Each Advent brings the joyous anticipation of Christmas in our home, marked by our delightful traditions of counting down the days with our annual Advent Book Basket, our various Advent Calendars, and the Jesse Tree. In the earlier years, when we were just starting our own family collection, I turned to Christmas Mosaic for inspiration, borrowing Christmas books from the library to wrap for each day of Advent. Our home library has definitely flourished over the past couple decades and it continues to grow each year with the new books each child receives on the feast of St. Nicholas. (Check out this year’s St. Nick books here!)
Over the years, our annual Advent Book Basket has included titles from Christmas Mosaic and a collection of our children’s 35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books—although it’s worth noting that their preferences may have changed since 2014! One year, I selected twenty-six favorites (with that personal favorite list growing every year), while another time, I handed over the reins to my husband and our oldest daughter for a delightful surprise. For additional inspiration, you can explore more curated lists from previous years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 or simply scroll through all past Advent Book Basket posts.
The length of Advent ranges from 22 to 28 days, beginning on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30th) and embracing four Sundays. The first day of Advent can fall as early as November 27th to as late as December 3rd. This year Advent begins on Sunday, December 3rd—the latest possible start date—making it only three weeks and a day. In keeping with the unique duration, our Advent Book Basket for this year will include 22 wrapped books.
In the mix for this year’s Advent Book Basket are a handful of new books we were gifted from publishers, a couple of carefully chosen additions from my own book shopping, and a sprinkle of input from our 13- and 11-year-olds who eagerly recommended favorite books for their younger siblings. Here’s the complete list:
2023 Advent Book Basket
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- December 3 – 1st Sunday of Advent: An Advent Hope: A Children’s Book about Family Advent Traditions from Holy Heroes (NEW)
- December 4: The World Waits from Sophia Institute Press (NEW) *Still waiting for my copy. I’ll swap it with something else if it doesn’t arrive by Monday.
- December 5: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
- December 6 – Feast of St. Nicholas: Saint Nicholas: Patron Saint of Children from St. Augustine Academy Press (NEW) – write letters to Christ Child/Saint Nicholas, bake Speculaas or St. Nicholas Cookies, and decorate St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins to give to others
- December 7 – Feast of St. Ambrose: The Soldier’s Night Before Christmas – Bake a Honeycomb Cake
- December 8 – Immaculate Conception: Mary, Mother of All (NEW) – Decorate Christ Candle
- December 9 – Feast of St. Juan Diego: Our Lady of Guadalupe and Her Dear Juanito
- December 10 – 2nd Sunday of Advent: The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher
- December 11: It’s a Wonderful Life
- December 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Donkey’s Dream *Catholic Mosaic – pray Litany of Mary from which the names of Mary used in this book were taken – Our Lady of Guadalupe Brunch
- December 13 – Feast of St. Lucy: Light of the Saints (NEW)
- December 14: Shooting at the Stars
- December 15: The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers
- December 16: Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border (NEW) – Las Posadas
- December 17 – 3rd Sunday of Advent/Gaudete Sunday – O Sapientia: Bambinelli Sunday
- December 18 – O Adonai: Bob Ross’ Happy Little Night Before Christmas
- December 19 – O Radix Jesse: My Wonderful Christmas Tree
- December 20 – Ember Wednesday – O Clavis David: The Shepherd at the Crib and the Cross
- December 21 – O Oriens and Winter Solstice: ‘Twas the Evening of Christmas
- December 22 – Ember Friday – O Rex Gentium: Over in the Stable (NEW)
- December 23 – Ember Saturday – O Emmanuel: A Child’s Christmas ABC Book: Angels in the Air Arrayed
- December 24 – 4th Sunday of Advent – Vigil of Christmas: The First Christmas for Our Dear Little Ones from St. Augustine Academy Press (NEW)
Years ago, I traded our original purple and pink wrapping paper for a rustic touch—brown paper decorated with reusable purple and pink ribbons (saved annually). I occasionally repurpose brown paper bags or opt for a roll of brown craft paper from the craft store, pairing it with the ribbon and homemade labels.
In keeping with our tradition, we’ll unwrap and read one book each night during Advent, following our family rosary. The rest of our book collection will be placed in additional baskets, ready to be enjoyed throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmas.
If you’d like to use my little labels too, you can download my Advent Book Basket Labels for 2023 over at Dropbox.
Advent Book Basket Giveaway
And now for our annual Advent Book Basket Giveaway! I’m delighted to share five prize packages this year featuring books and music from five generous Catholic publishers. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to enhance your home collections with beautiful and inspiring picture books for children. Enter below for a chance to win and create lasting memories with these treasures.
