Christmas books for read-aloud

After the first term (or trimester) of our first school year finished last week, I was searching for good Christmas books to read to the boys. Below are a few favorite (more could be added as a few more books will be picked up from library next week):

The Advent Jesse Tree
We've been using this book for our Advent Jesse Tree devotion starting from December 1. Although it has been a challenge to have both Daniel and James sit, follow directions, and pay attention for 20 minutes, the book has helped me a lot by having scriptures, devotions, and even hymns for each day all in the same place.

An Orange for Frankie

A very sweet Christmas story that made me cry while reading it to my boys. We just read it for a second time tonight (Christmas Eve) while peeling and eating oranges, and it made my eyes moist again.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

A simple yet beautiful and heartwarming story. Love the illustration too. I bought a copy, either to keep or to give away as a gift.

This is the Star

Read like a poem, constructed like "This is the house that Jack built". Very nice artwork too.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

We had the movie before I bought the book (both were from library book sale or garage sale, I believe), so we had watched the movie before  read the book. The movie did a pretty good job capturing the spirit of the book, but, not surprisingly we still found the book more enjoyable than the movie. It took me about a week to finish the read-aloud (one chapter a day).

The Light at Tern Rock

A beautiful story that keep you in suspense till the last chapter.

Counting down to Christmas begins! --With a Advent Jesse Tree

Celebrating Christmas was something relatively new for me, a young Christian (11 years young in the Lord) who grew up in Communist China with nil exposure to Christianity. All the Christmas traditions, secular or religious, were pretty foreign to me too.

Several years ago, we began  hanging Christmas lights, setting up Christmas tree, and getting gifts for our children. Our family almost always participates in carols and children's Christmas play at church. Sometimes we have get-together with friends or with my sister's family. But overall, our Christmas is quite low key. My husband and I don't exchange Christmas gifts. My sister and I don't exchange Christmas gifts. Let alone our friends and extended families in China.

This year, I want to keep it low key in regards to gift exchange (at least among adults), but feel the need of starting some meaningful and fun family traditions for Christmas. Something centered on the true meaning of the season. A couple of hours online searching and surfing landed me on two words:  Jesse Tree. I got excited about the idea behind it (Old Testament prophecies pointing to the coming of Christ) and really like the visual symbols (symbols tracing the heritage of Jesus from the beginning of creation) that kids can understand. Starting out the planning late and being not crafty at all, I somehow managed to make an Advent calendar with the kids and set up a Jesse Tree the night before December 1.

Our home-made Advent calendar. I made the paper pockets and outlined the numbers. Daniel and James did the coloring of the numbers and helped with gluing the border on the poster.

Nativity scene. I bought this set on Wednesday (11/30) night, the night before our Christmas countdown.  Because the poster is not big enough and has no room for number 25, we made a separate mini poster for 25. While making it, I joked with the boys, "Oh, there is no room in the inn. There is no room on the poster for 25!" Daniel colored number 25 with rainbow color. Can you see it?

Jesse Tree with the Advent calendar and the Nativity scene. I bought a 2-feet Christmas tree at Michael's. Yesterday, the children and I made the first ornament and hung it on the Jesse Tree. As we count down to Christmas, we will do a daily devotion with scriptures,  prayers, and songs, and will make and add more ornaments to the little tree.

Update: Here is the Jesse Tree after we put some maybe not all the ornaments.

Veteran's Day Parade

These were pictures from several weeks ago, Veteran's Day Parade that Daniel's Cub Scout pack had participated. It was a fun and meaningful event, although we had to wait for our turn forever.