Christmas is right around the corner, so we’ve selected our favourite books for kids of all ages to get you in the festive mood!

What Do You Wish For? by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker

What’s your Christmas wish? All of the kids in Ruby’s neighbourhood have something different to wish for – things like puppies and camping trips and new toys. But Ruby’s Christmas wish is something different, and she really hopes it comes true. This is a warm and wonderful picture book for the whole family to share.

My Christmas Crackers by Bronwen Davies

Q: What’s brown and hides in the kitchen at Christmas?
A: Mince spies!

This illustrated collection of jokes is a sure-fire way to boost the Christmas cheer of anybody 6+.

Jingle Bells: Pop Up by James Lord Pierpont and Niroot Puttapipat

Now it’s even more fun to ride in a one-horse open sleigh than ever before with this beautiful little hardback edition of ‘Jingle Bells’, which features silhouetted cut-outs and a stunning pop-up finale.

Santa’s Reindeer by Matilda Tristram, Tom Duxbury and Nick Sharratt

Christmas isn’t so merry for Reindeer when he manages to sneeze his nose off after an extra peppery soup. With Santa’s help, they set off across the North Pole in search of the missing nose, but will they find it in time? Nick Sharratt’s bright illustrations and the squeaky novelty nose make this a fun Christmas book for even the youngest readers.

Tea and Sugar Christmas by Jane Jolly and Robert Ingpen

Kathleen has run out of tea and sugar, and it will be another four days before the train visits her outback town with a new shipment. But the next train will be the Christmas train – will there be a special surprise in store for Kathleen? Jane Jolly has brought to life this little corner of outback Australia, and paired with Robert Ingpen’s incomparable illustrations, Tea and Sugar Christmas is a book that should be read year-round.

Little Golden Book of Christmas Stories

Here are nine classic Little Golden Book stories, complete with retro illustrations, in the one collection. Stories include:

• Jingle Bells
• The Nutcracker
• The Twelve Days of Christmas
• The Little Christmas Elf
• The Christmas Story
• The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas
• Baby’s Christmas
• The Night Before Christmas
• The Christmas ABC

[[9781760112141_1]]

The Naughtiest Reindeer at the Zoo by Nicki Greenberg

Ruby the naughtiest reindeer is back again, but this Christmas she’s been banished to the zoo to stop her from getting into trouble. The antelopes and the zebras don’t quite know how to have enough fun for Ruby’s tastes, so she decides to spice things up by letting them all out of their enclosures. Nicki Greenberg’s lively illustrations make Ruby’s chaotic Christmas antics leap off the page. A hilarious read for 3+.

24 Stories for Advent by Brigitte Weninger and Eve Tharlet

Read the tales in this collection in the countdown to Christmas, from the bad luck Calamity Claire who makes a wish on a shooting star, to Jacob the mouse rescuer. This is a beautifully-presented collection of stories suitable for kids 6+ that will quickly become a family favourite.

The Nutcracker by Margrete Lamond and Ritva Voutila

Marie is a lonely child, and when she’s gifted with a nutcracker doll, she’s happy to have made a new friend, but soon the villainous Mouse King threatens that friendship. Magrete Lamond’s retelling of Hoffmann’s classic Christmas tale makes it accessible to a whole new audience aged 6+, while Ritva Voutila’s sumptuous illustrations will have readers poring over the pages.

Ultimate Christmas Guide by Katie Abey

If you’re looking for something to keep little hands busy at Christmas, then look no further than the Ultimate Christmas Guide! It’s packed full of activities like colouring-in, press-out decorations and word searches that are guaranteed to keep kids aged 7 to 10 entertained for hours.

Christmas for Greta and Gracie by Yasmeen Ismail

Greta and Gracie might be sisters, but that doesn’t mean they’re alike. While Gracie is careful and quiet, Greta is loud and always knows best. Sometimes Gracie finds it hard to get a word in edgewise! But she’s especially quiet as she tiptoes downstairs on Christmas morning and finds a wonderful surprise. We at Readings fell in love with Yasmeen Ismail’s previous book, I’m a Girl, so it’s an extra special treat to have a Christmas tale from her.

Samurai Santa by Rubin Pingk

Yukio has been a good little ninja all year, and what he wants more than anything is an EPIC SNOWBALL FIGHT! It’s not too much to ask for, right? But the problem is, the rest of the ninjas are afraid they’ll be put on Santa’s naughty list if they join in. Yukio has no choice but to come up with a very mischievous plot. A funny and original Christmas tale with ninjas – what more could you want?

On That Christmas Night by Lois Rock and Alison Jay

If you’re trying to find something more traditional (as opposed to titles like The LEGO Night Before Christmas and Where’s Santa In Australia), then On That Christmas Night might be exactly what you’re looking for. Alison Jay’s elegant illustration style is a perfect fit with Lois Rock’s retelling of the Nativity story.

My Merry Christmas by Rosie Smith and Bruce Whatley

What do you do when Christmas comes? This simple but charming board book will introduce very early readers to our Christmas traditions, from decorating the tree to wrapping the presents. Bruce Whatley’s illustrations (of Diary of a Wombat fame) will make this one an instant hit.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Haven Gillespie, Fred J Coots and Nathaniel Eckstrom (with a bonus CD by Human Nature)

If your night is a little too silent, maybe a song is in order! Santa Claus is Coming to Town will have everybody up and singing. Nathaniel Eckstrom’s cheerful illustrations are accompanied by a bonus CD of the song performed by Human Nature.