I am truly enjoying the wonders of fall... but in the crisp of the air, I already feel the kiss of winter. This year, my son will really begin to understand the beauty of winter, the wonder of Christmas. There's so much I want to share now that his understanding and memories are deepening.
Reading seasonal books is a favorite activity of mine (hence the title of our blog?). I just got to review two great winter picture books I'm going to enjoy reading to him over and over this year!
First, my all-time favorite type of picture book: an alphabet book calledS Is For Snowman. Written by Kathy-jo Wargin, award-winning children's author, this book is lighthearted, but God-focused. A fun read taking children through the alphabet in a winter wonderland.
F is for Frost
God casts the Frost sparkling white on the land,
a beautiful blanket spread right from his hand
S is for Snowman outlines twenty-six ways to have winter fun in the beauty of God's creation! I look forward to checking out Wargin's other seasonal alphabet books like P is for Pumpkin.
S Is for Snowman released in September 2011 and is available from Zonderkidz in hardcover format for $15.99. For more information about the author, visit Kathy-jo Wargin's website.
Another title for this winter is from bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones. I reviewed The Jesus Storybook Bible a few months ago, and consider her writing to be delightfully poetic! Her latest book, Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story is a retelling of the first coming of Jesus.
The world was about to change forever.
And it almost went by unnoticed…
The wind whispered it softly
in the sycamore trees
that waved their moonlit branches
to the sky.
Once again, Lloyd-Jones uses lyrical writing with a gentle tone to share the miracle that echoed to the ends of the earth. Readers watch the news of Jesus' birth travel enthusiastically from creature to creature. This book reminded me of the Psalm, "The heavens declare the glory of God..." and one would find it hard to miss the symbolism of a might Lion roaring out: "The Might King! The Prince of Peace!"
Song of the Stars is a wonderful introduction to the birth of Christ, and would be a great gift to teach children the joy and anticipation of the moment when Salvation came to earth!
Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story released in October 2011, and is available from Zonderkidz. For more about this author, visit Sally Lloyd-Jones' website.
My son got his first introduction to this lovely bear family with The Berenstain Bears Get Ready For Christmas (Amazon affiliate). When it's time for the bears to assemble their family Nativity scene, the box it was packed in has severl missing pieces! Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear search the tree house to find the pieces of the manger scene. It's a fun to help the bears find their cherished items with this Lift-the-Flap book (which my son loved!). Discovering each piece of the Nativity scene helps you tell the Christmas story to your child too!
Disclosure: I was not sent product for this review and was not compensated in any other way. All opinions are 100% my own. Amazon affliate links have been used in this post.
My granddaughter always love when my husband or I read/sing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Merry Clubhouse Songs" book to her. Thanks! 🙂
My granddaughter always love when my husband or I read/sing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Merry Clubhouse Songs" book to her. Thanks! 🙂
We love The Bear who Slept through Christmas, although it makes me tear up, lol!
We love The Bear who Slept through Christmas, although it makes me tear up, lol!
I love doing a Christmas book advent with the kids. I wrap 25 books and we open one each morning or night and read it until Christmas day. These would be great to add to our advent. I usually have to check out some Library books to get 25:)
I love doing a Christmas book advent with the kids. I wrap 25 books and we open one each morning or night and read it until Christmas day. These would be great to add to our advent. I usually have to check out some Library books to get 25:)
We have S is for Snowman. We love that. We actually read our Christmas and winter books year round. T Rex loves them and Bebe Sister just likes reading. I'll have to see if we can find a couple at the library. There were some great suggestions. So far, only the crafting Christmas books have come out there and we just saw the Thanksgiving ones today. We're big into Berenstain Bears so we have a couple of their Christmas books.
We have S is for Snowman. We love that. We actually read our Christmas and winter books year round. T Rex loves them and Bebe Sister just likes reading. I'll have to see if we can find a couple at the library. There were some great suggestions. So far, only the crafting Christmas books have come out there and we just saw the Thanksgiving ones today. We're big into Berenstain Bears so we have a couple of their Christmas books.
