Holiday Book Ideas for Kid's Christmas Eve Baskets

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Candlewick Press.

 Something you want. Something you need. Something to wear. Something to read. This year may look different, but we can still hold on to some traditions. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is giving my children a Christmas Eve basket that is filled with fun things to do and fun holiday books to read. 


Christmas Eve Basket Ideas


I have been making these baskets since my son's first Christmas and it is a fun tradition that my children look forward to each year. I thought I would share some great ideas to fill your Christmas Eve basket if you would like to start this wonderful tradition.


Holiday Giveaway: Robobaby by David Wiesner, Three-Time Caldecott Medal Winner + robot building kit

I am so excited to share a new picture book from triple Caldecott winner David Wiesner: Robobaby. In this hilarious gem, it’s big sister to the rescue when a new baby is delivered to a family of robots and the adults are flummoxed by technical difficulties. 





About the Book: A new baby's arrival is a big moment in any family, even a family of robots. Award winner David Wiesner captures the excitement and fanfare when baby Flange appears—as a crate full of components. The adults bungle the process of assembling Flange, with catastrophic results. Big sister Cathy, with her handy toolbox and advanced knowledge of robotics and IT, hasn't been allowed to help, but in the ensuing chaos she calmly clears up the technical difficulties and bonds with her new baby brother. 

Robobaby is an eye-opening blend of the familiar and the fanciful that is laugh out loud funny. Gorgeously illustrated, it joyously celebrates girl ingenuity and maker culture in a fantastically fun way.

Gift Ideas for Curious Kids from Nat Geo Kids Books

This holiday season, National Geographic Kids Books has something for every kid who is curious about the world around them. From big, beautiful, gift-worthy books about the weird, wild and wonderful to stocking stuffers that are, well STUFFED with cool facts, these books are sure to be a big hit and will keep kids engaged long after the batteries have run out on this season’s "it" toy. Here is a bit more about these must-haves this holiday season: 




Encourage Imagination and Creative Play with Prestel Picture Books

Ready for another giveaway just in time for the holiday season? These titles are great to get kids' imagination and creative play flowing while they may be staying at home.

Cute Bored at Home Activities from Thunder Bay Press

As families head into another month of quarantine, here is a collection of books that drive creativity and learning while simultaneously giving parents a much-needed break. These are also great art activities for virtual or homeschool learning activities. But if you are venturing out, these could make great road trip activities to bring along as well.





Shark Week Giveaway from National Geographic

Whether your family is all about sinking their teeth into the amazing, jaw-dropping shows from the summertime pop culture phenomena of Shark Week and SharkFest or Baby Shark is more your speed (do-do-do-do-do!), National Geographic Kids Books is celebrating this majestic beast and its habitat with a fantastic shark-themed giveaway for all ages.




Chocked full of brilliant photos, exciting first hand accounts of shark encounters and weird, wild and fascinating facts, these books are perfect for STEM-related learning, fun summer reading, backseat boredom busting and the shark “fin”-atic! Here is a brief description of each title:

Summer Fun, Facts, and Fantastic Adventures from National Geographic

With homeschooling and quarantining, I have been trying to find more ways for my kids to enjoy stay at home life. They are saying now that we shall see a second spike soon even though things are starting to open up slowly, but regardless it is a great idea to keep little minds reading through out the summer months so they retain information. And what a better way than with book National Geographic! Check out these brain-boosting, boredom-busting titles and enter to win too!




Resource Used by St. Jude's Helps Kids Cope with Loss: The Memory Book and The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland

“For many, reading provides a place to go when we have to stay where we are. The Memory Box is just that. Suitable for those both young and old, this gift has a story to be told." – EveryStep Grief & Loss Services

I will always remember you...



Kindergarten teacher Joanna Rowland's best-selling The Memory Box: A Book about Grief has helped thousands of children and families work through the complex emotions that arise after the loss of a loved one, and has been used and recommended by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, EveryStep Grief & Loss Services' Amanda the Panda program, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, counselors, and more. The story of The Memory Box resonates with children suffering from loss, and grows in popularity year after year.

