Scattered Seed Books

Tag: tradition

  • A New Christmas Tradition, Part 3

    A New Christmas Tradition, Part 3

    Welcome!   If you are just joining us, we are on day three of discussing Christmas books for children. You can find the links to those days here.
    For almost 30 years, I have been reading books to children. Many of them have been fantastic, while others bored either me, or the children. I have noticed that the books I read to them are becoming less complex. The words have become easier. The plot is less climactic. That being said, be sure to preview any of the books I’ve featured before you incorporate them into your tradition.

    A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest. CS Lewis


     Reading is such a fantastic exercise for your brain. I am a huge advocate of reading books to children that are above their “reading level”. I believe it helps to increase their vocabulary, leading to better comprehension and reading confidence.  

       These next books are sure not to disappoint.

    These first two books were written by one of my favorite children’s book authors. Patricia Polacco grew up with dyslexia. You can find out more about that here. Most of her stories come from her childhood. These books are rich in illustrations, and she is gifted in storytelling. I enjoy them as much as the kids.

    Until we stumbled upon this book, I had no idea this was an actual event. Hope literally falls from the sky into war-torn Berlin. This book is sweet, in more ways than one.

    We love the Cranberry books!  They are always fun, with a bit of an unexpected ending. This one involves a Christmas time fight over an ice-skating pond. Be sure to check out the recipe at the end.

    Well, that’s it!  I hope you’ve enjoyed a peak at what’s under our tree.  As I type this, just two books remain unwrapped. Be sure to leave me a comment if you have a favorite Christmas book I didn’t mention. There’s always room for another book.


  • A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2

    A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2

    Hello, again!  

      Before we take a look at additional books we used this year in our Christmas Advent tradition, I feel like we should talk about reading to children.

      But first, a word about screen time.  With only a few days remaining until all that Christmas joy gets unpacked, and a to-do list that gets longer by the second, screens have been our constant companion lately.  As I type, we are knee deep in a day long movie marathon, complete with phones and tablets. There have been video games, texts, and books.  There should always be books.

      According to this study, the Nations Report Card found a decline in the national average for reading.  In some cases, that drop was as much as 2 points.  Now, that might not seem so bad, unless you factor in the near 3 point decline in the years before.

      In another study, referenced here, we see a correlation between screen time and the decrease in what they are calling “reading stamina”. That article highlights how a deeper, slower connection needs to be made between the brain and the words on the page, in order to understand what is being read. While  Ohio State University, found a large discrepancy between children who were read to and those who were not.

    Here are a few we’ve unwrapped lately.

    One of my boys, loves this movie, but some in the family feel it’s a little much. The book though, is just right. Ours even comes with a free, downloadable reading done by a famous actor, complete with sound effects.

    Of course, no Christmas book list would be complete without this timeless poem. This version happens to be our favorite. The illustrations switch between simple and beautiful, to stunning, full page, colorful spreads.

    Another Christmas classic, and one of my personal favorites! When my girls were younger, and we would watch this online, we would jokingly say that one did not simply watch The Nutcracker. Complete with tutus, crowns, and even a Nutcracker Doll, this always became an interactive event for 3 little girls in our house.

    That’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with a few more of our favorites.

    If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. But! Be sure to subscribe and receive posts delivered straight to your inbox. It’s not as fun as the way Santa delivers things, but its close.

    In the meantime, remember, there should always be books, and tutus, and movies, and twinkly lights, and dancing, and…..

  • A New Christmas Tradition, part 1

    A New Christmas Tradition, part 1

    Welcome to Scattered Seed Books!

    Before I tell you about my own children’s book, due out this spring, I’d like to introduce you to a few of our favorite Christmas books.  

    A few years ago, while looking for a new way to mark the days until Christmas, I came across a fun tradition involving books.  In this unconventional advent calendar, you wrap up 25 Christmas books.  Each day a child unwraps a book, until that last book is opened on Christmas.  

    We have really enjoyed this tradition, and I thought this was a great opportunity to show you a few books we use.

    This book is beautiful! In this book, we follow a Queen on her hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. She sets out with a certain type of tree in mind, but her idea of what perfect is changes throughout the book.

    In 1914, during World War 1, even the soldiers find a way to generate a little peace during Christmas. For just a brief moment in time, enemies become friends, in a hostile place.

    This is such a sweet story about joy in the midst of loss. A young boy befriends a grieving widower and together they carve out companionship that they both didn’t know they needed. Come to find out, there is also a movie!

    The illustrations in this book are stunning. The book itself is a very easy read about who exactly ended up in that stable so long ago. I always enjoy when this book is unwrapped.

    What I like about this book is that it’s heartwarming and true! Not only does it tell you the true meaning of Christmas, but it does it in a bit of a different way. This book will not only remind you of what Christmas is all about, but it might even inspire you.

    Of course, before you add these to your tradition, be sure to screen them for your family.

    I’ll be back in a few days with additional books, but until then, I’d love to connect with you about your favorite Christmas books.

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    3 responses to “A New Christmas Tradition, part 1”

    1. A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2 – Scattered Seed Books Avatar
      A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2 – Scattered Seed Books

      […] you missed Part 1, you can find it here. But! Be sure to subscribe and receive posts delivered straight to your inbox. It’s not as fun […]

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    2. Annmarie Avatar
      Annmarie

      what a special way to promote great books

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      1. Jenn Avatar
        Jenn

        Thanks Annmarie!

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