25 Days of the Christmas Story: An Advent Family Experience

by Josh Straub, Christi Straub, Jane Butler (Illustrator)

This December, spend a few moments of each day leading up to Christmas helping your family focus on the true joys and meaning of Advent with 25 Days of the Christmas An Advent Family Experience. This is a devotional perfect for families of all shapes, sizes, and schedules. Each of the 25 days highlights a different person, place, or object from the Christmas story—from the prophet Isaiah to Baby Jesus, from the Christmas star to the gift of frankincense. All devotions include an easy-to-read story, character trait, activity, and more—each designed to reinforce the main theme of the day.
 
Your family can choose simply to read each day’s story or to go deeper and engage with each day’s features. Either way, parents and children are sure to learn and celebrate the season of Advent together while having fun in the process!
 
A true heirloom in the making, the book includes pages in the back where parents and kids can record memories of each day’s activities and write journal entries to look back on year after year, Christmas after Christmas.
 
Also What Am I Feeling?

Genres: Parenting, Childrens, Christmas

128 pages, Hardcover

Published October 13, 2020

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

25 days of the Christmas Story is a devotional book for children and families to share on the run up to Christmas.
Each day there is a short story about a character from the Christmas Story and then a question and an activity to do together as a family.
This book is great for children and parents/carers alike and could even be adapted to use in a school daily, as part of a short session on the run up to Christmas.
The illustrations are cute and engaging and help focus the child on the story, information and discussion of each daily question and activity.
This book is great for spending meaningful and quality time with your loved ones and could be a great tradition to take up each Christmas as a family.

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful book for this holiday season from a Judeo-Christian standpoint. Great to use as a countdown tool to the big day. If you are a secular person this book may not be for you but it can still be interesting. Otherwise, it is a great book to reference again and again during the Christmas season with activities and moments of reflection with your entire family.

*Thanks to B&H Publishing Group and NetGalley for this Ebook in exchange for my honest review

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For 25 days, you and your family will grow closer to each other in community as you discover the reason for the season. Each day begins with a character trait and character that is part of the Christmas story starting with Isaiah. A small reading on the character trait and how it relates and a life lesson. The next part is a family activity that you do together for all ages with a question to start a conversation.

I was surprised with what I learned and I can see very special times being made with your family. Community starts with family and this book is a great resource on that. Highly recommend and will be gifting this to my daughters and their families.

A special thank you to B&H Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest reaview.

[Dana Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

25 Days of the Christmas Story by Josh Strasburg and Christi Strasburg is cute religious book for children and families about Christmas. I think even if you were not religious you would enjoy the book. I found the activities very enjoyable and interesting. Children can draw and color counting down the 25 days of Christmas. I hope to someday do this book with my youngest grandchild one is almost eight months old and maybe with my 9 year old grandson would enjoy the book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm at a place in my life where I'm saturated with these types of resources around Christmas-time, and honestly, I'm a sucker for trying all of them. But here's what I love about this one. First, I'll state I'm a bit biased, because Josh was an adjunct professor in one of my psychology classes in college, and I've followed him and his wife's work since. But second of all, I love this resource because of its simplicity. It's thorough enough to not be a waste of money, with readings, scripture, questions, and an occasional family activity, yet not excessive in length each day. As a homeschooling mama who's always looking into resources like this, I highly recommend.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and B&H Kids for a free digital copy for my review.

Each day is a Bible character or element, an explanation of how they or it relates to the Christmas story, and questions and an activity to do with that reading. A great devotional for your family to do with small children during advent.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be an uneven book. There was much I liked including the various Family Time questions and activities. I give kudos to the authors for explaining that the manger was likely in a room attached to the home of some of Joseph's relatives, challenging the wrong picture we have of a harried innkeeper turning away Mary and Joseph. However, I had a problem with the character traits listed. First, I think they are unnecessary; the activities and questions subtly weave these into the book. Also, it seemed strange to have character qualities associated with inanimate objects like Bethlehem or the three gifts brought by the Magi. I was also confused by the purpose of the character traits. Initially I thought they were positive, to be emulated. However, the quality for King Herod is jealous - definitely not a desired trait. While I appreciate that the authors encouraged flexibility in how families use the book, I think it would have benefited with a bit more explanation for adults. Still, this is definitely a book that will work well for some families.

