“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.” – St. Nicholas of Myra
The feast of St. Nicholas is just three weeks from today! On December 6th our children always wake up to find that the letters they wrote to the Holy Child and/or St. Nicholas have been taken and their (sometimes new/replaced) slippers have been filled with little treats, oranges, chocolate gold coins, candy canes, and often times a note from St. Nicholas.
Our children (and teens!) have also always received a new Christmas book as well, which has helped us build an amazing collection over the last twenty years. It will be so great to pass each of their collections down to them when they eventually start families of their own.
The darling wooden St. Nicholas toys in the above pictures are from
Marzipantz and
Ostheimer Wooden Toys. The kids haven’t seen these yet, but they will be added to our collection this year.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Here is the list of books I picked out for our children this year:
(I didn’t get books for our college boys, but ‘m hoping to mail them a St. Nicholas care package too!)
For Twinkle Toes:
“First published in 1998, The Twelve Days of Christmas Cats is a beloved picture book with full color illustrations by Don Daily. The traditional twelve days of Christmas poem is creatively transformed, with each spread featuring one of the twelve cats with its resepective adorable artwork. Siamese, leopards, persians, calico cats and kittens playfully ring in Christmas cheer as they dance across the pages of this heartwarming classic.”
For Chiquita:
“Red and Lulu make their nest in a particularly beautiful evergreen tree. It shades them in the hot months and keeps them cozy in the cold months, and once a year the people who live nearby string lights on their tree and sing a special song: O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. But one day, something unthinkable happens, and Red and Lulu are separated. It will take a miracle for them to find each other again. Luckily, it’s just the season for miracles. . . . From Matt Tavares comes a heart-tugging story combining the cheer of Christmas, the magic of New York City, and the real meaning of the holiday season: how important it is to be surrounded by love.”
I had such a hard time deciding which book to give to Chiquita and which one to give to Rose…
This one goes so well with Rose’s little collection of wooden birds (the tooth fairy brings her a sweet little bird every time she loses a tooth!) but her older sister will love it too!
For Snuggles:
“Once Upon a Silent Night is a beautifully illustrated book for children ages 4 to 8 about the creation of the famous song. After the mice in a small Austrian town destroy the church organ, the parish priest and the choir director compose a song to fill the silent church on Christmas Eve. The townspeople and the mice celebrate Christmas with a new tune that reflects the humble birth of the Savior and inspires joy in the hearts of his people.”
For Rose:
(Updated Edition with Paperdolls)
“Early one Christmas morning in Sweden, Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka opened their eyes. Soon they would have their Christmas gifts! For the first time in over thirty years, this classic holiday tale returns, in a deluxe hardcover edition. Longtime fans of the series will delight in revisiting the story, and new readers will find fun and excitement as the girls must save their friend Bertie after an ice-skating disaster.”
For Bud:
“As Christmas becomes more and more commercialized, it is easy to get lost in the shopping and decorating; the parties and the lights; the presents and the food. In this charming and beautifully illustrated story, Santa himself comes to town and reminds everyone of the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Show your children—and remind yourself—that without Jesus, there is not Christmas. Santa’s Priority is an instant Christmas classic, that your family will read together for years to come.”
This seven, soon-to-be-eight year old, needs an extra reminder on what Christmas is all about! 😉
For Grace:
“A small, crookled fir tree is left all alone after the others near it in the forest are chosen by families as Christmas to bring home. But when the forest animals gather around the lonely little tree to cheer it up and celebrate the season, it finds the warmth of the holidays in the heart of a cold, snowy forest.”
For Lily:
“Told from the perspective of a barn owl, Guess Who’s in the Manger is a beautiful Christmas story sure to delight children four to seven years old–and their parents as well. Guess Who’s in the Manger is perfect for reading aloud (what child doesn’t enjoy the gentle “hoo” of an owl, reflected here in the sound of “who’s in the manger?”). Written by Vicki Howie, author of Once Upon a Silent Night, this Christmas story is sure to delight.”
Bonus Books for the Family:
I also picked up these three new books this year too! They’ll either be given to the children on the first day of Advent or in their Epiphany Book Stacks.
(My girls are going to love this!)
(I picked up my copy from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts! Keep this small Catholic family owned business in mind for Christmas book shopping – all their items are automatically 15% off!)
.: Giveaway :.
Once again this year I will be hosting FOUR Advent and Christmas themed giveaways! Here is the first giveaway in preparation for the feast of St. Nicholas:
Prize #1 – Set of Five Cookie Stamps with Recipe Booklet
sponsored by Rycraft Cookie Stamps (combined value $64.95)
Congratulations, Debora!
“Beautiful giveaway! Thank you for the opportunity to enter!”
Prize #2 – St. Nicholas Special Edition Box
“This special edition box contains a beautifully designed canvas with paint and a wooden easel, my favorite story on St. Nicholas, a fun ornament craft, yummy recipe, a beautiful St. Nicholas statue and all of the materials needed to make a trip to Turkey, passport and map included!”sponsored by Saints Around the World (value $55.00)
Congratulations, Kathryn!
“Thank you for the giveaway! St. Nicholas is on one my favorite saints and the patron of one of our children. “
Prize #3 – Advent & St. Nicholas Prize Package
*Stickers are currently 50% off thru today only with code: LITTLETHINGS
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
“I’m so grateful for all your ideas and inspiration. God bless you and your beautiful family”
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I also just made an updated printable for this year which I will try and share soon!)
For additional Christmas book suggestions you can find some of our lists in the archives:
Saint Nicholas & the Nine Gold Coins {Beautiful book!}
Christmas Mosaic: A Review & Featured Book List
35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books for Children
Feasts & Seasons :: Advent & Christmas Collection
Our 2015 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels
Our 2016 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels
Our 2017 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels
Our 2018 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels {I’m planning to share our 2019 Basket and Labels soon!}
New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Stacks of Books on Christmas Morning or Epiphany:
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Prayer of Mothers
Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.
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