25 Christ-Centered Christmas Picture Books

I feel like I had to be a little intentional to find more books that paint the true picture of Christmas or focus on Christ this year, but I am SO excited to share these with you! Now don't get me wrong....I love the occasional Santa or Rudolph tale too, but I wanted to incorporate a more Christ-centered Christmas holiday in my home & what better way than through children's books?
​Please share any books about Christ or the true meaning of Christmas, that are your favorites with me & I will be happy to add them to this list.  
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Christmas Books About Christ: 
1. The First Christmas 
by: Thomas D. Williams & Frank Fraser
(A poem that tells the story of Christ's birth.) 
www.amazon.com/First-Christmas-Thomas-D-Williams/dp/1622828542/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=the+first+Christmas&qid=1607038712&sr=8-6
2. Jesus Calling: the Story of Christmas
by: Sarah Young & Katya Longhi
(This story starts long before Christ's birth; it goes back to the Creation! God has always planned for a Christmas & His great plan involved one very important character: Jesus.) 
www.amazon.com/Jesus-Calling-Story-Christmas-picture/dp/1400210291/ref=sr_1_2?crid=24NWR6658SPEM&dchild=1&keywords=jesus+calling+the+story+of+christmas&qid=1607038811&sprefix=jesus+calling%3A+the+story+%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-2

3. Over in a Stable
by: Suzanne Nelson & Aleksander Zolotic
(A charming counting & rhyming book leading to the stable where Christ was born.) 
www.amazon.com/Over-Stable-Suzanne-Nelson/dp/0310761123/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=over+in+a+stable&qid=1607038853&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExV05KOExBQk8yRUhDJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDE5NDk5M045M0NZQVJKMTRKMyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDIyNzM4U0dNUjVGRlJUSFVKJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

4. The Littlest Watchman 
by: Scott James & Geraldine Rodriguez
(Benjamin's job is to watch a stump as a sign of all of God's promises coming true. Benjamin's family finally gives up waiting, but one night, outside of Bethlehem, Benjamin gets to watch something wonderful.)
www.amazon.com/Littlest-Watchman-Watching-Waiting-Christmas/dp/1784981400/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+littlest+watchman&qid=1607038956&sr=8-1

5. Long Ago on a Silent Night
by: Julie Berry & Annie Won
(This one tells the story of the miracle of Christmas, the wonder of the Nativity, shown through wonderful illustrations.) 
www.amazon.com/Long-Silent-Night-Julie-Berry/dp/1338277723/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JXLGU73XBRCN&dchild=1&keywords=long+ago+on+a+silent+night&qid=1607039071&sprefix=Long+ago+on+a+s%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-1
6. Born on Christmas Morn
by: Melinda Busch & Melanie Hall
(Rhymes & colorful pictures bring the Bible story of Jesus' birth, in Luke 2, to life.)
www.amazon.com/When-Jesus-Was-Born-Bethlehem/dp/1573458414/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3W182U8MK2H1O&dchild=1&keywords=jesus+was+born+in+bethlehem&qid=1607042795&sprefix=jesus+was+born%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-1

7. Mary's First Christmas
by: Walter Wangerin Jr. & Timothy Ladwig
(Mary tells Jesus the story of his birth & His upbringing; the story is told in 4 different parts.) 
www.amazon.com/Marys-First-Christmas-Walter-Wangerin/dp/0310222168/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mary%27s+first+christmas&qid=1608520622&sr=8-1

8. Mary's Little Donkey: And the Escape to Egypt 
by: Gunhild Sehin
(Mary's donkey was once a donkey who hated hard work, but then he met Mary & the donkey is proud to carry Mary to Bethlehem & then away to Egypt to escape evil King Herod.) 

www.amazon.com/Marys-Little-Donkey-Escape-Egypt/dp/0863159338/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mary%27s+little+donkey&qid=1607061860&s=books&sr=1-1

9. Come & See
by: Monica Mayper
(Everyone comes to see the Christ child the night He is born; shepherds, neighbors, townsfolk, etc. gather to celebrate the child sleeping in a manger.) 

www.amazon.com/Come-see-Christmas-Monica-Mayper/dp/0439216230/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=come+%26+see&qid=1607062972&s=books&sr=1-11

10. God Gave us Christmas
by: Lisa Tawn Bergren  
(Little Cub thinks Santa gave everyone Christmas; Mama Bear decides to take Little Cub out in nature to see all the ways God has blessed them with Christmas. She also takes this time to teach Cub about baby Jesus & His role in God's plan.) 
www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Us-Christmas/dp/1400071755/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=god+gave+us+christmas&qid=1607038452&sr=8-2

11. There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve 
by: Pam Munoz Ryan & Dennis Nolan
(Instead of snow, a desert wind blew palm fronds in the desert as the Christ child was being born. The Nativity is told in the correct time & season, by emphasizing the true importance of the spirit of the season, no matter what the weather is like.) 
www.amazon.com/There-Was-Snow-Christmas-Eve/dp/0786854928/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T29X29UT2IKT&dchild=1&keywords=there+was+no+snow+on+christmas+eve&qid=1607062636&s=books&sprefix=there+was+no+snow+o%2Cstripbooks%2C373&sr=1-1

12. Asleep in the Stable
by: Will Hillenbrand
www.amazon.com/Asleep-Stable-Will-Hillenbrand/dp/0439727952/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=asleep+in+a+stable&qid=1607062605&s=books&sr=1-1

