For those that know me we d #oneholiday at a time in my home. Sometimes that rule has to be broken. Which is what would happen with The Little Book of Christmas Joy: 80 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season because its a book to be used throughout the #Christmas Season every year with your friends and family.
I have a question for you. Have you ever reached December and found yourself running out of ideas for things to do with your family? If your like me you want to make Christmas special, but between shopping, baking, decorating, and everything else on your to-do list, sometimes you need a little help figuring out what to do next.
That’s why I was excited to receive The Little Book of Christmas Joy: 80 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season, illustrated by Annelies Draws, when I first opened the book, I thought about how wonderful it would be to give a child this little book on the first day of the Christmas school break.
Instead of hearing, “Mom, what can we do?” or “Dad, I’m bored!” every day, you could open the book, choose an activity, and spend some time together as a family. And with 80 joyful traditions, treats, and activities to explore, you have plenty of ideas to choose from! Not only that when I was looking through the book I found words I had trouble pronouncing which will have Charlie and I lol when David tries to say them.
The first thing I noticed was the lovely illustrated cover and the cheerful pages inside. The illustrations feature warm, yellowish-colored backgrounds, a little boy and girl, a Christmas tree topped with a star, holly, bows, candles, gingerbread, a stocking, and a train. There are plenty of little details to look at before you even begin choosing your activities.
The book invites you to decorate a gingerbread house, make a paper chain, snuggle up with a Christmas story, and discover traditions from around the world. The fun part was there were things my family didn’t know about making this a #teachingmoment for my family and if we had been #Homeschooling still a great addition to our classes.
The book is published by Magic Cat Publishing, which is an imprint of Abrams, and this book is pocket-size gift book that is listed at $19.99. With 80 ideas packed inside, Being $19.99 stopped me in my tracks for a second but with all there is to do in the book it is worth the price because it can be used year after year which I like.
I think it offers families plenty of inspiration for making memories together throughout the holiday season. It would also make a lovely stocking stuffer! The book is perfect for children in middle school to read but even the smallest children can do the activities with there parents help. Even adults will find things they might not have knew about in the book which was one of the things I liked the most about the activities.
One of my families favorite things about The Little Book of Christmas Joy is that the activities don’t all require a lot of preparation, expensive supplies, or an entire afternoon. Some ideas are simple enough to enjoy on an ordinary evening at home. Others can turn into family traditions that children look forward to every year.
Here are a few that caught my attention.
Open an Advent Calendar– The first activity introduces the idea of opening an Advent calendar. Each day, children find the correct number and open a little door to discover a surprise. It might be chocolate, a tiny toy, or a fun picture. I love the excitement of counting down to Christmas, but here’s another idea:
Why not make your own Advent calendar? You could write down activities your family wants to do together, mix them up, and place one behind each numbered window or inside a little envelope. Every day, your children could discover the activity you’ve planned.
Some ideas might be baking cookies, reading a Christmas story, driving around to look at Christmas lights, making ornaments, or watching a favorite holiday movie. You could even let the children help create the activity list. That way, everyone gets to contribute to the family’s Christmas fun.
Make Hot Chocolate and Read a Book
These two activities were listed on different days but I think they could be done on the same day because they encourage families to make hot chocolate and enjoy a holiday story together. Remember it doesn’t have to be a Christmas Story just read something together.
Now, I think we can make this one even more fun! Give your child a simple hot chocolate recipe and let them help prepare it, with an adult supervising in the kitchen. Then find a comfortable spot, grab your mugs, and read a book together. The important thing is taking time to sit together, put away the phones, and enjoy a few quiet moments.
This activity would be perfect for our 10-Minute Reading Challenge. When you read together for at least 10 minutes, you can earn a ticket in our challenge. Sometimes the simplest activities turn into the sweetest memories. If a child struggles with reading let them listen to a book online.
You can discover Christmas traditions Around the World which is where the book becomes especially interesting for families who enjoy learning together. For example, one activity introduces the Dutch tradition of leaving out shoes for Saint Nicholas. Just don’t use David’s shoes because they stink to high Heaven.
