Our 2023 Advent Book Basket and Free Labels

by | Dec 1, 2023 | Advent and Christmas, Advent Book Basket | 96 comments

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: 2017201820192020, 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.

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 giveaway

From 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.

P.S. Enter this year’s Christmas Giveaway here!

96 Comments

  1. Joy

    As always great books and ideas.

    Reply
    • giselle vargas

      Thanks for the giveaway!! I love #3

      Reply
      • Kristen

        Again, thank you for your continued postings. May God bless you and your beautiful family.

        Reply
  2. Maureen

    Great giveaway! I’d love to win any prize!!

    Reply
  3. Mary

    I’d love #1. I know we’re getting #2 for Christmas already 🙂

    Reply
    • Aleesa

      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.

      Reply
  4. Cindy

    Your book ideas are always wonderful! Thank you! I like #1 and #3 best, but would enjoy all of them.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      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! 🤞

      Reply
      • Jessica

        Email address works just as well! I will take a look to verify it’s there! Good luck!

        Reply
  5. Kaycee

    Great list of books and giveaway!

    Reply
  6. Dinh

    Awesome giveaway!

    Reply
    • Jennifer McNicoll

      Prize #3 because I really want that Advent book! 😆 or Prize #4 because those both look so great too!

      Reply
      • Susie

        Another beautiful selection of books. Thank you for always doing this!

        Reply
  7. Alicia

    Love the new book additions this year! You always have such wonderful finds.

    Reply
  8. Danny F

    I’d love to with #1 from tan books.

    Reply
  9. Mary

    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!

    Reply
  10. Kristen

    Thank you for taking the time to share your book lists. It’s much appreciated! Have a blessed advent!

    Reply
  11. Kristen

    Any of the prizes would be great but #4 & #5 would be my top picks.

    Reply
    • Teresa

      Oh dear! Such well-thought out selections. Prize 3 would be my choice.

      Reply
  12. Alena Franson

    These are so good! I’d love any of them!

    Reply
  13. Laura B

    Thanks for the giveaway

    Reply
  14. Regina

    I love this tradition in your family and desire to replicate it in mine as well. Thank you so much for your book recommendations!

    Reply
  15. Bethany S.

    This is a great giveaway. I’d be the most interested in 1, 5, 4, and 3

    Reply
  16. Deborah Schaefer

    An awesome collection of Advent books! Thank you for all your time and energy in bringing these books together on your Advent book basket!

    Reply
    • Marie Gomez

      I’d be happy with any of these! Thank you!

      Reply
  17. Elizabeth B

    Thank you for all the book suggestions. I would love any of the prizes.

    Reply
  18. Elizabeth

    These are all great! Would love to win any of them!

    Reply
  19. Emily B

    Thanks for another great giveaway!

    Reply
  20. Brenda

    This is a wonderful giveaway. Thank you

    Reply
  21. Lauren Stamper

    I’d love any of them!

    Reply
  22. Alyssa B

    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.

    Reply
    • Meghan G

      My family would enjoy any of them! We especially enjoy the saints featured in #1!

      Reply
  23. Liz B

    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!

    Reply
  24. Olivia

    Great giveaway! I love the days of advent paired up with books 📚 😍

    Reply
  25. Megan

    I always keep my eyes out for books to add to our Christmas/Advent stack. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  26. Katherine

    I’m always impressed that you wrap them every year!! Have a blessed Advent!

    Reply
  27. Debra Ward

    Look forward to this list each year. Great as always. Really excited to read the book the Shepherd at the Crib and the Cross

    Reply
    • Jessica Compton

      Always love your giveaways! I would love #3,1,5,4

      Reply
  28. Maria F

    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.

    Reply
    • Jessica

      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

      Reply
  29. Karen H

    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!

    Reply
    • Jessica

      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!

      Reply
  30. Heather

    I love all of these, but 1 and 3 the most! Thank you!

    Reply
  31. Elizabeth A O'Halloran

    I would love to win #3 or #4!! Thanks!

    Reply
  32. Kris

    My favorite is #1, but all are wonderful! Thanks for a chance to win. May God bless you & yours.

    Reply
  33. Christina Tapp

    What a wonderful giveaway!
    I would love #1 for my family!

    Reply
  34. Elizabeth

    Always love your posts! Blessed Advent for you and your family!

    Reply
  35. Sarah

    Thank you for your lists! 🙂

    Reply
  36. Sarah M Grignon

    Thank you for all the chances to win Jessica. Hope you are having a wonderful Advent.

