Christmas books have a special way of taking you back to being a small child. Looking at the bright pictures, the familiar stories, the excitement of Santa coming, and quietly curling up together before bed. 

When you become a parent, you get to be the one reading those stories to your own children, and the excitement comes full circle. 

One of my favorite things about Christmas books for kids is that they can become a part of your family’s story, year after year. When you bring a favorite book to a Santa session, it gives your child something familiar to hold onto while creating a really sweet moment with Santa.

Having something to interact with beside Santa creates sweet little photo opportunities, instead of asking your child to sit and smile. They can snuggle in right beside him, turn pages, point to pictures, and listen while Santa reads to them. 

These moments are the ones I love to capture. 

If we haven’t met yet, I’m Ashley, a Minneapolis family photographer specializing in family, newborn, and motherhood photography. I love creating photographs that feel like your family, especially during these short seasons when your kids are changing so quickly. If you’re interested in a family session or Santa session, reach out here! 

Why Reading With Santa Makes Beautiful Memories

Reading a book naturally gives children a calm, quiet activity, and it’s one reason that I love incorporating Christmas books for kids into Santa sessions. 

Meeting Santa can be very exciting for some kids, and slightly intimidating for others. Some might run right up, and others might need a little more time. 

Having a book to read gives everyone somewhere to focus their attention besides the camera. 

Your child can:

• Sit beside Santa and look through the pictures
• Turn the pages for him
• Point out Santa, reindeer, snowmen, or Christmas trees
• Listen to part of a favorite story
• Cuddle close while I photograph what unfolds

These simple interactions can create so many opportunities for those sweet innocent expressions. I look to capture the curious looks, the little grins, the small hands reaching across the pages, and the way your child looks at Santa for his reaction when something catches their attention. 

For the best Christmas photos with Santa, I focus on photographing the experience that your child is having, rather than trying to get them to smile constantly. 

Wondering what your little ones should wear while they cozy up with Santa and their favorite Christmas book? Read my guide on Cozy Christmas Pajamas for sweet, comfortable outfit ideas that photograph beautifully and still let your kids be kids.

Classic Christmas Books for Kids Every Family Loves

There are so many classic Christmas books for kids that have been a traditional part of family Christmases for generations. 

The Night Before Christmas is one of the most recognizable, also known as A Visit from St. Nicholas. The poem was first published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel in 1823 and was later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore.

The book comes in many different illustrated editions, which means you can choose one that fits your family or even use a copy you already read at home.

Another beautiful choice for older children is The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Published in 1985, the story follows a boy who boards a train headed for the North Pole on Christmas Eve. The book received the 1986 Caldecott Medal.

Using a book that your child already knows creates a sense of familiarity. If they ask for the same Christmas story every December, bring that one. Your family’s favorite doesn’t have to be everyone else’s favorite.

Interactive Holiday Books for Toddlers

Toddlers are not known for having the longest attention spans: long stories don’t always go over well, and that’s completely okay. 

Interactive stories and sturdy pages make the best choice in Christmas books for kids for this age. Lift-the-flap books, touch-and-feel pages, counting books, and short repetitive stories give little hands something to do.

A couple of options include:

• Dear Santa by Rod Campbell. This lift-the-flap book follows Santa as he looks for the right present for a child. This cute little board book is recommended for ages 1 to 4, and it includes flaps throughout plus a touch-and-feel element at the end.
• Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Beautiful illustrations follow Little Blue as he delivers Christmas trees to his animal friends while children count the trees along the way. The book was published in 2014, and the novelty edition includes lights on the final page.

These kinds of books also work well when a toddler isn’t interested in sitting still for very long. We don’t need to finish the whole story. A few pages and a little interaction can be plenty.

Come follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes peeks, sweet Santa moments, and a little extra Christmas inspiration as you get ready for your own Santa session.

Sweet Christmas Stories for Preschoolers

Preschoolers are at such a fun age for Christmas because their imaginations are growing right along with their excitement.

