Create a Christmas Book Advent Calendar with a Literacy Twist
Updated: Dec 30, 2022
There is nothing better than the anticipation of Christmas morning for children! One of my family's favorite Christmas traditions is to create a Christmas book advent calendar. My children have loved unwrapping the book and reading some of our Christmas favorites snuggled up in bed together each night in December.
Creating Your Christmas Book Advent Calendar with Literacy Connection Cards
As many of you know, I am always looking for ways to bring intentional literacy instruction into all aspects of young children’s lives in fun and engaging ways, So, adding a little extra literacy into your Christmas book advent calendar tradition is my goal for you this year! Here is how it works:
Step 1: Gather 24 of your favorite Christmas books! I’m always
keeping my eye out at Walmart. Marshalls, Amazon and thrift stores for great deals on Christmas books! Here are a few of my favorites:
Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Christmas Without a Tree (my personal favorite) by Elizabeth Rodger
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Erin Litwin
The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Gladone
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas by Natasha Wing
The Christmas Surprise by Steph Williams
Step 2: Click here to download the FREE Christmas Book Advent Calendar Literacy Connection Cards. Print them out on cardstock (if you have it) and cut apart the 24 activity cards. You will be wrapping these up with your books!
Step 3: Wrap the 24 books, placing one Literacy Connection Card inside the front cover of each book before wrapping. The cards do not need to be placed in the books in any specific order.
Step 4: Label the books from 1 through 24 with a marker or gift tags. Find a cute little basket to store them in and place them in a special place in your home!
Step 5: On December 1st, let the fun begin! Let your child choose and unwrap book number 24, indicating that there are 24 days until Christmas morning! Read your Literacy Connection Card prior to
reading the book so that you are prepared for the short follow-up literacy activity. Snuggle up with your child and read the book together! Use the Literacy Connection Card to enhance your learning, completing the activity along the way!
Step 6: Open book number 23 the following night. Continue to open books from your advent calendar countdown until you’ve read all the 24 books and it’s Christmas morning! I like to end with The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore.
Step 7: Save the books and Literacy Connection Cards for next year and keep the tradition alive!
I hope that you enjoy creating your Christmas Book Advent Calendar and Literacy Connection Cards! Give the gift of a strong literacy foundation this holiday season! I promise that your children will appreciate the extra time and effort you gave them later in life when they are learning to read!
Did you enjoy this activity? Leave a comment!
Don't forget to subscribe to my website for other awesome posts, tips, and resources related to early literacy!
Who is Moving Little Minds?
Moving Little Minds provides early literacy consulting, training, materials, and services. Our goal is to educate teachers and parents about the importance of early literacy through engaging, research-based practices, trainings, and materials.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.