This is a sponsored post, which means I was given a free product and/or compensated for it. It contains a review of a book called The Gift Giver, and the opinions are all my own. I also have included my affiliate links, so if you choose to make a purchase, a little money, at no additional cost to you, will help me keep up my blog.
Countdown to Savings
I know. I know. It’s not even Thanksgiving. Well, actually, it’s Thanksgiving tomorrow! And do you know what that means? The biggest shopping days of the year are coming up!
With all the sales and great deals happening, I wanted to share an idea for your countdown to Christmas now. That way, if you decide you want to participate, you can get all your supplies at a discount.
Your own Advent Activity
I love advent calendars and ways to countdown to special days. I found this idea 2 years ago, and we’ve been doing it ever since. It’s a way to get the kids excited about Christmas, plus it combines reading and learning. Win. Win. Win!
The Idea
Every day, starting December 1st, we unwrap and read a book right before bedtime. They don’t all have to be Christmas-themed books, or even new books, but I like to stick to a giving and sharing message. The first year, I bought quite a few new books (or new to us books from a used book store.) Then, after Christmas was over, I put them away. So, the next year, it was like having new books again!
You certainly don’t have to wrap each book, and could use gift bags or tissue paper instead. It just adds an extra fun element for the kids, and gets them excited about books. Which is a good thing , right?
We have different religions in our household, so I like to do a wide variety of books, but I want to make sure they have a good meaning behind them.
A book that has a great meaning behind it is called The Gift Giver
Not only does it discuss the origins of Santa Claus, but it also talks about the true meaning behind Christmas. It explains the meaning behind gift giving in a way children can understand, while also talking about God and Jesus. I really liked the way it combined Christian beliefs and still included Santa. You don’t really find many books that talk about both. It was educational, entertaining, and taught a great lesson. My boys were intrigued by the pictures, as well as the story. They are really beautiful illustrations.
You can purchase The Gift Giver
Other Favorites for our Countdown
And to finish the Countdown, I like to read this one on Christmas Eve:
Remember, if you are interested in purchasing any of the books above, including The Gift Giver, you can just click on the picture.
So, what do you think? What’s your favorite way to countdown to Christmas?
Looks like such a sweet book! My “baby” is 13 now, so our traditions are changing, but we do have our first grandbaby! Can’t wait to read books like these with her and start new traditions!
Love the book suggestions! I always read a book to me niece and nephews on Christmas Eve and was looking for a new one.
Great list! We have a toddler who loves to read, so I’ll be adding some of these to our list. Thanks for sharing!
This is such a great idea rather than just the normal chocolate advent calendars. It feels a lot more special if you put the effort in and make one yourself! 🙂
Such a great idea!! I’ll have to do this!
Great ideas! I love those books.
When I was a little girl my aunt gave me Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas stories. She told me to read one story every night before bed and I did. They were full of stories about gratitude, thankfullness, and family. I loved that book. I love your idea of reading before bed!
I cannot believe that it is Christmas already…for persons with kids this is a great way to get them all pumped and provide information at the same time
Great ideas! The Gift Giver sounds like a great book choice for kids! Happy holidays!
Great ideas! The Gift Giver sounds like a geeat choice for kids! Happy holidays!
Look for the book, “The Bird in Santa’s Beard”- it’s a GREAT book written by a guy who went to Santa School (that’s a real thing) and it answers the question why every Santa looks different (like your mall Santa,store Santa, etc). Its one of our favorites. Another one that Jackson LOVES is called “Are You Grumpy, Santa?” and it is pretty darn fun to read! It’s one I read to the first grade classrooms every year. 🙂
Thank you Sara! I will definitely look for both of those 🙂
I love this idea!! The Gift Giver sounds like a perfect book for kids to read for the holidays. I’d love to do this when I have kids one day. I loved reading so much when I was younger, I wish I had more time for it now. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Thank you Mistle. You too!
Very cute idea! I’d love to do a book a day countdown with my kids – if I have one. Very cute. I’ll pass this idea along to my friends who would totally adore it.