Blippi Easter Basket Giveaway

Easter this year is going to look different in our house for sure. Every year I usually host our Annual Easter Egg Hunt with mine and my husband's family and friends. But this year, I am going to focus on what I can control and that is the sugar content in my kiddos Easter baskets! My son fell in love with Blippi randomly on YouTube a few years ago, so I am excited to share this fun non-candy and educational Blippi Easter Basket Giveaway with you all.




In early 2014, Stevin John decided that the world needed Blippi after struggling to find educational videos for his three-year-old-nephew. So he took it upon himself to create the lovable and energetic character of "Blippi" to fill this void. Clad in orange and blue that jumps off the screen, Blippi's engaging personality and friendly demeanor attracted the attention of kids and parents alike. With over 20 MILLION YouTube subscribers and over 11 BILLION views to date, Blippi is helping to make education fun! Like the lyrics to his theme song say: “So much to learn about, it’ll make you want to shout: Blippi!”

This Spring, StudioFun is debuting four new Blippi books for pre-schoolers.:

Candyless Easter Basket Giveaway Featuring Prestel Junior’s All Around Bustletown Series

Since we are all stuck in doors and practicing safety by washing our hands thoroughly and practicing social distancing (if not quarantined altogether), I thought I would share a fun giveaway that features some nice books for the littles to keep them entertained or could make a fun Easter basket Stuffer!




Celebrating Women’s History Month The Nuff by Veronica Waldrop

A mother of two who only had weeks to live, Veronica Waldrop knew what she had to do – write an enduring message for her daughters, ages two and five, so that they might know truth, hope, and strength well beyond their mom’s fight with breast cancer. In support of International Women’s Day 2020 (March 8, 2020), Tailwind Publishing presents The Nuff, Waldrop’s heartwarming story written to inspire her daughters after she was gone and empower girls everywhere to be the bold and confident individuals they were born to be.




This children’s book about courage and self-discovery follows the adventures of the Nuff, a colorfully-illustrated unicorn with a broken horn that young readers will love. The Nuff reads books and rides bikes, dresses up and dances with a flower crown, and plays basketball and scuba dives. No matter what she does, the story reminds her that “when the world says you can’t and you should just give up....know you are brave and beautiful. You will always be a NUFF!”

Devotionals for Busy Mom Life

I have been attending church now with my kids since last March. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I stopped going when I met my husband years ago. They even mention sometimes that it can happen. He didn't go, so I stopped going. It was right, but that's what happened. And then I was scared to go by myself for so long. Why I have no idea. But then I did the "scary thing" and started back. I am so glad I made that decision for myself and family.




We have learned so much and it has helped me through so rough patches. I have anxiety and am stressed a lot, recently I have seen online that so many others mothers are too. So I thought I would share some devotionals that may help.  

Valentine's Book Ideas for Kids

I love sharing my joy of reading with my children and others. My favorite each season is celebrating the individual holidays and what is more fun than combining my passions? Here are Valentine's Book Ideas for Kids that you and your little reader are sure to enjoy together. This list is mainly for preschoolers and early readers, but my daughter has been enjoying some of these titles as well. Enjoy! Also you can scroll to the bottom to find some awesome free printable Valentine's too.


Valentine's Book Ideas for Kids

This list contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission while you still pay the same great price. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Celebrating Valentine's Day with National Geographic + Giveaway

If you have been following my blog for any amount of time, then you know we love books! Especially books from National Geographic. I was going through our books recently to hand some down to my niece (since they are just starting their collection) and I realized so many of the books held memories. And it made me smile. My sister-in-law is starting her daughter off on the right foot and creating a night time routine early that includes reading. A student who reads 20 minutes per day will be exposed to 1,800,000 per year and is more likely to score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests. So starting these healthy habits early is great for a child's development so they can grow a love of reading.



Make Valentine’s Day special for your little bookworms with three books about things kids LOVE - baby animals, music, and dinosaurs!

Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway Featuring Pavilion Children's Books

If you have been following us for any length of time, then you know we love reading in our home. I am a firm believer that my daughter was an early reader due to our nightly reading sessions. I will post a full post soon about tips to get your child to read soon, but in the mean time, I have this great giveaway from Pavilion Children's Book just in time for the holidays!

