25 Christmas Stories: A Short Story for Every Advent Day

November 18, 2025

Key Takeaways

Reading together every night turns December into something children really remember.
A small story can teach more about kindness than a long lecture ever could.
Advent feels more meaningful when you slow down and make space for it.

Key Takeaways
Introduction
Why Christmas Stories Matter For Kids
25 Christmas Stories For Kids To Read Every Day Of Advent
Classic & Timeless Short Stories
Feel-Good Christmas Kindness Stories
Santa, Elves & Fun Christmas Shorts
Nativity & Faith-Based Stories
Stories About Giving, Love, and Forgiveness at Christmas
FAQs About Christmas Stories For Kids

Introduction

Before we dive in, let me tell you why we’re here. Most of us simply want a cosy way to end the day, and honestly, nothing works better than sitting down with a Christmas story for kids.

Even short Christmas stories can wrap up the evening beautifully. Sometimes, just a short story about Christmas Day is enough to help little ones settle. If you’ve been hoping to introduce a gentle Christmas story in English, this list gives you plenty to pick from.

And if you like mixing festive reading with cultural stories from home, you might enjoy our spiritual books for kids as well.

Why Christmas Stories Matter For Kids

Children don’t need long explanations. The minute you start the story of Christmas in English, they feel the warmth, the lights, the family, the soft idea that kindness matters.

That’s why so many families reach for short Christmas stories for their kids. Stories go straight to the heart without telling your children what to think.

If your child enjoys stories from different traditions, you may also like our Krishna storybook for kids.

25 Christmas Stories For Kids To Read Every Day Of Advent

If the idea of reading one story each night sounds lovely, you’re not alone. Many families enjoy daily Christmas stories to count down to Christmas, and it becomes something children look forward to all year round.

Some parents choose Advent short stories for each day before Christmas, while others collect their favourites and create an Advent story collection to celebrate each day till Christmas in their own way.

You’ll find playful stories here, gentle ones, and several short Christmas stories with morals tucked in. If you ever want to shake things up, add your own creative storytelling ideas for this Christmas countdown. Maybe when you are reading under the tree, by the window, or cuddled up in one big blanket, you get your perfect Christmas with your little ones.

If you’d like something festive from home too, you may enjoy our Lord Ganesha storybook with pictures.

Classic & Timeless Short Stories

1. The Night Before Christmas – Clement C. Moore

This story takes you right into a quiet home, where a family suddenly hears Santa and his reindeer arriving in the night. They barely catch a glimpse, yet it feels like a moment that will stay with them forever.

2. The Gift of the Magi – O. Henry

Here, a young couple gives up the things they love most just to buy each other a gift. It’s only later that they realise love itself was the real treasure.

3. Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

A little girl writes to a newspaper, hoping for the truth about Santa. The reply gently reminds everyone that believing keeps the magic alive.

4. The Elves and the Shoemaker – Brothers Grimm

A struggling shoemaker finds his luck changing when two tiny elves secretly help him. Their kindness brings him more joy than he ever expected.

5. The Little Match Girl – Hans Christian Andersen

A young girl lights matches to stay warm on Christmas Eve. Each tiny flame fills her world with gentle hope.

6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph feels different from everyone else, all because of his shiny nose. One snowy night, that difference becomes the very thing that saves Christmas.

7. Frosty the Snowman

Frosty comes to life for one magical day, giving children memories they’ll hold on to long after winter ends. When it’s time to say goodbye, he leaves a little wonder behind.

8. The Christmas Truce – WW1

On a cold battlefield, soldiers quietly put down their weapons and gathered to share carols and food. For a moment, they simply see each other as human.

9. The Christmas Candle – Max Lucado

A small candle lands in the hands of a family who could do with some warmth. Somehow, that single flame brings comfort to more than just their home.

10. The Legend of the Candy Cane – Lori Walburg

Here, a simple striped sweet turns into a symbol of love and faith. Suddenly, it becomes more than just something to chew.

If your child enjoys timeless tales, you might enjoy our best Ramayana storybooks for kids.

Feel-Good Christmas Kindness Stories

11. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

In this story, a quiet woodcarver tries to keep the world at arm’s length. But a little boy gently pulls him back to joy. This one is a reminder that warmth often comes when we least expect it.

12. The Little Drummer Boy

This is a tale of a young boy who wants to give something to baby Jesus. However, he has nothing but his drum. That's why he plays it with all his heart, and that turns out to be more than enough.

13. The Christmas Orange

Here, a child hopes for nothing more than an orange on Christmas Day. When things don’t go to plan, kindness finds its way to him instead.

14. The Carpenter’s Gift

In this story, a boy helps build a home for a family who has far less. Years later, that one act of kindness brings him a blessing of his own.

15. The Legend of the Christmas Spider

There’s a lovely old tale about a family who wakes up on Christmas morning to find their tree covered in delicate, glistening webs. What looked plain the night before suddenly feels magical, as though someone quietly blessed their home while they slept.

16. The Boy with the Box

There’s a little story about a boy who owns just one special keepsake, and he chooses to give it to someone who needs it more than he does. It’s a tiny moment, but it leaves his heart fuller than any gift he could have kept for himself.

17. The Littlest Angel

You might enjoy this sweet tale about a very small angel who brings his simple treasure to baby Jesus. It isn’t fancy, but it’s offered with love, and that’s what makes it unforgettable.

If your child is beginning to form their sense of self and inner confidence, you may enjoy stories on self-love.

Santa, Elves & Fun Christmas Shorts

18. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr. Seuss

There’s a story many of us know, about a grumpy Grinch who tries to take Christmas away from everyone. But when he realises that joy can’t be stolen, his heart shifts in the softest way.

19. Santa’s New Suit

This little story is about Santa thinking a brand-new outfit will be a fun change for Christmas Eve. It doesn’t quite go how he imagined, and he ends up realising he feels most like himself in the clothes he’s always worn.

20. Mrs. Claus Saves Christmas

Here’s a tale where Santa is too unwell for his big night, so Mrs Claus steps in without making a fuss. She gets every gift delivered, showing just how steady and calm she really is.

21. The Snowman’s Christmas Eve

There’s a gentle story about a snowman who keeps quiet watch outside a family’s home on Christmas Eve. By the time morning arrives, the snowman has melted, yet the comfort he gave seems to linger.

22. The Christmas Wish

This story follows a little girl whose only wish is to meet a reindeer. One snowy night, her wish guides her into a soft, wintry adventure she remembers for years.

If your child enjoys soft, cheerful tales about sweet bonds, you may like our friendship storybooks.

Nativity & Faith-Based Stories

23. The First Christmas

This is the story of Mary and Joseph, who finally find shelter in a simple stable, where baby Jesus is born. That quiet night ends up shaping the world in ways no one could have imagined.

24. The Friendly Beasts

Here’s a gentle tale imagining the animals in the stable offering whatever small gifts they can to the newborn child. Each gift is humble, but heartfelt, and that’s what makes them special.

25. The Shepherd’s Story

This story follows a young shepherd who spots a bright star in the night sky and decides to follow it. The long walk fills him with a sense of peace and wonder that he carries back home.

If you enjoy stories rooted in older traditions and faith, you might like our mythological storybooks for kids.

Stories About Giving, Love, And Forgiveness At Christmas

When we talk about stories about giving, love, and forgiveness at Christmas, we’re really talking about everyday kindness. It’s the simple things like sharing what you have, saying sorry, and showing up. These stories stay with your children far longer than the presents they open.

If you’d like to explore books that help children learn to work together, have a look at our teamwork storybooks.