P Is for Pterodactyl

This book looks like a lot of fun and I could not resist sharing it with you.  I'm hoping our local library has it on their shelves. It takes the traditional alphabet book and turns it upside down with many fun variations on the theme. Some examples are:  T is for Tsunami, K is for Knight, M is for Mnemonic and C is for Czar.

P Is for Pterodactyl

• Format: Hardback 
• Pages: 40
• Dimensions: 216 x 279 x 10.16mm
• Weight: 453.59g 
• Publication date: 01 Dec 2018 
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc 
• Language: English 
• ISBN10: 1492674311 
• ISBN13: 9781492674313 
• Author:  Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter
• Illustrated by: maria Beddia

The First Christmas {Books 4 Christams}

Beautifully illustrated books are very high on my list when looking at children's books and I'm equally as happy to set aside extra dollars to invest in beautiful books.  This book is no exception and I remember grabbing every spare cent I had fifteen years ago to purchase it. The paintings by Francisco Ordaz are the type of paintings that invite you in to enjoy them.

The First Christmas

• Format Hardback 
• Publication date 01 Oct 2001 
•  Publisher Lion Hudson Plc&nbsp ;
• Imprint Candle Books Publication 
• Illustrations note Colour illustrations 
• ISBN10 1859853285 
• ISBN13 9781859853283
• Author: Tim Dowley
• Illustrated: Francisco Ordaz

This rendition of the Christmas story is traditional in it's telling, and is one that your family will return to year after year.

 Check out the other books in this years Books 4 Christmas line up.

• Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent
• Bartholomew's Passage : A Family Story for Advent
• Tabitha's Travels : A Family Story for Advent
• Ishtar's Odyssey : A Family Story for Advent
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens {Illustrated}
• Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
• An Angel's Story by Max Lucado
• The Wonder of Advent Devotional  
• A Christmas Carol - Ladybird Classics  
• The Christmas ABC  
• The Animals' Christmas Eve 

This post is part of the Homechool Review Crew Favourite Christmas Book Round UP

The Christmas Mouse {Books 4 Christmas}

Here's another beautifully illustrated little book for your younger students to enjoy leading up to Christmas.  The Christmas Mouse follows a little mouse who accidently finds himself inside a beautiful warm home and goes to investigate the beautiful tree.  He slips on a gift and decides to burrow into it to see what it is and finds himself in a far away land in a barn where he discovers the story of Jesus and finally finds his way back home.

The Christmas Mouse

• Format Hardback 
• Publication date 12 Feb 2014 
• Publisher CWR 
• Publication City/Country Farnham, United Kingdom 
• Edition New edition 
• Illustrations note chiefly col. Illustrations 
• ISBN10 1853453153 
• ISBN13 9781853453151 
• Author Stephanie Jeffs
• Illustrated: Jenny Thorne

The Animals' Christmas Eve {Books 4 Christmas}

Following on from yesterday's Little Golden Book today I'd like to introduce you to The Animals' Christmas Eve.  This is such a cute story from 1977. It's the retelling of the story of the birth of Christ from the perspective of the animals in the barn.  As they gather together to retell to their offspring of that first Christmas many years ago.

The Animals Christmas Eve

• Format Hardback | 24 pages 
• Dimensions 168 x 203 x 5.59mm | 108.86g 
• Publication date 05 Oct 2007 
• Publisher Random House USA Inc 
• Imprint Golden Books Publishing Company, Inc. 
• Language English 
• Edition statement Random House ed. 
• Illustrations note Full Colour 
• ISBN10 0375839232 
• ISBN13 9780375839238 
• Author: Gale Wiersum
• Illustrated: Alexandra Steele-Morgan

 In the barn on Christmas Eve,
After all the people leave,
The animals, in voices low,
Remember Christmas long ago . . .

So begins a sweet rhyming story in which a group of animals recounts the events surrounding Jesus' birth in the manger, and the parts some of their ancestors played in it. This is also a counting book. - Book Depository

The Christmas ABC {Books 4 Christmas}

Since it's Advent and the days are beautiful and warn here in Australia I thought I would share some of my favourite Christmas books with you.  This week I want to focus on books for younger people in our homes.  I think the test of a good book for little people is if the adults enjoy the book too.  This Little Golden Book is a classic and is no exception.  It's the kind of book that you can look at year after year and not grow tired of.

