• Home
    • Praise and Press
    • About
  • TLB Classes
    • Class Descriptions
    • Online Parent Education Classes
  • Blog
    • Homeschooling
    • Charlotte Mason
    • Booklist
    • Reading and Storytelling
    • Cultivating Love of Learning
    • Parenting Thoughts
      • Memory-Making
    • Five in a Row
      • Before Five in a Row
  • Shop
    • Request/Pre-Order Books Here
    • TLB Gift Card
    • My Account
    • View Cart
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Lost password
  • Book lists
    • Living Books Planning Tool
    • Filipino Living Books Book List
    • Philippine History: A Booklist
    • Catholic Homeschooling Booklist
  • Search the TLB Book Shop
    • Picture Books By Age
      • Board Books
      • Ages 0-2
      • Ages 2-4
      • Ages 4-6
      • Ages 6-8
    • Chapter Books
      • Ages 8-10
      • Ages 10 up
    • Homeschooling
      • CM Homeschooling/Living Books
      • Five in a Row
      • Before Five in a Row
      • Math Books
      • Catholic Books
    • Philippine Published Books
      • Free Downloads
      • Ages 0 to 2
      • Ages 2 to 4
      • Ages 4 to 6
      • Ages 6 to 8
      • Ages 8 to 10
      • Ages 10 and up
      • Chapter Books
      • Board Books
    • Classics
    • Award-Winning Books
    • Recommended Reads for Parents
    • Educational Toys and Materials

The Learning Basket

You Are Your Child's First and Best Teacher

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Holiday Read-Alouds

January 3, 2014 by The Learning Basket Leave a Comment

  • Total45
  • 36
  • 0
  • 9

Read_All_About_It

First of all, let me greet you all a very happy new year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday with family and cherished friends.  This is a belated Christmas post, too, so please forgive me. You know how December ushers in the Christmas season in the Philippines and in the hullabaloo of endless parties, shopping frenzy, paralyzing traffic and attempting to homeschool through the holidays, I was not able to post any book list for the month.  On a positive note, we found that it’s best to hunt for seasonal books way before or right after the events as most books will be on sale!  So be on the lookout for these books in your nearest bookstore. We also have some over at the shop, just enter “Christmas” in the search bar.

Here is a list of what we have been reading over the holidays.  These are treasures to keep throughout the year.

1. Bibles

Our Beginner’s Bible for Toddlers, Tomie dePaola’s Bible Stories and My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories came in very handy for our Jesse Tree tradition this year. We accompanied our bible stories with The Story of Christmas Story Book Set and Advent Calendar that I got on sale in a bookstore on New Year’s Eve of last year.  As a special treat, my dad gave the little girl an Advent calendar chocolate treat from Santi’s Delicatessen, which capped our daily Jesse Tree and read-aloud sessions.

bibles

2. Angela and the Baby Jesus by Frank McCourt

I got this book as an afterthought this year, thinking that my 4-year-old would not yet appreciate the story. She truly enjoyed it, and asked to read it over and over again. She had a lot of questions that had me thinking, though, such as why Angela would think that the Jesus in the creche was a real baby!
angela-and-the-baby-jesus

3. The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado and The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston

So beautiful it made me cry. These two books captured the magic and beauty and hope that is the Christmas season.  Must-haves!
christmas

4. Christmas songs

We read and sang several Christmas songs, including Silent Night, Holy Night A Christmas Carol by Joseph Mohr Illustrated by Maja Dusikova, The Little Drummer Boy by Kristina Rodanas, and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer after reading the original poem by Robert L. May.
carols

5. Tomie dePaola books

Always such wonderful treasures, we learned about The Legend of the Poinsettia and other Christmas traditions from reading dePaola’s Tony’s Bread and The Night of Las Posadas. We laughed while reading Who’s Coming to Santa’s for Dinner? and cuddled while enjoying Country Angel Christmas, Jingle the Christmas Clown, and Merry Christmas, Strega Nona. The latter made the Energizer Bunny bring out all her Strega Nona books which are still on our bedside table until now.
tomie

