ISBN: 9781936746576
Paperback, 41 pages
Publisher: Crosslink Publishing
About the book: Is the message of Christmas lost in the commercialization and hectic pace? Can we celebrate with intentional purpose? Using devotions and activities, Seeking Christmas gives your family an experience to pass down for generations to come.
About the author: Renee Robinson lives with her family in Charlotte, NC, where she inspires others through her writing on topics of faith, family, and helping those in need. To find out more visit http://www.renee-robinson.com
About the illustrator: Veronica Hallum is a mother to two children and is married to her biggest fan and supporter. She regularly paints commissions consisting of children's art, animals, landscapes, and various other themes. For more information visit http://www.artandsoulbyvero.com
My thoughts:
This is a very small book. The setup is very simple and made to be easy to implement. The idea is to use this for seven days before Christmas. Or two weeks before by doing a day here and there as time permits. Another suggestion is to do it for four Sundays before Christmas by doing more than one day each Sunday.
What to do each day? Each day has the same 'routine', but you can modify it to suit your family of course. At Renee's website, she offers free downloads that include a journal and ornament activity. Each day has sections titled Remember, Read, Reflect, Rejoice, and Research. Remember and Rejoice are listed as 'For adults' meaning that it isn't necessarily something to read out loud but to give the adults an idea on what to talk with the kids about. Read is for everyone because they are Bible passages pertaining to Christ. Some include Matthew, Luke, Isaiah and 1 John, and she suggests other passages for older children. Reflect is for everyone, to be read out loud, but also there are questions for age groups 9 and under, 10-14, and 15+. Some questions: Why did the angel visit? (9 and under, day 4), According to Gabriel, why did God choose Mary? (10-14, day one), and Which prophecies were fulfilled in these passages? (15+, day six). Research gives some background information on customs and traditions surrounding Christmas.
I had hoped that when the book arrived it would spur us to start making some traditions surrounding Christmas. I grew up in a family that didn't always celebrate the Christmas holiday and when we did it was commercialized. With my own family I've tried to keep some traditions going that my husband's family had, but we've not always been successful. We generally have a very low-key holiday.
The book has some good points to it but it is also very simple and easy to brush off. We traveled this year for the holidays {not a usual for us} so the book did not get used as I'd hoped. Also, I could not find how to get the journal that she talks about in the book. I was able to get the ornament downloads but we make out own ornaments every year so we didn't use this resource. The Research section is interesting to me because there are statements made, albeit not definitive, that do not show a source. I like to have sources for statements, especially for history. I like to check the 'facts'. And finally, I have two teenagers so the book really can only be 'used' one or two years. I can see how a family with younger children could use it each year and make it tradition. I think it would be fun and enriching for them.
I received the above reviewed book for free from BookCrash for the purpose of this review. No compensation was given. All opinions are my own.
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