We love our read aloud time as a family, especially slowing down during Advent and Christmas. It gives us so much quality time together, great conversation and lots of cuddles! I am so glad that we found Christmas Mosaic to use as an amazing resource this year. Here are a few of our favorites that we have been reading and activities that we have been working on with them.
We also included some other books in our weekly Advent updates! Find them HERE!
An Orange for Frankie
We have had this book for a while now and it is one of our favorites. Our train loving boys adore hearing the story of the people who live in the boxcars and the family who takes care of everyone! We also watched the movie Christmas Oranges, which is a little different but the same ending concept of generosity and kindness.
The Christmas Promise
The Christmas Promise was a new book to us this year and was probably our older boys favorite. We read it the same week as An Orange for Frankie as Christmas Mosaic suggests and discussed Hobos, and how we can give to those in need. Our kids LOVED to learn about the Hobo signs that they would write to communicate and I found little "codes" around our house for days with messages that they were writing and leaving for each other.
We also made Hobo Soup with the recipe included in Christmas Mosaic. Our older children have been slowly learning how to cook and love to be involved in the kitchen. This was a great soup for them to make and really good for them to understand how we can make good meals and not spend a lot of money.
The First Christmas Stocking
The First Christmas Stocking was the sweetest story, and might be one of MY new Christmas favorites. It truly teaches the gifts of charity and generosity. Reading these beautiful books our children are starting to get a better understanding of the importance of giving more than receiving!
Also, in the story the little girl makes spiced cider as a special Christmas treat with her mother. We decided to make spiced cider as an afternoon snack! It was lovely to enjoy this special treat together.
St. Francis and the Christmas Donkey & The Donkey's Dream
We read Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey and the Donkey's Dream together one morning and talked about all of the different characters in the nativity story. We took time to do a little meditation in front of our nativity scenes and I love to hear what each of them take away from time reflecting on Baby Jesus.
Little Lamb Finds Christmas and The Crippled Lamb
Father and Son: A Nativity Story
Father and Son: A Nativity Story is the best story which explains the thoughts that St. Joseph might have been having about helping to raise our Savior. It is such an important role for us to think about and we did activities to think about how the boys Dad plays a role in their lives.
We did the activity that Christmas Mosaic includes of tracing hands and writing what comes to mind with what their Dad does best with his hands. It is so sweet to hear how much they love and look up to their Daddy!
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