I have a Zonderkidz movie collection myself. This would make a great Christmas present for my kids. I love reading stories about God to my children. It's such a blessing.
I have a Zonderkidz movie collection myself. This would make a great Christmas present for my kids. I love reading stories about God to my children. It's such a blessing.
Love both of those books! The alphabet one reminds me of my favorite series of alphabet books...not really fall/winter related, but it is thematic. They're from Sleeping Bear Press (I think they're written by several different authors or I'd just tell you that 🙂 and there's an ABC book for every state. I loved using them with my 4th and 5th graders when I taught. The Oklahoma one is called S is for Sooner. Clearly that's a lot further down the line for my 2 year old, but I still love them! 🙂
Love both of those books! The alphabet one reminds me of my favorite series of alphabet books...not really fall/winter related, but it is thematic. They're from Sleeping Bear Press (I think they're written by several different authors or I'd just tell you that 🙂 and there's an ABC book for every state. I loved using them with my 4th and 5th graders when I taught. The Oklahoma one is called S is for Sooner. Clearly that's a lot further down the line for my 2 year old, but I still love them! 🙂
I love Wombat Divine as a Christmas story
I love Wombat Divine as a Christmas story
My favorite Christmas book for kids is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Newfoundland. We got it on a family vacation in Newfoundland when I was a kid and it is written in Newfoundland dialect, which makes it kind of fun. I'm not sure whether my son will really appreciate it or not as he gets older since he's never been to Newfoundland, but it is my fave Christmas book right now. Thanks for the giveaway!
My favorite Christmas book for kids is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Newfoundland. We got it on a family vacation in Newfoundland when I was a kid and it is written in Newfoundland dialect, which makes it kind of fun. I'm not sure whether my son will really appreciate it or not as he gets older since he's never been to Newfoundland, but it is my fave Christmas book right now. Thanks for the giveaway!
We read "The Night Before Christmas" almost every day in Dec. I also love telling my girls the true meaning for Christmas in my own words...they seem to like it too.
We read "The Night Before Christmas" almost every day in Dec. I also love telling my girls the true meaning for Christmas in my own words...they seem to like it too.
Okay, I have a confession. I don't have any books that we read every year, but I do watch a few movies at Christmas time every year i.e. The Polar Express, Miracle on 34th St, Little Women, It's a Wonderful Life, etc. Last year, I bought my daughter a Christmas board book that I read to her on our trip over to Northern Ireland on Christmas day; so, I'm thinking of building her collection of Christmas books every Christmas.
Recently, I have started trying to give homemade gifts a lot more (especially knitting). To me, it means more that somebody put their personal time and energy into making me something, instead of just going to Wal-Mart or Target and buying something that I may or may not like.
Okay, I have a confession. I don't have any books that we read every year, but I do watch a few movies at Christmas time every year i.e. The Polar Express, Miracle on 34th St, Little Women, It's a Wonderful Life, etc. Last year, I bought my daughter a Christmas board book that I read to her on our trip over to Northern Ireland on Christmas day; so, I'm thinking of building her collection of Christmas books every Christmas.
Recently, I have started trying to give homemade gifts a lot more (especially knitting). To me, it means more that somebody put their personal time and energy into making me something, instead of just going to Wal-Mart or Target and buying something that I may or may not like.
We (sort of) have a tradition of adding one Christmas book to our collection each year -- so I was especially glad to read this post!
"The Story of Christmas" (Thomas Nelson Publishers) is a favorite of ours...
We (sort of) have a tradition of adding one Christmas book to our collection each year -- so I was especially glad to read this post!
"The Story of Christmas" (Thomas Nelson Publishers) is a favorite of ours...
We love to read the Bible story of Christmas so another great book would be cool to add. momlovesdeals at gmail dot com
We love to read the Bible story of Christmas so another great book would be cool to add. momlovesdeals at gmail dot com
These look like awesome books...so sweet.
Our favorite book/activity starting in December is an Usborne board book that has nativity figures you pop out. Each day is marked so by Christmas baby Jesus comes out. We LOVE this book and use it faithfully every year.
