We have had this tradition since our girls were small. Sometime before December 1st (usually November 30th…and sometimes the morning of the 1st), I wrap 25 books from our Christmas picture book collection. I generally buy a few each year, some have been gifts we have received, a few I have even bought at a 2nd hand store. Our current collection is probably about 35. I pick the 25-this year with help from my girls, claiming several times each “THIS is the very best one”
We did add a little twist this year. With our money system, our girls earn their spending money, buy their own clothes, gas $, etc… They are all feeling a little low in funds SO we put $ in the pages of some of the books. When we began the tradition I numbered the books. For several years now our girls have just chosen which to open. Now that decision will be a little bit more fun for them. The one that opens the book keeps the money. They are excited to start tomorrow. These are the books that I wrapped this year.
OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER by J.Otto Seibold & Vivian Walsh
THE BERNSTAIN BEARS AND THE JOY OF GIVING & THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL by Mike & Jan Berenstain
THE FRIENDLY BEASTS an old English Christmas Carol by Tomie dePaola
DASHER by Matt Tavares
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER by Robert L May & Denver Gillen
YES VIRGINIA THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS by Chris Plehal & James Bernardin
THE GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry & P.J. Lynch
NINE DAYS TO CHRISTMAS A Story of Mexico by Marie Hall Ets & Aurora Labastida
THE STORY OF HOLLY & IVY by Rumer Godden & Barbara Cooney (this one is too long for our purposes but it is a sweet story)
GOOD KING WENCESLAS as read by Jane Seymour & illustrated by Omar Rayyan
THE NUTCRACKER IN HARLEM by T.E. McMorrow & James Ransome
MORTIMER’S CHRISTMAS MANGER by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
THE CHRISTMAS EVE TREE by Delia Huddy & Emily Sutton
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE for kids by Jimmy Hawkins & Douglas B. Jones
MERRY CHRISTMAS BIG HUNGRY BEAR by Don & Audrey Wood
ONLY A STAR by Margery Facklam & Nancy Carpenter
GREAT JOY by Kate DiCamillo & Bagram Ibatoulline
IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO THE MOVIES by Laura Numeroff & Felicia Bond
SANTA CLAUS THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE TOY EXPERT by Marla Frazee
THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL by Hans Christian Andersen & Jerry Pinkney
SALLY’S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE by Charles Schultz
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Dr. Seuss
A WISH TO BE A CHRISTMAS TREE by Colleen & Michael Monroe
THE GREAT SPRUCE by John Duvall & Rebecca Gibbon
CHRISTMAS ORANGES by Linda Bethers & Ben Sowards
Sometimes my teenagers act like they are too grown up for picture books, then I get these out and working on our selection for the days before Christmas, they are filled with opinions and excitement. What are some of your family favorites that we don’t have listed here? I would love to add them to our collection!