Christmas Books {Traditions}

WELCOME BACK TO DAY 2 of WeNdYs WiNtEr WoNdErLaNd !

Because I am an avid book lover and have collected children's literature since I was a child.  I have many bookshelves stuffed full of thousands of books.  I would say that Christmas Books are a very important part of my holiday tradition!  Books, especially Christmas ones, are a great gift to give and receive.  I will show you the view from underneath Wendys Santa Hat again as I share a few ways that books are incorporated into everyday living in my home.  I'm not talking about the regular spots for books like the coffee table or bedside dresser, even though they are great spots too!

Make them available for all to have easy access to.  Putting a Christmas book away in a box is not a great idea.  I have a few shelves in one bookcase that I keep my Christmas books on year round.  I categorize them by age range and/or type.  During the month of December I place them in little piles around my home.  Here are a few books on an antique child size sofa in the bay window of the dining room.  What a great spot for reading and dreaming a little.

Here are some baby board Christmas books in another pile next to the cozy fire on my child size bench.  An easy spot for any wandering or visiting toddler to find.

So many types of Christmas books to collect too.  There are big ones and tiny ones.  From pop ups to picture books to Christmas novels or stories, there is a Christmas book for everyone.

There are so many Christmas books that share stories of famous families or authors you admire.  It is always fun to get a glimpse into what someone else  thinks and feels at Christmas.

Another fun thing to do do at Christmas time is to share your favorite stories with others.  Here is a sampling of some homemade Christmas booklets that I have either given or received over the years.  Put together your favorite stories or poems or even pictures of Christmas and copy and put it together with a simple spiral binding.  Great gift idea.  Some have a variety of Christmas things in them while another tells a part of the Nativity Story each day for the whole month of December.  Many of them have a different thing to look at each day leading up to Christmas.  You could make one of just Christmas recipes that are dear to you.  The sky is the limit here too with the creativity you can use in making your own.  What a priceless gift from a friend.

Here I show you two very treasured books in my collection.  I was lucky enough to have fabulous teachers for my children in elementary school and each of my girls wrote and illustrated and published their own little Christmas book, which we proudly gave to grandparents as a gift.  Now days there are many programs where you can do this on your own.  Great thing to look back on with their own children one day.

Now that you have ideas spinning in your head, as I do, I leave you with a picture of a favorite book of mine.  Perfect.  Don't you want me to read it to you now?  What is your Christmas book tradition?  If you have one or have dreams of starting a new one I want to know!  Happy reading...until tomorrow when I share more...