Merry and Bright Christmas Books for 9-12 Year-Olds

If you’re looking for some great holiday reads for the whole family or your kids want to get into the Christmas spirit, a great way to do that is to read a Christmas chapter book (aka middle grade book). This book list features merry and bright Christmas books for kids ages 9-12. My kids and I have read most (if not all) of these books and hope that you love them as much as we did!

The great thing about middle grade books is that the entire family can enjoy them. They are great to read aloud or for independent reading time for kids in the 9-12 age range.

It’s not just little kids that like reading Christmas books. Big kids (and adults!) like reading them too. So here are some Christmas chapter books to add to your holiday reading list!

Related post: 21 Christmas Chapter Books for Kids in Grades 1-2

As always, this blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of my links, I’ll receive a small commission.

Want to save this post for later? Pin this image to your Pinterest board!

Merry and Bright Christmas Books for 9-12 Year-Olds

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

This is the sweetest Christmas chapter book I’ve read this year! I read it aloud to my kids and it was absolutely charming. It’s one of those books that celebrate the love of a big, noisy family and a neighborhood where people care for each other.

I can’t recommend this book enough. If you’re looking for a Christmas middle grade book to read every December, you’ll definitely want to check this one out. It’s a keeper!

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2AR7eBH”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/3gnwSzv”]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781328499219″]Bookshop.org[/button]

Best Kids’ Christmas Jokes Ever by Highlights

Every kid needs a book of jokes! These giggle-worthy zingers will keep your kids laughing throughout the holidays. This wildly-popular joke book is filled with wisecracks about Santa, reindeer, and other Christmas things. It makes a fantastic stocking stuffer or early Christmas gift!

[button url=”https://amzn.to/36PzTWf”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/2InpQ16″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781644721209″]Bookshop.org[/button]

Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford

This is another delightful book to read at Christmas time. It makes a good family read too, especially if you’ve read the first book, Greenglass House.

It’s a charming mystery set at Christmas time when Greenglass House fills with unusual guests, their enchanting stories, and a cozy mystery that will keep readers guessing.

For kids that like cozy winter reads set at Christmas, the Greenglass House books will hit the spot.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2CzBvlL”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/3lP7vb7″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781328594426″]Bookshop.org[/button]

Weird But True Christmas: 300 Festive Facts to Light Up the Holidays by National Geographic Kids

This is such a fun book! National Geographic Kids comes up with some interesting books for kids, and this one is perfect for the holidays.

Kids that like fact books, trivia, or almanacs will love reading up on their favorite time of year. They’ll learn things like the different names for Santa Claus throughout the world, towns that have been named after Christmas, and amazing advent calendars around the globe.

It’s a small book full of big, bright pictures and amazing facts about Christmas.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2ATs0NN”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/2W2jw2x”]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781426328893″]Bookshop.org[/button]

Nutcracked by Susan Adrian

If you love The Nutcracker, this is a must-have for your middle grade Christmas book collection. When Georgie wins the part of Clara in The Nutcracker, she’s thrilled. But every time she dances with the nutcracker doll, she is magically transported to another world where everything is larger-than-life. When the magic from the nutcracker’s world starts to seep into her real life, Georgie must figure out how to stop it to save Christmas.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/2IpeQAv”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=17160&awinaffid=780871&clickref=Nutcracked&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookdepository.com%2FNutcracked%2F9780399556715″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780399556715″]Bookshop.org[/button]

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

A Boy Called Christmas has so many beautiful parts where my kids and I got swept up in the story. We got lost in the story and kept reading long after bedtime. The pages are loaded with adventure, magic, and friendship. I loved the way things fell into place for Nikolas, teaching him the skills he would later combine when he decides to take on the role of Santa Claus.

And don’t miss the follow-up sequel, The Girl Who Saved Christmas.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2ofpYoB”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/3goixTj”]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780399552687″]Bookshop.org[/button]

The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig

This is the follow-up to A Boy Called Christmas. It’s about a girl named Amelia who gets sent to the workhouse when her mother gets sick. The terrible conditions there wear down her spirit—and Santa’s magic is directly tied to it.

When it comes to middle grade books about Christmas, these two are unique in their approach. They’re full of hardship and sadness, but that makes the happy moments so much sweeter.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2CikziO”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/33U6w35″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781524700478″]Bookshop.org[/button]

Top Elf by Caleb Huett

The Amazing Race meets Santa in this unusual survival tale. Santa decides that he’s going to retire and will hold a contest to determine his replacement.

Kids, elves, and Santa’s own son enter a competition for the name of Top Elf (aka Santa). But racing around the world and consuming vast quantities of cookies and milk is harder than it looks.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2yYTorn”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/3mU9LiA”]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781338577167″]Bookshop.org[/button]

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This is such a sweet book! I read this to my kids at Christmas time a couple of years ago. It was a lovely reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and makes you look at it from another angle. My kids and I all loved the story and the underlying message it contains.

