2016 Daily December 16--A fun Christmas book

This is another fun Christmas book, you read it, but then you find out that on each page the illustrator has hidden a Santa face, a cat, a dinosaur, etc, so then you read it again and look for all those things.  Lots of fun!

2016 Daily December 8--The Tale of Three Trees

This was our Christmas bedtime story last night.  My son Mr J picked it out, and I read it.  When I was done my 16 year old Miss O said, "That one is my favorite."  So good.  If you haven't read this one, please check it out.  A classic Christmas tale.

2016 Daily December 5--a favorite Christmas book

This is another classic Christmas book that my kids all still love--even my 16 year old girl like to read it.  It is fun!  Lots of details and pictures to look at.  How does Santa really work?  This tells you.

2016 Daily December 2

I love, love, love Christmas picture books.  I don't think you can ever get too old for picture books--especially Christmas ones.  In the years past I have wrapped up 25 picture books and numbered them or not number them and the kids have gotten to unwrap a book each night to read.  Last year and this year I asked the kids if they wanted them wrapped or not.  They said no.  I didn't complain.  Less work for me :)  

So here is our basket of Christmas picture books by the tree where we read each night.

This was our book last night.  A great one for siblings who maybe aren't getting a long too well :)  The illustrations are great.  

What is one of your favorite Christmas picture books?

2015 Daily December 5--Christmas books

A tradition we started a few years ago to make sure and utilize our many Christmas books is we try to read one each night of December.  I have the kids each pick six of their favorites.  In some years I have wrapped them up and put numbers on them and other years I just stick them in a basket by the tree, and the kids choose one.  This year Mr. J my 10-year-old asked if they could be wrapped because he said that was his favorite part :)  So this is the stack they chose for this December, and this was right before I started to wrap them.  I didn't number them.  I just wrapped them and then the kids get to choose which one they want to open that night.  Every year I try to ask my kids what they like about how we celebrate--what they don't like.  One thing everyone always brings up that they like is reading by the Christmas tree.  This forces us to do it--having these books out and wrapped--and we love it.  Some nights can be pretty late with Christmas programs and ball games, but we still read one.  It gives us some quiet family time at the end of the day to relax and unwind.  

2014 Daily December 13--Christmas books

Last year I started the new tradition of reading a Christmas book each night.  Last year I wrapped them all.  Didn't do that this year.  This year I just have them in a basket by the tree, and the kids take turns picking one to read each night.  

These are the books the kids chose from our Christmas picture book collection to read this year.  I love Christmas books!  I enjoy the time in the evening to sit for a minute and just listen to Ben read to the kids because even though my kids are getting older, they still love pictures books.  I still love picture books.  It is a fun new tradition.

2013 Daily December 13--new Christmas book

Being and English/Humanities major and the daughter of a librarian, I think it is just in my blood to love books.  I especially love Christmas books.  I posted before about our new Christmas book countdown.  That has been fun.  These are the books we wrapped up.

Every Christmas when I make out my Christmas budget I allot a certain amount for a new Christmas book and Christmas CD.  I am going to share the CD tomorrow.  Today I wanted to show you the new Christmas book we got.  We opened it on December 1st.

The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.  It is so fun!  It is based off their original The Jolly Postman.  The postman delivers letters to different fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters.  But the coolest part is you get to open the envelope and take out the letter, or puzzle or game or whatever was sent to that character.  It is really cute and a fun addition to our Christmas collection.

Daily December 22--last Christmas book post

 For my last Christmas Book Post, I wanted to share an adult book and an older kids' chapter book.

Christmas Jars by Jason Wright can be read any time of the year.  January would be a good month to read it, and then you have all year to build up your own Christmas Jar.  I loved this book!  He has written several others, but this is my favorite.  He has a sequel to this, but the original is the best--aren't they always?  

We actually listed to the audio book of this on our trip at Thanksgiving.  I have been a fan of Ann Martin for years, and this was a fun Christmas book she did.  The audio book was great to listen too.

I know it is awfully close to Christmas, but you can put these are your "to read" books for next year!

Daily December 18--great read aloud book

If you haven't read this book lately, I would highly suggest it.  I have read it several times over the years to my older girls (thus our well worn copy), but Mr J had never heard it (that he can remember).  We started it last week.  It is short and very entertaining.  Mr J has laughed out loud many times.  We are about 3/4 of the way through it.  A great modern Christmas classic that is perfect for a read aloud!

Daily December 15--a great Christmas book

** I had this post ready to go earlier in the week, and with the events of Friday in Connecticut I just want to join with others in prayers and thoughts for the families, friends, and community.  It is hard to wrap my mind around what happened and why and how many are affected.  It is so sad--beyond any words I can express.  May God bless and be with those affected at this time.  My prayers are with you.

There are no shortages of great Christmas books. I could do a post on them everyday and still have tons to share, but this one is really special.  My sister-in-law and her family gave it to us early for Christmas this year, and we have enjoyed reading it each Sunday.  It is wonderful.

The Life of Our Lord was written by Charles Dickens to his children to teach them about Christ and his life.  It was read each December in the Dickens family and was not published until after Charles Dickens died.  It has been beautifully reprinted and illustrated recently, and is a great addition to our Christmas reading repertoire, as it would be to yours.  A big thanks to the L&C family for this!!!