Christmas Chapter Books

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive

Author: Melanie Watt

Year: 2023

Genre: Early Reader

Age: 6 – 9

More info: Scaredy Squirrel #3

Plot

Scaredy Squirrel has lots to do to get ready for Christmas – wrapping presents, decorating, and getting party ready! Join him as he hosts a holiday party for his woodland friends.

Why Kirsten loves it

Scaredy Squirrel is wonderful for anxious kiddos and I simply love this festive holiday tale.

Fly Guy Ninja Christmas

Author: Tedd Arnold

Illustrator: Tedd Arnold

Year: 2016

Genre: Emergent Reader

Age: 6 – 8

More info: Fly Guy #16

Plot

Fly Guy doesn’t know what Christmas is all about and while Buzz tries to teach him, he doesn’t count on Fly Guy getting into a fight with Santa when he mistakes him for an intruder.

Why Kirsten loves it

Fly Guy stories are always fun picks for new readers. They are as funny as they are helpful. I giggled when Fly Guy used a ninja move on Santa!

Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas

Author: Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Craig Sharmat

Illustrator: Marc Simont

Year: 1997

Genre: Emergent Reader

Age: 5 – 8

More info: Part of the Nate the Great series

Plot

Annie’s dog, Fang, is unhappily missing his mail so Nate agrees to help find it. He’s determined to solve the case by Christmas.

Why Kirsten loves it

This early reader Christmas chapter book is a wonderful way to get the kids in your life ready for the holiday season while improving their reading skills.

Find this book in: Christmas Chapter Books

Happy Narwhalidays

Author: Ben Clanton

Year: 2020

Genre: Emergent Reader

Age: 5 – 8

More info: Narwhal and Jelly #5

Plot

Narwhal and Jelly are back for 3 stories about Christmas under the sea. Their Christmas celebrations might not be what you expect, but they are every bit as funny as you’ll want them to be!

Why Jackie loves it

Looking for one of the best Christmas chapter books for young readers? Look no further than the latest in the Narwhal and Jelly graphic novel series. It’s everything I’ve come to love about this fabulous series with a clever seasonal twist!

How Winston Delivered Christmas

Author: Alex T. Smith

Illustrator: Alex T. Smith

Year: 2019

Genre: Early Reader

Age: 4 – 8

More info: Advent Calendar

Plot

Winston finds a letter addressed to Santa that he needs to get up to the North Pole before Christmas. The story is adorable and there are activities to do between chapters.

Why Jackie loves it

This charming children’s Christmas book is an advent calendar too! It’s designed to be read one chapter at a time on the 24 days leading up to Christmas.

Christmas in Camelot

Author: Mary Pope Osborne

Illustrator: Sal Murdocca 

Year: 2001

Genre: Beginning Reader

Age: 6 – 9

More info: Merlin Mysteries #1

Plot

Jack and Annie have been invited to Christmas at Camelot with Merlin but they don’t realize they will need to do a quest for him too.

Why Kirsten loves it

The Merlin Mission series is the next step after the Magic Tree House series. It’s designed for more experienced readers, ready for the next stage of reading development. There are multiple Christmas books in the series, but I like this one best.

The Holly Joliday

Author: Megan McDonald

Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds

Year: 2011

Genre: Beginning Reader

Age: 6 – 9

More info: Judy Moody & Stink #1

Plot

In the first Judy Moody and Stink crossover story, the sibling duo are making their wishes for the holidays. Stink wants it to snow and he’s convinced their new postman can help!

Why Kirsten loves it

Each of these series is great on its own, but I adore the duo together in the same story! What a fun holiday chapter book.

Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! 

Author: Barbara Park

Illustrator: Denise Brunkus

Year: 2005

Genre: Beginning Reader

Age: 6 – 8

More info: Junie B Jones #25

Plot

First grader Junie B Jones is ready to celebrate Christmas. The kids of room one are making costumes, singing, and generally preparing for the holiday season. But when Junie gets her least favorite person as her Secret Santa, she starts to lose her holiday spirit. Can she come up with a good gift or will she ruin her own Christmas celebrations?

Why Kirsten loves it

This realistic fiction series was created for new readers to help them improve their skills. Each story in the extensive series can be read as a standalone – so enjoy the Christmas version even if you’ve never read a Junie B Jones story before.

Greenglass House

Author: Kate Milford

Year: 2016

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery

Age: 9 – 12

More info: Greenglass House #1

Plot

The Greenglass House is an inn for smugglers and the winter season means it’s supposed to be quiet for Milo, the owner’s child. But instead, guest after guest checks in for the holidays, and items go missing around the inn. Soon, Milo and the chef’s daughter, Meddy, are off searching for the guests’ connection to the inn, uncovering secret after secret along the way.

Why Kirsten loves it

This mystery reminded me of Harry Potter in some ways. A child is trying to uncover the secrets of Greenglass House, a hotel for smugglers and spies before the adults do. I chose this as a family read-aloud and it was wonderful.

Find this book in: Best Ghost Books / Best Winter Books / Terrific Hotel Novels / Best Mystery Books for Tweens / Best Family Audiobooks / Books With Colors in the Title / Christmas Chapter Books

Nutcracked

Author: Susan Adrian

Year: 2019 (Audiobook 2024)

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Age: 8 – 12

Plot

When Georgie is chosen to play Clara in The Nutcracker, she is so delighted – it’s everything she’s been working towards, even if her best friend didn’t get the part. When rehearsals start, she dances with the nutcracker for the first time and something mysterious happens – she’s brought into another world – literally!

