Updated November 12, 2026.
There’s something extra special about celebrating Christmas in Canada, from snowy landscapes and twinkling lights to familiar holiday traditions with a distinctly Canadian twist!
We’ve gathered some of our favourite Canadian Christmas books for kids, featuring beloved Canadian authors and illustrators, festive stories filled with humour and heart, and holiday adventures. From Santa’s Canadian adventures and hockey-loving characters to touching tales of family and community, these picture books are perfect for sharing throughout the Christmas season.
You’ll find more holiday books on Amazon, or at your favourite local bookstore!
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15+ Canadian Books for the Holidays
Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive
By Mélanie Watt (Author, Illustrator)
Scaredy Squirrel is determined to have the perfect Christmas, and he’s starting his preparations early — very early! With decorations, gifts, and holiday plans carefully organized, what could possibly go wrong? Of course, things don’t go quite as expected in this hilarious holiday adventure from Canadian author and illustrator Mélanie Watt. Packed with silly surprises and Scaredy’s trademark worries, this festive story celebrates friendship, flexibility, and the joy of Christmas.
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
By Mac Barnett (Author), Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
Have you ever wondered how Santa manages to squeeze down the chimney on Christmas Eve? Does he go feet first, shrink himself down, or find another clever way inside? And what happens when a house doesn’t have a chimney at all? With hilarious possibilities and wonderfully quirky illustrations by Canadian artist Jon Klassen, this imaginative picture book is a delightful take on one of Christmas’s greatest mysteries.
Deck the Halls: A Canadian Christmas Carol
by Helaine Becker (Author), H. Werner Zimmermann (Illustrator)
Get ready to deck the halls, Canadian-style! This playful twist on the classic Christmas carol is filled with festive fun, familiar Canadian wildlife, and plenty of holiday humour. With catchy rhymes and Werner Zimmermann’s colourful, detailed illustrations, this cheerful picture book is perfect for singing along and sharing a few laughs with the whole family.
Santa Canuck
By Katharine Joy Sowden (Author), Kelsey Marshalsey (Illustrator)
Santa has a distinctly Canadian twist in this fun-filled Christmas adventure! Trading his sleigh for a red pickup truck, Santa travels across Canada with the help of some familiar Canadian wildlife, including moose, beavers, and polar bears. Filled with humour, festive cheer, and plenty of Canadian charm, this playful picture book is a delightful holiday read for little ones.
Baseball Bats for Christmas
By Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak (Author), Coco Apunnguaq Lynge (Illustrator)
Set in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic in 1955, this heartwarming Christmas story follows a group of children who discover an unexpected use for the Christmas trees brought to their village. Inspired by the author’s own childhood, this charming tale celebrates imagination, resourcefulness, and the joy of making something wonderful from the unexpected.
Christmas with Maud Lewis
by Helaine Becker (Author), H. Werner Zimmermann (Illustrator)
Celebrate the simple joys of Christmas with this charming holiday story featuring the colourful folk art of beloved Nova Scotia artist Maud Lewis. Filled with warmth, wonder, and her distinctive cheerful illustrations, this nostalgic tale captures the magic of the season and the beauty of finding happiness in life’s little things. A lovely addition to any collection of Canadian Christmas books.
The Night Before Christmas
By Clement C. Moore (Author), Barbara Reid (Illustrator)
The beloved Christmas classic comes to life through the beautiful Plasticine illustrations of Canadian artist Barbara Reid. From the stockings hung by the chimney to Santa’s magical arrival, every familiar moment is filled with charming details and festive warmth. A wonderful edition of this timeless holiday poem to share with little ones year after year.
The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada
by Ellen Warwick (Author), Kim Smith (Illustrator)
Celebrate the twelve days of Christmas with a distinctly Canadian twist! Join Juliette and her cousin Caul as they travel across Canada, discovering famous landmarks, local traditions, and plenty of festive surprises along the way. From coast to coast, this colourful picture book puts a fun Canadian spin on the classic Christmas carol.
The Night Before Playoffs
by Stella Partheniou Grasso (Author), Paula Becker (Illustrator)
It’s the night before the big hockey playoffs, and excitement is building! Inspired by the classic Christmas poem, this playful Canadian story captures all the anticipation, traditions, and excitement of hockey’s biggest moments. With lively rhymes and colourful illustrations, it’s a fun read for young hockey fans and a celebration of Canada’s favourite winter sport.
Sounds Like Christmas
by Robert Munsch (Author), Michael Martchenko (Illustrator)
Christmas is anything but quiet in this hilarious holiday story from beloved Canadian author Robert Munsch! When Christopher’s family brings home a Christmas tree, the decorations start making some very unexpected noises. With Munsch’s trademark humour, silly surprises, and lively illustrations by Michael Martchenko, this festive picture book is a fun-filled read-aloud that will have kids giggling all the way to Christmas.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas: A Canadian Carol
by Helaine Becker (Author), H. Werner Zimmermann (Illustrator)
Sing along to a favourite Christmas carol with a fun Canadian twist! This festive picture book brings the familiar holiday song to life with playful illustrations, cheerful Canadian characters, and plenty of seasonal charm. A delightful read-aloud for little ones who love music, Christmas traditions, and a little Canadian holiday fun.
Finding Christmas
by Robert Munsch (Author), Michael Martchenko (Illustrator)
When Julie discovers that all the Christmas presents are hidden away, she just can’t resist taking a peek! But her curiosity leads to some hilarious surprises as she tries to find the perfect gift. Filled with Robert Munsch’s trademark humour and Michael Martchenko’s lively illustrations, this playful holiday story captures all the excitement, mischief, and anticipation of Christmas morning.
Dashing Through the Snow: A Canadian Jingle Bells
by Helaine Becker (Author), H. Werner Zimmermann (Illustrator)
Jingle all the way across Canada in this hilarious twist on the classic Christmas song! From snowy adventures to encounters with some very Canadian wildlife, this festive picture book is packed with silly surprises, playful rhymes, and colourful illustrations. A fun-filled holiday read-aloud that puts a distinctly Canadian spin on a familiar Christmas favourite.
Twas the Night Before Christmas in Canada
by Jo Parry (Illustrator)
The classic Christmas poem gets a fun Canadian makeover! Follow Santa on a festive journey filled with familiar Canadian landmarks, snowy landscapes, and holiday cheer. With playful rhymes and colourful illustrations, this charming twist on a Christmas favourite is a fun way for little readers to celebrate the season, Canadian-style.
Santa ABC
by George Fewster (Author & Illustrator)
Learn your ABCs with a little help from Santa! This cheerful alphabet book takes young readers through the letters of the alphabet with festive words, playful rhymes, and colourful Christmas illustrations. A fun way for toddlers and preschoolers to practise their letters while enjoying the magic of the holiday season.
A Porcupine in a Pine Tree
by Helaine Becker (Author), H. Werner Zimmermann (Illustrator)
Celebrate the twelve days of Christmas, Canadian-style! This hilarious twist on the classic holiday carol replaces traditional gifts with familiar Canadian favourites, from a porcupine in a pine tree to moose, Mounties, and more. With lively rhymes and wonderfully detailed illustrations, this festive picture book is packed with humour and Canadian charm.
From funny Christmas adventures to heartwarming stories about family, friendship, and holiday traditions, these Canadian Christmas books are wonderful additions to your family’s seasonal reading collection.Â
Looking for more cozy reading inspiration? Explore our favourite winter books for kids, filled with snowy adventures, winter wildlife, and beautifully illustrated stories to enjoy the season.
Do you have a favourite Canadian Christmas book we’ve missed? Share your recommendations in the comments below!
