New Christmas Picture Books for Kids!

 

Most Creative: Candy Corn Christmas

Candy Corn Chrisetmas!

by Jonathan Fenske

Little Simon

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

2025

40 pages

ISBN: 9781

By far, the newest idea, Candy Corn Christmas is splendid! Halloween's forgotten candy corn lingers on in the cabinet and dares to insert itself into Christmas. The candies are awakened by a sugar plum who tells them it's Christmas. The candy corn fights for their spot as a Christmas confection and wins! Candly corn Christmas from now on! Clever illustrations on end papers are eye-catching. Author/Illustrator Fenske knocks it out of the park. 

The Muttcracker

by Anna Kemp

Illustrated by Sara Olgivie

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

2025

32 pages

ISBN: 9781665981033

For the dancer, The Muttcracker is a laugh-riot. When the Miss Polly announces that the class is goint to put on The Nutcracker, Biff is excited! He's the kind to dog who loves ballet. Chase a ball? Not Biff. He's so excited and wants to be the Sugarplum Fairy. Sadly, not everyone can be the Sugarplum Fairy. Some people (and dogs) have to be bon-bons instead. But Biff, unshakingly, steps into his new role, to become the BEST bon-bon. There's a surprise on opening night, and Biff gets to take over The MUTTCRACKER. 

What a Beauty! Jingle Bells

by James Ford Pierpont

Illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo

Little Simon

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

2025

40 pages

ISBN: 9781665974837

The most beautifully illustrated book this year is Jingle Bells by James Ford Pierpont with illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo. Caparo captures a sense of innocence and nostalgia. Characters are incredibly life-like and seem to dance off the pages. The Christmas song is, of course well-known, but maybe not to a newer generation of parents and children. The devil is in the design and the design team opted to go cheap on end papers: plain blue. It's a missed opportunity for the best artistic book of the season.