Story Book Advent Snowman

Creating a Book Advent for Adam has been on my must-do-list since he was born. Last year we focused on creating a Christmas Eve Box so this year I set aside some time to create a Children’s Story Book Advent Snowman.

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First I needed 24 books. I trawled our book shelves and was surprised by how many I had collected over the years. I only purchased a couple of new books for our Advent Snowman. You could always go to your local library and borrow the books if you didn’t want to purchase any new books.

I wrapped each individual book. I fell in love with snowflake wrapping paper and thought it would look wonderful as a Snowman. There was only one draw back. The snowflake wrapping paper turned out to have glitter on. I now have glitter EVERYWHERE! Our house now shines and I seem to find glitter in places I never knew you could get glitter! It dawned on me whilst wrapping the books that Adam would be opening a new book each day and therefore creating more glitter. I must admit though the glitter does add something extra special to our Advent Snowman!

The majority of the books were wrapped in the snowflake paper but I wrapped a few in black tissue paper to represent the Snowman’s hat, two triangular books were wrapped in black card and three books were wrapped in gold paper.

To make the base of our Advent Snowman I wrapped two cardboard boxes in the snowflake wrapping paper. Adam won’t know until Christmas Day but there are a few stocking filler presents inside each box. I placed the three gold wrapped books on top of the largest box and placed the smaller box on top. The gold books represent the Snowman’s scarf. I then stuck black and orange card onto the smaller box to create the Snowman’s features.

Finally, I laid the snowflake wrapped books up against each side of the Snowman. The two triangular books were placed at the side of the Snowman for his arms and the rest of the black wrapped books were placed on top of the small box for the Snowman’s hat.

Due to the amount of glitter, I decided to place our Advent Snowman in Adam’s sensory room. I thought containing the glitter in one room may limit how much our house sparkles! It also means I can cover it with a blanket until December 1st.

Do you want to know what books we used in our Advent Snowman? Here is the list in no particular order:

* Your Letter To Santa Personalised Story Book by Susie Davids. This was a present bought for Adam last year from a friend. It is a wonderful personalised story that uses Adam’s name throughout.

* The Snowman and The Snowdog Personalised Book – You can read our review of this personalised story here. The book stars Adam as the main character.

* Aussie Jingle Bells by Colin Bachanan. I purchased this book whilst I was travelling by myself around Australia and New Zealand. Originally I bought it to read to my class when I returned to teaching. I love the fact I get to read it to Adam now. It also comes with a CD with a very catchy song.

* Elmer in the Snow by David McKee. You can’t beat an Elmer story. In this story Elmer shows his friends what cold weather is really like. We can but hope for a White Christmas.

* Aliens Love Panta Claus by Claire Freedman. Regular readers will know just how much Adam loves the Underpants series. Last Christmas we created Aliens Love Panta Claus Play Dough and an Aliens Love Panta Claus Play Dough Christmas Tree.

* Santa is coming to Norwich by Steve Smallman. This book focuses on our home town of Norwich. They have a range of different cities and towns in this series. Last year we went on a Christmas Tree Trail around Norwich to spot some of the landmarks featured in the book.

* Diary of a Christmas Wombat by Jackie French. I fell in love with Wombats when I traveled around Australia. Adam is a fan of the Wombat series and this Christmas edition is perfect.

* Norman the Slug Who Saved Christmas by Sue Hendra. This was a new purchase for our advent. Adam hasn’t yet heard the story so I am looking forward to introducing it to him.

* Russell’s Christmas Magic by Rob Scotton. We are Russell fans in our household. Last year we created Russell’s Christmas Magic Light Up Sheep and Russell Christmas Ornaments.

* Dinosaur Christmas by Jerry Pallotta. This was another new purchase. I can only imagine Adam’s excitement when he sees there is a Christmas book based on Dinosaurs!

* I Love You, Father Christmas by Giles Andreae. Adam is a big fan of Giles Andreae after our Giraffes Can’t Dance Light Box disco. I hope that Adam enjoys this book as much.

* The First Christmas published by Miles Kelly. This is a beautifully illustrated retelling of the birth of Jesus.

* Little Reindeer Saves Christmas by Melanie Joyce. This will be a completely new story for both Adam and I. I wonder how Little Reindeer will save Christmas?

* Snow Friends by M Christina Butler. I have everything crossed that we get snow this year. If snowed when Adam was a few months old so I can’t wait for him to fully experience throwing snowballs and building a snowman. I wonder if he will build a snow friend like Little Bear does in this story.

* Oh No, Santa! a Pop-Up Book by Kees Moerbeek. This book was given to Adam by my Aunt. It is unusual because it is triangular shaped – perfect to represent the arms of our Advent Snowman! In the pop-up book Santa has to find a Christmas tree to decorate his home but they have all sold out.

* The First Christmas Pop-Out Nativity by Parragon Books. I used to use this book with my class but haven’t been able to find a copy online. Along with the story you get figures to create your own Nativity scene. We shall open this towards the end of our Advent.

