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Wednesday, November 30, 2022

101 Advent Calendar Activities


The holidays sneak up on you fast, and one of my favorite ways to slow down all of the noise surrounding Christmas and actually focus on the memories I want to make with my girls is an advent calendar. Not only is it a tangible way for them to see how close we are to Christmas Eve, but it gives me a chance to use an advent calendar as a holiday bucket list with advent calendar activities. Whether your kids have a chocolate advent calendar or you have some gorgeous wooden Christmas tree advent calendar, having a tiny seasonal-themed advent calendar activity waiting inside the little box or found along the candy is such a sweet way to make sure you and your family make all of the holiday memories.

What is an advent calendar?

Advent calendars date back to 19th Century Germany, and are a way for people to count down to Dec. 25. By the early 20th Century, calendars were being produced and marketed towards children. Now, advent calendars are hugely popular, and can include everything from toys and building sets to chocolate and tiny jams. But many parents love to put a little advent calendar activity inside their advent calendar, especially if it’s one that has pockets or openings, like little doors or windows to open.

Advent Calendars With Pockets & Drawers

H for Happy Christmas Countdown Calendar
Bed Bath & Beyond
Merry & Bright Advent Calendar
West Elm Kids
Christmas Countdown Wall Hanging
Paper Source
Laser Cut Wood Snowy Houses LED Light-Up Advent Calendar
World Market
Glitzhome 10.5" Wooden Christmas Tree Countdown
Macy's

Advent Calendar Activities for Adults, Toddlers, & More

Trust me — advent calendar activities don’t have to be super elaborate. You can do a mixture of activities, or you could focus on one type for the entire 24 days. The fun is just that when your kids open their advent calendar window or hang their advent calendar ornament, they find a little activity to do that day to spread some extra joy. Maybe every advent calendar activity for your family is watching a different Christmas movie before bed, or reading a Christmas book. Maybe you guys are big on cookies, and you save big advent calendar activities for the weekends where you can make all of your favorite Christmas desserts, and during the week, your kids find recipes inside their calendar. Or maybe, like me, you have a list of things you want to do with your kids during this season — write a letter to santa, paint ornaments, wrap Christmas gifts together — that you can spread them out as advent calendar activities all through December.

Pro-tip from me: Don’t get too precious about the dates on these things. Life happens. Sometimes you have big plans to watch The Grinch after soccer practice and it just doesn’t work out. Feel free to swap it in with something super small and easy (I’ve got ideas for you there, too!) and pop The Grinch activity into another date. Also think about the days as you plan out your activities. If you know the kids are going to be wiped on a random December Thursday, maybe don’t make that the night to make a centerpiece for your Christmas table and use it as one of your “let’s read a Christmas book” advent calendar activities instead.

Crafty & Creative Advent Calendar Activities

You could go as simple and broad as “make a Christmas craft” here if you want and then use it several times throughout December, or you can get specific with some of these ideas.

Christmas Craft Kits

Mondo Llama Paint Your Own Wood Ornament Variety Set
Target
Creatology 8ct. Plaster Ornament Kit
Michaels
Mondo Llama 90pc. Holiday Craft Kit
Target
24ct Beaded Snowflake Christmas Ornament Craft Kit
Oriental Trading
Creativity for Kids Make Your Own Snowglobe Kit
Michaels

Cooking & Baking Advent Calendar Activities

You can absolutely just make an advent calendar activity for “bake cookies” or “make Christmas candy,” but if you want to get specific and spread the ideas out, try some of these. Bonus: you can make one Christmas baking activity span several days if one advent calendar activity is to choose a recipe, followed by another day of actually making the cookies, and then another for decorating. (Delivering cookies to neighbors could be the fourth advent calendar activity in that lineup.) You could do the same for gingerbread houses or any other elaborate Christmas baking project.

