Our Advent Book List

Years ago, Jessica at Shower of Roses inspired me with her gorgeous Advent book basket -I imagined the joy my children would experience seeing a big basket of beautifully wrapped purple and pink books. The book basket did not disappoint and when my daughter saw this year’s books all wrapped and ready to go – she jumped up and down and said “Mommy I can’t wait for Advent!”  We unwrap the book of the day, snuggle on the couch and read it together every morning. Each year we add new books and weed out the ones that the kids have outgrown. Here’s a picture our book basket:   Although Advent begins on November 29 – we begin reading from our book list on December 1: December 1: While not an overt Christmas book, Neal Lozano’s beautiful book Will You Bless Me? recounts the story of the Annunciation through the Epiphany as told by the Blessed Mother to the Child Jesus. It is a beautiful introduction to the gift of blessing your children.   December 2: In honor of the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center, we read The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree December 3: Written in 1957, The Story of Holly and Ivy, is a classic Christmas tale of hope and miracles. It is a favorite of mine and one that brings me to tears everytime I read it (much to my children’s chagrin).  December 4: Who doesn’t love “All the Who’s in Whoville” and the slimy green Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas!   – a family fav indeed.  December 5: The True Story of Santa Claus contains the story of St. Nicholas as told by “Santa Claus” as well as a few pages of facts at the end of the book about the life this special saint who’s feast