When choosing Christmas books for kids for this age, I like stories with illustrations that give children plenty to look at and a story that’s easy to follow in a short amount of time.

The Polar Express can be a lovely option for children who are ready for a longer picture book. For something shorter, a familiar character or a story about preparing for Christmas can work beautifully.

Consider your child’s individual interests when deciding on a book. Do they love trains? Animals? Santa, Christmas trees, or silly stories? 

If the book is one that they will be excited to open, that will matter much more than finding a book that matches perfectly. 

Faith-Based Christmas Books for Kids About the Nativity

If keeping the Nativity at the centre of your Christmas traditions is important, there are many beautiful faith based Christmas books for kids.

Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck, illustrated by Felicia Bond, introduces young children to the first Christmas through simple text and illustrations. Current board-book editions are available for young readers.

Another option is Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft. In the story, animals are welcomed into a stable one by one before Mary and Joseph arrive and Jesus is born. This picture book edition is recommended for children aged 4 to 8. 

A Nativity story can be especially meaningful if reading about the birth of Jesus is already part of how your family celebrates Christmas.

Personalized Christmas Books Featuring Your Child

Bringing a personalized Christmas book with your child’s name in the story is another fun idea. 

Because there are so many styles of personalized Christmas books for kids available, focus on finding one with content that your child already enjoys, rather than finding a particular brand. 

I like to recommend writing a little note inside the cover, along with the year. This way, the book becomes something you can enjoy each December, reminisce about your Santa photos, and look through with your other keepsakes. 

Bringing the book out each year will remind you how tiny your child’s hands were as they sat and looked through the book with Santa, turning the pages. Those details are the ones that I never want to forget, and the ones that I want to capture for you! 

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Books for Your Santa Session

The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a Christmas book for kids is what will feel the most genuine for your child. There isn’t one perfect book for every child, and each child will have unique interests. 

A few things I’d consider:

• Choose something familiar. A favorite from home can help your child know exactly what to do with it.
• Think about their age. Board books are easier for babies and toddlers to handle, while preschoolers and older kids may enjoy a longer story.
• Keep the length realistic. Your child doesn’t need to listen to an entire book during the session.
• Look for engaging illustrations. Pictures give children something to point at and talk about with Santa.
• Bring the meaningful book. If Grandma gave them a Christmas book or you have one you’ve read every December since they were born, I’d choose that over buying something new simply for pictures.
• Write their name and the year inside. It’s such an easy way to turn the book into a family keepsake.

If you’re unsure what to bring, please ask me. I’m always happy to help you think through the little details before your session.

Picked out a favorite Christmas book and getting excited for Santa? Take a peek at What to Expect at Your Photo Session With Santa to see how the experience flows, from those first shy hellos to stories, giggles, Christmas wishes, and all the little moments in between.

Creating a Holiday Reading Tradition After Your Session

Christmas books for kids have a special way of bringing Christmas joy all throughout the month of December. 

After you bring the Christmas books for kids to your Santa session, add it to your other Christmas books and then pull it out again next year. 

Maybe you read one Christmas book each night before bed in December, or your kids receive a new book on December 1. There might be a special story that you save for Christmas Eve. 

Don’t feel pressured to make every tradition the most special one of all time. These little routines are the ones that I always want back. Before you know it, your child will be sitting beside you calmly reading the story to you, instead of crawling all over your lap and pulling at the pages. 

Photographs are a small way of letting me hold on to that fleeting piece of childhood. 

So whether your child brings The Night Before Christmas, a well-loved board book with bent corners, a Nativity story, or the Christmas books for kids they insist you read every single night, bring what feels like your family.

We’ll let the story unfold from there.

If you’re looking for a Minneapolis family photographer to document your own family in this season, I would absolutely love to hear from you. Get in touch with me here, and let’s create something you’ll be so grateful to have when these little Christmases aren’t quite so little anymore.

Come stay connected! Join my newsletter below for photography tips, session inspiration, upcoming dates, and little glimpses into the beautiful moments I get to document for families throughout the year!