 The Chrismas ABC

• Format Hardback | 24 pages 
• Dimensions 168 x 203 x 5.08mm | 104.33g 
• Publication date 30 Sep 2013 
• Publisher Random House USA Inc 
• Imprint Golden Books Publishing Company, Inc. 
• Language English 
• Illustrations note Full Colour 
• ISBN10 0307978915 
• ISBN13 9780307978912
• Author Florence Johnson
• Illustrator: Eloise Wilkin

"C" is for Christmas-y fun in this festive Little Golden Book reissue from 1962. Classic illustrations from Eloise Wilkin show her famously adorable toddlers decorating the tree, opening gifts, and running to the mailbox! Young readers will see themselves in this book as they learn their ABCs and aniticipate Santa's visit. - Book Depository

 Here is a taste of the lovely alphabet rhymes you will find in this gorgeous book

• A is for Angels looking down from above, Guardians of Heaven that sing of God's love.
• G is for Giving of gifts to each other. A package for Daddy and something for Mother, And let's give a present to some girl or boy Who surely would like a nice Christmas toy.
• V is for Voices of boys in the choir, Singing God's praises in festive attire.

A Christmas Carol - Ladybird Classics {Books 4 Christmas}

This is one of those stories that are synonymous with Christmas.   The story itself is now 175 years old.  One of the most surprising things about reading A Christmas Carol is that it's not a very long book.  We read it out loud in less than a week a few years back. Last week I shared a beautifully illustrated version of A Christmas Carol and today I would like to share another gorgeous version specifically for younger children.   This one is by Ladybird Classics.

 Ladybird Classics: A Christmas Carol

• Format Hardback | 72 pages 
• Dimensions 142 x 210 x 12mm | 272g 
• Publication date 01 Sep 2015 
• Publisher Penguin Books Ltd Imprint Ladybird 
• Language English 
• Edition Abridged 
• Edition statement Abridged Illustrations note w. ill. 
• ISBN10 1409312216
• ISBN13 9781409312215 

This beautiful hardback Ladybird Classic edition of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a perfect first illustrated introduction to the classic Christmas story for younger readers. It has been sensitively abridged and retold to make it suitable for sharing with young children from 5+, whilst retaining all the key parts of the story including the three spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future, little Tiny Tim and his father, Bob Cratchit and, of course, the old miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Detailed full-colour illustrations throughout also help to bring this classic tale to life.- Book Depository.

The Wonder of Advent Devotional {Books 4 Christmas}

Collecting beautiful books for Christmas is a tradition that started many years ago. Each year I add one new book to my collection.  This year when exploring our local Christian bookshop I came across a beautiful devotional specifically for Advent.

Today marks the beginning of the second week of Advent for 2018. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God.

 The Wonder of Advent Devotional

• Format Hardback | 160 pages 
• Dimensions 145 x 193 x 15mm | 272g 
• Publication date 01 Oct 2017 
• Publisher Tyndale Momentum 
• Language English 
• ISBN10 149641909X 
• ISBN13 9781496419095 
• Language: English
• Author: Chris Tiegreen
• Scripture: New Living Translation

This book is beautiful.  It's cover is royal blue, the title is gold in-lay. When I hold this book I feel like I am holding a treasure beyond measure.  Chris has masterfully written short daily devotions which focus you on the One who calls us to Himself and eternity. I have found each day's reading to be thought provoking.

Rediscover the heart of the Advent season As the year comes to a close and the stress and busyness of the consumer Christmas holiday grows, it can be easy to lose sight of what the season really calls us to: worship. In today's world, is it even possible to slow down, to ponder, to wonder in the coming birth of Christ?This Advent, recapture the mystery and beauty of the season with The Wonder of Advent Devotional. In this insightful and thought-provoking book, beloved devotional author Chris Tiegreen brings you into a deeper experience of this integral time in the church calendar. After completing a week of short readings to prepare your heart for the Advent season, you'll journey through December with daily Scripture readings, prompts for reflection, and guided prayer to help you savour this remarkable divine story. With each day, The Wonder of Advent Devotional will reconnect you with what happened in Bethlehem long ago--and experience it anew in your life right now. - Book Depository  

The book is divided into three sections:

1. Introduction
2. Preparation: 24 - 30 November
3. Advent: 1-31 December

As you can see the daily devotions do not follow the traditional four Sunday's before Christmas but rather the last week of November and the entire month of December.

What's your favourite Advent resource?