Christmas Books (KS2)

The Very Last Christmas Present is a gentle, heartwarming festive tale that captures the magic, wonder and warmth of Christmas. Written by Adam Baron and beautifully illustrated by Benji Davies, this story introduces Kado, Father Christmas’s loyal, but very junior, pup who suddenly finds himself with an enormous responsibility: delivering the one present Santa accidentally forgot!

The adventure that follows takes children on a vivid, globe-spanning journey. From icy landscapes with prowling polar bears to sweeping African plains and deep blue oceans, each setting is brought to life through Davies’s atmospheric illustrations.

Kado himself is a particularly endearing character. His determination, loyalty and courage offer valuable themes for classroom conversations about responsibility, having a go when something feels daunting, and the importance of helping others. Children will enjoy following his journey from uncertain beginner to confident hero, and the surprise waiting inside the final present adds an uplifting twist that reinforces the book’s message about love, belonging and the true meaning of Christmas.

This is a story with wide appeal – It’ll make a lovely class story for KS1 teachers to read aloud over time, as I’m sure it would older pupils in lower KS2. It’s a wonderful a magical adventure wrapped in kindness, courage and festive cheer.

Brooke has always struggled to fit in, but her worries that this school will be the same as the last disappear when she meets The Neurokind Club at Wood Dean Secondary. Just as she is beginning to feel like she may have found a place where she belongs, disaster strikes and Dr Buxted, the headteacher, is found dead, murdered by mince pie with a promise of more to come!

Brooke and her new friends join forces and use their individual skills to try to find a motive and solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt. Soon, one body turns into two and many of the teachers are looking highly suspicious.

Diverse characters with a range of neurodivergence are represented in this fast-paced, festive fiction, and it is filled with hidden clues and puzzles along the way that you can choose to solve as an add-on to the main narrative. The story touches on themes of friendship, belonging, overwhelm and social recovery, whilst celebrating the characters’ skills and achievements that make them all so unique. A ‘cracker’ of a mystery and great ‘I see me’ read for neurodivergent pupils and their peers, featuring characters with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyscalculia.

Step into Christmas at Ravenseat Farm with the Owen clan. In this festive collection of short stories, you can learn about what Christmas is like in the wild wintery Yorkshire Dales. From a runaway Reindeer who decides to become wild on the Moors to four little Owlets causing mischief on the farm, there is never a dull moment for the Owens at Christmas. The set of short stories is beautifully illustrated to enhance the stories as you read them. At the back of the book is a glossary to help explain any technical vocabulary, such as fodder, bridle, etc. Also accompanying the glossary is a little quiz based on the short stories. This little comprehension can be used to test how well anyone has read the stories and could be used by children to self-test or by a grown-up. The stories really allow you to immerse yourself in life on the farm and give an insight into how farms are run. I would recommend the stories to any age, as they could be read easily independently by older children or by a parent to their child. My little boy really enjoyed learning about all of the animals on the farm.

Our favourite-pigeon-duo, Dave Pigeon and Skipper, are back in another hilarious adventure.

In this book, Dave and Skipper are looking forward to the Big Dinner Day (aka Christmas Day) and even more so to eating the delicious scraps of the main meal… That is, until their neighbour lets them in on what humans eat on Christmas Day – BIRD. Then you can look forward to another not-so-foolproof plan from Dave and Skipper and their new friend Robbie the Robin.

I’ve been a big fan of Swapna’s writing since her first Dave Pigeon book. She has taken a creature we see every day and turned it into a lovable character in her laugh-out-loud series. With beautiful illustrations from Sheena Dempsey and a well-written, hilarious text by Swapna Haddow, this is sure to be a treat for young readers who love animal stories and funny adventures. Swapna is also the author of the fabulous Bad Panda series. This is the seventh book in the series, but Turkey Dinner can be read alone.

Eddie is the best big brother: he is supportive, understanding and patient. He needs to be these things for his whole family as his little sister Scarlett is poorly. She has been poorly for a long time and now needs a new heart. Eddie is dropped off at Uncle John’s house, which is at the edge of the forest, and has to pretend that everything is ok. His uncle takes him into the forest and introduces him to the great trees. Eddie starts to spend more time in the forest and finds himself befriending a little robin and a girl called Mari. She is fierce, dressed in odd clothes and fuzzy around the edges – almost ghostly. They start to hunt a monster, but soon realise the monster is closer than Eddie thought. Robin, is a story of courage and the importance of finding your voice even if it feels wrong. The main character starts to become bolder as he explores his wintery landscape and finally finds his voice to make sure that he is heard and not forgotten. The story is very powerful and explores themes of illness within a family and the effect it has. It shares an important message through great imagery which is then coupled with the beautiful illustrations, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and its message. It was the perfect time of year to read it too.

On Christmas morning, Masen, his younger brother Jos and their cousin Connor wake to find the rest of their family is missing from their holiday cottage on the Gower, Wales. All that is left behind is a small, peculiar Christmas tree with a mushroom-like fungus growing on it but even that has shrivelled and turned black.