  • make cookies for Santa (a great one to save for Christmas Eve)
  • research and find a new cookie recipe to become part of your family’s Christmas traditions
  • make snickerdoodle cookies
  • make chocolate chip cookies
  • do a trial run on one of your Christmas dinner sides (super fun for kids who are really into cooking)
  • make gingerbread cookies
  • make buckeyes
  • go on a shopping trip to pick out everyone’s favorite Christmas snacks
  • make a Christmas tree cake
  • make Chex mix
  • go get a snowman cookie at Starbucks
  • make crockpot Christmas candy
  • make something with crushed candy canes
  • make Oreo truffles
  • make cinnamon rolls to give to neighbors
  • plan the Christmas Day breakfast
  • make homemade whipped cream
  • make hot chocolate
  • make fudge
  • make Christmas crack
  • do a Sweetology holiday baking kit
  • make and decorate sugar cookies
  • make eggnog
  • make a gingerbread house

Gingerbread House Kits

Crafty Cooking Kits Mid Century Modern Gingerbread House Kit
World Market
Favorite Day Mini Village Gingerbread Kit
Target
Gingerbread House Kit
Michaels
Candyland Gingerbread House Kit
World Market
Create-A-Treat Oreo E-Z Build Cookie House
Walmart

Christmas Book Advent Calendar Activities

Of course the advent calendar activity can be to “read a Christmas book,” but you know I’m going to get specific to jazz things up a bit and make it easier for you to plan.

  • read How the Grinch Stole Christmas and have everyone practice a Grinch voice for his dialogue
  • read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (another great advent calendar activity for Christmas Eve)
  • read a Jan Brett winter-themed story
  • read Christmas in the Big Woods and make gingerbread man pancakes like Ma
  • read a chapter of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (this can span several nights)
  • read a chapter of A Christmas Carol (another that can span several nights)
  • read The Snowy Day and do the same things out in the snow as Peter did
  • read The Gift of the Magi

Christmas Books

'The Night Before Christmas' written by Clement Moore & illustrated by Charles Santore
Amazon
'Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook' based on the story written by John Hughes & illustrated by Kim Smith
Amazon
'Little Red Sleigh: A Heartwarming Christmas Book for Children' written by Erin Guendelsberger & illustrated by Elizaveta Tretyakova
Amazon
'Christmas in the Big Woods' written by Laura Ingalls Wilder & illustrated by Renee Graef
Amazon
'The Nutcracker' written & illustrated by Jan Brett
Amazon

Family Fun Advent Calendar Activities

If you have a Christmas bucket list in mind of things you definitely want to do this holiday season as a family, write them down as advent calendar activities. Everything from decorating the Christmas tree to driving around to find Christmas lights and singing Christmas music together counts. Here are some broad and specific family advent calendar activity ideas to get you started.

