Zz is for "Zzzzzzzzzz"

Once upon a time I discovered a Christmas Alphabet Book at the library called "Not Enough Beds!" by Lisa Bullard. It was the same year (2001) we had so many people sleeping over at our house on Christmas Eve that Aunt Betsy and Aunt Hayley had to sleep on a pile of quilts, blankets and sleeping bags on the cold basement floor. We also had a Zachary sleeping in our house that night just like the last page of this book. Fortunately no one had to sleep in the bathtub, but whenever I read this story it reminds me of that wonderful Christmas Eve. I hope you're able to get enough zzzzzzzz's tonight wherever you may be sleeping.

Merry Christmas zzzzzzzz's to all

and to all a good night!

Love, Grandma

Yy is for Yule

"Yule" is another name for Christmas. You can read "Peter Spier's Christmas!" all by yourself because it has no words! His many pictures (from the beginning to the end of the Christmas season) are worth more than a thousand words. And just out of curiosity, are your "yule" alpha-trees looking anything like this?

Merry day before the day before you know what!

Love, Grandma

Xx is for eXcited

Look how empty my book basket has become . . . and look how high the stack of Christmas picture books from our countdown has grown. You know what that means . . . Christmas is very close! Only three books (days) away! Make that two after today! Are you getting eXcited! I was sure eXcited a few Decembers ago when I discovered the cutest Christmas alphabet book ever: "Mary Engelbreit's A Merry Little Christmas". I believe you all own this book, so why not look at it today . . . see what "X" is for in this book . . . and try not to drive your Moms crazy with all your eXtra pre-Christmas eXcitement.

Merry "be eXtra good today" day!

Love, Grandma

Ww is for Willowby

"Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree" is the cutest story ever about a too tall tree and what Mr. Willowby decides to do about it. But, I believe Jack's tree decorated with super heroes is the cutest little tree ever . . . even cuter than Miss Adelaide's tree and Timm's tree and Barnaby Bear's tree and Frisky Fox's tree and Benjamin Rabbit's tree and Mistletoe Mouse's tiny tip of a Christmas tree. I'm sure you all love the Christmas trees at your house just as much so why not have a slumber party under the tree tonight.

Merry sleeping under your wonderful tree!

Love, Grandma

Vv is for Virginia

"Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" was a brand new animated special on TV last December. This December it was a brand new picture book. Both on based on the true story of a little girl named Virginia who wrote a letter to the newspaper asking if there is a Santa Claus. Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Have a very merry Monday!

Love, Grandma

Uu is for Up

Have you hung up your Christmas stocking yet? Santa will be coming soon! And how does Santa know when to come? According to a brand new book called "The Christmas Magic", Santa knows Christmas is nearly here when he looks up at the sky and the stars shine brightest.

Merry six days until Christmas!

Love, Grandma

Tt is for 'Twas

About three Christmases ago Zach wrote and illustrated

his own version of "The Night Before Christmas" . . .

that famous poem that goes:

" 'Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse . . ."

There are many other versions of this beloved poem like " 'Twas the Fright Before Christmas" in a haunted house . . . or "The Care Bears' Night Before Christmas". If you want to know the true story of how Clement Clarke Moore wrote this classic as a surprise for his children, read " 'Twas the Day Before Christmas".

Merry 'Twas the week before Christmas!

Love, Grandma

Ss is for Snowman

"Once there was a snowman

snowman

snowman

Once there was a snowman

tall . . . tall . . . tall!"

Have you built a snowman yet this year? Probably not, since we haven't had much snow yet up north; and you never get enough snow for snowmen down south do you? So sing about one instead . . . or read a snowman book. Did you know that snowmen celebrate Christmas? They do . . . while you're sleeping. Find out how in the book "Snowmen at Christmas"!

And then dream about a white Christmas tonight.

Merry sweet dreams tonight!

