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 (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.