  • go on a drive to see Christmas lights
  • go pick out a Christmas tree
  • decorate the Christmas tree
  • decorate your bedrooms with Christmas decor
  • hang garland somewhere in the house
  • walk through your neighborhood and rate the Christmas lights
  • go help a family member decorate their Christmas tree
  • go caroling in your own house and have family members swap out being carolers and the ones opening the door for carolers
  • make a Christmas playlist together as a family
  • play the Christmas playlist over breakfast
  • find a Christmas movie playing in a theater and go out for a movie night
  • go see Santa
  • go walk around Home Depot and look at all the Christmas decorations and trees
  • go to Target and take pictures of gifts you want to receive or give
  • watch the I Love Lucy Christmas special
  • watch the Modern Family Christmas episodes
  • watch one of the claymation Christmas specials on TV as it actually airs
  • watch the 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! TV special
  • watch the 2000 Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie
  • watch the 2018 The Grinch movie
  • And then rank all of the Grinch movies and vote on your family’s favorite to watch again
  • watch Pluto’s Christmas Tree before bed
  • circle the gifts you want in the Amazon toy catalog
  • write letters to Santa
  • deliver your Santa letters
  • do a Christmas puzzle
  • buy a set of bells and learn how to play “Jingle Bells”
  • hang a new set of twinkle lights somewhere
  • family dance party to “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”
  • everyone wear their matching family Christmas pajamas
  • gather around the piano and play and sing Christmas songs together
  • go Christmas shopping for siblings
  • put Christmas sheets on everyone’s bed
  • play The Grinch version of Clue
  • put on a Christmas performance with the figurines in a Christmas village
  • sing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on the way to school with antlers on
  • have your own candlelight Christmas Eve service
  • write a letter to your elves
  • watch The Snowy Day
  • decorate your car with a Rudolph kit
  • watch a Christmas movie with popcorn and hot chocolate (this can be several advent calendar activities if you want to write out the specific Christmas movie for each night)
  • watch the Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special
  • do a Christmas-themed Where’s Waldo? book before bed
  • create a family Christmas cookbook with all of your family’s favorite meals and desserts to make this time of year — even if they’re store-bought (This is a great time to call the grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. in the family for their input)
  • take a picture in front of the Christmas tree and write about what’s happening this year
  • go shopping for gifts and toys to donate
  • go shopping for ornaments that represent 2022 to each family member
  • donate Christmas cookies, candy, turkeys, and other seasonal food items to your local food pantry
  • eat a weeknight dinner off of Christmas plates
  • watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and discuss what Christmas means to you
  • sit by the Christmas tree and talk about each of the ornaments and where they came from
  • look through old Christmas photos
  • look through this massive online collection of Christmas wishbooks from the ‘50s through the ‘90s
  • host a neighborhood Christmas get-together
  • wear Christmas-themed accessories all day long (kids will love watching you grocery shop with antlers on, trust me)

Fun Christmas Accessories

Lotsa Lights! Jumbo Light-Up Antlers Headband
Hallmark
CCINEE 6pc Merry Christmas Glasses
Amazon
Celebrate It Light Up Holiday Bulb Necklace
Michaels
Wondershop Reversible Sequin Santa Hat
Target
ZOLEAROPY Christmas Brooch
Amazon

No matter how specific or broad you get with your advent calendar activities, the most important part is having fun together and building some sweet holiday memories. Think of these advent calendar ideas as a way to squeeze in all of the must-do Christmas activities for your family. If the most important things to you are baking cookies, donating to a toy drive, and watching The Grinch, then make those a priority. The rest can just be fun, easy Christmas fillers.


Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Reddit Post About Parent Playing Cartoons For Toddler On Flight Goes Viral


In the illustrious history of Al Gore’s internet, there are some subjects that we’ve learned will inevitably escalate quickly before delving into hyperbole: name-calling, and, of course, viral infamy. Many of them are issues related to parenting, and none, perhaps, get as heated as anything having to do with children on airplanes. A recent post on Reddit’s Am I The A**hole (AITA) forum about a parent playing cartoons for their toddler on a plane recently went viral before ultimately being deleted by moderators. “Moderators remove posts from feeds for a variety of reasons,” the post now reads. “Including keeping communities safe, civil, and true to their purpose.” Yikes.

Because the internet is forever, screenshots of the original AITA post were subsequently posted Twitter. For the uninitiated, AITA is a Reddit forum where people post their awkward social situations and ask whether or not they were the party in the wrong. Self-appointed judges can then weigh in with “NTA” (not the a**hole), “YTA” (you’re the a**hole), “NAH” (no a**holes here), or “ESH” (everyone sucks here). In this post, a parent shares their situation: a 4.5-hour flight home from Thanksgiving with their 4-year-old and “rowdy” 22-month-old, whom they described as “hard to handle in pretty much any circumstance, let alone on an airplane.”

So they turned to screens, specifically Ms. Rachel on YouTube. But there’s a problem: their toddler won’t wear headphones. As such, the parent played the videos “so that it was audible over the noise of the plane” without being, in their estimation, “overly loud.”

