Wednesday, December 01, 2010

month twelve.


Happy December!

 No, I haven't finished my Christmas shopping already! But we ARE starting THIS today and I am oh, so excited about it! It is our "advent calendar" for this year. I wrapped 24 books, labeled them and each night until Christmas the boys will get the chosen book read to them before bed. You can see my friends' version HERE who first shared this idea with me. For more advent ideas, see HERE

These are the books that were selected for our first (annual ?) advent book reading, most of which we already owned. A few were a last minute rescue from our second hand store. You may also notice that I mixed in winter themed books with spiritual related books. We will be doing our Scripture advent reading separately.

Here is the list of books that we'll be reading:

1. Footprints in the Snow (Cynthia Benjamin)
2. Little Einstein's Christmas Wish (Disney)
3. The Little Drummer Boy (1968 Little Golden Book)
4. The Elves and the Shoemaker (Little Golden Book)
5. The Christmas Story (Little Golden Book)
6. Room For A Little One (Martin Waddell)
7. Owl Moon (Jane Yolen)
8. The Little Lost Angel 
9. Katy and the BIG SNOW (Virginia Lee Burton)
10. The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Graham Percy)
11. The Little Drummer Boy (Ezra Jack Keats)
12. Who Is Coming To Our House? (Joseph Slate)
13. Noel (Little Board Books)
14. Jingle Bells 
15. The Snowchild (Ill. by Deborah Kogan Ray)
16. The Christmas Mouse 
17. Socks for Supper (Jack Kent)
18. Father and Son, A Nativity Story (Geraldine McCaughrea)
19. Madeline's Christmas (Ludwig Bemelmans)
20. The Apple Tree Christmas (Trinka Hakes Noble)
21. Spunky's First Christmas (Janette Oke)
22. Winnie the Pooh's Christmas (Bruce Talkington)
23. Red Boots for Christmas (Carol Greene)
24. Mortimer's Christmas Manger (Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman)


I also needed a new chapter book to start with the boys and came across THIS gem at the library:


So, looks like we're all booked up for December!!??  
(sorry. I couldn't resist!!!)   :)  

What are some of YOUR (and your kids) favorite reads during "the most wonderful time of the year?" 

10 comments:

Richele said...

They look so great on your bench! I could barely get mine wrapped, let a lone photograph them beforehand.

My little early risers brought #24 up to me this morning.

Thanks again for those final two books!

Mary Ann said...

What a great idea! When I was a kid we had three advent calendars in the kitchen & after dinner every night we would open the doors. One was a scratch & sniff calendar (from Avon - ha!), one was legends of nature (different animals/plants & how they came to be part of Christmas traditions) & one was a traditional scripture calendar. Have fun reading your books! My mom always read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to us every Christmas. Such great memories!

Unknown said...

Great idea! We have the paper chain in our house as well as a chocolate advent calendar- I think I may add this to the list this year- great idea!

Jenny said...

LOVE this idea!

Erin Neiner said...

Richele: I ended up letting the boys open up the first book in the middle of the afternoon. My plan was to wait until bedtime...but maybe this will take a turn on its own.

Mary Ann: I have never heard of a scratch and sniff advent calendar---but oh, how cool!!!! Now, that "legends of nature" one I would LOVE to get my hands on. So if you have any specific information to point me in the right direction...please spill the beans! :)

Chas: the boys also have a chocolate advent calendar! And this morning, I let them open it up first thing in the morning! I figured now was as good a time as any! :)

Jamie said...

We are enjoying Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree which was one of my favorites when I was a child and Once Upon A Hoiday The Moon Fell Out of the Sky which has wonderful illustrations.

I love your advent idea! I might add that to our December next year. We also do 25 days of Christmas movies, the classics of course.

Take a peek at the advent calendar I made for Rory http://mylazyapples.blogspot.com/2010/11/little-bit-of-holiday-diy.html

Happy December Erin!

kellyH said...

I love it! at first I thought you bought all new books, but I like the idea of wrapping ones you already have! I will remember this. :)

Beth said...

I LOVE it, Erin! I copied your idea right away and we enjoyed our first book together just tonight (1 day late :) We also sang a Christmas carol together afterwards.

Beth said...

btw- awesome first pic of the books on the bench!

Loraena Tuttle said...

Wow, I LOVE this idea so much! I've been looking for an advent calendar, but I hadn't thought of doing a different kind of advent activity. So cool.