On December 5, children in the Netherlands traditionally put their shoes near a fireplace or doorway. They may leave a carrot for Saint Nicholas’s horse, yes, a horse not a reindeer hoping to find little gifts or sweets in their shoes. The celebration is associated with Pakjesavond, or present evening. A #teachingmoment for my family. How about yours?
I love how a little activity like this can lead to a bigger conversation. You could look up the Netherlands on a map, talk about how children celebrate holidays in other countries, and compare those customs with your own family’s traditions. You might even secretly leave a little treat in someone’s shoes and see how long it takes them to discover it!
For homeschool families, this is a wonderful opportunity to incorporate geography, cultural traditions, reading, and writing into a Christmas activity. Children could choose another country, research its Christmas customs, and share what they learn with the family.
Now, this activity made me laugh! Did you know that families celebrate Christmas with different foods around the world? Traditional Christmas dinners in England may include roast turkey if they have Stuffing ie Dressing move over Buttercup I’m coming to dinner and Christmas pudding, while fried chicken and strawberry shortcake have become popular Christmas foods in Japan.
Fried chicken and strawberry shortcake for Christmas dinner? David would die happy! I don’t know about in your home but my family’s Christmas dinner has varied over the years. Sometimes we’ve had a traditional holiday meal, and other times we’ve enjoyed pizza or breakfast. It depends on whose home and who celebrating with and what everyone wants to eat.
When Charlie was little, his wishes were part of the conversation, and when Suzanne was with us, we made our own memories around the table, too. The important thing isn’t whether you serve turkey, pizza, pancakes, or fried chicken. It’s finding a way to enjoy the day together. What does your family eat for Christmas dinner? Perhaps this year, you could try a meal inspired by another country’s holiday traditions.
Then the Author built a activity around a #UglyChristmasSweater which Charlie has an ugly Christmas sweater, and so does David. I think it might be time for me to get one of my own! What do you think? Should I invest in a sweater or not and why do you think that?
I like how we could make this activity even more entertaining by having a family Christmas ugly sweater night. Everyone can wear their favorite festive sweater, take pictures, and vote on the silliest or ugliest design. You don’t have to spend a fortune to participate. Check your closet, visit a thrift store, or decorate an inexpensive sweater together.
I’ve always loved decorating gingerbread houses with Charlie and Suzzane, so this is one activity I can’t wait to enjoy again. You can make your own gingerbread house or purchase a kit that includes the pieces and decorations. Put the candy, icing, and other supplies on the table and let everyone use their imagination.
And don’t worry if the finished house isn’t perfect. Sometimes the leaning walls, extra candy, and frosting-covered fingers are the best parts of the experience! Remember to keep the candy out of the way of the children ie David or you might not have enough to decorate your home after he eats it all.
One of the activates suggest families should go Roller Skating. Lordy, Lordy help us all. Here’s one activity I might have to think about before attempting! Roller skating? Oh my goodness! I can already imagine David and me ending up in the hospital if we aren’t careful. We might need to skip that particular adventure.
But that’s the beauty of a book filled with 80 activities. You don’t have to do every single one exactly as written. You can choose the ideas that suit your family and substitute something else when an activity doesn’t work for you. Perhaps we’ll find another family outing that is a little easier on our knees!
Another activity I liked was how the Author reminded us to visit Santa which we haven’t visited Sin a long, long time, and this activity made me think that perhaps it’s something we should do again. Would you like to come with us? We can even bring the dogs for there own picture with Santa.
For my family there is something special about visiting Santa, seeing the Christmas decorations, and watching little ones get excited about the season. And if your children are older, you can still enjoy the experience. Take pictures, enjoy the decorations, and let the outing become part of your family’s holiday memories.
Another activity the Author mentions is to leave a Treat for Santa This is another Christmas tradition that many families enjoy. You can leave cookies and a drink for Santa, perhaps along with a little treat for his reindeer. I don’t know about your family but mine has been doing this for years.
If your children are old enough, let them help bake the cookies or choose the treats. You can talk about the tradition, read a Christmas story, and enjoy a quiet moment together before bedtime. It’s one more way to make an ordinary evening feel special and don’t forget to create a snack for your family.
As I looked through The Little Book of Christmas Joy, I kept thinking about how many of these ideas could become homeschool learning activities. Through the book I found ways that we can explore geography by learning about Christmas celebrations around the world.
