I was sitting at my desk this morning preparing to work when I kept glancing over at a little book sitting nearby. Even though Halloween has just finished and Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we’re getting ready to move into another holiday season, I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off this particular book.
It was called Decorate the Tree!: An Interactive Christmas Book by Amanda Jane Jones. And let me tell you, it made me want to get up, pull out our Christmas tree, and start decorating! Now, if you’ve followed Greatful Moments for a while, you know I’m someone who celebrates one holiday at a time. We don’t rush from Halloween straight into Christmas, and we certainly don’t skip Thanksgiving.
There’s another reason our Christmas decorating schedule has changed over the years. Charlie’s birthday is December 16, and I believe his birthday deserves a day of its own. So instead of decorating the day after Thanksgiving like we used to, our family waits until December 17 to bring out the Christmas decorations. But that didn’t stop me from sitting down and reading this adorable little book!
I liked finding out Decorate the Tree! is an interactive Christmas book that invites little readers to help decorate a Christmas tree.
The instructions are simple:
- Clap to turn on the lights.
- Twinkle your fingers to add ornaments.
- Shake to add some more!
I really wish I had a clapper in my house, not just for Christmas trees but throughout the year! Wouldn’t that make life easier? Imagine wanting the lights turned on and simply clapping your hands! But I have to ask, how exactly do you twinkle your fingers? And when the book tells you to shake, just how much shaking are we talking about? This is going to be fun to figure out with the little ones!
And when you have dogs in your home, you already know that sometimes ornaments don’t stay on the tree where you put them. Laughing out loud! But that is the fun part of Christmas knowing it may not go as planned and the tree may need decorating more than once.
One thing I love about this book is that it gets right into the story. As soon as you open it, you’re invited to help decorate the Christmas tree. It asks, “It’s time to decorate the Christmas tree. Want to help me?” Well, sure! I would like to. How about you? Then come on over.
Then we see a box of ornaments and a Christmas tree waiting to be decorated. The instructions invite you to tap the tree to add lights. Of course, I tapped the tree, and nothing happened! Laughing out loud! But when you turn the page, there are the lights! They are so pretty.
As you continue reading, the tree slowly becomes more beautiful. The lights appear, the ornaments are added, and little readers get to participate in the decorating process. It’s such a simple idea, but that’s what makes it special for children of all ages and even adults.
Children aren’t just listening to someone read a Christmas story. They’re being invited to participate and use their imaginations which makes this book interactive. Even the youngest readers can enjoy following along with an adult and helping bring the Christmas tree to life.
One of my favorite things about Decorate the Tree! is that families can take the story beyond the pages of the book. Imagine choosing the day your family decorates the Christmas tree, gathering everyone together, and beginning the evening by reading this story.
When the book asks you to add lights, stop and put the lights on your own tree. When it asks you to add ornaments, let everyone choose an ornament and hang it. When it tells you to shake and add more decorations, have a little fun with the activity and dance or wiggle around the tree as you hang your ornament.
By the time you reach the end of the book, you could have a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and a brand-new family tradition. And the best part? You can bring this little book out every Christmas! And make new memories from year to year which I love.
Children who enjoy it as toddlers may still want to read it when they’re older. Someday, they might even share it with their own children. That’s one of the things I love about children’s books. Sometimes a little story becomes part of a family’s memories for years to come.
At the end of the book, we’re told: “Now it’s time to snuggle and tuck into bed. Merry Christmas and good night.” But why rush off to bed? I’d much rather gather everyone together, make some hot chocolate, and enjoy another Christmas story before calling it a night. Which would allow you to get your 10 minutes of reading in for our 10 Minute Reading Challenge.
After all, decorating the Christmas tree should be about more than getting the ornaments on the branches. It’s about spending time together, laughing, making memories, and enjoying the little moments that make the holidays special. And if you have dogs in your home, you might want to keep an eye on those ornaments!
Decorate the Tree! is written by Amanda Jane Jones, an award-winning graphic designer, illustrator, and children’s book author. She’s also a mother of 4, which makes me wonder how she finds time to do everything! The book is published by Abrams Appleseed, an imprint of Abrams, and is part of a charming collection of interactive books designed to get little readers involved in the story.
If you’re looking for a Christmas book to add to your family’s holiday collection, this is one worth considering. The book is available in different formats, including hardcover and board book editions. When I checked Amazon, the board book was listed at $8.99, while the hardcover was listed at $12.67.
Prices can change, so check the current listing before purchasing. A board book is especially nice for younger children because it’s designed for little hands. As Santa and I load the Sleigh this year I will be sharing Decorate the Tree with him and remind him to bring this book to all the good little boys and girls on his list this year.
I thought I was simply sitting down to read a little Christmas book this morning, but instead, I found myself imagining all the fun families could have with it. I can see parents reading this with toddlers, grandparents sharing it with grandchildren, and families making it part of their annual Christmas decorating tradition.
Although our family will wait until December 17 to decorate our tree, this little book has certainly put me in the Christmas spirit! If you haven’t had the opportunity to read Decorate the Tree! by Amanda Jane Jones, I hope you’ll consider adding it to your Christmas book collection.
Because sometimes the best holiday memories begin with something as simple as opening a book, clapping your hands, twinkling your fingers, and decorating a Christmas tree together. And don’t forget the hot chocolate! Until next time, may your Christmas trees be beautiful, your ornaments stay on the branches (especially if you have dogs), and your homes be filled with reasons to remain grateful, thankful, and blessed!
I received this book in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchase.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