6.  The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

I read about the PolarExpress Night Tradition here and immediately grabbed a copy of The Polar Express from The Learning Basket Shop.  (Yes, Mariel and I are our best customers!) As a special present, I gave my daughter a jingle bell which she adored so much that she put it around her neck and wore it for several days. Of course, we had to read the story with our cups of hot chocolate. Yum!
the-polar-express

7. A Gift from Saint Francis by Joanna Cole

One of the things I love most about our homeschool journey is learning new things together with my daughter.  For example, did you know that the first creche (belen) was first introduced by St. Francis of Assisi? Neither did I! After reading this book, the manger scenes during Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me. My dream now is to have a life-size creche or a complete one that is much like the one that my lola had when I was growing up. Nothing reminds us of the reason for the season like a belen does.
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

8. When Someone Dies

It wasn’t all fun and games for us this season as we experienced a death in the family on Christmas day. We read this book by Sharon Greenlee which gently guides children through what to expect when someone special to them passes on.
when-someone-dies

9. Nativity books

Of course, what is Christmas without an assortment of Nativity books.  These books show the true star and hero of the season – the Baby Jesus! Choose books with beautiful illustrations and those that are appropriate to the ages and reading level of your children. It is never too early or too late to teach your kids what Christmas is really about.
Assorted Nativity books

Assorted Nativity books

10. Books about the Three Kings

Part of the story of Christmas is the visit of the Three Kings to the Baby Jesus.  More than a week after reading Christmas stories, we are now reading Baboushka and the Three Kings by Ruth Robbins, The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola, and Federico and the Magi’s Gift by Beatriz Vidal to prepare for our celebration of the Three Kings on January 5.
three-kings
Having the Energizer Bunny really makes Christmas – and every day, for that matter –  a wonderful and magical adventure.   Here’s hoping you had a peaceful Christmas and that you have a blissful and blessed 2014!
sanne
Currently reading: Rescue by Anita Shreve
Currently reading-aloud: all the Christmas books on the list, Strega Nona, Big Anthony and the Magic Ring, Strega Nona Her Story (all by Tomie de Paola)
Read All About It is Sanne’s bi-weekly column. Read her welcome post here.

 

Related Posts

  • 10 Classic Read Aloud Chapter Books10 Classic Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Our Favorite Children’s Books About SaintsOur Favorite Children’s Books About Saints
  • Classic Chapter Books For GirlsClassic Chapter Books For Girls
  • Books Under a 6-Year-Old’s Bed: Series BooksBooks Under a 6-Year-Old’s Bed: Series Books
  • How to Introduce World War II to Children, Part 2: Books to ReadHow to Introduce World War II to Children, Part 2: Books to Read
  • 5 Parenting Books that Keep Me Sane5 Parenting Books that Keep Me Sane
  • Lenten Books For KidsLenten Books For Kids
  • 8 Books That Will Take You and Your Children To Japan8 Books That Will Take You and Your Children To Japan
  • Total45
  • 36
  • 0
  • 9
«
»

Welcome


Hi there!

Whether you are a busy working mom, a work-at-home mom, or a stay-at-home mom, you are sure to find parenting and learning inspiration on our pages and parent education workshops to empower you to be your child’s first and best teacher.

Make magic with your child!

Search for Blog Posts

Search Learning Ideas

  • Before Five in a Row
  • Booklist
  • Charlotte Mason
  • Cultivating Love of Learning
  • Educational Materials
  • Five in a Row
  • Fun Friday Ideas
  • Homeschooling
  • Memory-Making
  • Parent Education
  • Parenting Thoughts
  • Past Parent Education Classes
  • Reading and Storytelling
  • Uncategorized

Upcoming Events

preschool homeschool

NOW OPEN — Everything you need to start homeschooling your preschooler is right here (Feb 11 to March 4 2023)

In these uncertain times, we can still enjoy our children while helping them to love learning. Learn everything you need to know to start homeschooling your preschooler in this comprehensive online parent education program.

Subscribe

Get updates on learning ideas, parenting events & shop offers!

Copyright © 2023 · Web Design by Fancy Girl Design Studio · Shop Set Up by Marge Aberásturi

Copyright © 2023 · Learning Basket Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in