Make your own Christmas book advent calendar

Build your child’s excitement about Christmas with an advent calendar that brings the whole family together – now that’s the spirit of Christmas.

The history of advent calendars

Advent calendars are believed to have originated in Germany in the late 19^th Century as a way to mark the lead-up to Christmas. People would tick off chalk marks on walls, light candles or hang devotional images. The first printed advent calendars appeared in the early 1900s, evolving to include opening doors and then chocolates in the 1920s. Today, shop shelves are stacked with all kinds of advent calendars, filled with chocolates, Lego, stationery and even beauty products. But we’ve got an idea for an advent calendar you can put together yourself and reuse again year after year!

An advent calendar with Christmas books

Individually wrap and stack 24 Christmas books and let your child unwrap one book to read each night. This simple idea brings the family together for storytime snuggles and is an opportunity to teach your child about Christmas. You can wrap the books in shades of green tissue paper and stack them to look like a tree, use simple brown paper or a mix of Christmas wrapping. Children love unwrapping a book each night and counting down as the book stack dwindles from 24 to closer and closer to Christmas Day. Family members may like to take turns each night reading aloud the new Christmas story. You could even invite grandparents, relations or family friends to take part.

What if you don’t have 24 Christmas books?

While there are loads of great Christmas books in the shops right now, you don’t have to rush out and spend a fortune. Try these ideas:

• See if you can dig out any Christmas books from your own childhood. It’s special to share those stories with your kiddos.
• Put out a call to family and friends. Use social media, a notice in the work lunchroom or good old-fashioned word of mouth to let your circle know you’re on the hunt for Christmas books. People with older children often have a stack gathering dust they’d love to pass on, and Christmas is the perfect time for giving!
• Check out op shops, the Lifeline Bookfest and online sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and E-bay for secondhand Christmas books.
• Borrow a handful from your local library. Aim to unwrap these early in the month so you can return them for other children to enjoy.
• Include a Christmas activity book or colouring book.
• Include books about the summer holidays, such as going to the beach, playing in the backyard or taking a trip.
• Wrap a note instead that says to choose a favourite to re-read, or a cheeky “no stories tonight, we’re going to look at Christmas lights!”.

Which Christmas books?

On Christmas Eve, you’ll want to share the classic rhyme ‘The Night Before Christmas’, but otherwise, choose whatever you like. Here’s five Aussie Christmas books to get your stack started. You (and your children) will have your own favourites before you know it. Be sure to pack them away safely for next year – your kids will delight in rediscovering them each year!

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