35+ Children's Books for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
The nativity story has been passed down from generation to generation, and many authors have added their own take on the message of Christmas. We asked our Facebook group for some of their favorite Christmas picture books. Below are some of their favorites. We hope you’ll check them out at your library to read to the children in your family or in worship.
Note: These recommendations come from our community and have not been reviewed by A Sanctified Art. We do not own any rights to these books or have any relationship to their authors or publishers.
Three Wise Queens written by James Allen, illustrated by András Barlogh
Santa’s Favorite Story written by Hisako Aoki, illustrated by Ivan Gantschev
The Donkey’s Dream written and illustrated by Barbara Helen Berger
God Gave Us Christmas written by Lisa Tawn Bergren, illustrated by David Hohn
Refuge written by Anne Booth, illustrated by Sam Usher
The Give-Away written and illustrated by Ray Buckley
We Were There: A Nativity Story written by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Wendell Minor
Clown of God written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Country Angel Christmas written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
The Legend of the Poinsettia written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
The Night of Las Posadas written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
This Is the Star written by Joyce Dunbar, illustrated by Gary Blythe
Wombat Divine written by Mem Fox, illustrated by Kerry Argent
Sarah’s Two Nativities written by Janine M. Fraser, illustrated by Helene Magisson
A Night The Stars Danced for Joy written by Bob Hartman, illustrated by Tim Jonke
Silent Night illustrated by Lara Hawthorne
Leah’s Star written by Margaret Bateson Hill, illustrated by Karin Littlewood
The Tale of Three Trees written by Angela Elwell Hunt, illustrated by Tim Jonke
Pippin the Christmas Pig written by Jean Little, illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
You Are My Miracle written by Maryann Cusimano Love, illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa
Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story written by Sally Loyd-Jones, illustrated by Alison Jay
The Story of the Nativity written by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Laura Barrett
Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle written by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Little Mole’s Christmas Gift written by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Sally Garland
'Twas the Evening of Christmas written by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova
'Twas the Season of Advent written by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova
The Third Gift written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
The Night of His Birth written by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Lisa Aisato
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever written by Barbara Robinson, illustrated by Laura Cornell
A Mouse in the Manger written by Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer, illustrated by Wolfordeer Colony Studio
Who Is Coming To Our House? written by Joseph Slate, illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Too Many Tamales written by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez
Home By Another Way written by Barbara Brown Taylor, illustrated by Melanie Cataldo
A Very Noisy Christmas written by Tim Thornborough, illustrated by Jennifer Davison
All the Colors of Christmas written by Matthew Paul Turner, illustrated by Gillian Gamble
Villancico Yaucano (Spanish) written by Amaury Veray, illustrated by Ivan Camilli
The Nativity illustrated by Julie Vivas
Mortimer's Christmas Manger written by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Rev. Anna Strickland
Operations Support & Content Creation
Rev. Anna Strickland (she/her/hers) looks for the Divine in the everyday like treasure in clay jars and first encountered God in the integration of her spiritual self and artistic self. She is a native Austinite and graduated from the University of Texas where she now works in college ministry, especially serving LGBTQ students.