Christmas Is Coming! An Advent Book: Crafts, Games, Recipes, Stories, and More!

by Chronicle Books, Katie Hickey (Illustrator)

Overview

Every day of December brings a delightful new Christmas tradition in this keepsake advent book. Each flap on the cover of the book reveals a clue to a festive activity that can be found inside the pages. It might be a recipe for a delicious homemade treat, instructions for a cozy craft, a game to play, a carol to sing, or a beautifully illustrated story to read with the whole family. This inviting twist on the traditional advent calendar is perfect for families who love to put their own spin on celebrating the holidays

• Offers fun-filled activity based advent calendar for families
• Designed to be shared together year after year
• Beautifully illustrated with accessible and stylish images

Fans of Once Upon a Magic Book and Cookie Advent Cookbook will love this book.

This book is perfect for:

• Anyone who celebrates Christmas
• Families who love holiday traditions
• Parents, grandparents, and gift givers

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452174075
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	10/15/2019
Pages:	72
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 10 Years

About the Author

Katie Hickey is an illustrator recently graduated from Falmouth University. She now divides her time between Cornwall and London.

Editorial Reviews

10/07/2019

The cover of this volume features advent windows that correspond with holiday crafts and other activities from the first of December through Christmas Eve. Corresponding spreads within the book reveal related activities for the Advent season. For the window that features an old-fashioned sleigh, the spread shows a lively “Seek & Find Snow Day” scene in which readers can find geese, a rooftop feline, and multiple sleds. Other projects include making seasonal treats, garlands, and “lunch bag luminarias.” One activity invites readers to “Spread Christmas Cheer” by creating a care package for a child in need, and additional advent days feature classic carols, a telling of The Nutcracker, and Christmas jokes. Kickey’s watercolor illustrations have a quaintly old-fashioned appearance; they feature diverse families taking part in the bustling activities, festive spot art, and characters from the traditional stories and songs. A hands-on approach to building holiday anticipation that keeps readers creatively engaged. Ages 5–10. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

A hands-on approach to building holiday anticipation that keeps readers creatively engaged.”— Publishers Weekly

“A front-cover advent calendar with die-cut flaps cues 24 seasonal activities for the run-up to Christmas… The illustrations, as cozy as the contents, offer festoons of evergreens and ornaments and depictions of tidy homes and small businesses nestled closely together in snowy landscapes; yummy treats; and wrapped gifts.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2019-09-29
A front-cover advent calendar with die-cut flaps cues 24 seasonal activities for the run-up to Christmas.

Between guidelines for a letter to Santa on Dec. 1 and the full text of " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Dec. 24, Hickey assembles a mix of amusements. These include games, recipes, luminarias and other crafts, jokes ("How does a sheep say ‘Merry Christmas'?" "Fleece Navidad!"), and songs—plus retold versions of "The Elves and the Shoemaker" and The Nutcracker. The illustrations, as cozy as the contents, offer festoons of evergreens and ornaments and depictions of tidy homes and small businesses nestled closely together in snowy landscapes; yummy treats; and wrapped gifts. Sweater-clad figures (both white and people of color) celebrate in various combinations before all coming together in a crowded living room to open presents on Christmas morning. Except for the occasional carol and hanging star, it's a secularized and nonsectarian view of the holiday season, but the values of sharing, giving, eating together, and otherwise valuing family and community all receive proper notice. With the exception of the luminarias, traditions depicted skew toward generic Western European/North American observances.

Safe—if unexceptional of content (and physically problematic in library settings). (Novelty anthology. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews