Our Christmas Book Advent Calendar - Reading Our Way through Christmas

I am so excited to put together a Christmas Book Advent Calendar again this year, after launching in last year with our Twelve Days of Christmas Books :) This year I was ready to go the whole 24!! Of course, I forgot to collect very many during the year, but managed to scrabble 24 together at the last minute (thanks Amber, for the loaners!!)

If you haven't heard of this before, a Christmas Book Advent Calendar is counting down the days of December up till Christmas Day, using books instead of chocolate, treats or activities etc. As soon as I heard about it last year I was sold - no unnecessary junk food, not too much crazy expectations/work which I surely would not sustain for 24 days (let's be real, Christmas is busy enough, no way could I do a special activity every.single.day, haha) - and a fun way to enjoy delightful Christmas books while we count down to the big day together! Sign me up, I said (to nobody in particular). 

You simply wrap them up, ready for December 1st and let the kids unwrap one to read each night. Gathered under the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree, reading is even more specialm huh?!

Here is this year's collection - mostly mine, some borrowed, and quite a few second hand (some were even Mark's childhood Christmas books!). Some are a bit same-ish, or just not that exciting (it was a stretch to get 24!), but each year I plan to add one good quality book. This year's is currently winging its way to me at the moment thanks to Book Depository. It's called My Christmas List, it looks beautiful and is about remembering the needs of others around the world, at Christmas and all year round. A perfect addition and timely reminder about our family commitment to thinking of others through the Christmas Season.

I love the idea of the kids having a special collection of familiar Christmas books to enjoy over the years - I am sure as they grow older some will phase in and out! But I know it will build some wonderful Christmas book memories for the whole family. It's also a lovely way to enjoy those Christmas books that I don't otherwise know quite what to do with :)

If you like this idea, it's not too late to do one too! You can always add a few non-Christmas books in there to stretch your stash, borrow some from the library or friends, dig around the op shops/thrift stores... or even just do 12 days of Christmas as we did last year, to take the pressure off a bit. It's a fun and easy way to count down to Christmas... and a celebration including books is always a rockin' one in our world ;)

Loving these cute advent numbers! A pretty free printable from here. 

My Christmas philosophy is very much about keeping things simple and that's part of why I love this Book Advent. But I also love to add in extras if and when I have the ability to do so without killing myself (or the children, haha). So, I had a fun little idea this year to spice it up a little. I taped the back of the paper number tags just at the top, and then on the underside, I flipped up a few of them and wrote some easy little Christmas activities, like 'Have a hot chocolate under the Xmas Tree', 'Call someone and sing them a Christmas carol' etc etc.

I just scattered about a half dozen through, but my thought is that when I have the time/energy/resources, (NOT every day!), then I can just quickly pencil in an extra activity! So if on some days I think we have time to do something or are planning to that night or the next day - e.g. go see Christmas lights, make ornaments, take gifts to the neighbours, etc, then on that day, when the kids lift the flap they will see if there is a little something extra to do :) Should be fun, without over committing or pressuring myself in advance, haha! Just a last minute thought I had. Would really like to focus especially on things that will serve/bless/help/think of others - but a few fun treats in there too of course. Will keep you posted on how that develops... but right now I am thinking it should be fun and manageable as I can just decide day-to-day what we can fit in.

I am so excited to have it all set up, and looking so colourful and enticing (who is the biggest kid here?!). Lily and Eli  were in awe when they saw them all lined up this morning after I set them all up last night.

And now, we eagerly await December 1st so we can start unwrapping and commence reading our way through the Christmas Season! Who wants to join me?! :)







Edited to add:

People have been asking about quality Christmas book suggestions, so here are a few of our best quality and most beloved Christmas books... I buy one good quality one a year to add to our collection, the rest are gifted or second hand!

Google the title to find the best price :)

Living Loving Laughing's Christmas Book Recommendation List!

• Punchinello and the Most Marvelous Gift -  Max Lucado
• Room for a Little One - Martin Waddell
• Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo - Emma Chichester Clark
• Brucie Saves Christmas - Yvonne Morrison
• Christmas - Dick Bruna
• My Christmas List - Amy Parker
• Tari's First Christmas - Mary Diestel-Fedderson
• I Love Christmas - Anna Walker
• The Best Christmas Book Ever - Richard Scarry
• God Gave Us Christmas - Lisa Tawn Bergren
• Silver Packages - An Appalachian Christmas Story - Cynthia Rylant

PS If you like these adorable tags, you can download them free from this lovely site here, which I dug up through good ol' Pinterest. Enjoy! xx