Masen, Jos and Connor set out to find out what has happened to their family and other local people, and seek shelter and safety from the winter storm that has blown over South Wales. On their travels, they meet different groups of young people and soon Masen has a difficult choice to make: head for the safety of the Friary with Jos or leave to seek help with Connor. His decision will impact them all.

A fantastically paced, thrilling story that combines the genres of horror, adventure and sci-fi that will keep you questioning who can be trusted throughout. If you are looking for a dark Christmas story with plenty of twists and turns, this fits the bill perfectly.

Mel Taylor-Bessent offers her own masterclass in writing for children in the form of her debut chapter book, The Christmas Carrolls. Sprinkled with seasonal goodwill and a good dose of ho-ho-ho, this is a perfectly heart-warming and humorous read for the festive season.

Holly Carroll and her family are crazy about Christmas, but with a little help from a special new friend, Holly discovers that the festive season is not always as cheer-filled for everyone as she once thought. When the world begins to lose its sparkle, Holly finds a way to channel her inner Christmas spirit to embrace her community and make a real difference to those in need.

We thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good read with its loveable cast of characters, festive puns aplenty and themes of kindness, inclusion and sparing a thought for others in the community.

Oscar and Molly are spending their first Christmas with their paternal grandparents, Lord and Lady Cuthbert-Anderson. It is a family tradition to put on a Nativity production in the village church, but due to past dramas and disasters, Oscar’s parents have opted out until now. Grandfather is ill, and this may be the last opportunity to participate with him, making special memories. An angel crash landing in the garden is the first sign that this Christmas is going to be very different!

Angel Gabriel has made a mistake and accidentally blasted Mary, Joseph, Donald the donkey, Wise Man Balthazar and a shepherd called Steve, 2,000 years into the future. If they cannot be returned to the correct time and place, then Christmas will be cancelled! Besides the obvious, Christmas is important to Oscar as it is the anniversary of when his parents first met – no Christmas, no Oscar and Molly!

Once Gabriel has described the situation to Oscar, they are in a hilarious race against time to ensure that the Nativity happens in Bethlehem. With the others scattered around the countryside, and Mary and Joseph attempting to continue their journey, it will take resourcefulness to find them, not to mention keeping their identity secret.

Besides being very funny, this is a poignant and tender story about a family discovering the true meaning of Christmas. Jenny Pearson is an expert at creating likeable, personable characters with whom the reader can really engage, whatever unusual situations they find themselves in! The chapter headings of Christmas carol and song titles with additional humorous, ironic comments by Oscar, add to the fun.

This would be a great class read-aloud in the run-up to Christmas.

Sprouts is a super-fun choice of Christmas story for KS2 readers who love a madcap adventure. With its fast-paced plot, quirky characters and imaginative premise, Sprouts is sure to be a Christmas hit if humour and lighthearted action are what you are looking for.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have Christmas 365 days a year, enter the world of Carols and Krampuses with Gryla, a witch who has been given great responsibility, and find out.

The year is 4042, and it really is Christmas every day. Christmas is everywhere – except for the Mince Pie Isles, where Christmas happens just once a year and exile Gryla resides, wishing she could join the festive world of everyday Christmasses instead. Before she knows it, Gryla finds herself embarking on a mission to restore the magic of Christmas along with Santa’s daughter, Merrilee Claus, and readers will be rooting for them every step of the way.

This chapter book makes for a fun, action-packed read-aloud for Key Stage 2 classes to enjoy the magic of Christmas. The story explores themes of friendship, family and the meaning of Christmas. There are plenty of clever twists and turns along the way as the characters explore what makes Christmas so special. Beyond the exciting plot and lovable characters, Sprouts also offers opportunities for discussion and critical thinking. The book encourages readers to question the idea of constant celebration and to consider the value of traditions and simplicity. It also highlights the importance of friendship, perseverance and believing in oneself.

A really enjoyable, festive read from Sibéal Pounder, who recently also visited our blog to provide some tips on writing funny festive adventures with primary children.

This is a tale of love, loss and identity. It has magical sparkles of light and humour amongst the serious themes of depression and separation. The Snowman Code is a book about kindness. It may be set in the longest, coldest of winters, but it is warm and tender and would melt even the iciest of hearts. Share it and enjoy its message of love, kindness and togetherness.

Exciting, strange, magical, adventurous and gripping.

We think that this beautifully written re-working of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is destined to become a future classic. It combines huge emotional impact with a sparklingly entertaining story sprinkled with magic and magnificent characters. George and his dad embark upon a soul-searching quest to visit Christmases past, present and future. With the help of an amusing cast of friends from energetic elves to reluctant reindeer, all the magic of Christmas is brought back to the family just in time for Christmas day itself. 