Love, Grandma

Rr is for Russell

I learned something new yesterday while watching cartoons with Brody and Eddy. There are some pretty cute sheep on TV--like Shaun the Sheep and Timmy. But I think Russell is the cutest sheep . . . or at least he has the cutest sidekick--his frog friend. And he's possibly the smartest sheep, too, as you would know if you have read your new Christmas book, "Russell's Christmas Magic". If you liked that book, you might also like the book "Russell the Sheep" where Russell figures out how to fall asleep one night.

Merry restful nine nights before Christmas!

Love, Grandma

Qq is for Queen

Once upon a time there was a girl who loved Christmas so much she made very long lists so she wouldn't miss any of the wonderful things that happen around Christmastime. Each day as she counted down the days until Christmas, she would think of more things to add to the list. The little girl is Ann Estelle in the "Queen of Christmas" by Mary Engelbreit, but she sounds a little bit like someone else you might know.

Merry Wednesday!

Love, another Queen of Christmas

Pp is for Polar Express

One morning this summer I rode a train in Alaska. Because it was so early, we went down to the dining car and ate breakfast. When the waiter brought us some hot chocolate, I thought how fun it would be if we were on the Polar Express with singing and dancing waiters! But since the Polar Express probably won't be stopping by our houses any Christmas Eve soon, try the next best thing and read "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg . . . or put on your pajamas and pretend you're on the Polar Express while you watch the movie.

Merry pajama day!

Love, Grandma

Oo is for Olivia

Olivia is a spunky, precocious piglet who is very good at many things--like wearing people out. Maybe you have met her before in books at the library or on her own TV show on Nickelodeon. Now there is also a Christmas book starring Olivia called "Olivia Helps with Christmas". She goes overboard in this book helping her family get ready for Christmas while impatiently waiting for Santa to come. Oh, boy . . . I hope you don't wear your parents out like Olivia does.

Merry only one week and five days until Christmas!

Love, Grandma

Nn is for Night

"The Night Before Christmas" is a great story to read the night before Christmas. There are so many books about this great poem that maybe you could read one version tonight and another version in 13 more nights! "The Night Before Christmas" with pictures by Gyo Fujikawa is the one I read to your mommies when they were little girls (see the "B" post way back in January!) . . . but I like Mary Engelbreit's "The Night Before Christmas" almost as much.

Merry 13 Nights Before Christmas!

Love, Grandma

Mm is for Mice

I think mice are rather nice

. . . when they're pretend ones, that is.

Two nice Christmas mice books are:

"Mouse's First Christmas" and . . .

"If You Take a Mouse to the Movies"

Merry Chrismouse!

Love, Grandma

Ll is for Lullaby

A lullaby is a soft song mothers sing to soothe their babies and help them fall asleep. The primary "Children's Songbook" has a sweet Christmas lullaby called "Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby" (which I am sure your mommies would be happy to play and sing to you). It goes:

Oh, hush thee, my baby; a story I'll tell,

How little Lord Jesus on earth came to dwell;

How in a far country, 'way over the sea,

Was born a wee baby, my dear one, like thee."

It doesn't seem like a list of Christmas picture books would be complete without including a couple books about baby Jesus, whose birthday we celebrate at Christmastime.

Try "B is for Bethlehem" . . .

"The Manger Where Jesus Lay" . . .

or the boardbook, "One Baby Jesus"

for a bedtime story tonight. And don't forget the lullaby afterwards.

Merry little two weeks before Christmas Eve!

Love, Grandma

Kk is for Kids

Once upon a time your Moms and Uncle Tom were kids

who were almost as spoiled at Christmas as you are.

Once upon a time Santa Claus was a kid, too!

You can learn how he grew up to become Santa

in the book "I'm Santa Claus And I'm Famous"

Merry 16 days before Christmas Kiddos!

Love, Grandma

Jj is for Jolly

I just love to get Christmas cards, packages and other surprises in the mailbox at Christmastime. Do you, too? Well then, you're in luck. "The Jolly Christmas Postman" delivers holiday mail to nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters in this book. And the mail is included right in the book. So you can peek inside the envelopes and see all kinds of holiday mail--even a puzzle you can put together. Have a . . .

Merry Jolly Good Day!

