12 festive books to share with little ones this Christmas

Phantom the ginger mog is heading out for a wander on a chilly Christmas Eve… what will he see – and what will he eat? Venturing through the pine trees and snow, he stumbles upon a beautiful Yuletide scene, eats lots of tasty Christmas food, and even gets offered a lift home from Santa and his reindeer! With bright illustrations that sparkle with Christmas cheer, you and your little ones will love this festive Scots story.

Christmas means many things. Most of all, as one reindeer calf discovers in this treasure of a board book, it means love. Featuring adorable imagery of a reindeer calf with their parent against a beautiful wintery backdrop, coupled with rhyming text that creates a lovely flow from one page to the next, it's the perfect read during those quieter moments over the festive period.

This heartwarming retelling of the classic Christmas tale will have wee ones captivated this festive season. When Santa gets lost in a blizzard, a lonely little mouse is on hand to help him deliver his presents - but will mouse's own Christmas wish come true? We can't tell you that! But we can tell you it's definitely a book to put on your list. With its traditional illustrations and pitch perfect rhyme, this is a truly magical tale for Christmas time.

Christmas is the best time of year for these five festive peas! In this board book, a rhyming countdown to Christmas takes place, as each pea takes part in different festive activities. Soon enough, there's just one pea left – until they all come together again for presents, that is! Children are bound to be left smiling along with the little peas as they follow this adorably illustrated Christmas adventure.

An ugly little fir tree is taken to the city where no one wants to buy him – everyone wants the big grand trees. However, when a boy experiencing homelessness takes ownership of the tree, it finds itself at the centre of a magical Christmas Eve it will never forget. Emily Sutton's illustrations have a classic yet modern feel and wrap the message of the book in enough Christmas magic to make it a story children will love to talk about, and read again and again.

An absolute classic for the festive season! Join the Jolly Postman as he sets off to deliver Christmas mail to a host of nursery rhyme characters and fairy tale friends. With detailed illustrations, and actual letters, cards and games to share on each page, this is a book that will keep little ones engaged for days on end. The glorious rhyme and use of dialogue beg for it be read aloud, with as many different voices as you can manage!

High up in the clouds a tiny snowflake is made. Down below, a little girl longs for the perfect star for her Christmas tree. With a stunning colour palette of purples and whites, this enchanting story of a girl and a snowflake looking for their place in the world will bring a little sparkle - and wintry cheer - to everyone's festive season.

This seasonal book in the award-winning series is a real treasure! Perfect for baby's first Christmas, little hands will love exploring wee robin's chest and wings - as well as looking for the cheeky white mouse on every page. The tactile elements are always high quality and the bright, graphic illustrations are ideal for engaging for little ones.

Fans of the original Dogger story will love this charming sequel complete with carol singers, tree decorating...and toys! Dave is so excited about his new Christmas presents he doesn't notice his beloved Dogger is missing (again!). Can he find him before it's too late? A traditional, uplifting story for children of all ages.

It's Christmas Eve, the busiest night of the year for Santa and his little elves – but gorging on one too many candy canes has put them out of action! Who else but the Sunnytown bunnies could come to Santa's rescue? Through playful text and vibrant, busy illustrations, this rhyming riot of a picture book is sure to add some sparkle to all your story times this Christmas.

How does he indeed? Headfirst or feetfirst? Does he turn himself into fire? Maybe he stretches like taffy and goes in one leg at a time? What if he gets stuck? He must carry treats for dogs…This fantastically funny, gem of a book is perfect for curious young children and their many questions about Santa Claus.

This brilliant sing-along board book is a lovely gift for young children’s first Christmas. There are lots of fun push and pull sliders for little ones to enjoy and many festive activities to spot and talk about.