13. The Little Drummer Boy
by: Bernadette Watts   OR   Ezra Jack Keats version 
(A little poor boy named Benjamin goes with his friend to see the newborn King & he ends up playing on his drum for the baby because he is too poor to bring any other gifts.) 
www.amazon.com/Little-Drummer-Boy-Bernadette-Watts/dp/0735843252/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3V9RV4SFEW8FJ&dchild=1&keywords=little+drummer+boy&qid=1607024409&s=books&sprefix=little+drummer%2Cstripbooks%2C199&sr=1-3 

www.amazon.com/Little-Drummer-Ezra-Jack-Keats/dp/0140567437/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3V9RV4SFEW8FJ&dchild=1&keywords=little+drummer+boy&qid=1607024464&s=books&sprefix=little+drummer%2Cstripbooks%2C199&sr=1-1 

14. Mary's Little Donkey: And the Escape to Egypt 
by: Gunhild Sehlin & Jan 
www.amazon.com/Marys-Little-Donkey-Escape-Egypt/dp/0863159338/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GTMR5L2L8XI1&dchild=1&keywords=mary%27s+little+donkey&qid=1607034725&sprefix=Mary%27s+Little%2Caps%2C234&sr=8-1

15. The Night Of His Birth
by: Katherine Paterson & Lisa Aisato 
(Mary marvels at her perfect little baby as Joseph sleeps & wonders as she realizes her baby is not only a gift to her, but God's gift to the world.) 
www.amazon.com/Night-His-Birth-Katherine-Paterson/dp/1947888129/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+night+of+his+birth&qid=1607035115&sr=8-2 

16. Silent Night
by: Lara Hawthorne
www.amazon.com/Silent-Night-Lara-Hawthorne/dp/1786030667/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=silent+night&qid=1607062560&s=books&sr=1-2

17. The Christmas Promise
by: Alison Mitchell & Catalina Echeverri 
(A Bible-centered story of God's promise to send a new King; a forever King!) 
www.amazon.com/Christmas-Promise-Alison-Mitchell/dp/1910307114/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+christmas+promise&qid=1607062411&s=books&sr=1-1

18. The Night Before Jesus
by: Herbert Brokering & David Miles
(This sweet story is set to the rhythm of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" but it depicts the story of Christ's birth.) 
www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Jesus-Herbert-Brokering/dp/0758660294/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+night+before+jesus&qid=1607062496&s=books&sr=1-1

19. A Night the Stars Danced for Joy
by: Bob Hartman & Tim Jonke
(On a clear night, an angel appears in the sky before a shepherd family & instructs them to travel to Bethlehem to witness the birth of the Christ child.) 
www.amazon.com/Night-Stars-Danced-Joy/dp/0745940862/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+night+the+stars+danced+for+joy&qid=1607105540&sr=8-1
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20. The Legend of the Candy Cane
by: Lori Walburg
(Peppermint candy canes are not just a delicious treat we enjoy at Christmastime. A young girl named Lucy learns this when a stranger comes into town & she is curious what he is up to, so she offers to help him unpack his store. He shares with Lucy the legend of the candy cane, including the Christian symbolism behind the red and white striped stick.) 
www.amazon.com/Legend-Candy-Cane-Newly-Illustrated/dp/0310730120/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1607062182&sr=1-1

21. The Birds of Bethlehem 
by: Tomie DePaola 
(The Nativity story is shared from a birds-eye view. The birds gather in the fields to both eat & share the exciting news of an angel appearing; then they fly off to find the stable where the Messiah lay.) 
www.amazon.com/Birds-Bethlehem-Tomie-dePaola/dp/0399257802/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+birds+of+bethlehem&qid=1607062052&s=books&sr=1-2

22. A Savior is Born: Rocks Tell the Story of Christmas
by: Patti Rokus 
(A picture book using rock art to inspire wonder & awe as all of the characters of the Christmas story are depicted the night that Jesus was born.) 
www.amazon.com/Savior-Born-Rocks-Story-Christmas/dp/0310764963/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+savior+is+born&qid=1607062013&s=books&sr=1-1

23. A Child was Born
by: Grace Maccarone
(A first Nativity book for children.)
www.amazon.com/Nativity-Maccarone-illustrated-Softcover-Scholastic/dp/B002ISXLZI/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+child+was+born&qid=1607061987&s=books&sr=1-1

24. Mary, the Mother of Jesus
by: Tomie dePaola 
(DePaola draws on the Bible & brings the Giotto frescoes of Mary from a chapel in Italy, to life in this book. This book includes 15 stories about Mary, including her role as the mother of the Savior.) 
www.amazon.com/Mary-Mother-Jesus-Tomie-dePaola/dp/0823410188/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3P1506TVSQ5D7&dchild=1&keywords=mary+the+mother+of+jesus+by+tomie+depaola&qid=1607039351&sprefix=mary+the+mother+of+jes%2Caps%2C271&sr=8-1

25. Jesus is Born
Retold by: Sophie Piper & Anne Yvonne Gilbert 
(A picture book retelling the story of Christ's birth from Luke 2 & Matthew in the Bible.) 
www.amazon.com/Jesus-Born-Sophie-Piper/dp/1680991876/ref=sr_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus+is+Born&qid=1607542907&sr=8-20