    Reply
  37. Nikki

    Thanks so much for all these suggestions! I’ve especially been eyeing the books in #1 🙂

    Reply
  38. Kristina

    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  39. Jodi S

    Wonderful books! Prize #3 or #4 would be great additions to our family’s book collection.

    Reply
  40. Colleen

    It’s always great to see what books you do every year!! Prize 2 and 3 are my favorite!

    Reply
  41. Angela Schaefer

    Thank you for the labels! We use them every year! Prizes look great. Tan is my favorite.

    Reply
  42. Tracy Bua Smith

    I love these giveaways and learning about new books! Thanks Jessica!

    Reply
  43. Tracy Bua Smith

    Love these giveaways and new book ideas! Thanks Jessica!

    Reply
  44. Liz

    They all look great but I especially like #3 and #4.

    Reply
  45. Amy

    Thank you much! Look forward to this every year!

    Reply
  46. KATELYN MARIE Bragg

    So many great book ideas

    Reply
    • Val

      Hi Jessica I can’t seem to open the file for the advent book labels. I’ve tried everything

      Reply
      • Jessica

        I’ll email it to you shortly!

        Reply
  47. Maria Norris

    Thank you for another great giveaway/suggestions!

    Reply
    • Alexandra S

      Any of these books would be such a joy to add to a collection!

      Reply
  48. Maria

    May the Lord bless you! Thank you for a great list of book suggestions, and the giveaway too!

    Reply
  49. Alexandra S

    Any of these books would be such a joy to add to a collection!

    Reply
  50. Audie

    Thank you for sharing the books on the days! I always love your Christmas book inspiration.

    Reply
  51. Kaitlin I

    What a great give-away! I’m most interested in 1, 2, or 3!

    Reply
    • Sarah S.

      I entered! Thank you!

      Reply
  52. Melodee

    Thank you, Jessica!
    I would love #1 or 2

    Reply
  53. Sherri

    Thanks again for presenting us with your wonderful and timely list of books!

    Reply
  54. Sherri

    Thank you once again for giving us such a timely book list. The all about advent book looks wonderful!

    Reply
    • Kelly

      Wonderful giveaway! Would love to have any of these! Thank you

      Reply
  55. Joan

    I would prefer #1,3 and 5
    Thank You or this generous giveaway
    Joan

    Reply
  56. Sarah Fink

    These are great! Have a blessed Advent & Christmas! (Prize 1 is our favorite!)

    Reply
  57. Kristy F

    These are all fantastic prizes! I’d love #1 and #3 the most.

    Reply
  58. Annie Byers

    Thank you! You are an inspiration! Prizes 3 and 5 are most appealing to me!

    Reply
  59. Jolene Sis

    Thank you for the post – I enjoy your book suggestions.

    Reply
  60. Laura G.

    If you knew just how much I love books! Prize #1 and #2 are my favorites. Thank you again for the giveaway.

    Reply
  61. Emily Weissing

    I love books! Thank you for this giveaway!

    Reply
  62. Carmelina Josephine

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  63. Natalie K

    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! 😊

    Reply
  64. Lizette

    +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!

    Reply
  65. Elizabeth S.

    I love your book recommendations! Thank you Jessica!

    Reply
  66. Elizabeth S.

    I love your book recommendations! Thank you Jessica! #1 & #4 are my favorites

    Reply
  67. Agnes

    PAX
    Your posts brighten my day!
    I would love #4 or #5!

    Reply
  68. Philomena

    Thank you for offering this generous giveaway! My favorite is prize #2, and my next choice would be prize #1.

    Reply
  69. Clare

    A friend recently recommended your blog – thanks for the great book ideas!

    Reply
  70. Shannon Rainer

    Thanks for all the ideas.

    Reply
  71. Katherine Tapp

    What a beautiful giveaway! I would love #3.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  72. Amanda Valenza

    Thank you for this wonderful giveaway! We always love adding new books to our collection!

    Reply
  73. Lora Verhagen

    These are all wonderful!

    Reply
  74. Dee K

    Thank you for the giveaway. I like prizes #1, 3, and 4.

    Reply
  75. Melissa

    All of these books would be amazing additions to our home library!

    Reply
  76. Laura D.

    This is amazing as always. Thank you for inspiring us to better live Advent.

    Reply

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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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Sean & Jessica, Captain-23, Ranger-22, Twinkle Toes-20, Chiquita-19, Snuggles-16, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-6 and Joy-4 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

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