Unfortunately, that’s not how the person in the row in front of them saw it.

“After 15 minutes, he turned around, clearly annoyed and asked if my 1 year old could wear headphones,” they wrote. “When he turned I saw that he only had one earbud in, not both. I told him no, he won't keep them on and I'll try to lower the volume. I did but my toddler then lost interest because he couldn't hear it, so I turned it back up. Judgmental looks ensued but I just ignored him for the rest of the flight. I mean, Ms. Rachel is better than a screaming kid, right?”

They go on to ask readers what they think and conclude, “I just feel like with today's noise canceling tech, if you want quiet on an airplane, it's easier for you as an adult to wear headphones than control what others are doing.”

The responses to the original post are, as previously stated, lost to time. But some of the responses to re-shares on Twitter give us an idea of just how fraught it had to have been, especially since it was deemed harmful by moderators.

“I’ve always wondered what people who do this are thinking, because it just seems like such a shockingly inconsiderate a**hole move,” tweeted writer Jill Filipovic, sharing a screenshot of the post, “and it turns out… people who do this are just shockingly inconsiderate a**holes.”

The response was... mixed.

“This [is an] extremely fair take,” replied @quitabunnies. “Other people never want to listen to other's electronics no matter the age of said person.”

“Yah — no,” agreed HuffPost’s Noah Michelson. “I don’t want to hear anyone’s anything anywhere: not the kid’s cartoon on a plane. Not the guy’s boombox on the subway. Not the grandma’s soap opera at the laundromat. No. No. No. Get headphones or get out.”

“The world is not your living room,” asserted @markehstrong. “My job as a parent in a shared public space is to ensure that my children are not being a nuisance to others.”

Others, however, were more sympathetic to a parent traveling along with two small children.

“This makes me so sad,” tweeted journalist Lena Jakobsson. “I traveled full-time for 20 years before having my son, and I’ve flown extensively with him for the past eight. Kids, and the messiness they bring, are part of any society. You never know what someone is going through. Be generous when you can.”

“I am both a parent who has never had to resort to this, and an adult who can tolerate other people’s foibles without being such a whiner,” @AmbrosiaVoyeur offered. “I side with the mom traveling with two children under 5. That’s really hard. It’s survival mode.”

“You realize the alternative is a screaming child right?” @RNelly17 pointed out. “There’s no scenario where the 1 year old would just quietly sit still on a plane for hours without being entertained in some way.”

It really does seem to be a scenario without a really great solution for all parties. Our take: when it comes to kids on planes, do your best to be simultaneously as considerate and compassionate as you can, whether you’re a parent or a fellow passenger.


Julia Roberts Shares Rare Throwback Photo Of Twins For Their 18th Birthday


Julia Roberts is officially a mom of two grown adults who can now legally vote, join the military, buy a lottery ticket, and get a tattoo without parental consent. The Ticket to Paradise star was super proud of hitting this milestone as a parent and celebrated her twins Hazel and Finn’s 18th birthday with an epic throwback on social media. In classic Julia Roberts style, not only did she manage to wrangle two kids in her kitchen, she simultaneously looked every bit the gorgeous movie star.

In a recent Instagram post, Roberts shared the amazing photo with her firstborns when they were just sweet little babies. Roberts held little Hazel in her ruffled bloomers, while Finn looked on at his mama and twin sis. In an intimate picture that could have easily been plucked out of a spread from a fashion magazine, the pretty woman was effortlessly chic, dressed in a tube top with her bra strap hanging off her shoulder. The mother of three kept it short but sweet in the caption as she shared her kids’ big day with some love and shining star emojis: “🌟🌟18🌟🌟 Love you.”

Fellow celeb-mom Rita Wilson was just shocked as the rest of us by the lightning speed passage of time. “It can’t be!!!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!,” wrote Tom Hanks’ better half.

