Advent calendars are used to count down the days until Christmas. Advent is a Christian tradition that lasts four weeks, starting from December 1 to December 24, and is a time of preparation for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Originating in the 18th century by German Protestants, Advent Calendars were used to mark the days leading up to Christmas. They would burn a candle for the day or even mark the doors or walls with a line of chalk to show the passage of days. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the first printed calendar appeared and the 1920s when the first small doors were added.
Today, advent calendars have lost a lot of their religious connotation and are used more so to appease children in the days leading up to what could be their most anticipated holiday of the year. Most calendars have some form of chocolate or candy, but recently, advent calendars with a new book each day have been growing in popularity. What better calendar to countdown to Christmas than one that features books for your kiddos? Read on to see our top selections for all ages!
Bluey: Awesome Advent Book Bundle from Penguin Young Readers
This 24-day advent calendar is perfect for young kids who love Bluey! It includes 12 mini books with beloved stories like The Beach, Grannies, and Butterflies. It also comes with a special Christmas story for Christmas Eve! Also included are 12 coloring books. You can get this calendar for $29.99 from Penguin Young Readers.
Disney: Twisted Tales Advent Calendar: With 10 New Short Stories, Coloring Books, Exclusive Content, and More from Igloo Books
This advent calendar is perfect if you have older kids or adults interested in Disney’s Twisted Tales series! It features ten novellas with short stories, around 40-50 pages each, and ten unique coloring books. It also includes two Disney-themed, six-month journals, an art book featuring animation-style drawings, and one quote book that also has Disney images. You can get this calendar for $49.99 today!
The publishing company that made these, Igloo Books, also has other Disney bookish advent calendars for fans of Marvel or Disney Princesses.
Kid’s Blind Date With a Book from Etsy
From the creator NeverlandBooksUS on Etsy, this advent calendar sends you 12 full-size books, all individually and painstakingly wrapped. You can choose a selection of books based on age or gender (gender-neutral options are also available). This advent calendar costs $56 + shipping.
Advent Calendar Book Collection from Usborne
This advent calendar is perfect for younger kids. It comes with 24 books, each 4×4. But the special Christmas Eve book is the only one that’s 6×6! This features books from Sleeping Beauty and The Boy Who Cried Wolf to The Dinosaurs Who Met Santa Claus, each with stunning illustrations that will have your kiddos excited to read. You can get this advent calendar for $49.95 from Usborne.
You can’t go wrong with any of these boxes. All offer something exciting for your kids to open each day leading up to Christmas. Let us know if you’ve tried any of these on our social media!
Looking for some gift-giving ideas? Click here!
Looking for other kids’ book recommendations, perfect for the holidays? Click here!
