While this idea is not “Typisch Deutsch” (typical German), it’s something I did for years while my kids were small, and I thought it might be nice to pass along my idea for a Story book Advent Calendar.
Years ago, I devised an idea for all the Christmas storybooks in our house! I realized my children had enough Christmas or winter-themed books to read one or two every night before Christmas.
As you know, we love Advent Calendars in our home, and we always have a few set up: Advent Calendars with Chocolates, a Wooden Advent Calendar, Advent Calendars with Playmobil Figurines, and even a Quilted Advent Calendar Christmas Tree with an Ornament for every day. My family anticipates Christmas with a vengeance!
Story Book Christmas Advent Calendar
Now, we also have a Story Christmas Advent Calendar. It’s a box of Christmas books, and a reading is assigned to each day—either one or two picture books or a chapter or two of a slightly longer story.
Our family has many favorite Christmas storybooks. And certain Authors and Illustrators, like Jan Brett, fit the seasonal theme. You can make this with English or German Christmas Stories or mix things up and have some of each.
I love the time we spend together at the end of our busy days leading up to Christmas. It slows life down, brings us together, centers our lives on a story, and ends our day on a sweet note.
Assemble Your Box of Christmas Books
How to Make the Story Book Advent Calendar Work
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The Christmas book box doesn’t need to be fancy. We use a regular file box. Your kids can decorate it with crayons or colored paper.
Get a list of the Christmas books you own and assign them a date. If you are reading chapter books, determine how much you would read in a given evening and write the page numbers on your chart or calendar. Story Books work the same way. Assign one or two stories to each day in December leading up to Christmas Eve.
Post Your Chart or Calendar.
Read the assigned reading every night and cross the day off of the Calendar.
It’s as simple as that!
For an Even BIGGER Advent Surprise!
Want to make it even more special?
Wrap each book in your Christmas Story Box in pretty wrapping paper and tag it with a number. Then, just like opening a door on the Advent Calendar, the kids can open the book for the day! (This always seemed like a bit more work than I was up for, but if you love wrapping and bought a lot of gift wrap on sale after Christmas last year, GO FOR IT!)
Another option is to put each book into a cloth bag with a number. You could reuse the bags every year.
Printable December Calendar
Click this link to get a free blank–> Printable December Calendar
Use the calendar to fill in the name of the book… or let the kids cross off the days. You can even let them put stickers on the squares. Let them be creative. Then attach it to the box.
Bilingual German/English Christmas Story Books
These books have the story in English and Germany… or just some German Words for instruction. I love the Oma and Opa books from Kevin Donovan.
BILINGUAL ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – 200th Anniversary Edition: GERMAN Die Magie der Weihnachtsnacht (German Edition)
Karhu Meets Santa ~ A Christmas Bedtime Story for Kids (Bilingual Edition English – German)
Children’s German: Jojo’s Christmas Day. Jojo’s Weihnachtsfest (Christmas book): Children’s English-German Picture book (Bilingual Edition), Childrens … Jojo Series) (Volume 25) (German Edition)Children’s German books: Where is Santa. Wo ist der Weihnachtsmann: Children’s English-German Picture book (Bilingual Edition) (German Edition),German … for children: Easter, Christmas etc. 1)Oma and Me: A Christmas StoryWeihnachtshelfeelf (German Edition)Grace Comes at Christmas: Grace Kommt Zu Weihnachten
Christmas Stories in English from German Authors
Your childhood memories in English.
The Christmas AngelsLittle Fairy’s ChristmasThe Story of the Snow ChildrenNutcracker
The Cobweb ChristmasThe Christmas Cobwebs
Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of TinselRichard Scarry’s The Animals’ Merry Christmas (Little Golden Book)Dream Snow
Krampus Meets his Match
Erika Neumayer from Rare Dirndl wrote this delightful book about Krampus… and how little Susie got the best of him. A fun book for kids!
Find the Rare Dirndl Krampus Collection HERE
“Krampus Meets His Match” – the Krampus BookRare Dirndl
Pre made Story Book Calendars with German Story Books
These can be hung or set up like regular Advents Calendars, but they have little books instead of a picture or chocolate inside.
German Christmas Story Books
Most of these are German imports.. and shipping will take a little time.
Die kleine Weihnachtseule: Nach einer wahren Geschichte, Bilderbuch Geschenk Weihnachten, für Kinder ab 4 JahrenAMAZON.DEKleine Schneeflocke: Zauberhaftes Bilderbuch zu WeihnachtenAMAZON.DEWenn die Tiere Weihnachten feiern: BilderbuchAMAZON.DEWeil Krampus doch eigentlich gern der Nikolaus wäre – Eine Krampusgeschichte: Das fabelhafte Weihnachtsbuch mit einer zauberhaften Weihnachtsgeschichte für Kinder und ErwachseneAMAZON.DE
Der ganze Wald freut sich auf Weihnachten: Weihnachtsgeschichte für Kinder ab 4AMAZON.DEGlöckchen, das Weihnachtspony – Das Wunder vom Nordpol: Weihnachtsgeschichte für Kinder ab 8AMAZON.DEDer kleine Igel feiert WeihnachtenAMAZON.DEWas machen wir an Weihnachten? (Wieso? Weshalb? Warum? junior, Band 44)AMAZON.DE
Wünsch dich ins Wunder-Weihnachtsland Band 13: Erzählungen, Märchen und Gedichte zur Advents- und Weihnachtszeit (German Edition)Magische Wintermärchen (German Edition)The First Christmas Children’s Book (German): Remembering the World’s Greatest Birthday (German Children’s Books on Life and Behavior) (German Edition)
Order Christmas Story Books from Germany
Each of these books has enough stories to get you through 24 days.
Die schönsten Weihnachtsgeschichten für Kinder: Von Mut, Hoffnung, Liebe und allem, was das Weihnachtsfest ausmacht – inkl. BONUSAMAZON.DEDer kleine Siebenschläfer: Ein Lichterwald voller Weihnachtsgeschichten: 24 warmherzige Geschichten zum VorlesenAMAZON.DEDie Weihnachtsgeschichte – Ein Adventskalenderbuch (Adventskalender mit Geschichten für Kinder: Ein Buch zum Lesen und Vorlesen mit 24 Kapiteln)AMAZON.DEDie Reise des kleinen Wunschzettels: Eine abenteuerliche und inspirierende Weihnachtsgeschichte für Kinder über Mut, Stärke und Zusammenhalt – zum Vorlesen und Selberlesen für Kinder ab 6 Jahrenhttps://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412+2K6XilL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpgAMAZON.DE
Love this idea! Wrapping the books up seems like it would add extra fun to the occasion, even if you used newspaper to save $$.
True… and I always have inexpensive wrapping paper from after Christmas Sales…. Best part, you can wrap them up in January, and be done with it!