Roberts has many reasons to throw a party these days. She recently rang in her 55th birthday with a whole bunch of balloons and just as much gratitude. Her latest movie Ticket to Paradise, costarring George Clooney as her bitter ex-husband, rang in over $100 million at the box office.

Along with Phinnaeus and Hazel, The My Best Friend’s Wedding star shares 15-year-old Henry with husband and filmmaker Danny Moder. The couple celebrated their 20th anniversary this past summer, and Roberts has graciously shared her juicy secret to a lasting and happy marriage with the world. (Just make out, like all the time.)

But no matter how successful Roberts is in Hollywood, she cherishes her role as a mother above the fame and any accolades. And what makes this international superstar so relatable is that she’s also willing to open up about her parenting missteps too.

In an interview with Hoda Kotb on Today alongside her amateur relationship therapist costar, Robert kept it one-hundred when it comes to those days when you just need a do-ever. “Sometimes I get gripped with fear of blowing it. And sometimes I've just said to my kids, 'So today, me as a mom? Can we just take that off the board because I blew it.’”

Hopefully Roberts is only feeling joy and fulfillment on her twins’ double birthdays. Just imagine the glint of her mega-watt smile over the glow of those 36 candles.


First Lady Jill Biden Unveils White House 2022 Holiday Decorations & Theme


On Monday, First Lady Jill Biden unveiled this year’s White House holiday decor, which included 77 trees, 25 wreaths, and tens of thousands of lights. Since 1961, when Jacqueline Kennedy decided to decorate the Blue Room Christmas tree with ornaments from Nutcracker Suite, every White House Christmas has had a theme. This year, it was the simple, broad, and patriotic theme: “We The People.”

“The values that unite us can be found all around you, a belief in possibility and optimism and unity,” Biden said at the unveiling. “Room by room, we represent what brings us together during the holidays and throughout the year.”

Each room is a variation of the overarching theme. The Library, for example, celebrates how stories bring the American people closer together, and face to face with our history. The East Room highlights national treasures, including representation of every National Park. The Blue Room houses the official White House Christmas tree, the centerpiece of the enormous decorating project; this year, it is adorned with ornaments depicting the official birds of all states and territories, and Washington, D.C. Dr. Biden described the 18-foot tall evergreen as “a stunning symbol of unity.”

Other highlights include trees decorated with Gold Stars to honor those who have died in the service of their country, a massive (300 pounds!) gingerbread house replicas of the White House and Independence Hall (made with more than 40 pounds of frosting) displayed in front of an oversized copy of the Declaration of Independence, and the State Dining Room’s adorable “We the Children” theme, featuring ornaments created by school children across the country.

But it’s not all symbolism — there are Biden family touches found sprinkled here and there. Biden family members’ stockings hang from the fireplace mantel in the State Dining Room...

... and wooden cutouts of First Pets Commander and Willow can be found throughout the decor, including in the Vermeil Room, which celebrated themes of gratitude and kindness.

And the State Dining Room, where they flank a promise to the nation’s children (yes, “We the People” includes the youngest generation of Americans).

In the China Room, volunteers contributed recipe cards to decorate various trees, including First Lady Biden’s recipes for apple crisp and pizzelle, a traditional Italian cookie.

Dr. Biden thanked the more than 150 volunteers for bringing this vision to life, and joked about the effort such an undertaking required. “You gave up time with your family this holiday weekend, and many of you traveled from far away to be here,” she said. “You’ve worked long hours in service of this gift. Now, some of you may still have a little glue gun residue on your fingers or sore backs from hanging up all that snow in the Colonnade. And yesterday, you might have thought, ‘If I have to tie just one more bow, I’m out of here!’”

But we think the effort in the People’s House was well worth it.