Prize #1 – TAN Books
Includes: One Holy Marriage: The Story of Saints Louis & Zelie Martin (or on Amazon here) and Sister Clare Gets Ready for Prayer (or on Amazon here) sponsored by TAN Books (value $37.90)
Congratulations, Nikki H!
Prize #2 – Sophia Institute Press
Includes: Brides of Christ (or on Amazon here) and Christmas Merry and Bright (or on Amazon here) sponsored by Sophia Institute Press
Congratulations, Audie!
Prize #3 – St. Paul Center
Includes: All about Advent & Christmas: Sharing the Seasons of Hope & Wonder with Children and The Shepherd at the Crib and the Cross sponsored by St. Paul Center ($35.90 Value)
Congratulations, Alena F!
Prize #4 – Word on Fire Spark
Includes: Bless the Lord sponsored by Word on Fire Spark ($19.95 Value)
Congratulations, Marie G!
Prize #5 – Ignatius Press
Includes: Ishmael: The Shepherd Boy of Bethlehem (or on Amazon here) sponsored by Ignatius Press ($14.99 Value)
Congratulations, Kristina N!
Please leave a comment on this post and then enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:
Note: If you have any trouble with Rafflecopter just send me an email or message with your name/email address and I can add you manually.
a Rafflecopter giveawayFrom the archives:
Feasts & Seasons :: Advent & Christmas Collection
Feasts & Seasons :: Our December Book Basket
35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books for Children
December :: Month Dedicated to the Divine Infancy
Christmas Mosaic :: A Review & Featured Book List
You can find the rest of our booklists here.
As always great books and ideas.
Thanks for the giveaway!! I love #3
Again, thank you for your continued postings. May God bless you and your beautiful family.
Great giveaway! I’d love to win any prize!!
I’d love #1. I know we’re getting #2 for Christmas already 🙂
I love prize #3! When I was little we had this Italian priest who would make a nativity scene out of paper mache for display at church. It was quite a massive project and he always made a cave for the nativity. I’m always looking for Christmas books that show the nativity taking place in a cave.
Our oldest son got to visit and serve Mass (for his godfather/Father Gordon) last year in one of the Shepherd’s caves at Bethlehem!
https://showerofrosesblog.com/2022/holy-land-pilgrimage-part-4-bethlehem/
Your book ideas are always wonderful! Thank you! I like #1 and #3 best, but would enjoy all of them.
Amazing giveaway, Thank You! I love prize #3 and #1
I hope my entry went in right, I couldn’t do it through face book (I don’t have FB) so I did the option with my email address! 🤞
Email address works just as well! I will take a look to verify it’s there! Good luck!
Great list of books and giveaway!
Awesome giveaway!
Prize #3 because I really want that Advent book! 😆 or Prize #4 because those both look so great too!
Another beautiful selection of books. Thank you for always doing this!
Love the new book additions this year! You always have such wonderful finds.
I’d love to with #1 from tan books.
Your books and thoughtful catholic liturgical customs have been the building blocks for my family. Our oldest child is now 12 and we have been slowly growing our Christmas and Advent traditions and collections each year. We would love to add some of these beautiful new books to our collection ❤️ wishing you all a blessed Advent season!
Thank you for taking the time to share your book lists. It’s much appreciated! Have a blessed advent!
Any of the prizes would be great but #4 & #5 would be my top picks.
Oh dear! Such well-thought out selections. Prize 3 would be my choice.
These are so good! I’d love any of them!
Thanks for the giveaway
I love this tradition in your family and desire to replicate it in mine as well. Thank you so much for your book recommendations!
This is a great giveaway. I’d be the most interested in 1, 5, 4, and 3
An awesome collection of Advent books! Thank you for all your time and energy in bringing these books together on your Advent book basket!
I’d be happy with any of these! Thank you!
Thank you for all the book suggestions. I would love any of the prizes.
These are all great! Would love to win any of them!
Thanks for another great giveaway!
This is a wonderful giveaway. Thank you
I’d love any of them!
Thank you for creating this list! As a mom of very little littles, I’m always looking for good Catbolic books to increase their understanding (and mine) of our beautiful faith.
My family would enjoy any of them! We especially enjoy the saints featured in #1!
We have our books wrapped and ready to go for tomorrow! I’d love to add #1, 3, or 4 to our collection. Thank you!
Great giveaway! I love the days of advent paired up with books 📚 😍
I always keep my eyes out for books to add to our Christmas/Advent stack. Thanks for sharing.
I’m always impressed that you wrap them every year!! Have a blessed Advent!