About Pavilion Books: "Pavilion Books is a thriving independent London-based publisher specialising in illustrated books for the UK and all international markets. We publish around 150 books a year under our range of established imprints; Batsford, Collins & Brown, National Trust, Pavilion, Pavilion Children’s, Pitkin and Portico. Our high-profile authors include Millie Marotta, Oz Clarke and Gennaro Contaldo and we specialise in managing brand-led publishing programmes with brands and organisations such as The National Trust, Good Housekeeping and Mollie Makes. At the core of our business are specialist lists such as craft, cookery, children’s and textile art."



Enjoy the Season with "The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection" + Giveaway

I received complimentary products to provide this post. All opinions are my own.

Invite the magic of Christmas into your home this winter with The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection. This spellbinding Christmas storybook and dazzling tree ornament set will inspire new traditions and pull readers, both young and old, into a world of holiday splendor. The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection includes an heirloom quality case bound hardback book, an ornament just like the one in the story, and a beautiful decorative package, perfect for making the gift of Christmas a lasting memory.




On Christmas Eve, Victoria’s father gathers her and her brothers, Joseph and John, around the fireplace to tell the story of a very special ornament that has hung on their tree for as long as they can remember. Their father found the ornament in a mysterious tree one snowy evening when he was seven years old, and brought it home. After hearing the story and going to bed, Victoria, Joseph, and John sneak back downstairs, and discover the ornament has magical powers! It whisks them away to the happiest place on Earth: Santa’s workshop!

SO CUTE! and SO COOL! Giveaway from National Geographic Kids

There are only a hand full of brands that I keep working with because I believe in them and National Geographic Kids is one of them. My kids love learning about animals and they keep coming out with unique books that are enjoyed by everyone in our house.


National Geographic Kids Books is rolling out a brand new series of picture books that are perfect for kids ages 3-7 (preschool - 2nd grade). To celebrate the release of the first two books in their So Cool! So Cute! series National Geographic is giving away a very huggable prize pack: a hardcover copy of So Cool! Sharks, a hardcover copy of So Cute! Pandas AND adorable shark and panda plushes. 

Encouraging Supplemental Help at Home with TinkerActive Workbooks

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

My son started Kindergarten this year and to be honest, I was worried he would be starting the school year behind. Although I tried to work with him this summer to catch him up, we were so busy that sometimes we didn't have the time. We didn't confirm that he needed glasses until this past January so I know that has played a factor into what he learned. I want him to excel and feel confident in his abilities. My son has the type of personality where if something isn't "his idea" and fun, then he doesn't want to do it. So when I was sent the TinkerActive Workbooks through MomsMeet, I was excited to see how they could help him.


TinkerActive Workbooks are designed to build your child’s fundamental math and science skills while inspiring them to try new things, discover new skills, and imagine new possibilities. Vetted by award-winning educators and aligned to Common Core State Standards, they are an excellent supplement to schoolwork or at-home study. Packed with curriculum-based exercises designed for all learners (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), TinkerActive Workbooks are a surefire way to encourage your child’s love of learning.

Summer Reading with The Big Book Adventure and Canterbury Illustrated Classics

With my son going into kindergarten and my daughter going into third grade (but reading on a fourth-grade level already), I want to keep this momentum going. So, we have been reading all summer long! If you take a look at my Summer Bucket List Ideas, it included completing a reading log.



So, I searched the web and found this printable reading log that we have been using. And the kids are earning their rewards. Y'all let me know in the comments what some good reading log reward ideas are. Maybe something from my Spectacular Summer Toy Guide? Anyways, we were sent a wonderful book from Silver Dolphin that is great for summer reading and a new spin on some awesome classics!

Summer on the Go with Nat Geo Kids Almanac 2020

This is our last week of school and we are out for summer! Woo hoo! Who else is excited for summer? This girl! We love living in the pool all season long. But since I worry about my children suffering from "summer slide", we make sure to find fun ways to educate our children.


If you have been following me for any amount of time, then you know we love National Geographic. And I am excited to share about their new 2020 Almanac. This is the 10th Anniversary edition which makes if even more exciting!