We love to read! This is a great idea. We usually do it for the 12 days of Christmas
I LOVE this idea for an advent calendar! I wish my parents had thought of this growing up – I would have much preferred it to the chocolates! (I don’t even like milk chocolate so the fun was only in seeing what the shape would be. My dad was the one that lucked out and got my chocolate haha)
Great books! I love The Mitten the The Polar Express – I guess they are all time favorites!
This is such a cute idea – I love everything about it. I’m definitely doing this once I have kids. And Barenstain Bears is where it’s at! 🙂
I’ll have to check out The Gift Giver. I live Christmas books and they are even better if they show the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks for sharing!
So many cute books on your list! I have quite a few of them, but I will have to look for a couple more so we can do a book a day!
Awesome! Thank you! Have a great Thanksgiving!
I love the idea of having some special holiday books that are hidden away the rest of the year. It’s a great idea for an Advent calendar and you have some awesome book choices!
What a great list of Christmas books! I need to go get some more!
What a fun list of books! Thanks for sharing these!!!!!
Looks like such a fun holiday tradition! Have a great Thanksgiving.
xx katie // a touch of teal
We have a stock of holiday books. We read one per day leading up to Christmas.
Awesome!
I was looking for a gift ideas for my little nephew. I will check this out. I loved the picture of your kids when you are reading to them. They looked so engrossed in it. 🙂
I love including book as gifts for kids and i always get a gift card for adults. This is so awesome. love the lists:-)
I did not know that it is not a tradition in the US to do advent calendars. Here it is just a chocolate, tea or pet treats. I really like the book idea and also the fact that the kids have a set of books that will be precious.
Thank you!
We do this every year but I use books off all season, not just Christmas. My son loves bed time stories so we have him unwrap one a night for 24 days and it’s such a special gift each evening.
I love it! Unwrapping a book a day would definitely make the countdown to Christmas more fun! I love that you’re teaching your kids the value of reading at the same time, that’s really awesome!
I think it’s great that you are focusing your countdown on books. It’s so much fun to sit around and read with or to each other.
We do this! My kids LOVE it. I see a few of our favorites on your list 😉
Pete the Cat has a Christmas book? Cool! I think an advent with books is a great idea!!
i love the polar express!!!!
This is the first time I heard of an Advent Calendar Activity. Looks fun. Happy thanksgiving! 🙂
This is such a fantastic idea! When I have kids (hopefully in the next few years when we pay off some debt) I’m definitely using this idea! 🙂 I love the book suggestions you give. Fabulous! Thanks for sharing
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Such a great idea.. I love Advent Calendars. So excited for Christmas
Coundown calendars are a tradition here too although sadly I have not had one for many years!
This absolutely great ideas and i love the books.
My 3 yr old is going to love these. Thanks for sharing!
I really want to do this this year!
These is such a great and fun Idea, I’m going to try it very soon.
This is a nice list. We have little ones at home who would love these books.
This is a truly WONDERFUL idea for an advent calendar! Educational, fun and family time all in one 🙂
We have Merry Christmas Mouse and Quite like it, I just ordered Llama llama Holiday Drama though from my daughters Scholastic and can’t wait!
Reading is so important in my family, and I can’t even tell you how much I love your tradition. It’s perfect!
Several of my friends have done this and it’s such a precious idea. I pinned it for the future 😉
Such an awesome idea. My kids would surely love this.
so love the idea of a book a night. This is something I believe we will look into as well. yes we truly do enjoy reading in our house and you are right there are so many great books that we can read together
I have seen this idea all over Pinterest and still can’t believe I have never done it. On the list for next year
These would have been great ideas for me to use when my children were smaller.
My 5 year old has just started reading on her own and this is exactly what we’ll be doing starting December 1st! She’s so excited about books right now, it’s a great way to keep her that way!
Awesome!
Oh what a great idea! I was just thinking of what kind of advent calendar we could do, and a book a night sounds perfect!
What a great idea and really cool books.