A Gift Guide Just For You - 12 Days of Kidz Books | Celebrating Christmas Advent and the Holiday Season With These Must Have Children's Books!
*I voluntarily reviewed complimentary copies of these books which I received from Zonderkidz. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links which means I will receive a commission based on sales generated via these links.
COUNT DOWN TO CHRISTMAS
We are beginning our Advent season with a new book each day leading to Christmas!
With a toddler in our home, I wanted to celebrate Advent in a way that was age appropriate and easy to carry on in the seasons to follow. So, last year I began the tradition for our daughter of introducing a new holiday book each morning as we counted down the 25 days leading to Christmas.
This year, I’m excited to have her discover a new book beneath the Christmas tree sharing the joy of the season and telling the true story of our Savior’s birth. The magic of Christmas comes alive for us as we snuggle and read stories together, sharing intentional time together in an otherwise busy season. My hope is that I’m instilling a love for reading, while cultivating a slower pace, joy and excitement during our family’s advent on a level that her young heart can enjoy.
Today, I’m sharing a gift-guide of the 12 Days of Kidz Books, once again, in partnership with Zonderkidz JUST FOR YOU!
These fantastic books are the perfect addition to the holiday season and would make great gifts for the children in your life. If you’re interested in doing your own book countdown, be sure to visit my Amazon Storefront where I’ve added my collection of Christmas books (and gift ideas!) for children of all ages, including the books I’ve featured below and some of the ones we will be using in our home this year!
Lastly, take a moment to share with me in the comments at the end of this post:
What is your favorite holiday book for children or book from your own childhood?
Day One
A Night of Great Joy by Mary Engelbreit
This sweet board book depicts and tells the story of Jesus’ birth as little children act out the tale as Christmas pageant. Young readers will delight in the colorful illustrations, the cute and diverse characters and the easy to read story. I truly adore this story and encourage it as yet another excellent addition to your child’s Christmas shelf. This book is also available in a picture storybook for older children.
Day Two
A Very Fiona Christmas by NY Times Bestselling Illustrator, Richard Cowdrey
We have this fun book in two versions - this fun light up version board book (which my daughter LOVES) that is a more condensed version of Fiona’s Christmas search and the hardcover book. Each page follows the wonder and exploration of the cutest little hippo who wants to understand what Christmas is about. As she plays with her zoo animal friends, she questions what Christmas really is. In the end, she discovers that Christmas is about love as she welcomes a new friend and shares one of her most prized possessions. A sweet and endearing little story about a real life hippo from the Cincinnati Zoo that is sure to delight young readers of all ages! Download a Free Activity Kit to accompany this book from Zonderkidz.com here.
Day Three
I’m Going To Give You a Polar Bear Hug! Written by Caroline B. Cooney, Illustrated by Tim Warnes
This adorable book is the perfect winter read for snuggles and story time! This is perhaps my favorite addition to our advent countdown this year. This book is perfect for a cold winter day. While it’s not a Christmas story, it is a wintertime tale about different types of animals and the hugs they give. My daughter laughed through it and giggled, “read again!” as soon as it was over.
Day Four
The Beginner’s Bible: Little Lamb’s Christmas
Oh, how our little one loves these interactive finger-puppet books! She adores this lamb book as we read it to her and little lamb wiggles his head and dances around throughout the story. This fun, short story follows the lamb on one special night when he goes with the shepherds to welcome the baby Jesus into the world!
Day Five
Over In a Stable by Suzanne Nelson, Illustrated by Aleksandar Zolotic
With very beautiful illustrations, this softly rhyming story tells of the events that took place around Jesus’ birth in a unique counting way. This is truly a book that can grow with children through the years and is a lovely story of the true meaning of Christmas.
Day Six
The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible, created by Joanna Rivard and Tim Penner
This popular new illustrated Bible is perfect for young children as they explore the Word of God on a level geared towards young minds and hearts. With individual stories that follow a chronological timeline and connects each story to the next, children can learn Biblical events while discovering God’s great love for his children.
Day Seven
The Wonder That Is You, written by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Aurelie Blanz
I can’t even begin to express what a beautiful book this is. This lovely board book (or the hardcover version) would make the perfect gift this holiday season for an expectant mama, newborn or young child. From the first peek inside to a full (albeit, tearful) read on my part, this gorgeous book touched my heart and warmed my soul. As an adoptive Mama, I loved the memories that it caused to surface in my heart of meeting my daughter the day she was born and love sharing books that can celebrate the addition of an infant whether by pregnancy or adoption.
Day Eight
The Beginner’s Bible Learn Your Letters Wipe Away Book
For the preschooler in your life, this book is an excellent gift idea this year! This fun book feature Biblical characters and animals from Zonderkidz’s popular Beginner’s Bible collection. Let your little one begin to trace and learn their first letters in this wipe-clean book which they can use time and time again! Perfect for an independent activity, car rides and homeschoolers too!
Days Nine + Ten
Baby’s First Bible and Book of Prayers Gift Set
This sweet gift set is ideal for the newest little one in your family! These small books are ever so precious with short little Bible stories and prayers. We received the Baby’s First Bible at our shower and when our daughter was just an infant, I would read these to her while rocking her in the first few months of her little life.
Day Eleven
Pugtato Finds a Thing, by Sophie Corrigan
After seeing this book in many places around the internet this year, I was delighted to review a copy. The hilarious and unique illustrations are so cute with these vegetables turned animals (or animals turned vegetables?). Either way, with its colorful, large pages and rhyming little story about following one’s heart, this is a story sure to delight preschoolers and elementary age children to laughter.
Day Twelve
Clap Your Hands, A Celebration of Gospel. Paintings by Michele Wood, text by Toyomi Igus and Forewore by CeCe Williams
A Non-Christmas Gift Idea! What a fantastic, incredible and educational journey through the various kinds of music enjoyed by God’s people. I love this great resource for helping older children learn about history, praise and how music has affected African-American culture over the years. This is great for children and music enthusiasts, history lovers and homeschoolers.
Another Great Place to Shop - ChristianBook.com!
One of my favorite places to find excellent deals, markdowns and a wide variety of products is ChristianBook.com. This has been a valued resource for my family over the years and they often run great sales! Click below to browse their current selection of Christmas books and toys.
Pin This! 12 Must-Have Books for Kids This Holiday Season - A Gift Guide
