New Christmas Books for Kids

Cookies for Santa: A Spin-and-Slide Book

Author: Workman Press

Illustrator: Grace Habib

Release Date: September 29, 2026

Genre: Board Book

Age: 0 – 3

Plot

This interactive board book is the perfect first Christmas book for little ones. Each page has a different interactive element so you and baby can “bake” cookies for Santa!

Christmas Makes Me Happy

Author: Eleanor Bowmer

Illustrator: Eleanor Bowmer

Release Date: September 24, 2026

Genre: Board Book

Age: 0 – 5

Plot

In this interactive board book, learn all about decorating for Christmas! With a sweet mirror inside, this is sure to delight any young child.

Who’s There, Little Elf?

Author: Teresa Bellón

Illustrator: Teresa Bellón

Release Date: September 29, 2026

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1 – 4

Plot

Another interactive picture book for our list, this one introduces the many faces of Christmas. From a smiling elf to a twinkling tree to Santa himself!

The Bakery Dragon and the Giant Cookie

Author: Devin Elle Kurtz

Illustrator: Devin Elle Kurtz

Year: 2026

Genre: Christmas Picture Book

Age: 4 – 8

More info: Bakery Dragon #3

Plot

Ember, everyone’s favorite dragon baker, is delivering cookies for the holiday season. During a storm, he falls into the chimney of a grumpy giant. While trying to respect the giant’s wish for quiet, he bakes some incredible GIANT cookies and melts the giant’s cold heart in the process.

Why Kirsten loves it

The stunning illustrations always get me with this series. Bakery Dragon is such a color-saturated work of art, and the story of kindness even in the face of animosity is one kids and adults alike should pay attention to. Also, I think this book needs a recipe because I want those cookies! Gifted by Random House Kids.

Find this book in: Best Christmas Books for Kids / New Christmas Books for Kids / New Kids’ Books

Christmas Are We There Yet

Author: Eric Geron

Illustrator: Yana Kozak

Year: 2026

Genre: Christmas Picture Book

Age: 4 – 8

Plot

In this sweet rhyming story, a little boy starts a countdown to Christmas on the day after Christmas is over! As he counts down by months and then days, he highlights other celebrations on the way.

Why Jackie loves it

The cute illustrations really bring a smile to my face. This child is committed to Christmas dressing even in the middle of summer! Gifted by Scholastic.

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

‘Twas Night Before Christmas

Author: Clement C. Moore

Illustrator: Jon J. Muth

Year: 2026

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 2 – 99

Plot

This classic story is THE quintessential Christmas book for kids and adults. It’s a poem about Santa coming to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. It has the most iconic opening line “Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse” and the story is filled with love and cheer.

Why Kirsten loves it

If you don’t yet own a copy of The Night Before Christmas in your home library, consider this gorgeously illustrated version by Caldecott Honor Winner, Jon J. Muth. His signature water colors bring this classic to life in a whole new way.

The Snowmansion

Author: Gideon Sterer

Illustrator: Stella Lim

Release Date: September 29, 2026

Genre: Wordless Picture Book

Age: 4 – 8

Plot

Let your child’s imagination do the talking with this wordless picture book perfect for the holiday season. A snowman wonders what it’s like to be in a house while a boy watches the snowman outside with wonder. But at midnight, they go off together in search of a house for a snow person!

Find similar books in: The Best Wordless Picture Books

The Legend of Mrs. Claws

Author: Lance Bass

Illustrator: Anémone Durhin

Release Date: September 29, 2026

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 4 – 8

More info: Part of the Scary Street Series

Plot

Mrs. Claws is a cat from Scary Street who loves to frighten everyone, even if she fails at being scary. Then one Christmas, she walks along Pinecone Lane and accidentally ends up in Santa’s sleigh! What will happen when a not-so-spooky cat encounters Christmas?

Elephant & Piggie: Happy Holidays!

Author: Mo Willems

Illustrator: Mo Willems

Release Date: September 26, 2026

Genre: Christmas Activity Book

Age: 5 – 8

More info: Part of the Elephant & Piggie series

Plot

This activity book is filled with interactive stickers, pop-out ornaments, and more! If your child loves the Elephant and Piggie early readers, they will be delighted by this activity book.

Karen’s New Year: A Graphic Novel 

Author: Ann M. Martin

Illustrator: DK Yingst

Release Date: October 6, 2026

Genre: Graphic Novel

Age: 7 – 10

More info: Baby-sitters Little Sister #13

Plot

In the latest graphic novel of the Baby-sitters Little Sister series, Karen wants to make a New Year’s Resolution, and she wants everyone in the family to make a resolution too. But soon Karen becomes the resolution police and it causes tension with her family.

Mr. Lemoncello’s Wondermous Christmas Gift

Author: Chris Grabenstein

Year: 2026

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Age: 8 – 12

More info: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library #7

Plot

Eloise is the new girl at school, and she’s upset that her Christmas won’t be very merry, but when she befriends Clarence, she starts to look on the bright side. After attending a Mr. Lemoncello’s Library holiday party, she discovers a key that lets her have full access to the wonderful library, so she decides to head there on Christmas Eve while her mom is at work in the hopes of cheering up her holiday spirits. But once there, she discovers a puzzle with a prize that could make her Christmas truly magical.

Why Kirsten loves it

This delightful Christmas story was everything I have come to expect from a Mr. Lemoncello’s library book. It featured a clever mystery, fantastical elements, a nice moral, and plenty of puzzles to solve. As always, I particularly appreciated the reference to modern books.

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

The Mysterious Reindeer

Author: Natacha Godeau

Release Date: September 29, 2026

Genre: Middle Grade Christmas Novel

More info: Advent style with sealed pages

Plot

Elliot lives on his family’s reindeer farm and is so excited for his cousin Flora to visit for the holidays. But almost as soon as she gets there, strange things start to happen, scaring all the reindeer except one – one who looks and acts a little differently than the others. Can Elliot and Flora figure out what is going on?

Hilo: The Holiday Special

Author: Judd Winick

Illustrator: Judd Winick

Release Date: October 6, 2026

Genre: Christmas Graphic Novel

Age: 8 – 12

More info: Part of the Hilo series

Plot

This is the first holiday special of the bestselling graphic novel Hilo series. Hilo and his friends need to figure out what the giant grumpy snowman wants.

Yule Be Sorry

Author: Christopher Krovatin

Release Date: October 6, 2026

Genre: Middle Grade Horror

Age: 9 – 12

Plot

When Farrah and her cousin Cedric find a set of metallic ornaments, they decide to hang them on the tree. But the ornaments bring strange and creepy creatures into the house. When a blizzard hits, the family is stuck in the house, fighting for their lives.