Look forward to this list each year. Great as always. Really excited to read the book the Shepherd at the Crib and the Cross
Always love your giveaways! I would love #3,1,5,4
I’m so excited about the “All About Advent” book launch!! The author has had the most beautiful illustrations over at Catholic Paper Goods on IG to share on feast days for years.
The illustrations are very beautiful! I follow both the author and illustrator on IG and have purchased products from Catholic Paper Goods and have given our children her St. Nicholas Candy Cane Cards in the past! Love them! https://tidd.ly/3T9L8l2
We’re raising our next generation now, so any one of these books would be wonderful. Thank you for all the great ideas, your blog continues to be our #1 inspiration!
I have been looking forward to this post. Thank you! I pray your family has a blessed Advent!
Have you heard of the book entitled Jack Giorgio, Future Priest? It isn’t a Christmas book, but it is a cute book. I thought you would enjoy it.
https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Giorgio-Future-Katie-Warner/dp/1505120187
God bless!
Thanks, Christine! May you and your family have a blessed Advent as well!
I have seen that book over at TAN but haven’t purchased a copy yet. It’s been on my list of considerations for Easter Baskets. Thanks for the recommendation!
I love all of these, but 1 and 3 the most! Thank you!
I would love to win #3 or #4!! Thanks!
My favorite is #1, but all are wonderful! Thanks for a chance to win. May God bless you & yours.
What a wonderful giveaway!
I would love #1 for my family!
Always love your posts! Blessed Advent for you and your family!
Thank you for your lists! 🙂
Thank you for all the chances to win Jessica. Hope you are having a wonderful Advent.
Thanks so much for all these suggestions! I’ve especially been eyeing the books in #1 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Wonderful books! Prize #3 or #4 would be great additions to our family’s book collection.
It’s always great to see what books you do every year!! Prize 2 and 3 are my favorite!
Thank you for the labels! We use them every year! Prizes look great. Tan is my favorite.
I love these giveaways and learning about new books! Thanks Jessica!
Love these giveaways and new book ideas! Thanks Jessica!
They all look great but I especially like #3 and #4.
Thank you much! Look forward to this every year!
So many great book ideas
Hi Jessica I can’t seem to open the file for the advent book labels. I’ve tried everything
I’ll email it to you shortly!
Thank you for another great giveaway/suggestions!
Any of these books would be such a joy to add to a collection!
May the Lord bless you! Thank you for a great list of book suggestions, and the giveaway too!
Any of these books would be such a joy to add to a collection!
Thank you for sharing the books on the days! I always love your Christmas book inspiration.
What a great give-away! I’m most interested in 1, 2, or 3!
I entered! Thank you!
Thank you, Jessica!
I would love #1 or 2
Thanks again for presenting us with your wonderful and timely list of books!
Thank you once again for giving us such a timely book list. The all about advent book looks wonderful!
Wonderful giveaway! Would love to have any of these! Thank you
I would prefer #1,3 and 5
Thank You or this generous giveaway
Joan
These are great! Have a blessed Advent & Christmas! (Prize 1 is our favorite!)
These are all fantastic prizes! I’d love #1 and #3 the most.
Thank you! You are an inspiration! Prizes 3 and 5 are most appealing to me!
Thank you for the post – I enjoy your book suggestions.
If you knew just how much I love books! Prize #1 and #2 are my favorites. Thank you again for the giveaway.
I love books! Thank you for this giveaway!
Such a fun Advent idea and a special yearly tradition!! ♡ I would especially love prize 2!! My 2nd favorite is prize 1. Thank you for offering this giveaway. 🙂
Such an awesome booklist! Thank you!
I would love to win either #3 or #1- but any of them would be a wonderful addition as we don’t have any of them yet! 😊
+JMJ+
Thank you for the booklist, Jessica! I always use them to choose new books for our Advent and Christmas basket!
I would be blessed to win either prizes #4 or #5!
I love your book recommendations! Thank you Jessica!
I love your book recommendations! Thank you Jessica! #1 & #4 are my favorites
PAX
Your posts brighten my day!
I would love #4 or #5!
Thank you for offering this generous giveaway! My favorite is prize #2, and my next choice would be prize #1.
A friend recently recommended your blog – thanks for the great book ideas!
Thanks for all the ideas.
What a beautiful giveaway! I would love #3.
Thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway! We always love adding new books to our collection!
These are all wonderful!
Thank you for the giveaway. I like prizes #1, 3, and 4.
All of these books would be amazing additions to our home library!
This is amazing as always. Thank you for inspiring us to better live Advent.