2025 Holiday Book Gift Guide
There’s just something magical about reading together during the holidays — cozy pajamas, twinkling lights, and a stack of picture books that make everyone slow down (even for just a few minutes).
As pediatric speech language pathologists and moms, we love giving and receiving books! They’re meaningful, long-lasting, and such a fun way to build your child’s language skills while making memories together.
In this holiday/winter book gift guide, we’re sharing some of our favorite festive reads for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
From timeless classics like The Snowy Day to newer favorites like Decorate the Tree and Just One Flake, these stories are sure to become family traditions you’ll reach for year after year.
So grab a blanket, pour some cocoa, and get ready to add a few new favorites to your holiday reading list.
You can add them to your library list for your next visit, shop your local bookstore, or purchase through bookshop (we love this website… and everything is linked there for you!) if you’re in the U.S.
→ Looking for more ideas? Explore our full 2025 Baby, Toddler, Preschool, and Mom Gift Guides here.
Books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers
A sweet story of courage and the power of community! The watercolor illustrations are beautiful—we think your toddler will love it.
A cozy story about friendship and the quiet magic of a snowy day.
Ruffles and the Cold, Cold Snow
Ruffles isn’t so sure about this cold, white stuff (until his friends show him how much fun snow can be)! This newer series features the lovable pup Ruffles, so if your little one enjoys this one, there are more adventures to explore next!
A funny story about one boy’s mission to catch a snowflake on his tongue. Simple, sweet, and full of that pure kid-joy that comes with the first snowfall.
One of our favorites! A playful, silly story about a curious squirrel who discovers the joys of winter—snowflakes, snowmen, snowballs, and all!
The Snowy Day likely makes everyone's winter book list, but it really is SO good. If your little one enjoys the book, there's even a show on Amazon Prime! (38 mins)
A beautifully illustrated advent with a flap and little poem for each day. This will be a delight to return to year after year.
Your little one is sure to enjoy this colorful, Hanukkah celebration. Each page features Hanukkah themed vocabulary: latkes, blessing, dreidels (and 23 more)!
We love the rhyming, the illustrations, and the way this book explains to little ones the process of turning a seemingly ordinary tree into a beautiful, magical, Christmas tree!
A simple (and beautiful) counting book, your child is sure to love this rhythmic story.
Little Reindeer Where Are You?
The sweetest book for the smallest of readers! We love lift-the-flap books and this one is extra sweet with mirrors for your baby to find themselves, too.
Red Sled is a great book for all ages, but especially new talkers! There are minimal words, with a big emphasis on sounds (whoa!, scrinch scrunch, etc.).
We love these colorful illustrations and the way this book can totally expand into a fold-out scene. Your little one will love exploring each cozy scene and discovering all the magic happening on Christmas Street.
A festive little board book with an emphasis on colors.
A classic for a reason, and one of our personal favorites. This is a tender story about the kindness we experience during the holidays.
Written and illustrated by Tomie DePaola (love!), this book is a sweet way for babies and toddlers to learn about the holiday.
Construction Site on Christmas Night
This is a fun one to add to your collection if your toddler or preschooler loves vehicles! Always love a good rhyming book.
The author+illustrator is a graphic designer, so of course it’s beautifully designed! It’s also delightfully interactive. This book invites little ones to move and play along as they decorate the tree.
A true classic that never loses its magic. The Polar Express captures the wonder of Christmas and the joy of believing.
A sweet look into how Corduroy came to be the bear we all know and love!
A festive board book to help teach about the celebration and importance of Kwanzaa.
There’s so much to enjoy when the first snow arrives—sledding, snow angels, and cozy fun with friends. A lovely winter companion for fans of Rockwell’s Apples and Pumpkins.
An imaginative journey featuring the classic Christmas tree in all sorts of settings. There are so many fun things to notice on each page.
A simple first book about winter and all that it brings. We love the charming cut-paper illustrations that bring each page to life.
Our Little Adventure at Christmas
With simple, heartfelt text and cozy illustrations, this story captures the warmth and meaning of the season. We love and recommend anything created by this fellow SLP!
A beautifully written story that invites readers to slow down and notice the quiet magic of a snowy day. Gentle, mindful, and paired with stunning illustrations.
The Bear book series is a classic and this festive version is such a fun read, too!
Gingerbread Mouse
Just darling! When a little mouse goes searching for a new home, she finds something perfectly festive instead. The colorful illustrations and sweet story make this one you’ll want to read again and again.Sana Mouse Where Are You?
A companion for when you can’t get enough of Santa Mouse!A great introduction to Hanukkah with an easy to read cadence to explore the holiday.
A beautifully told story about a brave young reindeer who follows their heart and finds a new home with Santa. With stunning illustrations and a timeless message about courage and belonging, it’s a truly special story to share each holiday season.
A fun guide that explores the traditions and history Kwanzaa.
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
We love the Mac Barnett/Jon Klassen duo and this is no exception. The silliness is just right for kids and adults alike.
A festive favorite full of colorful illustrations and playful rhymes that make it extra fun to read aloud. Kids will also love spotting the hidden items on each page (a sweet bonus in this charming series)!
A joyful celebration of family, food, and tradition. This picture book captures the warmth and togetherness of the Hanukkah season.
A funny, lighthearted story about a snowman who keeps trying to warm himself up! The repetition makes it perfect for building language skills and predicting what will happen next.
Happy Reading! ✨
LOOKING TO LEARN MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR TODDLER’S LEARNING?
If your little one loves books, we think they’ll love our Songs+Stories Membership.
Songs+Stories is a safe, high-quality (and ad free) screen time option. It’s also incredibly beneficial for your toddler’s language development — whether they are already super chatting or are not yet talking a lot.
It’s a safe, high-quality (and ad-free!) screen-time option that actually supports your toddler’s language development—whether they’re already chatting away or just starting to find their words.
It’s a similar style to library story time, with lots of options for engaging themes your child will love. No quick camera changes, green screen, or annoying sound effects. Plus, you’ll get access to our podcast episodes for toddlers + preschoolers.
Songs+Stories makes a wonderful gift to give or receive this holiday season. Gift cards available here.
