Children's Christmas Stories

We read and reviewed over 100 Christmas Stories. We felt that younger children would get the most enjoyment from the 30 titles we selected below. We hope you enjoy reading them to your children, grandchildren, or to students in your classroom.

Enjoy traditional Christmas Carols, Christmas Cards and our most popular collection of Short Stories for Children

• The Elves and the Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm
  
  A poor shoemaker and his wife are down to their last piece of leather when their fortunes change thanks to help from talented elves.

• The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
  
  "When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
• Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
  
  A must-read on Christmas Eve!
• The Fir-Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
  
  A tree can't wait to grow up and achieve great things, rather than appreciate the present.
• The Last Dream of Old Oak by Hans Christian Andersen
  
  An unlikely conversation between and old oak and a mayfly.

• The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
  
  Similar to The Elves and the Shoemaker, these lovely mice take over sewing for an aged tailor at Christmas time, but have to 'paws' for his cat!
• Christmas Greetings from a Fairy to a Child by Lewis Carroll
  
  A festive holiday poem (forgetting fairy tricks and elfish play for a moment) from the beloved author of Alice in Wonderland
• A Letter from Santa Claus by Mark Twain
  
  Twain treats us to his playful, dry wit, in his Santa's response to children's letters.

• The Sprig of Holly by Frank Stockton
  
  A dwarf demands a year of the children's lives in exchange for the last piece of holly. Will they agree?
• The Night After Christmas by Anonymous
  
  A play off the "Twas the Night Before" verses, there's lots of recovering after the year's biggest holiday.
• Christmas Every Day by William Dean Howells
  
  After reading, young children might rethink their wish to have Christmas all the time.

• The True Meaning of Christmas (recited by Linus) from The Bible, King James Version, Luke
  
  In this unforgettable scene, Linus recites scripture to explain what Christmas is all about in A Charlie Brown Christmas.
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
  
  The whole story: youth in the Burzee forest, manhood when he starts his journey with the reindeer, and old age to the mantle of immortality.
• Jimmy Scarecrow's Christmas by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
  
  This scarecrow gets recruited by Santa to scare away polar explorers and spread joy at Christmas time.

• Christmas; or, The Good Fairy by Harriet Beecher Stowe
  
  A precious story about the joy of thoughtful gift-making and giving to appreciative recipients.
• The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin
  
  "A real Christmas baby was not to be lightly named, the whole family agreed on that."
• Cousin Tribulation's Story by Louisa May Alcott
  
  A heartwarming story about an oatmeal parade and "angel-children" who help a family in need.


• The Brownie's Xmas by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
  
  The children give a brownie Christmas for the first time in one thousand years!
• A Snow Man by Anonymous
  
  Nothing more fun than making a big snow man!
• Little Jack Horner by Mother Goose
  
  We couldn't leave out this classic nursery rhyme featuring Christmas pie!

• Papa Panov's Special Christmas by Leo Tolstoy
  
  An old man welcomes strangers into his home, a story of compassion and kindness.

• The Christmas Ball by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
  
  A toe-tapping story about children and fairies dancing under the shade of the Christmas tree.
• Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride by Katharine Lee Bates
  
  Mrs. Claus is the narrator of this poem by the author best known for America the Beautiful
• The Snowflake Tree by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
  
  A beautiful winter poem describing a snow-kissed tree.
• A Christmas Dream, and How It Came to be True by Louisa May Alcott
  
  A children's take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Alcott shares a delightful story from a young girl's point of view.

• The Little Thief in the Pantry by Anonymous
  
  During this season where pantries are full of goodies, here's a charming story about a little girl's compassion for a mouse who learns the difference between stealing and giving.
• The Pony Engine and the Pacific Express by William Dean Howells
  
  Who doesn't love a story about trains at Christmas time?
• The Christmas Masquerade by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
  
  What will the parents do when their children get "stuck" in Christmas holiday costumes and become the characters they were only pretending to be?
• Turkeys Turning the Tables by William Dean Howells
  
  A word of caution: after reading, your children might want to set free, rather than eat, turkeys this holiday!

• The Pumpkin-Glory by William Dean Howells
  
  This story is in season anytime between Thanksgiving and the New Year.
• Christmas in Seventeen Seventy Six by Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
  
  Set during the Revolutionary War, a family anxiously awaits their captain-father's return after the surprise Christmas Day attack crossing the Delaware River.
• A Christmas Hamper by Anonymous
  
  A couple clever poems fit for the season.

• A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
  
  Santa is simply ruining their business, and something must be done at once!
• Little Bun Rabbit by L. Frank Baum
  
  Dorothy and a bunny have a discussion about Santa.
• The Legend of Babouscka by Anonymous
  
  A Russian tale of an old lady who got lost on her way to visit the Christ Child. Legend has it, she's still looking, and delivering presents on her way.
• How Christmas Came to the Santa Maria Flats by Elia W. Peattie
  
  How will Santa deliver their presents? The lease says no peddlers or agents can enter the apartment building-- how will be most famous toy peddler get in?

• Round the Yule-Log: Christmas in Norway by Peter Christen Asbjornsen
  
  This Norwegian folk tale is about mischievous trolls who invade the farm every Christmas Eve.
• A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
  
  Even young children can reminisce about simpler days of Christmases past.
• Christmas at Fezziwig's Warehouse by Charles Dickens
  
  A raucous Christmas Eve ball featuring characters from A Christmas Carol.
• Uncle Richard's New Year Dinner by Lucy Maud Montgomery
  
  Nothing melts an old family feud like a home cooked dinner from the heart to start the year off right. By the author of Anne of Green Gables.
• William's New Year's Day by Richmal Crompton
  
  Imagine if you were eleven years old and got to manage a candy store on New Year's Day!

Christmas Carols

Enjoy our full selection of Christmas Stories, Books & Poems

Check out our collection of Vintage Christmas & New Year Cards

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