* Twenty Four Days to Christmas by Fred Arthur. We recently received this book to review. We shall read a chapter a day throughout Advent. Read our review here.

* Santa’s Special Letter by Josephine Collins. Nana bought Adam this book a couple of years ago. It is made up of several small envelopes that you can open.

* Gabriel’s Feather by Elizabeth Laird. This is another book I have used several times with my different classes. The illustrations are simply stunning. When Gabriel visits Mary, a golden feather falls from the angel’s wings. A little brown bird picks it up and carries it through the story, until at the end, she is able to present the golden feather as her gift to the new baby.

* The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson. This was a firm favourite story with Adam last Christmas and I have no doubt there will be many renditions of The Gruffalo’s Child again this year.

* Where is Home, Little Pip? by Karma Wilson. Little Pip a baby penguin’s home is a pebbly nest. One day he strays too far and can not find home. He meets many animals along the way whilst looking for his home.

* A Kiwi Night Before Christmas by Yvonne Morrison. This was another book I bought on my travels. I like to show Adam that Christmas isn’t cold for everyone around the world.

* Stick Man by Julia Donaldson. I hate to admit this but I haven’t actually read Stick Man to Adam before. I don’t know how this amazing story has slipped through the net. This story is a must for us this Christmas.

* The Night Before Christmas a Pop-Up Book by Kees Moerbeek. Last but not least is another triangular shaped book given to Adam by my Aunt. The pop-up book as an exciting twist to the Christmas rhyme “The Night Before Christmas.”

Whilst creating our Snowman advent calendar it got me thinking. Why should Adam have all the fun! I am instilling a love of books in Adam yet I am not making time for myself to read. Hence why I created a Mummy Book Advent Calendar. 

COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS WITH MORE ADVENT CALENDAR IDEAS

Snowmen Advent Calendar – A simple advent calendar to make with the kids to hold either envelopes containing activities or a small gift each day of December counting down to Christmas from Rainy Day Mum

Countdown to Christmas Math & Number – A printables pages for each day to work on number counting and math facts for kids from PreK to 2nd Grade from 3 Dinosaurs

Homemade Christmas Countdown for Kids – Homemade Christmas Countdown for kids with handmade envelopes and a daily festive activity from The Gingerbread House

Christ Centred Advent for Preschoolers – A countdown to Christmas for toddlers and preschoolers to get in on the fun of advent. Includes activities, family service projects, crafts and more! from Beauty for Ashes

Winter Snowflakes Advent Calendar – A Christmas tree on the cork board: this simple DIY advent calendar features child’s favorite artwork and a poster puzzle, and reveals a fun surprise a day from My Bright Firefly

Advent Acts of Kindness – 50 free stocking shaped printables of acts of kindness that can be used to make an advent calendar from The Madhouse

Christmas Joke Calendar – make the kids laugh with a homemade 25 Days of Christmas Jokes countdown calendar the whole family will enjoy! from Little Bins for Little Hands

A Very Merry Occupational Therapy Christmas – The Christmas season can be a difficult time for kids with sensory needs and Occupational Therapy needs. The calendar will present holiday sensory overload coping strategies and calming activities to help families connect while focusing on family and the joy of the season from Sugar Aunts

Fun and Easy Countdown Card – Avoid that morning sugar rush with a candy free way to countdown the days to Christmas with our Countdown Christmas Card! from Peakle Pie

Christmas Carol Advent Printables – A printable advent calendar featuring one Christmas carol of each day from Mama Smiles

DIY Christmas Tree Advent Calendar – A great activity for siblings to hide secret messages inside each others DIY Christmas Tree Advent Calendars from Crafty Kids at Home

Advent Elf Houses – Printable Elf Houses to explore during Advent which build into a small world play scene from Sun Hats & Wellie Boots

How to Organise and Easy and Fun Advent Calendar – a free printable organizer. It will help you plan fun yet easy activities for any Advent calendar from Books and Giggles

Christmas Cookie Advent Calendar – A festive baked treat for everyday of advent with this Christmas cookie advent calendar from Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Printable Family Activities Advent Calendar – Printable advent cards with simple family activities for the Christmas season from Creative Family Fun

Printable Advent Calendar for Preschoolers – Free printable Advent calendar for preschoolers full of fun early learning activities from Fun a Day

Christmas and Kwanzaa Calendar Numbers – Make your own reusable calendar numbers to fit the holidays that your family celebrates from Tiny Tots Adventure

Christmas Words Advent Wreath – A lovely Advent Wreath of Christmas Words which is meaningful and stylish. An ideal craft for older kids to make from Witty Hoots

Are you looking for Christmas Ornaments crafts to do with your children? Then take a look at Red Ted Art’s Christmas Ornaments ebook. Find 30 festive easy-to-do ideas all in one place. Click here to find out more.

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Emma Edwards

During a difficult pregnancy suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Emma vowed to make every day an adventure once she had recovered. Adventures of Adam is the outcome of completing a 100 day play challenge with Adam as part of that promise. Emma has a section dedicated to HG friendly play activities so that Mums can still be part of their children’s play whilst they are ill.

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