. I’ll review all books and determine if they meet the criteria to be placed on this list.

Arizonataylor's rating system:

!..........The book is merely okay.

!!.........This is a good book.

!!!........This is a very good book.

!!!!.......This book is great.

!!!!!......This book is amazing!

1st Grade

Christmas Cats by Marzollo, Jean

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Christmas by Haugen, Brenda

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2nd Grade

Christmas by Houghton, Gillian

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Christmas at Mud Flat by Stevenson, James

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"Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."
- Washington Irving

3rd Grade

Christmas by Marx, David F.

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Christmas by Trueit, Trudi Strain

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Christmas Around the World by Kelley, Emily

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Christmas Day in the Morning by Buck, Pearl S

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Christmas in the Big Woods by Wilder, Laura Ingalls

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Seuss, Dr.

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Polar Express, The by Van Allsburg, Chris

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4th Grade

Christmas Barn, The by Davis, C.L.

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Christmas Catastrophe by Stilton, Geronimo

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Christmas Day Kitten, The by Herriot, James

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Night Before Christmas, The /'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Moore, Clement Clarke

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by May, Robert Lewis

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5th Grade

Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The by Robinson, Barbara

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Christmas Carol, A by Dickens, Charles

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Christmas Doll, The by Woodruff, Elvira

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Christmas Memory, A by Capote, Truman

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Christmas Shoes, The by Van Liere, Donna

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I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round...as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.

- Charles Dickens

7th Grade

Cat Who Came for Christmas, The by Amory, Clevelan

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Christmas in Williamsburg: 300 Years of Family Traditions by Kostyal, K.M.

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Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, The by Baum, L. Frank

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"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling."

- Edna Ferber

While Jesus’s birthdate is unknown, it is widely believed that he was born between 7 and 2 BC. Christmas, Christ’s Mass, is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ which may have initially been selected to correspond with the day nine months after Christians believed Jesus was conceived. It is a widely-observed religious holiday that is generally celebrated on January 7 or December 25, depending on the country. This difference is largely due to inconsistencies between the current calendar used and the older Julian calendar. Regardless of whether it is celebrated on January 7 or December 25, billions of people celebrate Christmas.

While customs vary from country to country, Christmas themes are similar and typically include the sharing of presents, Christmas music or caroling, church celebrations, a Christmas feast, and Christmas decorations. Typical Christmas decorations include Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, wreaths and holly. In addition, several Christmas figures, which are often very similar or even interchangeable, have become a significant part of Christmas throughout the world; these figures include but are not limited to Santa Claus, La Befana, The Three Kings, Christkindl, Pere Noël, The Christ Child, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind.

Santa Claus originated in the 4th century with Saint Nicholas. St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, an area in Turkey. As you might expect, he was a kind, generous man who devoted his life to children. Known for his kindness to children, his red cape, and his long, white beard, St. Nioholas’s reputation grew; he became the patron saint of Russia, and magnificent, miraculous claims began to surface. St. Nicholas died somewhere around 340 A.D. He was buried in Myra. In 1087, Italian sailors purportedly stole his remains and moved them to Bari, Italy. This dastardly and grotesque deed increased St. Nicholas's popularity throughout Europe.

In Greece, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors. In France, he was the patron of lawyers. In Belgium, he was the patron of children and travelers. Thousands of churches across Europe were dedicated to St. Nicholas, and around the 12th century, an official church holiday was created in his honor. The Feast of St. Nicholas was celebrated on December 6. The day was marked by gift giving and charity.

While many Europeans began to forget about St. Nicholas over time, his legend lived on in Holland. In Holland, his name was spelled Sint Nikolaas. It was later changed to Sinterklaas. Dutch children left their wooden shoes by the fireplace, and Sinterklaas placed treats in their shoes, much like today’s stockings. This tradition, along with many others, was continued by Dutch colonists in the thirteen colonies, and Santa Claus became a tradition here in America.

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas

Feliz Navidad

Froehliche Weihnachten

Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan

Joyeux Noel

Nollaig Shona Dhuit

Merry Keshmish

However you say it, may your Christmas be the best. Now, go read a book!

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."

- Charles Schulz