[Karen McG · Rating 5 out of 5]

25 Days of the Christmas Story is an enjoyable Advent activity for families. This book is a reminder of what the season is about. The text speaks to children in a way they can understand, but also is a great refresher for parents. A perfect gift for families with children of any age.
Each day includes activities to do as a family. Character traits show children how God makes and uses us all differently. A Life Lesson after each story is a simple takeaway for children to recall the story. Each day is linked to the Christmas story. The illustrations are adorable and eye-catching.
The stories will keep a child’s interest while also reminding them of God’s love for us. This is a perfect tradition starter and learning tool. Best of all, it is done together as a family as they celebrate the birth of Jesus.
( I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. Thank you B&H Publishing Group! )
#25DaysoftheChristmasStory
#NetGalley
#B&HKids

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

25 Days of the Christmas Story is an awesome book for families to learn from and make memories during the Advent Season. Starting December 1, each day until CHRISTmas, families will learn about a different aspect of the CHRISTmas Story. The book is set up as a devotional. At the end of each devotion, there are thought provoking questions and an activity for the entire family to do. There are also blank lined pages in the book so that the parents can record the memories that were made during the season and what they learned as a family. The devotional can be used every year. The pictures in the book were lovely and to the point. loved the entire devotional from beginning to end and I am recommending this book to my friends and family! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book via NetGalley for my honest review.

As a family (I have a 4.5 yr old daughter) have been working our way through this book for the past 21 days. It's amazing! I have only been going to church for a year and have so much to learn still, along with feeling overwhelmed about how to introduce it my family. This is an outstanding book, that gives you just the right about of information a day while also doing something interactive/ learning so kids can more relate to the story. I am definitely going to be purchasing this in book form (I have the ebook copy) and giving it as gifts next year.

[Anni Welborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, bite-sized retelling of the Gospel, starting with important characters in the Old Testament. I loved how accessible this Advent devo is. A busy parent could easily do this with children as young as 3 up to high school with added discussion time. The activities were simple and yet significant. Diverse skin tones, Biblical content. Excellent overall.

There were some formatting issues with the ARC digital version, but I assume the publisher will get those straightened out.

I gratefully received a free ARC digital copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion.

[Reyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy to read this kind of books with my daughter, the illustration is absolutely lovely, I liked the topics the life lessons and activities proposed by the authors. It is easy to read and follow. I think this could be a lovely gift for grandchildren or parents who have never had advent experiences, you can feel relaxed and confident following their guidance. I hope you don´t rush that much and enjoy the meaning of Christmas while enjoying these pages. My daughter is 10 and she still thinks this book is cute.

[StylesPlenty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to review 25 Days of the Christmas Story from Netgalley and B&H Publishing Group (B&H Books, Holman Bibles, B&H Español, and B&H Kids) for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an enjoyable Advent activity. Each daily activity shows children how God makes and uses us all in different ways. Each day is linked to a Christmas life lesson.
The book is a reminder for us to slow down and reflect what is the real meaning of holidays and Christmas.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that compiled 25 figures that surround Christmas. From Isaiah, David, then Jesus, also the components of His birth: stars, myrrh, frankincense, and things that we might overlook in the Christmas story. The author explained simply the role of each character to build a story that connects to each other, to show how important she/he/it is. And more importantly, how God plans everything to be put into place.

[Sarah Poling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is unique in that every day you have a different person involved in the birth of Christ. The pictures are warm and friendly, and it will stretch your thinking and build biblical connections as you connect all the prophecies and the narrative in the New Testament just by learning about who was a part of Jesus birth.

There is a family question for discussion with each day.

[Denise :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent devotional for Advent, for families with children. It walks through all of the people, places and elements connected to the Christmas story, was interactive, and provides lots of great information and activities, plus resources for parents.

[Denisa Ostas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book you can use for advent in your family. Very nicely structured in stories with question and activities. I enjoyed this familial approach to celebrate christmas.