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12 Days of Christmas Book Advent Calendar with Activities for Kids

Countdown to Christmas with this adorable Christmas Book Advent Calendar! Fun and easy Christmas crafts, activities, and recipes to go along with 12 Christmas Books your child will love to read this holiday season.

Christmas Book Advent Calendar for Kids!  12 Days of Christmas Books and Activities this holiday season.
Book and Activity Advent Calendar for Christmas
  • Day 1 BOOK: Bear Stays Up for Christmas
  • Day 2 BOOK: Sounding Joy
  • Day 3 BOOK: The Polar Express
  • Day 4 BOOK: Merry Christmas, Mouse!
  • Day 5 BOOK: The Christmas Owl
  • Day 6 BOOK: Gingerbread Mouse
  • Day 7 BOOK: Little Red Sleigh
  • Day 8 BOOK: The Littlest Christmas Tree
  • Day 9 BOOK: Snowmen at Christmas
  • Day 10 BOOK: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
  • Day 11 BOOK: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • Day 12 BOOK: The Night Before Christmas
  • Twelve Days of Christmas Books for Kids

Christmas Book Advent Calendar with Activities

As the month of December begins today so does my obsession with reading children’s Christmas books. Yeap…seriously!

There’s something so special about sitting down with the kids under the Christmas tree and reading Christmas books together during the holidays.

If you take a peek at the Best Sellers in Christmas Books on Amazon or our 100 Christmas Books Every Child Should Read Before They Turn Age 10, the books below are the most popular with parents, teachers and most importantly kids.

I’ve taken each of these heartwarming Christmas books and added activity ideas to do along with them as you countdown to Christmas. From reindeer to Christmas tree, Christmas ornaments, and more, there are several Christmas Activity ideas to choose from to make each of the 12 stories special for your child.

I’ve also included the Christmas books read-alouds on youtube for each of these 12 stories.

Christmas Book Advent Calendar for Kids with 12 books and activity ideas for holiday fun.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson

Day 1 BOOK:
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson 

Listen to Read Aloud

DIY Holiday Bear Gift Wrap
Bear Ornament with popsicle sticks

Bear Activity Ideas:

  • Felted Bear Ornament
  • DIY Holiday Bear Gift Wrap Idea
  • Craft Stick Bear Ornament
  • Holiday Bear Rice Krispie Treat
  • Holiday Bear Biscuits Recipe
Sounding Joy by Ellie Holcomb

Day 2 BOOK:
Sounding Joy by Ellie Holcomb

Listen to Read Aloud song by the author. (amazing!!)

Personalized Ornament Craft by Kids for Christmas
Handprint Joy Keepsake Printable Craft

Joy Activity Ideas:

  • Personalized JOY Word Ornament Craft
  • Painted JOY Rock Craft
  • Nativity Scene Craft Idea
  • Joy Handprint Keepsake Craft
  • Joy to the World Christmas Ornament

Day 3 BOOK:
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Listen to Read Aloud

Building a Moving Polar Express Train Ride with Preschoolers
White Plate with hot chocolate cookies with holiday garland for Christmas cookies.
Fingerprint Train Ornament inspired by Freight Train for Kids

Train Activity Ideas:

  • DIY Moving Polar Express Train Craft
  • Fingerprint Train Ornament
  • Hot Chocolate Cookie Recipe
Merry Christmas Mouse! by Laura Numberoff

Day 4 BOOK:
Merry Christmas, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff

Listen to Read Aloud

handmade star ornament with noodles for Christmas
Fingerprint Mouse Themed Ornament for Kids to Make for Christmas
Playdough Christmas Tree Activity for Fine Motor Skills

Mouse Activity Ideas:

  • Mouse Fingerprint Ornament
  • Dried Pasta Angel Ornament OR Star Ornament
  • Playdough Christmas Tree Activity

Day 5 BOOK:
The Christmas Owl: Based on the True Story of a Little Owl Named Rockefeller by Gideon Sterer

Listen to Read Aloud

Alphabet Christmas Tree Game for Kids
Clay Owl Christmas Ornament

Owl Activity Ideas:

  • Wood Slice Owl Ornament
  • ABC Christmas Tree Activity
  • Clay Christmas Ornament Craft
Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratun

Day 6 BOOK:
Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratun

Listen to Read Aloud

Fingerprint Gingerbread Man Ornament
Hand-Sewn Gingerbread Man Ornament with Your Child
Gingerbread House Ornament with DIY Stained Glass effect for kids

Gingerbread Activity Ideas:

  • Handsewn Gingerbread Man Ornament
  • Fingerprint Gingerbread Man Ornament
  • Create Your Own Gingerbread House
  • Bake Gingerbread Cookies

