The Best Books to Learn About Christmas Around the World
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One time of the year that I really appreciate the homeschool benefit of flexibility is in December. My kids shift into Christmas mode as soon as the Thanksgiving table is cleared.
We don’t need to fight, beg, or threaten to keep our kids focused on schoolwork. Instead, we can make the schoolwork meaningful to them . . . while still also checking off traditional academic subjects.
Learning about Christmas around the world is a good way to combine holiday cheer with geography. I suggest reading these Christmas books with your children and then following their lead.
Did they find a book interesting? Expand on that by watching videos online about kids in that country, trying festive foods from that region, and maybe even making a few crafts.
Did your kids listen to a book and then run off to do something else as soon as you turned the last page? That is okay too. They listened to the story and are letting you know that they are not interested in more right now.
Wrapping these picture books and activity books and opening one each day can help create a sense of excitement. Seeing kids excited about learning is a beautiful thing. Just add these free printable tags to the gift-wrapped books and open one each day of the holiday season.
Christmas Around the World Books for Kids
Christmas Around the World by Mary D. Lankford
- Used Book in Good Condition
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This nonfiction book teaches kids about Christmas traditions in 12 countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Ethiopia
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Italy
- Mexico
- The Philippines
- Sweden
- United States – Alaska
Where Would Santa Go?: a Christmas adventure with the most famous world traveler by Julia Inserro
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Lucy and Max write a letter to Santa asking about his favorite places. Who better to give travel advice than the man who travels the world every year? Rather than just answer the letter, Santa decides to take them along on a midnight ride.
The Legend of Old Befana: An Italian Christmas Story by Tomie dePaola
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is the recreation of a traditional Italian Christmas folk tale. Old Lady Befana is not a particularly pleasant woman. She is grouchy and spends her days sweeping. Her life is turned upside down by meeting the three kings on their way to Bethlehem.
Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydaker
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Lucia Day, a Swedish holiday, is celebrated on December 13th. Children in America may want to celebrate too after they read all about the traditional foods and festivities. If your kids are interested, they can try making their own Swedish St. Lucia crowns.
The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada by Ellen Warwick
I love this Christmas book series! There are books available for many locations. My family added The Twelve Days of Christmas in Washington to our Christmas book collection when we moved from Virginia to Washington. It was a fun way to learn about our new state.
You certainly don’t need to live in or visit the location to enjoy the books, though!
The Tale of Baboushka: A Traditional Christmas Story by Elena Pasquali
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is a traditional Russian Christmas Story. Baboushka is busy cleaning her house when three strangers appear at her door in a small Russian village.
Tamales for Christmas by Stephen Briseno
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Grandma is trying to earn money for Christmas gifts by selling as many tamales as possible. It might be fun to make tamales after reading this book.
Walk This World at Christmastime by Big Picture Press
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Walk through different Christmas traditions around the world just with the turn of a page. This book contains ‘lift the flap’ pages that kids love. The flaps are numbered like an Advent calendar, but you do not need to slowly open one each day. Kids will love to lift the flaps over and over again.
Winter Holidays Around the World by Heather Aliano
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This workbook is a great way to teach geography in December. Kids get to learn about Christmas in different countries, and you get to teach geography. It is a win-win.
Christmas Around the World Coloring Book by Dover
I love Dover coloring books. They may be my favorite educational coloring books. I like to put them in boredom-busting baskets as a way to keep my kids busy.
This coloring book contains 30 illustrations that each teach about Christmas in various parts of the world.
Some of the illustrations include:
- Carolers in Great Britain
- A Swedish girl wearing her traditional crown of candles
- Greek children making a musical parade
- Australian families spending a day at the beach
- Young children decorating a tree of light in China
- French children leaving out their shoes
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Legend of the Poinsettia is a Mexican legend about how the poinsettia flower came to be associated with Christmas.
A World of Cookies for Santa: Follow Santa’s Tasty Trip Around the World by M.E. Furman
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Children around the globe leave different treats for Santa on Christmas Eve. Some regions of the world put out a honey-spice cookie, and other areas prefer to offer a few sweet potato cookies. This book includes recipes so that you can try the different cookies too.
Tree of Cranes by Allen Say
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Children will learn about the Japanese tradition of origami with this sweet book about a young boy preparing to celebrate his first Christmas.
The Legend of Papa Noel by Terri Hoover Dunham
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Papa Noel, aka Santa Claus, has run into a little trouble while deep in the bayous of Louisiana. He is trying to use a boat and a team of alligators to deliver presents to all of the children, but the fog is too thick to see through. Children will enjoy this story while also learning a little about a rarely mentioned region of the United States.
Celebrate Las Posadas by Marisa Boan
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book tells about the tradition of Las Posadas. It is celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of the United States. There are English and Spanish words, so it is a great choice for kids who are bilingual or who are learning Spanish.
Christmas is Coming: Traditions from Around the World by Monika Utnik
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Learn about Christmas traditions all around the world with this well-researched Christmas book. It is full of lots of interesting things. Some of the countries included are:
- Germany
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Poland
- Spain
- New Zealand
- Belgium
- Ethiopia
Learn more about Christmas around the world with this online unit study!
Joy to the World!: Christmas Around the Globe by Kate DePalma
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book explains Christmas traditions around the world through a rhyming text. Short rhyming text on each page helps make the information accessible for young children.
The countries included are:
- Ethiopia
- Colombia
- Australia
- Italy
- Serbia
- Mexico
- India
- Iceland
- Egypt
- Argentina
- Philippines
- Lebanon
- Canada
The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions From Around the World by Alex Palmer
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Learn about traditions around the world with this interesting collection of tales from around the world. Rather than organize the book by country, it is organized by theme. The themes include:
- Ceremonies and rituals
- Musical interludes and interlopers
- Local quirks and curious practices
- Saints and gift bringers
- Devils and troublemakers
- Holiday trimmings and trinkets
- Fierce competitions and leisurely pastimes
- Savory and satisfying holiday dishes
- Celebratory sweets
This isn’t technically a book about Christmas around the world for kids, but several of the reviews do mention reading the stories to kids. I can see this being a great addition to a December morning basket!
Do you include Christmas in geography lessons? These books will help your children understand that Christmas customs are different around the world. This book list can also help shape a Christmas world unit that you can work through the entire month of December.
Keep reading . . .
- Awesome Christmas Homeschool Activities
- 12 Days of Sweet Christmas Books and Activities
- Create a Christmas Book Basket
- Christmas Chapter Books for Family Read Alouds
- Christmas Lesson Plans
- The Best Historical Fiction Christmas Books for Kids
- Fun Christmas Unit Studies
- 25 Christmas Writing Prompts
- Christmas Books for Young Adults
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