Each year during Advent, I set aside whatever book we are reading and change to something appropriate for the season. There are so many delightful options!
Here's a post where I wrote about what we read in 2012 and my plans for 2013. I never confirmed what we read during Advent in 2013 and I know you've been wondering. We read A Christmas Carol, The Trees Kneel at Christmas, and Kirsten's Surprise but did not read The Birds' Christmas Carol. Somehow I missed it in 2014 as well, but I've made a note so we start with it in 2015.
Our Advent 2014 Family Read AloudsThe Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer is a short and uncomplicated tale of a young boy disappointed in his Christmas plans. It wasn't my kids' favorite book, but I thought it was worth sharing and would recommend it.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson was riotously enjoyed by all my children. We also watched the movie, but all agreed the book was better. Please note: there is a lot of misbehavior in the book. My children have either already heard these sorts of things or really wouldn't do them (like smoking in the bathroom or setting things on fire).
Josefina's Surprise: A Christmas Story by Valerie Tripp is another American Girl book. Josefina finds healing at Christmas after the death of her mother. My girls (8 and 6) especially enjoyed it.
A Certain Small Shepherd by Rebecca Caudill, who wrote the Fairchild Family Story, one of my very favorite series for young children. This is an Appalachian miracle story and a lovely Advent read.
The Year of the Christmas Dragon by Ruth Sawyer is about a dragon who saves the Christmas celebration of a small town in Mexico. Skip it if you don't like "good" dragons but I love how the story of the Nativity and Christ's appearance on earth is so enthralling for the dragon. It's easy for my children to forget how astounding the Incarnation is
I purchased a used copy of A Certain Small Shepherd but the other books were all from the library. As always, the links above are affiliate links to Amazon. If you click on one, add something to your cart (anything), and purchase it, I receive a small commission. Thanks!