If you haven’t read it yet, you’ll love experiencing the chaos of preparing for the pageant as well as the disaster wonderful production it turned out to be.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2ASCUXx”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/39QlPxu”]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780064402750″]Bookshop.org[/button]

The 12 Dares of Christa by Marissa Burt

A heartbroken girl, a dozen dares, and an adventure-filled trip across Europe makes for a delightful holiday read.

Older middle grade readers and kids that are starting to move into young adult literature will appreciate this story. A sweet and uplifting story full of holiday cheer, this book is perfect for pre-teens looking for a heartwarming Christmas novel to dive into.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2yZ5Mrk”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://tidd.ly/36PXypx”]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780062416186″]Bookshop.org[/button]

Tru & Nelle: A Christmas Tale by G. Neri

With the popularity of the first Tru & Nelle book, I’m not surprised to see a Christmas chapter book starring Harper Lee and Truman Capote.

This book is based on true events in the lives of two well-known authors and is set at Christmas time. While it’s a continuation of the story from the first book, this novel can be read by itself.

If you’re looking for middle grade books based on true events that feature real people, this is a great choice to read during the holiday season.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2CG4tzx”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=17160&awinaffid=780871&clickref=Tru+%26+Nelle%3A+A+Christmas+Tale&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookdepository.com%2FTru–Nelle-Christmas-Tale-G-Neri%2F9781328685988″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781328685988″]Bookshop.org[/button]

Christmas Carol and the Defenders of Claus by Robert Fouch

This is the action-packed adventure of a young girl named Carol who has descended from a long line of “defenders”. Her family has protected Santa Claus for generations. Before she knows it, Carol is whisked off to the North Pole to defend the head elf himself from a masked villain intent on ruining Christmas.

Equal parts adventure and holiday story, this high-flying tale is perfect for kids that liked the movie Rise of the Guardians.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2CHCuzD”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=17160&awinaffid=780871&clickref=Christmas+Carol+and+the+Defenders+of+Claus&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookdepository.com%2FChristmas-Carol-Defenders-Claus-Robert-L-Fouch%2F9781510724525″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781510724525″]Bookshop.org[/button]

The Naughty List by Michael Fry and Bradley Jackson

If the cover for this book isn’t a dead giveaway, then let me tell you—this book is a hilarious romp from start to finish.

Bobbie’s efforts to help her brother actually land him on Santa’s naughty list. So she travels to the North Pole to set things right, but she’s not prepared for the adventure that awaits her there.

This outlandish adventure tale is perfect for kids that like diary-style novels with lots of cartoon illustrations like Big Nate or Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2z607iV”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=17160&awinaffid=780871&clickref=The+Naughty+List&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookdepository.com%2FThe-Naughty-List%2F9780063042759″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780063042759″]Bookshop.org[/button]

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson, illustrated by Garth Williams

This Christmastime classic is a must-read during the holidays. It’s about a homeless man in Paris who finds three cold and hungry children and takes them in. But soon, he realizes that these children need a real home where they can be warm and fed. This heartwarming middle grade novel is the perfect book to read as a family during Christmas. I loved this book when I was a child and I’m thrilled that my own children get to read it now, too.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/2LaWSCB”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=17160&awinaffid=780871&clickref=The+Family+Under+the+Bridge&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookdepository.com%2FThe-Family-Under-the-Bridge%2F9780064402507″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780064402507″]Bookshop.org[/button]

The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan

Have you ever wondered what Santa wants for Christmas? One boy decided to ask, and when he did, Santa and Mrs. Claus are blessed with a baby girl. This is the story of their daughter and her magical quest to set her people free from a curse that imprisons them.

This is another Christmas chapter book that’s a little older, so it’s only available for the Kindle or through third-party sellers, but it’s a keeper. It was a New York Times bestseller and a holiday favorite for many readers. It gains new fans every year.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2CBCiTe”]Amazon[/button]

Winterfrost by Michelle Houts

A big adventure of miniature proportions! When Bettina forgets to set out the traditional rice pudding for the nisse on Christmas, they steal her baby sister as payback. Bettina must venture into their world to save her sister and set things right.

Set in Denmark, this Christmas chapter book is a modern folktale based on real Danish customs. It’s perfect for kids that like cute and tiny things, adventure, and heartwarming stories.

[button url=”http://amzn.to/2Bgxwua”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=17160&awinaffid=780871&clickref=Winterfrost&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookdepository.com%2FWinterfrost%2F9780763691011″]Book Depository[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780763691011″]Bookshop.org[/button]

This blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of our links, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

*This post was created in 2017 and updated in 2020.