A Bentley Story › Best books for a Christmas Eve box for toddlers and preschoolers

Reading guide

Best books for a Christmas Eve box for toddlers and preschoolers

The best book for a Christmas Eve box is a short, calm Christmas story that ends with everyone cosy and ready for sleep. For toddlers, a lift-the-flap book such as Dear Santa works well; for ages 3–6, gentle Christmas Eve stories such as The Night Before Christmas, Kipper’s Christmas Eve or Mog’s Christmas are reliable choices.

Honest disclosure: this guide is written by the publisher of the A Bentley Story books, so one book on it is ours and is clearly marked. Every other book is an independent pick by well-known authors and publishers. Nobody paid to be included, and there are no affiliate links on this site.

What to look for

• Calm, not hyper: Christmas Eve is already exciting, so pick a story that winds down to a sleepy ending.
• Set on Christmas Eve if you can: a story about the night before Christmas makes the box feel like part of the tradition.
• Short enough to finish: 5–10 minutes is plenty on a late, busy night.
• Match the age: sturdy flaps and textures for under-3s, a proper little story for ages 3–6.
• Easy to pack: a paperback picture book is flat and light, and sits neatly on top of pyjamas and a hot-chocolate sachet.
• Worth keeping: a book they can read again every Christmas Eve becomes part of the family ritual.

Our picks

1. The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. The classic Christmas Eve poem, available in many illustrated editions for little ones. The obvious choice if you want a new family tradition.
2. Kipper’s Christmas Eve by Mick Inkpen. Kipper and his friends on the night before Christmas. Short, gentle and funny for ages 2–5.
3. Mog’s Christmas by Judith Kerr. Mog the cat is baffled by the Christmas fuss and ends up on the roof. A much-loved British classic with a cosy ending.
4. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. The Jolly Postman delivers Christmas post to nursery-rhyme characters, with real letters and cards to pull out. Best for ages 3–6.
5. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear’s friends keep him awake so he won’t miss Christmas. Rhyming, warm and calm by the last page.
6. Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Stick Man’s long journey home to his family tree, ending on Christmas Eve. Rhyming and great to read aloud for ages 3–6.
7. Little Robin Red Vest by Jan Fearnley. Little Robin gives away his warm vests to friends in the cold, and is rewarded on Christmas Eve. A kind, wintry story for ages 2–5.
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss. The Grinch tries to stop Christmas and learns what it is really about. Longer and bouncier, so better for ages 4–6.
9. Dear Santa by Rod Campbell. A lift-the-flap Christmas board book from the author of Dear Zoo. Ideal for ages 1–3.
10. That’s Not My Reindeer… by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells. An Usborne touchy-feely board book for babies and young toddlers.
11. Bentley and the Big Snow Day by A. W. Bren (our book). A cosy Christmas Eve snow-day story about a big, fluffy family dog and a snowman who keeps losing his carrot nose. Funny in the middle, calm at the end, with a join-in “wag, wag, wag!”

A simple Christmas Eve box: new pyjamas, a warm drink, one calm Christmas story and lights out. Keep the same book for next year and it becomes a family tradition.

Questions parents ask

Last updated 9 November 2026. Found a mistake or have a suggestion? Tell us on Instagram.