The Good Bear is a superb story to snuggle up with in the winter months, exploring themes of families, relationships and ‘togetherness’ through the tale of a young girl and a life-changing visit to the Norwegian winter. Thea, the main character, retells her story as a first-person narrative and sets the scene for the action to come through the first chapter, where she is beginning to settle down to tell her tale to her daughter as a part of a long-standing Christmas tradition.

In her story, set 30 years before, Thea receives an invitation to spend the Christmas holidays with her estranged father, who works as a carpenter and lives with his wife and her children in Norway. As she arrives, there is news that a bear has escaped from a circus and may be hiding in the forests near to where she is staying.

Thea’s complex emotions towards her father are sensitively and honestly written; particularly Thea’s anger towards Henry’s new family and their seemingly perfect life. Thea’s relationship with the bear is central to the story and gives the book a sense of Christmas magic that is warm and gentle; a welcome contrast to the more overtly tinsel-filled Christmas books.

A beautiful story brimming with winter magic.

A cross between a Christmas story and an advent calendar, this charming hardback book is structured into 24½ chapters – one for each day of advent. Each day’s offering includes the next chapter of the story and easy-to-follow instructions for an accompanying craft to make or activity to try.

Winston is a little mouse who finds himself caught up in a special adventure with a festive theme. When Winston stumbles across a lost letter addressed to Father Christmas, he makes it his mission to deliver the letter to the North Pole in time for Christmas. It’s not an easy expedition, but along the way Winston is helped by a cast of generous friends and helpful strangers. This is a heart-warming story that celebrates simple acts of kindness towards other people and together with the craft activities it makes a wonderful book for families, groups or school classes to enjoy exploring together in the run-up to Christmas.

A beautiful, wintery story sprinkled with folklore and magic, from much-loved author Sophie Anderson.

Since ‘the incident’ at Claw’s Edge, Tasha has found it hard to trust or let anyone in. She has vowed to stay near home where it is safe and despite a longing to make new friends and much encouragement from her family, her anxiety prevents her from reaching out. That is until she meets Alyana. Created in the first snowfall by Tasha and her Grandpa and modelled on the Snow Girl from his bedtime stories, a wish brings her to life and Alyana and Tasha adventure together through the winter nights, forming a close bond. Not wanting to lose her magical friend, Tasha longs to hold onto the winter, but when the endless snowfall and the freezing temperatures make Grandpa ill, Tasha must find a way for the Spring to come. But to do that, she will need the help of some friends. Can her bond with Alyana help her to be brave?

There is so much love and warmth in this story, despite the wintery setting. The descriptions are so evocative, the elements of folklore and fairytale are beautifully woven into the storytelling as they always are with Sophie Anderson’s writing and the relationships between the characters are so kind and gentle too. The way all the characters support Tasha through her anxiety is sensitively written. They let her take the lead, accept her choices and give her their time, patience and acceptance.

This would make a brilliant class read aloud for the winter months or would make a fantastic text to use as part of a KS2 traditional tales unit, being steeped in Slavic folklore, magic and mythology. Extracts could also be used as writing models, particularly for descriptions of winter landscapes that awaken all the senses.

The front cover says it all, and it’s just as beautiful within!

Time slip adventures are the order of the day in A Christmas in Time (Nosy Crow) by Sally Nichols and Rachael Dean. Alex and Ruby fall through a magic mirror and land just before Christmas in 1873.

There’s plenty of fun to be had preparing for a Victorian Christmas, and a host of old traditions are explored. The two children also learn of the misfortune and peril faced by many during this period. Goodwill and festive spirit abound, though, and this makes an enjoyable and fast-paced Christmas-time read for fans of historical fiction or those wanting to learn about a Victorian Christmas.

Animal lovers will quickly be drawn into Helen Peters’ A Donkey Called Mistletoe, illustrated by Ellie Snowden. Jasmine is no stranger to caring for animals, with her parents being a farmer and a vet. When Jasmine discovers that old Mr Hobson is no longer able to take care of his pet donkey, Mistletoe, she is desperate to help. It might take a bit of work to persuade her parents that a donkey won’t cause too much trouble at Christmas, by Jasmine is determined to make it work. Combining an animal rescue narrative with festive cheer, this is a good choice for readers who love a gentle and heartwarming style of story.

This is a new novelised adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ classic story (also available here), bringing all the magic of the original tale into a narrative form.

A boy named James is so excited when snow arrives on his farm that he rushes outside to build the snowman he has been longing to create. Wonderfully, the snowman comes to life and gives James a magical adventure that he will never forget. This cherished story that never loses its magical appeal, is bound to be a favourite for many to curl up with this Christmas.

This hilarious novel is a festive favourite with KS2. A Boy Called Christmas tells the story of Nikolas, whose father is a woodcutter who has disappeared on a dangerous expedition to find Santa’s elves. Nikolas sets out to the Far North to rescue his father, encountering danger, new friends and a good deal of Christmas magic along the way. Eventually Nikolas he finds that he has his very own part to play in bringing festive joy to many others.

You may also like the other stories in the series: The Girl Who Saved Christmas and Father Christmas and Me.