Advent Books

Beginning when MyChild was two-years-old, we started a family tradition of Advent Books counting down until Christmas Eve.

The first two years, I actually wrapped each of the books.

The third year, I didn’t have the time, nor the motivation to wrap all of those books. AND I couldn’t get past the thought of truly wasting that much wrapping paper.

So, I changed it up a bit.

I no longer decide which books we will read on which night(as I had when I wrapped them) and as an added component, I created a puzzle that would be completed the night we finished all 24 books (a.k.a. Christmas Eve).

This easy step involves a google image, a printable magnet sheet (cut into 24 pieces), and some washi tape.

Here are a couple of images we’ve used in the past:

Each night, she chooses a book, removes the (face down)puzzle piece, adds it to the fridge, and we read the book as a family. I’m the only one who knows what the finished picture will be.

It’s a family tradition that even MyHusband and I enjoy and look forward to.

Here are the books we are using this year for our project.

2018 Advent Books

William’s Winter Nap
Author: Linda Ashman
Illustrator: Chuck Groenick

ABC Hanukkah Hunt
Author: Tilda Balsley
Illustrator:Helen Poole

Pig the Elf
Author: Aaron Blabey

A Bad Kitty Christmas
Author: Nick Bruel
Will she ever learn?

Captain Bling’s Christmas Plunder
Author: Rebecca Colby
Illustrator:Rob McClurkan

Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho!
Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
What is that sneaky duck up to this time?!?!

The Knights before Christmas
Author: Joan Holub 
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Some valiant, but confused, knights almost ruin their own Christmas!

The Nutcracker
Author: Susan Jeffers

Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale
Author: Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrator:  Matthew Trueman

The Gingerbread Pirates
Author: Kristen Kladstrup
Illustrator: Matt Tavares

The Twelve Days of Christmas
Author: Hilary Knight
The illustrations are what make this book!

Elf in the House
Author: Ammi-Joan Paquette
Illustrator: Adam Record

We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Author: Johannah Gilman Pavia
Illustrator: Asha Pearse

The 12 Sleighs of Christmas
Author: Sherri Duskey Rinker
Illustrator:Jake Parker

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
Author: Alice Schertle
Illustrator:Jill McElmurry
Our favorite little truck has a wonderful surprise at the end of this book!

The Spirit of Christmas
Author: Nancy Tillman
Carols entwined in a story that gets to the heart of the season.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas
Author: Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Such a sweet story about how friends can be your family.

A Pirates Night Before Christmas
Author: Philip Yates
Illustrator:  Sebastia Serra
Get your talk-like-a-pirate voice ready – this one is SO fun to read aloud. 

How do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Mark Teague

A Unicorn Named Sparkle’s First Christmas
Author: Amy Young

The four books that I do guide her to choose on certain nights are:

The Night Before Hanukkah
Author: Natasha Wing
Illustrator:Amy Wummer

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah
Author: Susan L. Roth

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas
Author: Natasha Wing
Illustrator:Mike Lester
A very fun twist on a classic story that resonates too well with this busy mom.

The Night Before Christmas
Author: Clement C. Moore
And we end with a classic.

Some of the other books we used when MyChild was younger included:

Duck and Goose: It’s Time for Christmas
Author: Tad Hills

Room for a Little One
Author: Martin Waddell

Merry Christmas, Mouse!
Author: Laura Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond

Merry Christmas, Ollie!
Author: Olivier Dunrea

Are there any favorite holiday books in your house?
Any that I should add to my list?