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Saturday, December 7, 2013

Reading our Way to Christmas! 2013

2012 Book Display
Last Christmas we began the wonderful tradition of counting down to Christmas that involves learning.   As you see from the picture above there are 25 wrapped items, what are they???   BOOKS!!!!!

Yes, 25 wrapped books.  Each book is a Christmas themed book.  Some include traditional stories like The Nutcracker, The Night Before Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and A Christmas Carol.  Some are activity books, music books containing Christmas carols, and most are of the true meaning of Christmas JESUS!

Collecting 25 Christmas books could be expensive so I shopped at used book sales, garage sales, Resale Shops (Salvation Army), and Mom2Mom sales.  Anytime I found a Christmas related book I purchased it!  Books cost me between ten cents to one dollar.  When it came time to wrap I had collected over 25 books and I was able to choose the best ones.

How To Make Your Own Count Down to Christmas...
  1. Collect 25 Christmas themed books (or check out 25 Christmas books at your local library)
  2. Choose a wrapping paper to match your Christmas home decor (I found my wrapping paper at my local dollar store.  I choose 2 different paper prints and alternated them.  If you have multiple children you could assign each child their own wrapping paper and when you get to that wrapped book it's that child's turn to be the opener)
  3. Wrap each individual book (if you want your books in a particular order you may want to number the backs or stack them in the order you want them to be opened.  For example "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I wanted to be opened on day twelve)
  4. Die-Cut a Christmas shape (I choose a white Christmas tree to match my wrapping paper)
  5. Number your Die-Cut shapes 1-25
  6. Tape your Die-Cut shape to each wrapped book
  7. Pick out a place to display your Countdown (I chose our buffet in our kitchen but you may place them on your fireplace mantel or even in a book basket if space is limited)
  8. On December 1st allow your child to unwrap the first book (book #25) and read together as a family (this might be your bedtime story or a read-aloud story to start off your day!)
  9. Continue your opening & reading, counting down all the way to Christmas!!  Happy Reading!
Alternate Ideas...

"I don't have 25 Christmas books this year" -- It doesn't have to be Christmas themed books, wrap up any books in your home for fun!  OR Check out Christmas books at your local library to wrap!

"I don't have time or patience to wrap 25 books" -- Use a gift bag instead!  You may use multiple gift bags and have a treasure hunt in your home for them or simply re-use one gift bag and change the book each day!

"I wasn't able to wrap all 25 books by December 1st" -- Simply wrap 7 books for the week leading up to Christmas.  Choose your favorite, special, memory making books!

What a great way to celebrate Christmas and the joy of reading in your home! I'd love to hear if you will be doing the Christmas reading countdown with me!  

2013 Book Display


A special thank you to Aunt Theresa who gave our family a book to wrap this year titled:

A special thank you to Ma and Papa who also gave our family a special book to wrap this year titled:


3 comments:

  1. We're working on building our Christmas book collection! Right now I just have four or five, so we'll do the four or five days before Christmas. We have several Christmas books on my daughter's Christmas list, and I plan to hit up the after Christmas clearances to grow our collection for next year. I would love to see a list of your favorites from your collection! :) Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I love this tradition you have started with you family!

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  3. Indeed it's Christmas time once again. This time we're busy we purchased every decorations online. None made at home. May be some hone made cookies. Aha ! Yor recalling of the true traditions are warmly welcomed :-)

    http://giftthischristmas.com/christmas-gift-cards/

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