Monday, November 28, 2022

The Best Hanukkah Pajamas


During the eight nights of Hanukkah, a candle gets lit on the menorah. And since the lighting of each candle is significant, it makes sense that you might want to take a photo of your fam as you commemorate this miracle. But what will you all wear? Well, since it’s going to be nighttime, PJs seem like a pretty good idea. So if you’re looking for the very best Hanukkah pajamas, you’re going to have a latke fun choosing from the ones below. You might even turn it into an annual part of your Hanukkah celebrations — perhaps a gift of Hanukkah pajamas for one and all on the first night of Hanukkah, so that the family can wear them for all of the subsequent nights?

You’ll find that Hanukkah pajamas really run the gamut from simple and obvious (think dreidels all over the PJs) to intricate, wintery designs that almost look like you could wear them outside. What they all pretty much have in common are the color schemes: You’ll find lots of blues, whites, and silver color schemes in each of these Hanukkah PJ sets. Many of the jammies are gender-neutral and more often than not, there will be matching sets so that everyone can get in on the action and be able to wear the best Hanukkah pajamas out there for those eight crazy (but utterly miraculous) candle-lit nights.

Kids Hanukkah pajamas that look like a book

Kids' Hanukkah Lions Print Matching Family Pajama Set - Navy Blue
Target

If someone could take children’s author Richard Scarry’s book, What Do People Do All Day? and convert them into Hanukkah pajamas, this would be it. The Hanukkah Lions Print Matching Family Pajama Set is made from 100% breathable soft cotton that will keep your kid cozy while they sleep. The PJs are covered with cute sense of lions doing traditional Hanukkah activities such as lighting the menorah and, of course, eating jelly doughnuts. And if you get jelly yourself that you want a pair in your size, well, you’re in luck because these Hanukkah PJs are part of a matching family set.

Adult flannel Hanukkah pajamas that are super cozy

Flannel PJ Set
GAP

Those cold nights of Hanukkah mean that you’ll want something warm to sleep and lounge in. Enter these flannel pajamas from Gap, which you’ll love all winter long. They have a notch lapel collar and long sleeves. There’s a drawcord at the waist, which you can, ahem, expand if you’ve been lovin’ the latkes a little too much. You can score family PJs in the same style, too, so you’ll all be matching whether you’re noshing or snoozing.

Matching menorah PJs

Hanukkah Matching Family Pajamas
Hanna Andersson

These sweet, simple menorah PJs from Hanna Andersson come in all sorts of sizes and shapes — from cozy button-up flannels for the grown-ups, to a zip-up onesie for the littlest family members. Festive and basic in the best way, these lovely Hanukkah pajamas will keep your whole family cozy for years to come.

Dreidel Hanukkah pajamas for the whole fam

Adult 2-Piece Hanukkah 100% Snug Fit Cotton PJs
Carter's

When your partner makes you spin like a top, give them these Hanukkah pajamas from Carters. The family matching PJs have a snug fit for safety, but if your child doesn’t like too tight jammies, just give them a good stretch for a little more wiggle room. The pajamas feature dreidels in varying shades of blue, and with its white background, they truly look festive for the holiday of lights. They’re made from 100% cotton and are machine washable, ideal if you accidentally spill some jelly down the front of your PJ pants.

Hanukkah pajamas for women

Printed Flannel Pajama Set for Women
Old Navy

You’ll be more than ready for those eight crazy nights when you don these flannel PJs from Old Navy. With a dark blue background, the pajamas are covered in brightly light menorahs, stars, and the words “Happy Hanukkah” written all over them. The PJs have BodEquality sizing, which means that from their size to the price to even the style, they’re designed for all women. And if all of that weren’t awesome enough, you’ll glow, girl, when you wear these PJs because they glow in the dark, too.

Cute Hanukkah pajamas for kids

Unisex Kids Matching Family Menorah Snug Fit Cotton Pajamas - Brook
Children's Place

Who says that Hanukkah pajamas have to be super serious? Obviously, not these cute dreidel-covered ones from Children’s Place. The PJs look like they’re made for kids because, well, they are. There are spinning dreidels with sweet faces, golden gelt, menorahs, and lots of presents. The star of David is also on full display as well as The Scroll of Antiochus, too. The pajamas, which are made from 100% rib-knit cotton, have a snug fit, and have banded leg cuffs and a tagless shirt label so that the pajamas feel perfect, and not scratchy.

