Purpose of this Blog...

You may have noticed that not all books are equal in capturing children's imaginations and in cultivating those innocent, tender souls. My goal is to help you find the ones that do!
(Painting by Mary Cassatt: "Mrs Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren" -1888)




Thursday, November 29, 2012

Christmas Cards: Little Blessings in My Mailbox, and a Giveaway for YOU!

Sending and receiving Christmas cards is one of my favorite holiday traditions. So I'm super excited to announce that I have partnered with a Mystery Guest Artist who has offered some of her lovely Christmas postcards for my DECEMBER GIVEAWAY! Make sure you check back here tomorrow, when I'll reveal my Mystery Guest and the Giveaway details!
sourcce: Wikimedia Commons
Do you still send out Christmas cards? With the cost of postage constantly rising, as well as e-cards becoming more popular, I've wondered how long the tradition of sending and receiving Christmas cards will hold out. Each greeting - a reminder of friends and family near and far - is like a little Christmas blessing that shows up in my mailbox, and eventually goes on display somewhere in my home.
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Who delivers the cards?  Why the Jolly Postman of course! Read all about this fun Christmas book for children here, on my past post (you'll also find some Christmas-card-making-activities)...

This clever idea of wrapping gifts to look like postal packages for your kids - which I found on Pinterest - reminded me of a unique Christmas book by J.R.R. Tolkien...
source - right click for how-to
Letters from Father Christmas is a compilation of letters received by Tolkien's children every December from 1920 - 1943. Tolkien, as Father Christmas, wrote the letters, which were accompanied by humorous illustrations (also drawn by Tolkien). Read more...


When I saw these cute vintage postcard-inspired Christmas plates from Williams-Sonoma, I was reminded of another wonderful Christmas picture book ...
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Aunt Olga's Christmas Postcards, by Kevin Major, which was one of my favorite Christmas book finds last year, even comes with a vintage postcard for your child!
  

Aunt Olga (who happens to be 95-years-young) takes advantage of a holiday visit from her favorite niece, Anna, to share her antique postcard collection and the memories that come with it - she received her first card from her brother when he was a soldier during World War I.  All decked out in red, Aunt Olga is ready for fun as she teaches Anna how to write her very own Christmas rhymes.  We, as readers, get to delight in Aunt Olga's collection too!  Written with warmth and slightly quirky humor, this unique story shows how sweet and loving a relationship can be between a youngster and an oldster.

I hope you go out and get some of these whimsical holiday books this December - you can find more recommendations here, on my Christmas Book Resource Page.  Did I miss any of your favorites? Remember to stop by my blog tomorrow and read about my Mystery Guest and her lovely artwork for my GIVEAWAY on December 1st!

7 comments:

  1. I really want to get a copy of the Tolkien book! That looks wonderful.

    We still send out Christmas cards every year, but they are photo cards, basically so that relatives can have a picture of our kids/family. Nothing very fancy at all.

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    1. There are several different editions available, Michelle, so search carefully for the one that your family will like best.

      Regarding the cards - I think most people appreciate it when we take the time to send anything (and of course relatives and close friends love seeing family faces!) There are lots of cute photo card choices out there these days.

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  2. How lovely. I also wonder about the sending of Christmas cards, which I've always loved to do. But young people mainly send picture cards, so the old-fashioned card may be on its way out.

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    1. We'll see - the stores still seem to have LOTS of boxes of cards - so I haven't given up all hope yet. When we send family pictures, I generally try to put them in with a card; but photo cards are definitely more economical then doing both a photo and a card, so I can see why many families opt for that - the smiling faces in my mail box are a blessing too! :)

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  3. ooooh, well, I know I will be back tomorrow! ;) I love getting and sending cards! There's just something so special about receiving a card in the mail. It always gives me a thrill when I see a handwritten envelope addressed to me in the mailbox! I hope it never goes out of fashion.

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  4. ooh, I have a vintage postcard collection I've not shared yet with my kids... maybe I should get this book now and get the postcards out of the loft!

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    1. Please blog about it if you do! :) The book is so unique - you'll love it.

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