8 Picture Perfect Books for Week 3 of Advent

Happy Second Week of Advent!

I pray you've been having a prayerful, penitential, and peppered-with-joy time preparing for Jesus!

Here, we've been blending our regular somewhat crazy daily life - lessons, work, chores, commitments, etc. - with Advent traditions as we prepare hearts and homes for Christ.

A daily - or rather, nightly - staple of our Advent this year has been reinstituting together time as a wind down for bedtime. 

As my children have grown older and our schedules a bit crazier, it has been easy to slip into a pattern of each of us going in our own directions at night, spending little intentional time together. That was not sitting well with me, and one of my children was missing read aloud time, so, I decided Advent is a perfect time to rehabitualize together time.

The decision has been fruitful! 

With great thanks to having pre-decided our Week One Works of Mercy Wisemen books and prompts, hung our Advent Chain, decided which Ytreetide book we would read this year, prepared our Advent Wreath, found our St. Andrew Novena bookmarks, and picked out a branch for our Jesse Tree to stand above a box of our Jesse Tree ornaments, my children and I have come together each night to pray, read, chat, and focus on the season and time together.

(Sometimes with some gift creation going on while I read.)

I love it!

So, to help me keep facilitating such cozy evening times, today, I am making sure I have our Week Three picture books on hand or ordered from the library, and - in case you have been appreciating inspiration from our picks and prompts - am sharing the next installment here.

Enjoy!

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December 12

3rd Sunday of Advent 
(the day we often pick out our tree)

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect

or

The Pine Tree Parable

Christmas trees, people, life... None of these is perfect. However, when we let our Lord work in us and through us, things can get closer to perfection. Today, think about a person or situation begging for betterment. What might YOU do to help?

December 13

Feast of St. Lucy

(a night when we typically take a ride or walk to go see Christmas lights)

Lucia Morning in Sweden

Christmas is nearing! In some homes "Lucy" greeted others with light and treats. All around us, we are seeing more literal lights shining from homes and storefronts. How might we be figurative lights to those around us? Think... and act!

December 14

Feast of St. John of the Cross

The Three Gifts of Christmas

St. John of the Cross, whose feast day is today, once said, "In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have loved." How much have you been loving this Advent? Who could use a little more love? Like the princess in today's story, might you recognize someone who needs something you have more than you do and, out of love, share?

December 14

(when I hope we'll pick our Chriskindl and begin our Giving Manger if we have not)

Marta and the Manger Straw

Christmas is getting closer and closer. What small acts of kindness can you commit today, tomorrow, and right up untilChristmas? 

December 15

The Small One

The boy protected his donkey by ensuring he was placed with kind owners even when the boy was forced to sell him. Might we part with something to gift forward to a good new home today?

December 16

The Christmas Coat

What a gift things we no longer want or need can be to others! What shall we let go of today to bless another?

December 17

The Littlest Angel

The Littlest Angel gifted his precious little item.What precious little item do we have to gift forward?

May you be blessed with some quiet, cozy together times as you prepare hearts and home for Christ, too.

I'd love to hear what seasonal picture books and Advent tradtions, customs, and activities you've been enjoying.

***

Find book and audio selections for all four weeks of Advent by clicking throgh each image below

Get These 8 Books Ready for the 2nd Week of Advent

Happy first day of Advent!

I pray it's been a wonderfully blessed day for you.

Here, we did not partake in all of our Happy New Liturgical Year family traditions, but we did enjoy some of them.

Early this morning, I found our Works of Mercy Wisemen, our Jesse Tree ornaments, and some favorite Advent books and palced them in a corner of the living room where they will be ready for bedtime reading and ornament hanging by the Advent wreath tonight.

Then, before Mass, my youngest pulled down the first link of our Advent chain and, together, our family focused on what it suggested.

After Mass, we partook in the extra blessings of meeting our new pastor and spending hours chatting, eating, and playing with fellow parishioners.

Thenm, as day turned to night, my children and I also went on our first day (okay, early evening) of Advent nature walk to pick out a branch for our Jesse tree and some greenery for our Advent wreath.

Around the aforementioned activities, instead of coming together for a Happy New Liturgical Year meal, game, and celebration as a family, we each naturally retreated to different quiet spots for personal downtime. (There's been a lot of busyness and some bumps in life lately, and so some quiet personal time seemed best today.)

During part of my quiet time, I decided which picture books I want to have on the ready for our second week of Advent Works of Mercy Wisemen tradition and - hoping they will come in on time - ordered the ones we do not have in our personal collection from our library website.

{Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.}

If you'd like to do the same, here's my list:

December 5

2nd Sunday of Advent 
(a day we try to fit cookie making into)

The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale

Have we been stingy with our gifts? What Work of Mercy might we act upon today while being generous with our gifts?

or

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth

Is there a way we might instruct the ignorant, feed the hungry, or both, much like the characters in this book?

December 6

Feast of St. Nicholas

(a day we typically go in a field trip to do charitable works for the poor)

The Miracle of Saint Nicholas

What a beautiful story of people coming together to give what they have so that love, joy, and devotion may prevail. How might you come together with others today to live a Work of Mercy?

December 7

Feast of St. Ambrose

The Christmas Candle

"If we will see things as they truly are, we will find that all, from great to small, belong to one family. And this truth, known from the beginning of time, is perhaps seen best in the joyous illumination of Christmas." Is there someone who could use your help?

December 8

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(and a birthday here)

The Donkey's Dream

There are so many beautiful and symbolic images connected to Our Lady. Which one speaks to you?Is there someone who could use a little extra grace and intercession today? Perhaps we could pray to Our Lady for that person.

December 9

Feast of St. Juan Diego

Talking Eagle and the Lady of Roses: The Story of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe

St. Juan Diego - a man of simplicity, humility, obedience, and love of others - can act as an example to us. As you read his story, who or what came to mind? Is there a person you feel prompted to reach out to? An issue you sense needs attention? What can you do about that today?

December 10

The Gift of Saint Nicholas

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is company. Other times, it is lending a hand? Who might need encouragement, a visit, or a hand?

December 11

 

An Orange for Frankie

Is there a family member or stranger that could use your help? What might you sacrifice today for the good of another?

I'd love to hear what seasonal picture books and Advent activities you've been enjoying.

May you continue to live this liturgical season in joyful anticipation.

***

Find book and audio selections for all four weeks of Advent by clicking throgh each image below