Baking offers opportunities to practice measuring, fractions, and following directions. Making paper chains and decorating gingerbread houses encourage creativity and fine motor skills. Reading together supports literacy, while writing Christmas cards or creating a family Advent calendar giving children opportunities to practice writing and planning.
You can even invite your children to keep a Christmas memory journal which my family has been doing for years After each activity, they could write a sentence about what they did, draw a picture, or record their favorite part of the day. The best part is that learning doesn’t have to feel like another assignment. You can spend time together while naturally incorporating educational opportunities into your Christmas traditions.
The publisher also offers other titles in this little-book collection, including The Little Book of Joy, The Little Book of Words That Matter, and The Little Book of Love which I would love to share in our upcoming Valentines Day Gift Guide and ‘m thinking of purchasing the other books for our home to share with my nieces and nephews when they visit.
I especially like the sound of The Little Book of Words That Matter. And The Little Book of Love which sounds like a lovely possibility for those in love. These books could make thoughtful gifts for children, friends, and family members who appreciate small reminders to celebrate life’s meaningful moments.
I would consider purchasing The Little Book of Christmas Joy as a gift for a child at the beginning of the Christmas season. Instead of opening a toy that gets played with for a few minutes and then forgotten, a child could return to this book throughout December. Each activity offers another opportunity to make something, discover a tradition, share a story, or spend time with the people they love.
Not every activity needs to be elaborate, and you don’t have to complete all 80 ideas. Choose the ones that fit your family, your schedule, and your budget. Some days, you might make hot chocolate and read together. Other days, you could bake cookies, explore another country’s Christmas traditions, or plan a family outing.
And on the days when everyone is tired, you can simply turn a few pages and save an idea for another time which is the fun part of this book. You will find The Little Book of Christmas Joy: 80 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season on our Christmas Gift Guide Wish List.
I enjoyed looking through this little book and imagining the different ways families could use it throughout the Christmas season. Even though Charlie is 19 this year I found things my family can do and I even learned thing I didn’t know I will be sharing with Charlie and David and our friends and family.
What I appreciate most is the reminder that Christmas doesn’t have to be about spending a lot of money or planning a big event every day. Sometimes, the best memories come from baking together, reading a story, trying something new, or laughing over a family activity that doesn’t go quite as planned.
With 80 ideas to explore, this book gives families a starting point for creating traditions of their own. And who knows? Perhaps this year David and I will finally visit Santa again, Charlie will wear his ugly Christmas sweater, and we’ll find a new activity to add to our family’s Christmas memories.
If you’re looking for a small gift that encourages children and grown-ups to spend more time together, I think this one is worth considering. It’s the perfect size to tuck into a Christmas stocking, and it might just help make the holiday season a little more joyful.
About the book:
Celebrate the joy of Christmas with this charming pocket-size gift book filled with activities to share and holiday traditions from around the world
Brimming with holiday cheer, this delightful little book, beautifully illustrated by Instagram star Annelies Draws, takes young readers and their grown-ups on a joyful journey through heartwarming Christmas traditions and meaningful customs from around the world.
From candlelit streets in Colombia to Christmas markets in Germany, travel far and wide to discover how people celebrate Christmas in wonderfully unique ways.
Closer to home, enjoy simple, joy-filled activities to share with little ones: bake sugar cookies, craft a paper chain, make a mini wreath, or sing your favorite Christmas carols together.
The perfect stocking stuffer to gift or keep, this book is a celebration of all the things that make the season sparkle . . . with wonder, warmth, and a touch of magic!
Also available:
The Little Book of Joy
The Little Book of Words That Matter
The Little Book of Love
Book: The Little Book of Christmas Joy: 80 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season
Illustrator: Annelies Draws
Publisher: Magic Cat Publishing, an imprint of Abrams
Listed price: $19.99
Gift idea: Christmas stocking stuffer or family activity gift
Reading connection: A lovely addition to our 10-Minute Reading Challenge
Homeschool connection: Geography, cultural traditions, reading, writing, baking, and creative activities
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase I will make a small percentage off the items you purchase.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GratefulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
