• Book Advent books for an 8 year old
    Family Life - What I'm reading

    Book Advent books for an 8 year old

    December 27, 2019 - By 

    Last year my daughter ended up with her very own Book Advent (a different festive book to enjoy in the run up to Christmas). My son decided he wanted to read The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher so read the one book during December (this year he read The Creakers by Tom Fletcher and A Notchmas Carol). So my daughter got to enjoy the Book Advent all to herself, alongside the handmade Advent calendar I made her, and her chocolate one! I’ve always loved putting together a selection of festive books for kids, this year my daughter helped me! What is…

  • What books featured in our Book Advent in 2017
    Advent crafts - book review - Family Life

    What books featured in our Book Advent in 2017

    January 4, 2019 - By 

    I was in two minds about having a Book Advent last year. Although we had  books from the previous year I just didn’t have time to wrap them all individually. However my 7 year old wanted to know why our Christmas elves hadn’t brought the books when they arrived with the Advent calendars, so I quickly got them out so she could enjoy reading them. What is a Christmas Book Advent? The idea of a Christmas Book Advent is simple. Alongside your daily chocolate treat you can also consume something a little longer lasting – a book! We love reading and…

  • Our 2017 Book Advent books (perfect for 5-7 year olds)
    Advent crafts - book review - parenting

    Our 2017 Book Advent books (perfect for 5-7 year olds)

    November 23, 2017 - By 

    I can’t believe it’s time to start getting ready for December 1st and our annual festive Book Advent. Do you organise a Book Advent? It’s a lovely way to bring out some of those classic Christmas books, as well as more modern classics, and cuddle up with a good book. We love to read and this time of year is even more perfect for picking up a longer book and sharing it with your child. My children are 5 and 7 but are happy to share their Book Advent books (thankfully!). The first thing I did was to get last…

  • An Advent calendar of picture books for little readers
    Advent crafts - book review - Christmas

    An Advent calendar of picture books for little readers

    November 17, 2016 - By 

    Every November I like to plan our annual Book Advent. I started this Christmas tradition a few years ago and the children love it. On the 1st December quite a few things happen so I have to be super organised at this time of year. Advent traditions Most importantly our Elf arrives all the way from the North Pole. This is another tradition we started a few years ago. I know not everyone likes the Elf on a Shelf but my children do so he’ll be coming back again this year and making sure my children behave themselves in the…

  • Win a bundle of Christmas Picture Books from Oxford Children’s Books
    book review - Christmas

    Win a bundle of Christmas Picture Books from Oxford Children’s Books

    November 6, 2016 - By 

    This year I’ve totally been spoilt for choice with what books to include in our annual Book Advent. Every year I pick a selection of 24 books, wrap them up and put them under the tree as part of our Advent celebrations. The children choose one at random each day as our book of the day. Oxford Children’s Books kindly sent us a selection of their new Christmas titles which we were so excited to read together. Read to the bottom of the post for your chance to win the exact same bundle of Christmas picture books! Greatest Animal Stories,…

  • book review - Christmas

    Festive reads for kids

    November 28, 2015 - By 

    A couple of weeks ago I smugly told you about our annual Book Advent. I thought we had our book list sorted, everything was wrapped and ready for December 1st. Then I received some lovely festive books in the post to review. They are all serious contenders for our festive book list and now I’m not sure what to do. So, let me tell you a little more about them. The first one is Socks for Santa by Adam & Charlotte Guillain, illustrated by Lee Wildish. This is the fifth instalment of the adventures of George, you may remember be shared…

  • Advent crafts - book review - Christmas

    How to create a Book Advent

    November 14, 2015 - By 

    A few evenings ago I was having a very rare night out and we were discussing Christmas. Someone asked if we had any special Christmas traditions and I’m not sure I realised until then that we have lots. Perhaps having young children helps, but I want to make Christmas a magical time for all of us and create some special memories. My Christmas preparations start early as Advent marks the beginning of Christmas for our family. I bring out the Advent Box and set up the Book Advent tower in the lounge. I’m not sure how I heard about a…

  • Advent crafts - Christmas - Lego

    Our Advent Box

    November 27, 2014 - By 

    I’m really looking forward to December 1st as for me, that’s when Christmas really starts. The Christmas shopping is done, food ordered and planned which means we can look forward to the children’s Christmas concerts, making some lovely decorations and visiting Father Christmas in his grotto. Every year we celebrate Advent with Advent calendars and a book Advent. This year I have introduced an Advent Box Crate to open on December 1st. It’s packed full of goodies for us all to enjoy in the run up to Christmas Day. Most importantly it contains our Elf on the Shelf who will…

  • Advent crafts - book review - Christmas

    Book advent for preschoolers

    November 29, 2013 - By 

    Last year we experimented with a Book Advent where you basically read a book every day during Advent. This was additional to our bedtime reading and we concentrated on Christmas books, with a little help from our local Oxfam shop! It was a great way to spend some quiet time together every day as December can be slightly crazy. It was so successful that we’re doing it again this year. We’ll be re-reading many of the books from last year although we’re looking for a couple of new books to add to the ‘tree’. Fortunately we were sent Little Robin’s…