countdown to Christmas: advent calendar roundup and Christmas book list

I know, I know, the countdown started five days ago.  Yes?  But with all the decorating, the re-organizing of my studio to fit a new serger machine and the daily goings, well we haven't started our countdown just yet.  Not until today!  So let's pretend today is #1, shall we? (Okay,  you we can start with #5. )

In case you've not started your countdown either here  is a small round up of some easy advent calendars you can whip up in one, two, three!:

How about...Pretty paper bags, felt envelopes, frame it, pyramids, cone forest, simple envelopes, fridge magnets, on the door, box it up.  You can find more in my Pinterest Advent Calendar Board.

Not sure if you like any of those.  Well then, how about making one of my past advent calendars?

You can find the tutorial here. 

This is the calendar I made last year, which for some odd reason I did not blog about.  I got the idea from one I saw in the Goosenberry Patch Christmas 2010 magazine.  But instead of using peppermints like they did, I decided to add a small scroll of paper with a book written in each one.  The kids loved it so much they asked for it back this year.  Ah yes, make mami's life much easier my sweet ones.  

Wondering what books we are using for our advent calendar this year?

(this photo is of our book basket last year)

1. How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

2. The Legend Of The Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola

3. You Can Do It Sam by Amy Hest

4. Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini

5. What Star Is This? by Joseph Slate (We also like to read this on Jan. 6th for the Three Wise Men Latin American celebration.)

6. Oliver's Red Toboggan by Paul Korteper

7. If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff

8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem: A Pageant Of Lights by David Mead

9. Noah's Mittens by Lise Lunge-Larsen

10. One Winter's Night by Leo & Diane Dillan

11. Que Monton De Tamales by Gary Soto

12. The Twelve Day's Of Christmas by Hillary Knight and/or The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jack Kent (this was mine when I was little.)

13. The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers

14. You Are My Miracle by Maryann Cusimano & Santomi Ichikawa

15. Merry Christmas Curious George by Margret & H.A. Rey

16. Nine Days To Christmas by Marie Hall ETS & Aurora Labastida

17. The Night Of The Posadas by Maria Dolores Campazano Valiente

18. Christmas Magic by Michael Garland

19. The Mitten by Jan Brett

20. Cricket At The Manger by Edith Hope Fine

21. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz

22. The Gift Of Nothing by Patric McDonnell

23. The Story Of Christmas by Patricia A. Pingry

24. The Night Before Christmas by Tom Browning

You can find all the Amazon links to this list here. Or by clicking on the tab Books We Love below the blog banner (above.)

Do you have any other books you recommend?  

Now let's officially start that countdown! (kay?)