The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year to read your favorite reindeer books! Reading a great book together can really help spread the magic of Christmas. Whether you’re looking for a cute story, a funny story, or even a non-fiction book about reindeer, this list has you covered! There are so many great festive book options to choose from.
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If you’re looking for some fun reindeer themed treats to go along with these books, check out this recipe!
Nonfiction Reindeer Books For Kids
Reindeer by Anastasia Suen: What do animals do to survive the frigid Arctic temperatures? This search-and-find book is a great way for children to start learning new vocabulary words about the reindeer’s Arctic habitat, behaviors and what kind of adaptations their bodies have in order to survive the extreme environments that they live in.
Reindeer (A Day in the Life: Polar Animals) by Katie Marsico: Follow a reindeer through its day as it eats, sleeps, and cares for its young. This non-fiction book is great for kids in Kindergarten through grade 2. It is filled with clear photos and simply stated facts.
I’m a Reindeer (Little Golden Book) by Mallory Loehr: This Little Golden Book is a story told in the first person by a cute reindeer. It goes over some facts about the real reindeer animals and is a nice little non-fiction book. Where do they live? Does their fur change each season? Can they really fly? (Maybe that part is up to you and Santa to decide).
Fiction Reindeer Books For Kids
The Littlest Reindeer by Brandi Dougherty: Dot, the littlest reindeer at the North Pole, is trying to learn to fly but she just can’t quite do it. Will she learn in time to help Santa pull his sleigh?
The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Reindeer by Bella Swift: In this sweet story, Peggy the Pug is trying to turn herself into a reindeer. That way she could help her family and find some Christmas magic. Unfortunately, the harder she tries the more problems she creates. Maybe she’ll have to go ask Santa for help at the North Pole…
Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh: This is the story of Olive, a dog, who is listening to the song ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and thinks it says ‘Olive the other reindeer’. She figures she must be a reindeer and heads to the North pole to help Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
Reindeer Games by Alan Katz: Can Andy the elf help Melody the reindeer learn how to fly like all the other reindeer? This is the second book in a series about Andy Snowden, the elf.
Tiny Reindeer by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros: Santa’s littlest reindeer is named Tiny. He’s so small he falls in the water dish and gets tangled up in rolls of tape. He’s given a special job to read letters from children and finds out there’s a girl who needs a tiny reindeer just like him. Can he find a place where he fits in and is needed?
The Snowy Reindeer by Paula Harrison: In this book, a pet-loving princess wants to help out the snowy reindeer in trouble, even if it might be against the rules! This is the third book in the ‘Royal Rescues’ series.
The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett: Young Teeka is helping get the reindeer ready for Santa’s sleigh. Yelling doesn’t seem to help them do what she wants… She’s going to have to find a better way to get them ready for Christmas Eve. Jan Brett’s illustrations in this stunning picture book would make it a great gift for the littlest elf on your shopping list.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May: This classic story about Rudolph the red nosed reindeer shows how he is worthy to lead Santa’s sleigh even though the other reindeer might laugh at him. Charming artwork in this book will remind you of simpler times. This story doesn’t follow the same plot as the old tv special, it has its own special twists. In the end, even after the other reindeer make fun of Rudolph and give him a hard time, he and his wonderful shiny red nose will lead the way.
Little Polar Bear and the Reindeer by Hans de Beer: Summer is ending and the reindeer are trying to migrate south for the winter. With some help from the Muskoxen, Lars the little polar bear will help them break through a fence that has trapped them. This is a classic tale about man’s impact on nature.
This Little Reindeer by Aly Fronis: This book is set to the classic rhyme of: “This Little Piggy”! The reindeer have so much work to do to get ready for Christmas. One goes to the market, one loads Santa’s sleigh, one stretches, one cooks some treats, and one plays in the snow. They’re all getting ready to deliver presents!
The Great Reindeer Rebellion by Lisa Trumbauer: Twas the week before Christmas, and somewhere up north, dear Santa was frantic-he paced back and forth… This book follows the same rhyme scheme as the ‘Night Before Christmas’. Poor Santa is distressed because his reindeer are on strike. He puts out a help wanted sign and has all sorts of funny animals like flamingos and elephants, try out. At the end of the day, Santa decides the Reindeer are best for the job and meets their terms and conditions.
Dasher by Matt Tavares: This story is set back in a time where Santa is using a horse to pull his sled. He meets Dasher, who is a reindeer traveling with a circus. Dasher broke free of her life traveling in the hot sun and followed the North Star. Eventually, Santa has more and more kids to carry presents for and his sled is too heavy for just one horse. Good thing Dasher is around to offer her help.
A Little Reindeer by Holly Berry-Byrd: This is a cute reindeer shaped board book that’s perfect for little hands to flip through. Someday, the little reindeer wants to grow up to be just like his mom and dad so he can help Santa pull the sleigh! First he needs to get big and strong and practice putting on a harness and flying.
How to Catch a Reindeer by Alice Walstead: This is part of the ‘Catch Club Kids’ series (how to catch Santa, how to catch the easter bunny, how to catch a witch). In this Christmas themed adventure, the kids are trying to catch Comet the reindeer!
Santa’s Lost Reindeer by Rachel Hilz: This is a clever, rhyming book about Santa searching for his lost reindeer. After Bucky the reindeer gets spooked by an airplane, Santa gets help from a family and their all-wheel-drive vehicle to find him.
The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen: A friendship is created between a lost reindeer and a little girl when the jingling of its harness wakes her from her sleep. This story is about kindness, friendship, Christmas and of course: Santa!
Fritz the Farting Reindeer by Humor Heals Us: If you or your child like a good fart joke, this reindeer book is for you. Fritz wants to be picked to help lead Santa’s sled team… but he has gas! Will Santa want him to help light the way with his glowing neon toots? Read the book to find out in this silly story.
The Night the Reindeer Came to Play by Maria Votto: Find out what is happening to Santa’s reindeer when they visit the home of a young child on Christmas eve. The group of reindeer are trying to engage with and excite the little one with their silly antics.
Reindeer Food by Melanie Salas: You know how you leave a treat out for Santa on Christmas eve? Let’s make the reindeer something special too! They work so hard flying around; we can thank them for the miles they fly with some tasty Reindeer food.
Never EVER Race a Reindeer by Adam Wallace: Are reindeer calm and peaceful? Or totally competitive? Would they ever cheat to win a race? Don’t let them fool you… You should never ever race a reindeer. Good thing cheaters never win, these reindeer are up to all kinds of hilarious tricks your kids will love reading about.
A Boy Called Christmas By Matt Haig: When Nikolas’ father goes missing he has to travel to the North Pole to save him. Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, a troublesome troll and the elves of Elfhelm. This book is the ‘true’ story about Father Christmas.
The Grumpy Reindeer By Dk: Learn about the power of kindness and the grumpiest reindeer there ever was. Bright and beautiful illustrations help grab the attention of young readers. Santa asks the grumpy reindeer for help, who quickly realizes he can’t do it on his own and must ask the other reindeer for help.
Eight Jolly Reindeer By Ilanit Oliver: This is a catchy rhyming board book full of glittery pictures and fun. Count down from eight and watch the reindeer take flight one by one in this perfect story for your youngest readers.
I hope you’ve found a special book on this list of the greatest reindeer books to help get you in the Christmas spirit. Reading to children about topics they are interested in will help them to engage with books more and more as they get older. Whether you’re reading reindeer books to your classroom as a teacher, or as a parent at home, there are so many great options on this book list.
