We have a tradition of buying a Christmas book every year to read as a family. I write the year purchased in the front cover and add it to the pile of books from years before. Except, this year my bookshelf-and-armoire-organizing husband organized the heck out of our dining bookshelf and armoire and now I’m not so sure where the pile is. I’m pretty sure I’d find it, though, if I looked hard enough. (Have I mentioned how awesome it is to be married to a guy who vacuums, washes the floors and organizes my chaotic shelves?) Today, however, is not the day of searching for old books; it is the day of buying the new one. So now we have one fabulous Christmas book to enjoy, The Night Before Christmas, retold and illustrated by Rachel Isadora.
Livia learned that Santa wasn’t real last year, so I figured this book’s setting—in a village in Africa, complete with a black Santa—wouldn’t ruin anything for her. If anything, it solidifies the fun of Santa around the world, and how this mythical character is imagined and enjoyed in most every culture. The illustrations are wonderful and the poetry is as Clement C. Moore intended it.
I can’t wait for story time tonight.
12 Comments
kristen Dec 8, 2010 5:20 PM
Such a fan, her Princess and the Pea is one of our all time favorites. We’ll have to check this one out!
Sarah Riley Dec 8, 2010 5:32 PM
That is such a cool tradition! Please remind me of that one if we ever have midgets. :-)
Sarah Riley Dec 8, 2010 5:32 PM
we = Sean and I :-)
Renae Dec 8, 2010 5:55 PM
Ooooh. I love that tradition.
Jo Dec 8, 2010 7:18 PM
Ooo, that looks like a beautifully illustrated book!
Julie Dec 8, 2010 8:04 PM
We have a similar tradition of counting to Christmas with a new book each day. Of course, since I’m Mom, I can decide which ones come out first (my favorites) and which ones appear at the end (Babar and Father Christmas!).
Rebecca Dec 8, 2010 8:34 PM
I am marveling at the oddness of the photo I posted today. There’s nothing exactly wrong with it but it’s very uncreative. Very very uncreative. Blah.
December 8 = day of anti/un/non photo creativity. Hmph.
Good thing the book is nice to look at. :D
deeapaulitan Dec 9, 2010 7:36 AM
diggin’ Santa’s dreds!
We did the “new book to be read as a family” tradition for years. It’s a sweet one!
Amy @ Hidden Valley Dec 9, 2010 7:59 AM
I recently read of this tradition and I am determined to start it! I purchased our first book! :)
Fabulous idea! :)
Claudia Dec 9, 2010 9:15 AM
Just a heads up to Sara R…midget is a passe term, now considered to be derrogatory to little people who have achronplasia (and 100+ other forms) dwarfism. I do understand you were probably referring to your future children. The RN in me just can’t pass up an opportunity to share medical information!
Sarah M Dec 9, 2010 1:59 PM
Excellent tradition! The English major in me gives your family two thumbs up (and um, especially your chore-loving husband! Rock on!)
Sarah M
Jeremy Dec 10, 2010 8:25 PM
Midgets rule! ;-) Especially dwarfs, hobbits and young humans!