10 beautiful Christmas picture books. A thread.

1. Possibly my favourite Christmas picture book. The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy with gorgeous illustrations by Emily Sutton. A heart-warming tale of an unloved little Christmas Tree fulfilling its Christmas destiny.

2. The Storm Whale in Winter by Benji Davies. Not technically a Christmas book but certainly a wintery tale about a beautiful friendship. I love the illustrations too.

3. Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck. This is a new one to our collection this year. I love this uplifting story about the joy of giving simple heart-felt gifts.

4. Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht. I love this book. Again the illustrations are really special. Putting up the Christmas Tree is always a big event in our house and this lovely picture book captures the magic of the occasion beautifully.

5. Red and Lulu by Matt Taveres. This is by the author who wrote Dasher, another lovely Christmas tale. Personally, I love Red and Lulu more. A Christmassy tale of two cardinals who become separated when their home is chosen to be the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.

6. When Santa was a Baby by Linda Bailey and Genevieve Godbout. This is such a fun little book about Santa in the early years and how he's different to his friends. I particularly love the image of a little Santa tethering his gerbils to a matchbox in a bid to create a sleigh!

7. Alfie's Christmas by Shirley Hughes. This was is in here for indulgent nostalgic reasons! It's thanks to this book that I developed a lifelong ambition to have a Christmas tree in a bay window!

8. Snow by Walter de la Mare. I love this simple poetic book coupled with its striking illustrations.

9. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston. I really like this old fashioned tale about Christmas tradition and a girl's relationship with her mother.

10. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. I'm a huge Van Allsburg fan so it wouldn't be right to have a Christmas list without this gem. Distinctive illustrations paired with a story that gives you all the feels. Christmas magic.

I'm a sucker for a Christmas book so would love to hear of any gems that I have missed...although my bank balance may not thank you!