A collection of recommended Christmas picture books that will captivate 5-year-olds!
As Christmas approaches, 5-year-olds can find even more joy in the world of picture books.
Some children believe in Santa Claus, while others are just beginning to have a few questions—meeting picture books that can embrace each child’s feelings is important.
Here, we introduce picture books with warm illustrations and heartwarming stories that bring the dreams and hopes of Christmas to life.
Create special memories with books that capture children’s excitement as they wait for presents and convey Santa Claus’s gentle spirit!
- Picture books to read at Christmas! A collection of picture book ideas that will move adults, too.
- A collection of recommended picture books to read with 4-year-olds that will make the wait for Christmas exciting
- Ideas for Winter-Themed Crafts and Bulletin Board Projects for 5-Year-Olds
- A special feature of recommended picture books for Christmas that will captivate 2-year-olds!
- [For 5-year-olds] Recommended for Christmas! A collection of fun crafts to make
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture books recommended for reading in January
- Christmas picture books that toddlers can enjoy! A collection of read-aloud stories that will leave a lasting impression.
- Picture Books to Read in February [For 5-Year-Olds]
- Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy
- Picture Books to Read with 5-Year-Olds: Recommended Titles to Make Winter More Fun
- For babies under 1! A special selection of picture books that let infants enjoy Christmas with all five senses
- Enjoy Autumn Picture Books! A Collection of Ideas to Read with Your 5-Year-Old
- [For 5-year-olds] Picture Books to Read in Spring | Let’s Explore Different Worlds with Children
A collection of recommended Christmas picture books that 5-year-olds will love (1–10)
Paddington’s Christmas Letter
Familiar from the anime Paddington’s Adventures! This is a Christmas picture book starring Paddington, the little bear boy.
It tells the story of Paddington’s efforts to give his family a wonderful gift, and amazingly, there are pages with real envelopes inside the book.
They even contain actual items, like a handmade Christmas card from Paddington and an advent calendar from Aunt Lucy.
Enjoy getting ready for Christmas with Paddington—and be sure to receive those gifts too!
The Velveteen Rabbit
The picture book The Velveteen Rabbit, loved around the world, is one every child should read at least once.
In this story, on Christmas Day, a velveteen rabbit comes to a boy.
As the rabbit spends each day with the boy, he begins to ponder what it means for a toy to be “real.” What answer does the rabbit arrive at? And how might children who are surrounded by toys feel after reading this book? Since many children ask Santa for toys at Christmas, I hope they’ll read this book beforehand and nurture a sense of cherishing the things they have.
The Tale of Mashiro the Baby Rabbit
Mashiro, the rabbit protagonist, lives in a northern country.
On Christmas Day, he received a present from Santa, but he wanted one more.
So he smeared ash on his body, pretended to be a different rabbit, and got another present.
However, the ash wouldn’t come off, which scared him, and he regretted having lied.
To return the gifts to God, he buried them in the ground.
Then the present grew into a great fir tree…
A heartwarming story that begins with a childlike wish and a lie.
Children will empathize with Mashiro for telling a lie, feel a thrill, and be relieved in the end.
A Collection of Recommended Christmas Picture Books That 5-Year-Olds Will Love (11–20)
The 100th Christmas Cake: A Christmas Eve Story 2
On Christmas Eve night, the animals of the forest are busily making 100 cakes! As they work together to carry the cakes, they meet people along the way who need help.
Each time, they share one cake, and by the end, only a single cake remains.
But then, a warm little miracle happens, gently wrapping the reader’s heart.
A classic tale that captures the Christmas spirit: kindness goes around and comes back to you.
With simple words and delicate embroidered illustrations, it’s a gentle story perfect for a quiet night.
A Little Fox’s Special Christmas
A little fox living in a cold forest goes out one day to do some Christmas shopping.
Seeing the shops’ sparkling decorations and the bustling crowds, he starts to wonder, “What should I ask for?” But in the end, what the little fox discovers is a “special feeling” far more important than any present.
It’s a story that fills the heart with kindness and warmth.
It teaches us that more than presents, the best gifts are saying “thank you” and simply being together.
When you finish reading, it’s the kind of picture book that makes parents and children want to share a tight hug.
Santa Who Found a Job
Santa delivers presents once a year, but what on earth does he do during the rest of the seasons? This picture book portrays Santa’s off-season.
Believe it or not, he tries out all kinds of jobs! A toy shop clerk, a pastry chef, a mail carrier… but none of them go quite right.
In the end, though, he realizes, “Being Santa is the best job of all!” It’s a cheerful, uplifting story that packs a positive message—“Finding a job you love is wonderful!”—with a good dose of humor.
It’s a picture book that naturally conveys the importance of being yourself and working hard.
Katie’s Christmas Eve
Katie, the girl protagonist, loves art museums.
On Christmas Eve, she slips into the world inside the paintings and sets off on an adventure with characters from famous works of art.
Teaming up with angels and animals from the paintings, she helps Santa in a fantastical, thrill-filled story! For children, it feels just like traveling through a picture book.
The hero-like mission of helping Santa will be especially appealing to five-year-olds.
It’s a picture book with wonderfully beautiful, colorful, and detailed illustrations.