How to Make an Advent Book Calendar and Start a Family Reading Tradition

An advent book calendar is a stack of wrapped books, one opened and read each night of December until Christmas. It turns the countdown into a reading ritual, and it does not have to cost much.

What you need

To make an advent book calendar you need 24 books (or 25 if you count Christmas Day), something to wrap them in, and a way to number them. That's it.

• Books: picture books, chapter books, poems, or a single book split into daily readings.
• Wrapping: paper, fabric squares, reusable bags or envelopes.
• Numbers: tags or stickers numbered 1 to 24.
• A place: a basket, a shelf or a stack under the tree.

Step by step

1. Gather your books in November. Check your own shelves first, then fill gaps with used bookshops, book swaps and the library.
2. Plan the order. Put longer books on weekends and short ones on busy school nights. Save a special book for 24 December.
3. Wrap and number. Write the number and, if you like, a small activity on each tag.
4. Pick a time. Bedtime works for most families; consistency matters more than the hour.
5. Open, read, enjoy. Let a different child unwrap each night if you have more than one.
6. Keep a list. Note which books were hits, so next year is easier.

Using library books

Library books are a great way to keep an advent calendar affordable, but plan carefully.

• Check how many items you can borrow at once and the loan period; you may need two library trips.
• Christmas books are in high demand in December, so place holds early.
• Wrap library books in fabric, bags or envelopes rather than taping paper to them.
• Write due dates on a list and return them promptly so other families can enjoy them.

A sample 24-night list

All of these are real, widely available books. Swap freely based on your children's ages and what you already have.

Note that the winter solstice usually falls on 21 or 22 December; check the date for your year. For more titles, see our best Christmas picture books and winter books by age.

Finding 24 books without spending much

You do not need to buy a stack of new books. Most families build their calendar from several sources:

• Your own shelves: wrap last year's favourites; rediscovering them is half the fun.
• Book swaps: trade Christmas books with friends, neighbours or a school group each November.
• Used bookshops and thrift stores: holiday picture books turn up often, especially after the season ends, so shop in January for next year.
• Gifts from relatives: ask grandparents to give one book for the calendar instead of a toy.
• Non-book nights: a printed poem, a carol to sing or a letter "from the North Pole" can fill a gap.

Advent reading for older kids and adults

For older children, teens or adults, try one longer book read in daily portions:

• The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder has exactly 24 chapters, one for each day of Advent.
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has five staves; read one a night in the last week.
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (1972) is short and very funny for ages 8 and up.
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis has 17 chapters and fits nicely into December.

Making the tradition last

A family reading tradition lasts when it stays pleasant rather than becoming a chore. A few ideas that help:

• Keep it flexible. If you miss a night, read two the next day, or skip it. Nobody is keeping score.
• Repeat favourites. Children love rereading the same books each year; familiarity is part of the magic.
• Add a small ritual. The same blanket, a candle (safely placed), cocoa or a particular chair.
• Let kids choose sometimes. Ownership keeps them invested.
• Include everyone. Grandparents can read over video calls; older siblings can read to younger ones.
• Keep the books together. Store your Christmas books in one box so they come out again next November, like decorations.

Beyond December

An advent calendar is a great start to a year-round habit. Families in the North often keep reading through January and February, when nights are still long. Inspired by Iceland's book-giving custom? Read about Jólabókaflóð and other holiday reading traditions.