These look like awesome books...so sweet.
Our favorite book/activity starting in December is an Usborne board book that has nativity figures you pop out. Each day is marked so by Christmas baby Jesus comes out. We LOVE this book and use it faithfully every year.
The winter and Christmas are my favorite time of year it's also a wonderful time for children to decorate a tree outside for the birds to eat off of.
The winter and Christmas are my favorite time of year it's also a wonderful time for children to decorate a tree outside for the birds to eat off of.
We love to use our Jesse Tree for Christmas and plan to fill up a manger with straw for Jesus earned by doing good deeds. Thanks for the chance!
We love to use our Jesse Tree for Christmas and plan to fill up a manger with straw for Jesus earned by doing good deeds. Thanks for the chance!
I'd really like Song of the Stars! It would be perfect for dd! We usually don't do any crafts because mommy is craft challenged! LOL We do like to bake though! I will usually make butternut squash bread (think pumpkin bread) and cookies around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Dd will be old enough this year to 'help'! We also love to decorate the tree together. Last year dd was finally old enough to actually help instead of pulling down everything we had just put up!
I'd really like Song of the Stars! It would be perfect for dd! We usually don't do any crafts because mommy is craft challenged! LOL We do like to bake though! I will usually make butternut squash bread (think pumpkin bread) and cookies around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Dd will be old enough this year to 'help'! We also love to decorate the tree together. Last year dd was finally old enough to actually help instead of pulling down everything we had just put up!
We have a collection of children's Christmas books that we read as a family every Christmas!
We have a collection of children's Christmas books that we read as a family every Christmas!
We love reading holiday books - it really helps the season come alive!
We love reading holiday books - it really helps the season come alive!
My favorite Christmas book is The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
My favorite Christmas book is The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
These books look great! Thanks for the giveaway!
kellybrown28021 at gmail dot com
These books look great! Thanks for the giveaway!
kellybrown28021 at gmail dot com
What a great giveaway! Our favorite holiday books are by far The Polar Express (our ritual is to watch it every X-Mas Eve) and Santa Mouse & The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas (my boys have my childhood copies).
Each year we also have a tradition of going to our local theater company to see Toys Take Over Christmas...and during that outing we donate a few gifts to the local toy drive.
What a great giveaway! Our favorite holiday books are by far The Polar Express (our ritual is to watch it every X-Mas Eve) and Santa Mouse & The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas (my boys have my childhood copies).
Each year we also have a tradition of going to our local theater company to see Toys Take Over Christmas...and during that outing we donate a few gifts to the local toy drive.
I have a collection of Christmas books that I plan to bring out in December, and read as part of our holiday preparations--these would be perfect additions!
I have a collection of Christmas books that I plan to bring out in December, and read as part of our holiday preparations--these would be perfect additions!
My girls are just getting to an age where we will start making holiday memories with them! One of my daughter's favorite ways to learn is by "reading" her books, so these would be great to have as winter approaches!
My girls are just getting to an age where we will start making holiday memories with them! One of my daughter's favorite ways to learn is by "reading" her books, so these would be great to have as winter approaches!
I would love to win these books for my grandson who loves to be read to, especially at night. I am hoping to be able to get with him and make homemade Christmas ornaments and then the ornaments made out of cinnamon that make the hom smell so good when they are hanging on the tree.
I would love to win these books for my grandson who loves to be read to, especially at night. I am hoping to be able to get with him and make homemade Christmas ornaments and then the ornaments made out of cinnamon that make the hom smell so good when they are hanging on the tree.
What wonderful books!
We like to make marshmallow snowmen around Christmas time each year. We just stick a few marshmallows together with frosting and put a Hershey kiss hat on top with pretzel stick arms...we like to be creative with what we use to make the face and buttons 🙂
What wonderful books!
We like to make marshmallow snowmen around Christmas time each year. We just stick a few marshmallows together with frosting and put a Hershey kiss hat on top with pretzel stick arms...we like to be creative with what we use to make the face and buttons 🙂
Song of the stars looks amazing, and I would love to add both of these to our collection of Christmas books.