Love, Grandma

Ii is for "I'll Be Home for Christmas"

Home for the holidays is the best place to be because

where else would Santa know to bring your presents?

"I'll be Home for Christmas" by Holly Hobbie is a

sweet story about two cute piglets who live at Woodcock Pocket.

It's almost time for Christmas and Puddle is busy baking, decorating

and waiting for Toot who is stranded in a winter storm far away.

Will he make it home in time? Read it and see.

I'll be seeing you sometime before Christmas!

Love, Grandma

Hh is for Ho! Ho! Ho!

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" is what Santa goes when he is up on the housetop.

ho ho ho" is what Mary Engelbreit calls a cute book

of her classic holiday illustrations and verses.

And who, if anyone, is reading this Advent Alphabet Blog

or counting the days until Christmas?

Ho! Ho! Hoping you are . . .

Love, Grandma

Gg is for Grinch

I'm guessing you know who the Grinch is either from the cartoon or book, " How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" by Dr. Seuss. His heart was two sizes too small and he hated Christmas so much he decided to steal it from little Cindy-Lou Who and the rest of Whoville. But Christmas came anyway and the Grinch learned "maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!" Well, whether you watch the show or read the book, please don't be a grouchy, grumbling, grinchy kid this month, okay! You wouldn't want to end up on Santa's naughty list.

Merry Grinchless day!

Love, Grandma

Ff is for Fancy Nancy

Please forgive me for telling you about another "girl" book, but how could I resist a book with glitter on the cover and "Splendiferous" in the title. Fancy Nancy is a very girly girl who has a very fancy wardrobe (which is a fancy word for a lot of clothes) . . . and who also has a big vocabulary (which is a fancy word for big words). In "Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas" she is excited for Christmas and like she does in so many other "Fancy Nancy" books, she goes a little overboard with decorations, sprinkles and other fanciness. But it is still hilarious (which is a fancy word for funny), and I think at least your Mommies should read it.

Merry fun (if not fancy) day!

Love, Grandma

Ee is for Emma

Although your Great-Great-Grandpa Corbett thought her name was Emma Lee, this post is not about your Aunty Em. Emma is a character in the book, "Emma's Christmas" by Irene Trivas. Emma is a farmer's daughter who is being wooed by a prince. She isn't all that thrilled at first, so he tries to win her over by sending gifts. On the first day of Christmas he sends a partridge in a pear tree . . . on the second day of Christmas, two turtle doves and another partridge in another pear tree . . . on the third day of Christmas, three French hens, two more turtle doves and a third partridge in a third pear tree . . . and so on and so forth for 12 days. What Emma does with all these gifts and the prince brings this book to an enchanting end.

My Christmas book basket doesn't look very empty yet even after Grandpa and I have opened five books so far. How is your Christmas tree pillow looking? I hope you enjoy a

Merry enchanting day!

Love, Grandma

Dd is for David

"It's Christmas, David" is a brand new book your Grandpa (who happens to be a David) talked me into buying this year. Some of you have "No, David!" and other "David" books so you know that David is a slightly naughty boy. Well, as hard as he tries, he gets into a bit of trouble before Christmas, too and wonders if Santa will come. You'll find out when you read the book, but you better try harder than David (the book character) to be good. Of course, David (your Grandpa) was generally good when he was a little boy . . . just look how angelic he looks in the train his Dad built him and his brothers for Christmas one year. (He is the blond boy in the orange car).

Merry December Day #2

Love, Grandma

Cc is for Creature

" Creature" may not seem like a very Christmasy word.

But I did find this picture of a Christmas creatures craft . . . and the most famous Christmas poem ever has this line: "not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse". You all have a very cute Christmas picture book with "creature" in the title, too: "A Creature Was Stirring . . . One Boy's Night Before Christmas". Today would be a good day to read it, but don't get any big ideas from it if you can't fall asleep on Christmas Eve. Today is also a good day to turn the page of your calendar because it is the first day of a new month!

Merry Christmas Countdown!

Love, Grandma