Children’s Christmas Books for use in Worship this Christmas Season

Post Author: Rev. Ashley Updegraff

Each year as Christmas rolls around, I take to the internet in search of a few new Christmas books for children. I have collected over 40 books throughout the years, each telling the Christmas story in a new way. Whether it is through playful rhymes or beautiful illustrations, whether it sticks to the Biblical story or weaves tradition and lore into the narrative, I find that children’s books exude the magic of the season and plant me, deeply, in the story of Jesus’s birth. 

As a book-lover and a mom, the books I collect sit in baskets on either side of our fireplace throughout the Christmas season, and our children love to pick them up, look through them, and discover old favorites or find new ones. As a pastor, I love to use the books in Christmas worship–either on Christmas Eve, or on Christmas Day. To that end, and to help your Christmas worship preparations, here are 5 excellent children’s books about Christmas, fit for use in worship. You’ll find a brief description of the book, a corresponding Scripture verse you can use to tie it in with your message, and an activity that can be done alongside, if you want to round the experience out even more. I hope this list inspires you and eases your Christmas planning! 

5 fantastic Christmas books you can use in your congregation!

Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story, by Sally Lloyd-Jones, paintings by Alison Jay

Synopsis: In this playful, animal-centric book, the good news of Jesus’s birth is spread around the world through the birds of the air, the beasts of the earth, and the fish of the sea. The animals communicate to one another that “It’s time! It’s time!.” All of creation joins in proclaiming what God has done. The one who made the earth is finally at home upon it as the baby Jesus. 

Scripture: John 1:1-14. A beautiful connection can be made to this book using John’s prologue. All things came to being through the Word, who has now taken on a body and been born among us. All creation witnesses to this moment when the Word–through whom all was created–becomes a created being, Jesus. Creation and Creator are one now, and the entire earth witnesses to the Word made flesh. 

Activity: Have children–or the entire congregation–draw pictures of their favorite animals. Do a show and tell with their creations! Or, have people turn to someone sitting next to them and share their favorite animal. Why is it their favorite? You could also get a little sillier, and shout out animals, encouraging the congregation to act and sound like the animal you’ve called out. All of creation–even our favorite animals or pets–bear witness to God’s great love for us. 

The Message of the Birds, by Kate Westerlund, pictures by Feridun Oral

Synopsis: Another book where animals are front and center, The Message of the Birds begins with an old owl telling the story of Jesus’s birth. He recalls how the birds who were there on that magical night heard the song baby Jesus sang through his cries–a song of peace and love. Unfortunately, this song hasn’t been sung for a long time because humans don’t have ears to hear it. Some birds, however, are determined to change this. They share the message of peace with other birds, who share it with other birds, who share it, finally, with children. Soon, the message of “peace on earth” fills every heart. 

Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-10. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that beautiful are the feet of those who share the message of peace! Just as the birds shared the message of peace, we are called to do likewise. 

Activity: Have people take off their shoes and look at their feet. Are they beautiful? You could also provide paper and crayons and ask people to outline their feet, and then teach the congregation how to say “peace” in many languages. They can write, in their footprint, the words for peace from around the world. Or, you could create a foot-shaped handout with the various words for peace already printed on it, as a take-home reminder that we are called to share the message of peace with our feet and our hearts and our mouths and our lives! 

A Savior is Born: Rocks Tell the Story of Christmas, created by Patti Rokus

Synopsis: This book pairs short pieces of scripture with depictions of the Christmas story made entirely of rocks. From Mary’s visit by the angel Gabriel, to the shepherds going to see the Christ child, to the Wise Men bearing gifts–the whole story is told with rocks! 

Scripture: John 1:1-14 and Luke 19:37-40. Again, themes of the entire creation telling the story of God’s incredible love made flesh in the birth of Jesus can be used to pair this story with the Christmas text from John’s gospel. You can remind your congregation that everything points to Jesus, the Word made flesh, who came to live with us. Rocks and plants and trees and people–the Jesus story lives in all these things! As further connection, you can remind those listening that Jesus himself said in Luke’s gospel that “even the rocks would cry out” if people were silent about his good news of peace. 

Activity: Provide everyone in your congregation with a rock to serve as a reminder that all things tell the story of God’s love for the world. If there is time or space, have people paint a depiction of the nativity on their rock using mess-free paint pens. This could be as simple as an outline of a baby, or a manger, or a star–something to remind them that all of creation is imprinted with God’s love, made manifest in Jesus at Christmas. 

Who Built the Stable? A Nativity Poem, by Ashley Bryan

Synopsis: In this colorful book, with the Holy family depicted as an African family, the author takes us on an adventure to discover who built the stable for baby Jesus. In this author’s imagination, it was a little boy–a shepherd and a carpenter’s apprentice–who built the stable. He made it for his own animals, but then graciously invited Mary and Joseph to make use of it. When Jesus is born, the boy recognizes himself in the new child who will one day be a shepherd and a carpenter, too. 

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20. This book pairs nicely with the traditional account of Jesus’s birth found in the gospel of Luke. Luke says several times that Jesus was laid in a manger, and makes it clear that there was no room for the family. This book takes up those themes, and begs us to ask: how do we make room for Jesus? How do we become the stable where he lives? For that is just what we are called to do: to make room in our lives and hearts for Jesus to dwell, and to be a resting place for Jesus always. 

Activity: There are several ways to make a manger out of popsicle sticks, cardboard, or other materials. Invite each member of the congregation–or each family, if that makes more sense–to make a manger. Provide the materials, along with straw or hay and perhaps even a small peg-doll for Jesus. Remind them that we, too, get to make the stable for Jesus with our lives and our hearts each day. 

The Night of His Birth, by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Lisa Aisato

Synopsis: This is a beautiful book, told from the perspective of Mary. It begins with how she felt being visited by the angel Gabriel. It explores how the people in her life treated her when they found out she was with child–her mother, her father, and Joseph. It articulates Mary’s surprise and joy and her concerns and hopes for her baby, who is also God’s baby. Mary is a new parent, honest about what she doesn’t know, but so overwhelmed with love for Jesus that she must sing and share this incredible thing God has done! 

Scripture: Luke 1:26-28 or Matthew 1:18-25. Either of these stories, of Mary being visited by Gabriel or Joseph’s own visit from the divine angel, weave nicely with this children’s book. As the book gives us a peek into Mary’s own mind and experience, we are able to reflect more deeply on what God asked of her. Then, we can wonder what God asks of us. How do we “sing out, my soul, the wonder” of what God has done for us in the birth of Jesus? We are called to proclaim God’s deep and abiding love for the world in all we say and do, thus taking up the role of Mary in our communities today! 

Activity: This book prompts good discussion around how the various people in the Christmas story must have felt. Children and adults can add their own thoughts and feelings as they put themselves in Mary or Joseph’s shoes. Playing on the repeated line in the book “sing out, my soul, the wonder,” you could have an impromptu carol sing during worship, taking people’s favorite songs and singing the first verse. Which Christmas songs help you “sing out” the wonder of what God has done? Let’s sing them now! 

There are so many Christmas books out there it can be hard to choose one when you’d like to use it in worship or in your congregation! I hope that these suggestions ease your harried Christmas planning, and more importantly, I hope they root you in the Christmas Spirit–the Spirit of peace, joy, love, and awe for what God has done in Jesus! Merry Christmas, and happy reading!