I saw this great idea to wrap 24 Christmas books and put them under the Christmas tree. Then you unwrap and read one each day before Christmas as an advent activity. My daughter is in love with reading right now so I am totally planning on doing this.
Song of the stars looks amazing, and I would love to add both of these to our collection of Christmas books.
I saw this great idea to wrap 24 Christmas books and put them under the Christmas tree. Then you unwrap and read one each day before Christmas as an advent activity. My daughter is in love with reading right now so I am totally planning on doing this.
When the weather turns cold, I like to have a cozy tea party with my granddaughters.
When the weather turns cold, I like to have a cozy tea party with my granddaughters.
Our favorite books for the fall and winter are The Polar Express, Arthur's Thanksgiving and Pumpkin Baby. The Polar Express was actually one of my favorite books as a child and I LOVE sharing it with my son now.
Our favorite books for the fall and winter are The Polar Express, Arthur's Thanksgiving and Pumpkin Baby. The Polar Express was actually one of my favorite books as a child and I LOVE sharing it with my son now.
These would be great to read this Winter! My mom and I always get together with the kids in our family and we make Christmas cookies and then we make a craft for the kids to give to their parents as a gift. It is so much fun and the kids look forward to it every year.
These would be great to read this Winter! My mom and I always get together with the kids in our family and we make Christmas cookies and then we make a craft for the kids to give to their parents as a gift. It is so much fun and the kids look forward to it every year.
Our favorite book is The Elf on the Shelf. I love that it comes with an elf that you hide and the kids try to find it every morning until Christmas. They have a blast!
Our favorite book is The Elf on the Shelf. I love that it comes with an elf that you hide and the kids try to find it every morning until Christmas. They have a blast!
I would love to be able to gift these books to two sisters I care for. They are raised with religion as a big part of their lives and I couldn't think of two more beautiful books for them to enjoy.
carriedust@yahoo.com
I would love to be able to gift these books to two sisters I care for. They are raised with religion as a big part of their lives and I couldn't think of two more beautiful books for them to enjoy.
carriedust@yahoo.com
A fun craft I like to do is cut out snowflakes and hang them around the house for decorations. My grandson loves looking at them and trying to touch them!
A fun craft I like to do is cut out snowflakes and hang them around the house for decorations. My grandson loves looking at them and trying to touch them!
I love the book "The Snowman" because it has no words and you can use your imagination in the telling of the story! Children can make their own version.
I love the book "The Snowman" because it has no words and you can use your imagination in the telling of the story! Children can make their own version.
These look like beautiful books. If I won these we would actually give one to my niece (she's 2) as a gift from my 3 year old. We have sooo many books, and my niece just LOVES Christmas (don't we all though, haha). I'm really looking forward to snuggling up with the both of them, plus my one year old twins, and reading many good books during the holidays. 🙂
These look like beautiful books. If I won these we would actually give one to my niece (she's 2) as a gift from my 3 year old. We have sooo many books, and my niece just LOVES Christmas (don't we all though, haha). I'm really looking forward to snuggling up with the both of them, plus my one year old twins, and reading many good books during the holidays. 🙂
I love reading books to my grandson every time he stays over and he also likes that I read to him.
I love reading books to my grandson every time he stays over and he also likes that I read to him.
This is a book crazy house considering my hubby and I are both teachers. We have a plethora of Christmas related books out at the holidays. We love our 4 book Winnie the Pooh Christmas set.
This is a book crazy house considering my hubby and I are both teachers. We have a plethora of Christmas related books out at the holidays. We love our 4 book Winnie the Pooh Christmas set.
I have some cutesy santa books, but i was lacking in more christ-centered christmas kids books. i just picked up a cute one with a polar bear mom and baby "God Loves Us" very sweet! Im getting excited for the holiday season!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
I have some cutesy santa books, but i was lacking in more christ-centered christmas kids books. i just picked up a cute one with a polar bear mom and baby "God Loves Us" very sweet! Im getting excited for the holiday season!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
Lucinda loves books. We read them all day long and these would be wonderful. I love that they are Christian centered and the pictures look great!