As she tries to help the trapped nutcracker in the other world, she’s dealing with the fallout from her bestie not getting the role. As she’s navigating her old friendship, she starts to make a new friend who just might be able to help her save the nutcracker.

Why Kirsten loves it

I’m always looking for holiday-specific books geared toward tweens. This one delivers a unique spin on a story that most children grow up knowing. I like how it also focused on the ups and downs of friendship.

Find this book in: New Christmas Books for Kids / Christmas Chapter Books

The Christmas Pig

Author: J. K. Rowling

Illustrator: Jim Field

Year: 2021

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Age: 8+

Plot

This is the story of Jack, his lost toy, and the new toy he got as a replacement is wonderfully magical. The Christmas Pig decides to help his new owner, Jack, find his old pig by taking him to the land of the lost.

Why Kirsten loves it

This chapter book also covers hard-hitting topics like divorce and remarriage, which Jack is experiencing in his home when he loses his beloved pig. The illustrations are magical and add a great element to this Christmas tale.

Winterhouse

Author: Ben Guterson

Year: 2018

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery / Fantasy

Age: 9 – 13

More info: Edgar Award Finalist, Agatha Award Finalist

Plot

Elizabeth is an orphan whose aunt and uncle have shipped her to Winterhouse for the Christmas holiday. There, she meets the owner, Norbridge Falls, and learns secrets about his slightly evil family. Along the way, she meets another child guest – Freddy – and becomes fast friends with him. Together, they unlock codes and solve puzzles. The best part is that the first page of each chapter has a mini puzzle for readers to complete.

Why Kirsten loves it

My boys and I like to listen to books together in the car or when doing a puzzle. The standout book for me this month was Winterhouse. This middle grade mystery was as enthralling to me as it was to my children. I loved the slight bits of magic in the story and the captivating setting of an expansive ski hotel on a snowy mountain at Christmas time.

Find this book in: Paranormal Books / Books for a 10-Year-Old / Books About Puzzles / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Hotel Novels / Christmas Chapter Books

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Author: C. S. Lewis

Year: 1950

Genre: Classic Children’s Fantasy

Age: 6 – 10

More info: Chronicles of Narnia #2

Plot

When four children discover a secret passage from a wardrobe into the Land of Narnia, they find a land enslaved by the White Witch. They find friends, enemies, and magic in this book that has withstood the test of time. Just when things are dire, the Great Lion, Aslan, makes his return setting off a series of events that spans several books.

Trigger Warnings

War

Why Jackie loves it

The iconic book is actually the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. However, since the first book is technically a prequel, I consider this the first and it can be read independently of the rest of the books in the series.

Find this book in: Witch Books for Kids / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Classic Kids Books / Children’s Books About Winter / Christmas Chapter Books

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Author: J. K Rowling

Year: 1998

Genre: Middle-Grade fantasy

More info: Harry Potter #1 of 7

Age Range: 8+ (note that some of the later books in the series may not be appropriate until a bit older)

Plot

I was in university when this book was published and the first four were sitting on my younger brother’s bookshelf before I picked it up to see what the fuss was about. I read all four books in as many days and was married with a child before the final book was published. 

This story introduces us to Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger; our fearless trio.  We also meet the other favorite beloved and detested characters that make the Harry Potter book series so special. After all, what would Hogwarts be without Hagrid, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Draco Malfoy?

Trigger Warnings

Parental death

Why Jackie loves it

I firmly believe that JK Rowling changed children’s literature more profoundly than any other author. I realize that this is a very strong statement. But, until her, there have never been books that have had such an impact on the world of reading. The books are so brilliantly laid out with easter eggs in book one that are essential for the entire plot. I believe this is one of the best fantasy series ever written.

Why Kirsten loves it

In my opinion, this is the best children’s fantasy series ever written. It features strong lessons on morality, inventive plotlines, and hidden threads woven throughout the entire series. Jim Dale’s audiobook narration of this book is award-winning. He voices over 200 characters, each with distinct accents and my kids have listened to the entire series multiple times.

Find this book in: Halloween Chapter Books / Audiobooks for Kids / Harry Potter Books in Order / Books like Percy Jackson / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Magic School Books / Jackie’s Favorite Books / Kirsten’s Favorite Books / Books to Read Aloud

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Author: Karina Yan Glaser

Year: 2018

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Age: 7 – 12

More info: Vanderbeekers #1

Plot

This charming story is about a bi-racial family in Harlem with 5 kids who are about to lose their home before Christmas. Why? Because their reclusive landlord won’t renew their lease.⁣
⁣
My entire family enjoyed this delightful tale of the siblings trying to win their landlord over so they don’t have to leave home. It was full of all the antics you would expect of a big family. ⁣

Why Kirsten loves it

I can’t begin to tell you how connected my family has grown to the Vanderbeekers over the course of the series. They are sweet, funny, good-natured, mischievous children – each with a personality all their own. Their antics make for incredible stories, but the heart and love at the center of the family keep me reaching for these books. This is hands down one of my favorite series for middle grade readers and the one I recommend the most often.

Why Jackie loves it

I love that the Vanderbeekers’ story normalizes city living and a bi-racial family – something that’s hard to find in many children’s book series. You will fall in love with this cast of characters and as the series progresses you’ll come to regard them as family.

Find this book in: Best Books for a 10-Year-Old / Best Family Audiobooks For Road Trips / Read Aloud Books / Realistic Fiction Books / Feel-Good Books / Christmas Chapter Books