Day 7 BOOK:
Little Red Sleigh by Erin Guendelsberger

Listen to Read Aloud

Popsicle Stick Sleigh Ornament

Sleigh Activity Ideas:

  • Rocking Santa Claus Sleigh Paper Plate Craft
  • Popsicle Stick Sleigh Ornament
  • Santa Sleigh STEM Building Activity
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Day 8 BOOK:
The Littlest Christmas Tree by R. A. Herman

Listen to Read Aloud

Chalkboard Christmas Tree Ornament
Christmas Tree Craft with Spices
Christmas Tree Math Game for Kids

Christmas Tree Activity Ideas:

  • Chalkboard Christmas Tree Ornament
  • Christmas Tree Sensory Spices Craft
  • Christmas Tree Math Game
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner

Day 9 BOOK:
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner

Listen to Read Aloud

Snowman Pizza Recipe - snowman books and snowman pizza, the perfect combination for kids to read, make and eat.
Snowman Chocolate Bar Gift Idea
Snowman Names Craft

Snowman Activity Ideas:

  • Snowman Gift Wrap Idea for Kids
  • Snowman Names Craft
  • Snowman Snowglobe Painting Project
  • Make a Snowman Shaped Pizza
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Day 10 BOOK: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Listen to Read Aloud

READ and Decoate, a Christmas Tree Letter Recognition Activity for Kids. Christmas Tree Letter craft. Learn your ABC's
Christmas Tree Chromotography
Kale Pizza Christmas Tree Recipe: Read a Christmas Tree Book with your kids, then head to the kitchen to make this healthy dinner together! Kids that cook with books.

Christmas Tree Activity Ideas:

  • Alphabet Christmas Tree Letter Recognition Game
  • Make a Christmas Tree Shaped Pizza
  • Evergreen Tree Science Fun
  • Christmas Tree Chromatography Experiment
  • Go on a Christmas Tree Farm Virtual Field Trip
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May

Day 11 BOOK:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May

Listen to Read Aloud

Flying Reindeer STEM Challenge
Reindeer handprint photo frame for a Handmade Gift Idea
Fingerprint Reindeer Ornament for Preschoolers for Christmas

Reindeer Activity Ideas:

  • Flying Reindeer STEM Challenge
  • Handprint Reindeer Picture Frame
  • Fingerprint Reindeer Ornament
  • Take a Reindeer Virtual Field Trip

Day 12 BOOK:
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Richard Johnson

Listen to Read Aloud or the Song

Sight Word Stockings for Christmas Activity for Kids
Christmas Roll Sugar cookie Recipe with red and green sprinkles
Chocolate bars wrapped in brown paper to look like reindeers for gift idea

The Night Before Christmas Activity Ideas:

  • Stocking Sight Word Game
  • Bake Christmas Sugar Roll Cookies
  • Reindeer Chocolate Bar Wrappers for Gifts
  • Christmas Science Activities for Kids
  • Painted Beard Santa Craft
  • Santa Handprint Craft
  • Santa Handprint Ornament with Salt Dough
  • Take a Virtual Field Trip of Christmas Around the World

You can find all of these Christmas books in my Amazon Storefront for easy holiday shopping!

Christmas Book Activity Ideas for Kids

Merry Christmas! You’ve made it through the 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar with fun books and easy activities for a memorable holiday season with your child. Which Christmas book is your child’s favorite?

Be sure to explore our 100 Christmas Books Every Child Should Read Before They Turn Age 10.

Christmas Books for Kids to countdown to Christmas

Grab our free monthly activity guide if you’d like more ideas for December that include a schedule. It features daily holiday activities to do with your child this month.

12 Days of Christmas Books Advent Calendar

To have a little extra fun be sure to include the 12 Days of Christmas. Here’s a song for the kids to listen to plus a few versions of the book. Be sure to watch this hilarious rendition of the song the 12 Days of Christmas. It’s one of our family favorites!

We also are in love with the book How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith. Starting on December 1, children can read a chapter a day, and each chapter is followed by a fun and festive holiday activity to complete.

Twelve Days of Christmas Books for Kids

12 Days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne – Listen to Read Aloud

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Alison Jay – Listen to Read Aloud

Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas by James & Kimberly Dean – Listen to Read Aloud

Christmas Book Advent Calendar for Kids!  12 Days of Christmas Books and Activities this holiday season.

You may also enjoy these holiday activities

Children reading christmas books in santa hats with Dad.
Kindness Elves in front of Christmas tree lit with lights sharing kindness elves letters for child
Christmas Movies for Kids

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

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Filed Under: Kids Activities, Reading Tagged With: Advent Calendar, Book List, Christmas, Christmas Books

About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

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Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities and even recipes for kids!
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