Favorite Christmas Sing-Along Picture Books

 

We love sing-along picture books in our home. So, it's been fun to find Christmas-themed ones to enjoy in December. Here are the ones we have loved the last two Christmases with my kids. I recommend having a few instruments to rattle, shake, or jingle as you sing-read these wonderful picture books.  Our public library had several of them, so be sure to check your own library. These are great for all ages. You'll do most of the singing with infants and toddlers, but they'll start joining in as they grow. Singing carols as family is a tradition I want to cultivate in our little family, and these books make it easy to start when they're young. 

Silent Night (illustrated by Susan Jeffers)

The calming carol is beautifully illustrated to show the story of Jesus' birth. The details in the illustrations are so intricate and great for telling the story of Jesus' birth.

Away in a Manger (Mike Morris and Wee Sing versions)

My son's Little People Nativity set has this song playing whenever the angel presses down on the stable, so it was an obvious choice to find a book with the song. He loves playing the melody while I sing-read the book. The one on the left was last year's and the one on the right is this year's version. Both are great.

The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol (by Tomie dePaola)

The beautiful carol is not often heard anymore, but has been brought to a new generation with Tomie's signature artwork  and charm. From the donkey who "carried His mother up hill and down" to the cow who "gave Him my manger for His bed" and the dove from rafters high in the stable who cooed Him to sleep, this is just such a sweet old carol. We listen/watch the Cedarmont Kids version on Youtube, which My son loves because it has kids singing the song next to real barn animals from the song.

Jingle Bells (Iza Trapani and Susan Jeffers)

Two versions we love: The Iza Trapani book starts with the first two verses of the original song, then continues with new verses, each focused on a different country and their Christmas traditions. The Susan Jeffers has an adorable story happening as the song us sung (a dog on an adventure). Whichever version you choose, have bells to shake while singing it to your child for some hands-on singing merriment.

Walking in A Winter Wonderland (song by Peggy Lee, illustrations by Tim Hopgood) 

My son and I enjoy Hopgood's other song adaptations we've read, What A Wonderful World and Singing in the Rain, and really enjoyed this one too. Bright, fun illustrations in Hopgood's style are perfectly matched with the whimsical lyrics. 

12 Days of Christmas: A Peek- Through Picture Book (Britta Teckentrup)

The classic song, accompanied by creative peek-through holes and darling illustrations. A fun way to practice counting and just so engaging even for the youngest children because of the holes they can poke their fingers through! There are a ton of picture book versions of this song, but this one is our favorite since it has the peek-through windows

Deck the Hall: A Traditional Carol (illustrated by Sylvia Long)

We enjoy Sylvia Long's books, particularly her other two picture books based on songs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Hush Little Baby.  A bunny family (I think the same one from Hush Little Baby) celebrates Christmas with decorating their home, going ice skating together, singing carols at church, baking cookies, and other sweet activities together. 

O Come, All Ye Faithful (by David Christiana)

The beautiful carol is illustrated with humorous (and oddly-shaped) angels pulling and pushing animals to create a nativity scene. I would have preferred more classic, non-humorous illustrations for such a powerful carol, but the more we read/sing it, the more the silly illustrations grow on us. 

The Little Drummer Boy (by Ezra Jack Keats)

We have an old, used copy that’s faded and ripping at the seams, but it’s still such a beautiful book. Some kind of drumming toy or even a pot or pan would accompany this sing-along picture book perfectly.

Christina's Carol (by Tomie dePaola)

I was vaguely familiar with this carol (In the Bleak Midwinter) by Christina Rossetti, and picked up the picture book on a whim, because I have been trying to read all of the books written and/or illustrated by the late Tomie dePaola. I listened to different recordings of the song to help me learn it. It was fun learning a new carol that I mostly sang to my newborn late at night as a lullaby. 

We Three Kings (by Gennady Spirin)
The artwork is incredibly detailed and breathtaking. Whether they were kings, wise men, philosophers, or whatever, this is still a classic we love and return to. 

Raffi Christmas Treasury (illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott)

We enjoy the Raffi Christmas Album so it was fun to find this songbook that has all the songs from that album illustrated, plus the music sheets at the back of the book if you want to play along on piano or other instrument. There are the crowd favorites (Frosty, Rudolf) but there are also ones that are written by Raffi, like Must Be Santa (too easy to get stuck in my head) and A Child's Gift of Love. Raffi's gentle, acoustic style is always a treat compared to other fast-paced, annoying kid's music.

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Do you have any favorite sing-along picture books based on either carols or secular Christmas songs? I'd love to hear about them! 

HERE  are more  Christ-centered Christmas books and HERE more secular favorites.