Christmas and Winter Picture Books with Activities
13 Christmas and winter stories for ages 3–8, each with questions to ask, a 20-minute lesson plan and a printable activity sheet. Ready for the last weeks of term or a cosy December at home.
Everything for December in one go: a Christmas activity pack and a printable sheet for Stick Man, The Jolly Christmas Postman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, One Christmas Eve, Squirrel's Snowman. Instant download.
Quick list
| Book | Age | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| How the Grinch Stole Christmas! | 4–8 | Christmas |
| The Jolly Christmas Postman | 3–7 | Christmas |
| One Christmas Eve | 3–6 | Christmas |
| Stick Man | 3–6 | Christmas |
| One Snowy Night | 3–6 | Winter |
| Squirrel's Snowman | 1–4 | Winter |
| Stella, Queen of the Snow | 3–6 | Winter |
| The Snowy Day | 2–5 | Winter |
| Thomas' Snowsuit | 3–7 | Winter |
| Ice Palace | 7–9 | Winter |
| Pugs of the Frozen North | 7–10 | Winter |
| Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? | 0–4 | Winter |
| How to Catch a Star | 3–7 | Winter |
Christmas picture books
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Dr. Seuss)
- Age
- 4–8
- Best for
- Grumpiness, kindness and what really matters
- Try asking
- “What do you love about Christmas that isn't a present?”
- Activity
- Make a list of presents that cost nothing, like a hug or a song.
The Jolly Christmas Postman (Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg)
- Age
- 3–7
- Best for
- Christmas letters, cards and fairy tales
- Try asking
- “What would you write in a letter to Father Christmas?”
- Activity
- Make a Christmas card together and post it to someone.
One Christmas Eve (Nick Butterworth)
- Age
- 3–6
- Best for
- A cosy Christmas Eve story about friends
- Try asking
- “What do you like to do on Christmas Eve?”
- Activity
- Make an invitation for a toys' Christmas party.
Stick Man (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Age
- 3–6
- Best for
- Missing home or family, and being away from people you love
- Try asking
- “How do you think Stick Man felt when he was far from home?”
- Activity
- Make a small stick family together to keep at the door for goodbyes.
Snow and winter picture books
One Snowy Night (Nick Butterworth)
- Age
- 3–6
- Best for
- Kindness and making room for others
- Try asking
- “Have you ever shared your space with someone?”
- Activity
- Build a blanket den and fit in soft toys one at a time.
Squirrel's Snowman (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Age
- 1–4
- Best for
- Snowy days and lift-the-flap fun
- Try asking
- “What would you use to make a snowman's face?”
- Activity
- Make a paper snowman and choose its hat, scarf and buttons.
Stella, Queen of the Snow (Marie-Louise Gay)
- Age
- 3–6
- Best for
- Curiosity, first snow, and a big sister's imagination
- Try asking
- “Which of Stella's answers were made up?”
- Activity
- Write down every 'why' question for a week and find the answers together.
The Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats)
- Age
- 2–5
- Best for
- The wonder of snow, and exploring the world on your own terms
- Try asking
- “What happened to the snowball in his pocket?”
- Activity
- Put an ice cube in a warm place and see what happens, like Peter's snowball.
Thomas' Snowsuit (Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko)
- Age
- 3–7
- Best for
- Stubborn moments and power struggles, with plenty of laughs
- Try asking
- “Why didn't Thomas want to wear his snowsuit?”
- Activity
- Offer two clothes choices you're happy with and let your child pick.
Ice Palace (Robert Swindells)
- Age
- 7–9
- Best for
- A brave journey to rescue a little brother
- Try asking
- “How did Ivan rescue his brother?”
- Activity
- Draw Ivan's route to the Ice Palace.
Pugs of the Frozen North (Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre)
- Age
- 7–10
- Best for
- A race to the top of the world, pulled by pugs
- Try asking
- “What did Shen and Sika wish for?”
- Activity
- Draw a map of the race with its dangers.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle)
- Age
- 0–4
- Best for
- Animal sounds, listening and joining in with repeated words
- Try asking
- “Which animal made the loudest sound?”
- Activity
- Go for a short walk and stop three times to listen. What can you hear?
How to Catch a Star (Oliver Jeffers)
- Age
- 3–7
- Best for
- Big dreams, trying again, and finding them in unexpected places
- Try asking
- “Where did the boy find his star?”
- Activity
- Cut out paper stars and hide them around the house to catch.
Want the whole term in one go?
The Christmas festival bundle has a Christmas activity pack plus a printable sheet for several Christmas books, in one download. More about the festival itself: Christmas books and how to celebrate.
Questions parents and teachers ask
What are good Christmas picture books for 4 to 7 year olds?
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Jolly Christmas Postman, One Christmas Eve and Stick Man all work well for ages 4 to 7. Each has a free guide here with questions to ask and activities to try.
How do I use a Christmas picture book in the classroom?
Read it once for enjoyment, then reread it with 2 or 3 questions that ask how a character felt and why. Finish with a short drawing or writing task. Every guide on this page has a 20-minute lesson plan that follows those steps.
Are there winter books that aren't about Christmas?
Yes. The Snowy Day, One Snowy Night, Squirrel's Snowman, Stella, Queen of the Snow and Thomas' Snowsuit are about snow, cold and winter days, so they suit any family or class in December and January.