I’m not a fan of Halloween. I always dread this time of year when Halloween decorations start popping up in all the stores. I avoid them whenever possible.

Instead, I deliberately focus on developing a thankful attitude while I dream of Christmas. Even though Christmas is a lot quieter for us now, I still look forward to it. And I love discovering new Christmas books to share with family and friends, because, after all, Christmas is a celebration of the greatest gift ever given to mankind. That’s something we all want our children to understand and celebrate.

Here are a few books for you to consider this holiday season.

My friend Julie Lavender and her husband David have a not quite released advent book you’ll want to pre-order now. Children’s Advent Stories for Bedtime (Z Kids, November 2025) provides some quality lap time in twenty-five stories about the real reason for the season—counting down the days until Jesus’ birthday. It’s a perfect BEFORE Christmas gift that puts the focus where it needs to be during the holidays and helps kids read and reflect on true events surrounding Jesus’ birth. Part Bible story book, part devotional, Children’s Advent Stories for Bedtime includes thoughtful insights and questions for each story and ends with a sweet prayer.

While you’re pre-ordering the advent book, you might want to consider Julie’s book from last year, A Gingerbread House (End Game Press, 2024). It’s a rollicking rhyme about a grandparent and child baking and building a gingerbread house together. Julie’s own family tradition of making gingerbread houses each year has led her to create this sweet book about creating memories and fostering creativity. It’s sure to inspire a new tradition in your family as well.

Another new faith-based book for the season is Robin Currie’s Just Enough Room for Christmas (Good Books, 2025). In it, Old Hannah the cow has a snug little space in the barn with just enough room for one. But soon a bitterly cold night brings a plea for shelter from first a horse, then a goat, then a dog, then a cat, and then a mouse. Just when it seems there couldn’t possibly be room for more, the animals welcome two tired humans to their cozy barn. And before the night is over, they welcome a King! This gentle story, told in predictable text, will encourage kids to join in reading while they learn to make room for what’s important.

Although not specifically faith-based, my friend Ann Ingalls has a new Christmas book from Sleeping Bear Press (2025) just in time for the season. A Cowpoke’s Christmas finds Sam and her family busy at work on the ranch even though it’s Christmas day. There’s a cow to milk, chickens to be fed, livestock to tend, a meal to prepare, and a dog named Hank who needs a bath before they can stop to celebrate. But the end of the day brings a welcome Christmas surprise when their mare, Blossom, delivers her first foal. Told in sweet, rhyming text, A Cowpoke’s Christmas provides a glimpse of ranch life and a multi-generational family as they celebrate Christmas.

Also from Sleeping Bear Press, The Mouse Buffet (2025) by Della Ross Ferreri is a fun, rhyming text that features four little mice who find a Christmas buffet unattended. There are pies and pastries, cookies and tarts, and even a gingerbread house all for the taking. Showcased in beautiful, colorful illustrations, the mice are having the gastronomical time of their lives until a runaway grape wakes the sleeping cat. Yikes! As it turns out, in the spirit of Christmas the cat is willing to share. Phew! All’s well that ends well. Be prepared to enjoy a Christmas goodie while reading this one. The art will have your tummy grumbling if you don’t.

You can create a Holiday Reading Basket with these books and others. Just designate a particular basket for holiday themed books. Throw in a treat tin with a favorite treat and your kids and grandkids will probably want you to read through the entire basket every time they get the chance. Books can be changed out in advance of each holiday. It’s a great way to spend some quality time with your littles.  

Wendy Hinote Lanier is the award-winning author of over 50 titles including The Dog That Gave My Brother Words (End Game Press, 2023), Too Many Pigs in the Pools (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022), co-author of Paws-itive Inspirations: 90 Devotions for Kids and Dog Lovers (Iron Stream Kids, 2024), and the forthcoming Guardians of the Littlest Penguins (Sleeping Bear Press, 2027).

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