Does your family have any special traditions to count down to Christmas? When I was a child, I used the classic paper chain. Right after Thanksgiving I would get my colorful construction paper and cut out rings to make the chain. I would cut out enough paper links to lead up to Christmas day, and I would make a star out of cardboard and foil to represent Christmas, and to hang the chain from.
When my children were little, we did the same thing. I also would give my kids the advent calendars that came with a piece of chocolate for each day leading up to Christmas. Our son would take a chocolate each day, but our daughter would gobble up all the chocolate within the first few days. Ha Ha.
I have a really fun family tradition you can try this year. It’s called How Winston Came Home for Christmas. It’s written by Alex T. Smith, and it’s a follow up to the book, How Winston Delivered Christmas (I have it in my Amazon shopping cart).
You might be wondering how a book could become a family tradition.
How Winston Came Home for Christmas has 24 chapters (short ones). It is written that way so that you read one chapter every night leading up to Christmas. Talk about the perfect bedtime story! This is ideal for children to read at bedtime (or have read to them). Not only is it a wonderful story, but it also help a child become more excited about the “big day.”
To make this book even better, each chapter features a craft, recipe, decoration or other holiday related activity for a family to do together to get everyone even MORE excited about Christmas. The story it’s self is delightful as it is, but to add in the “extras,” it only makes this book even greater.
Some of the activities including making a snowman out of cotton balls, make a Christmas tree lantern, and a stained glass window Christmas card. There is something fun to do with every and every chapter in this book.
The story it’s self is delightful. I haven’t finished the entire book yet, only because it’s not even Thanksgiving and I really want to read a section per day, as it’s intended (it’s not mandatory – you can read as much of this book whenever you want – even in the summer). But I wanted to read some of the book in order to do this review. I’m on day 10 (I finished the 10th section). It’s cute!
The illustrations are perfect for this book. It really brings the story to life. Not every page is illustrated, which is fine. But there are plenty of colorful illustrations sprinkled throughout the book.
I don’t know why, but the illustrations have a retro look to them. At least that is how I feel about them. I showed them to my husband and he doesn’t think that at all, but in my eyes they have a retro look to them. I like that about the illustrations.
I cannot wait to finish this story. I also have the other book in my Amazon shopping cart. I love it THAT much.
If you are interesting in having a new family tradition, or starting one, How Winston Came Home for Christmas would be a great option.
This book is available at many book retail locations. You can also find the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target and more.
Below is the author reading the first chapter of this book for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.