Lucinda loves books. We read them all day long and these would be wonderful. I love that they are Christian centered and the pictures look great!
I have some vintage Christmas Golden Books that I like to read to the grandchildren and I would like to think these would become their new favorites to read to them.
marika200@hotmail.com
I have some vintage Christmas Golden Books that I like to read to the grandchildren and I would like to think these would become their new favorites to read to them.
marika200@hotmail.com
I'd love to win so I can share these wonderful looking books with my son. My favorite Christmas craft is making wreaths for the front door. Weather it's out of branches or candy. It's an awesome craft. Can't wait to introduce it to my son.
I'd love to win so I can share these wonderful looking books with my son. My favorite Christmas craft is making wreaths for the front door. Weather it's out of branches or candy. It's an awesome craft. Can't wait to introduce it to my son.
a christmas tradition i have started; i have a box of christmas books & toys that come out during advent and stay in the living room during the season... I LOVE IT...and wouldnt it be neat to have another book for it 😉
a christmas tradition i have started; i have a box of christmas books & toys that come out during advent and stay in the living room during the season... I LOVE IT...and wouldnt it be neat to have another book for it 😉
I would like to share these books with Paul, my home bound autistic student. He loves books. Thanks.
I would like to share these books with Paul, my home bound autistic student. He loves books. Thanks.
One of the things we do is we go on a Christmas lights tour through the more wealthy housing areas. When we were kids our parents would do it on Christmas Eve night and when we got back, Santa had come ;-).
One of the things we do is we go on a Christmas lights tour through the more wealthy housing areas. When we were kids our parents would do it on Christmas Eve night and when we got back, Santa had come ;-).
It's always a tradition in our house to read Jesus' birth story at Christmastime. It will be our little guy's first Christmas this year and we intend to keep the tradition! I would love to win these books, thanks for the chance!
It's always a tradition in our house to read Jesus' birth story at Christmastime. It will be our little guy's first Christmas this year and we intend to keep the tradition! I would love to win these books, thanks for the chance!
These books are so cute. The snowman on the cover reminds me of the craft I will do with my daughter soon. We're going to make thumbprint snowmen ornaments for her grandparents!
These books are so cute. The snowman on the cover reminds me of the craft I will do with my daughter soon. We're going to make thumbprint snowmen ornaments for her grandparents!
I used to LOVE reading The Night Before Christmas when I was little, I'm excited to start reading that book along with others to my LO as she gets older.
For crafts, I remember making clothes pin reindeers and painting pinecones. We also had a jar filled with green and red M&Ms and would get to eat one a day in December as a count down to Christmas!
fmgrice2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I used to LOVE reading The Night Before Christmas when I was little, I'm excited to start reading that book along with others to my LO as she gets older.
For crafts, I remember making clothes pin reindeers and painting pinecones. We also had a jar filled with green and red M&Ms and would get to eat one a day in December as a count down to Christmas!
fmgrice2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I saw the idea last Christmas to do a sort of advent calendar with Christmas books, so I've been collecting Christmas picture books ever since. I'll still have to get some from the library, but I've got a good start.
Twenty-five Christmas picture books will be wrapped in pretty paper and lined up on a bookshelf in my kid's room. Each night they will open one to be read as their bedtime story. Song of the Stars would be a wonderful addition to the collectigon I've started.
I saw the idea last Christmas to do a sort of advent calendar with Christmas books, so I've been collecting Christmas picture books ever since. I'll still have to get some from the library, but I've got a good start.
Twenty-five Christmas picture books will be wrapped in pretty paper and lined up on a bookshelf in my kid's room. Each night they will open one to be read as their bedtime story. Song of the Stars would be a wonderful addition to the collectigon I've started.
I can't wait until my little one is old enough to start reading The Elf on the Shelf! It will be so much fun to be creative with the mischiefs elf.
I can't wait until my little one is old enough to start reading The Elf on the Shelf! It will be so much fun to be creative with the mischiefs elf.