10 festive audiobooks for kids to enjoy this Christmas
The holiday season is here! 🎄✨
With twinkling lights, cosy nights, and school holidays just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a magical audiobook. Whether your little ones love revisiting a classic Christmas tale or discovering something new, we’ve got plenty of festive listens to choose from - ideal for family time or reading challenges.
From snowy adventures and magical creatures to heartwarming stories full of Christmas cheer, our selection is packed with seasonal favourites. There’s something for every young listener!
A Boy Called Christmas – Matt Haig
From the author of The Midnight Library and The Humans comes A Boy Called Christmas, a magical adventure which delves into the origins of Father Christmas. Set in 18th century Finland, the story follows the young Nikolas as he sets out on a rescue quest following the disappearance of his woodcutter father on a recent expedition north. Along his journey, the young boy befriends a reindeer named Blitzen and many magical elves, whilst encountering a mischievous truth pixie.
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig is available for members to borrow here.
Horrible Histories: Christmas – Terry Deary
From the team behind the hugely popular children’s history series comes Horrible Histories: Christmas - a festive edition packed with funny facts and gruesome tales.
Discover the complete horrible history of Christmas, from Puritans trying to abolish the holiday to the trenches where soldiers swapped bullets for footballs. Plus dreadful jokes, rotten recipes, and a Christmas quiz!
Horrible Histories: Christmas by Terry Deary is available for members to borrow here.
Letters From Father Christmas – J. R. R. Tolkien
While J.R.R. Tolkien is best known for the beloved Lord of the Rings series and The Hobbit novel, did you know that he also wrote an incredibly charming festive tale? Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R.Tolkien's children. Inside would be a letter from Father Christmas. They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how all the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place and how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas's house into the dining-room!
This moving collection of stories from a whimsical father to his children is a delight for all – a perfect family audiobook for the festive season.
Letters From Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien is available for members to borrow here.
Stories for Christmas – Enid Blyton
The beloved author behind The Famous Five also wrote numerous wintry and Christmas-themed short stories, and this audiobook is a charming collection perfect for the festive period! From tales of hot roasted chestnuts to shared gifts and falling snow, these traditional tales are ideal for younger children and each story stands alone and is the perfect length for listening at bedtime or in the classroom.
Stories for Christmas by Enid Blyton is available for members to borrow here.
The Adventures of Paddington: The Christmas Wish – Various authors
If you love the beloved literary bear, why not try an audiobook story with the family or your classroom? Based on the Emmy award-winning TV series, this delightful tale – narrated by Julie Walters - spotlights Paddington’s first Christmas at Windsor Gardens. Jonathan has written a letter to Father Christmas but unfortunately Paddington has sent it to Aunt Lucy in Peru instead of the North Pole! Can he retrieve the lost letter in time and save Christmas?
The Christmasaurus – Tom Fletcher
Not content with writing the music and lyrics for West End’s Paddington the musical and embarking on a huge tour with his band McFly (vs Busted!), Tom Fletcher has also written a series of children’s books about the magical creature known as The Christmasaurus.
The Christmasaurus is a story about a boy named William Trundle, and a dinosaur, the Christmasaurus. It's about how they meet one Christmas Eve and have a magical adventure. It's about friendship and families, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer, music and magic. It's about discovering your heart's true desire, and learning that the impossible might just be possible.
The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher is available for members to borrow here.
The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas – Dougie Poynter and Tom Fletcher
The McFly bandmates have joined forces to create an entertaining dinosaur adventure –with a slightly different take on a Christmas tale! This rip-ROARing romp is read by Tom and Dougie and features a host of festive sound effects. Danny wants everything for Christmas. But what he gets is a dinosaur, a very hungry dinosaur. Danny's new dino eats up all of Christmas, but as we all know, what goes in must come out . . .Danny is about to have the most EXPLOSIVE Christmas of his life!
The Magic Faraway Tree: A Christmas Adventure – Jacqueline Wilson
From beloved bestselling children’s author Jacqueline Wilson comes a new festive tale set in the much-loved Magic Faraway Tree setting, originally created by Enid Blyton. Milo, Mia and Birdy are so excited to return to the holiday cottage beside the Enchanted Wood for Christmas. They can't wait to visit their magical friends Silky the fairy and Moonface again. Which amazing worlds will arrive at the top of the Faraway Tree at this time of year?
The children are hoping the Land of Presents might come by, or the Land of the Never-ending Christmas Dinner. But not all the Lands are full of good things and Milo, Mia and Birdy must help a friend in great need before they can celebrate the season truly happily.
The Snowman – Michael Morpurgo and Robin Shaw
You can’t go wrong with an absolute Christmas classic, so look no further than The Snowman audiobook, inspired by the original story by Raymond Briggs and read by Richard Armitage! One December morning, James is thrilled to wake up to see snow falling. He spends the whole day making his perfect snowman; he has coal eyes, an old green hat and scarf and a tangerine nose...just like the snowman from his favourite story.
That night, something magical happens- the Snowman comes to life! He and James take to the skies on a magical adventure where they meet someone very special.
The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo is available for members to borrow here.
The Snowman and Snowdog – Raymond Briggs
The sequel to the Michael Morpurgo and Raymond Briggs classic is read by Benedict Cumberbatch and reunites readers with the Snowman. The new tale also introduces listeners to an adorable new puppy-friend, the Snowdog and includes music from the beautiful score of the film.
The Snowman and The Snowdog is available for members to borrow here.
At Listening Books, we offer access to over 10,000 audiobooks for all ages and interests. Membership is just £25 a year, or free if cost is a barrier.
Explore our audiobook collection, learn more about school memberships, or buy a gift membership for Christmas – and rediscover the joy of stories in a way that works for you.