Dreidel covered Hanukkah pajamas for kids

Carter's Hanukkah Toddler Unisex 2-pc. Pant Pajama Set
JC Penney

When you want your Hanukkah pajamas to be simple and straightforward, the ones from Carter’s could be a good fit. The 2-piece set is made from 100% cotton and has a blue crew neck and banded cuffs. The pajamas are also gender-neutral, so you can buy multiple pairs for siblings to wear for that perfect first night of Hanukkah photo. And of course, if your child’s pajamas are covered in dreidels, they’re going to want some to play with during Hanukkah, since dreidels are a traditional game that can be played during any night of the holiday.

Matching Hanukkah family pajamas

Matching Family Hanukkah Pajamas

Sure, it’s sweet to see your kids dressed in their Hanukkah jammies, but you might find yourself wanting to fit in with the rest of your fam, too. These matching family pajamas for Hanukkah are gender-neutral and so cute. The raglan-sleeved shirt gives the shirt some serious baseball vibes, but it’s the blue plaid pants for us that transform this from pajamas to something you could potentially wear outside (you know, on a quick supermarket run or to grab something quick to eat, like a drive to your local bakery to stock up on some more jelly doughnuts).

Polar bear Hanukkah pajamas

Carter's Just One You® Kids' Hanukkah Pajama Set - Blue
Target

Everyone is excited to start celebrating Hanukkah — even the polar bears depicted on the Kids’ Hanukkah Pajama Set from Target. The 2-piece set features Hanukkah polar bears in a variety of scenes, from lighting the menorah, to spinning the dreidel to see which of the Hebrew letters (Nun, Gimel, Hey or Chai, and Shin) will come out. Even one adult polar bear (wearing a stellar star-studded sweater and a yarmulke) is giving a gift to a younger bear. The ribbed cotton PJs offer a snug, yet soft fit for your own cute little cubs.

Whether they’re spinning a dreidel, getting down with some gelt, or helping fry some sufganiyot, your kid will look so cute in their Hanukkah jammies. And if they actually go to bed after opening their present, that will be a miracle, too.


24 Best Children's Books About Dinosaurs, From Fact To Fiction


Just about every kid I've ever known has gone through a dinosaur phase. The mystique of prehistoric creatures is just one of those things that kids latch onto and want to know everything about. Luckily, there is a wide berth of information, and these dinosaur books for kids offer a variety of ways for your little one to get their fill of both fun facts and fantasy stories all about these magnificent beings.

There is almost nothing like watching your child flip through the pages of a book filled with something that they just can't get enough of. Sure, they can also watch movies or shows about dinosaurs, but a good book can open up a world of possibilities for kids. Supplying kids with a plethora of dinosaur children’s books that offer both imaginative takes and historical data about different types of dinosaurs can help enrich their exploration of the subject.

Whether your kid is the type who will eat nothing but dino-shaped chicken nuggets and wear their two-sizes-too-small T-Rex tee while carrying their dinosaur backpack, or they want to learn every single statistic about the Jurassic period, there's a picture book on this list that will help further fuel their love for dinosaurs. Whether or not they grow up to be a bonafide paleontologist or not may still be up for debate, but in the meantime, they can at least enjoy getting lost in these 23 dinosaur children’s books.

A dinosaur book for kids that’s also a guessing game

"Who's That Dinosaur? An Animal Guessing Game" written by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster
Amazon

For little kids who love dinosaurs and enjoy guessing games, Who’s That Dinosaur? will give them the best of both worlds. This imaginative board book is full of informative facts about fossils and dinosaur anatomy presented as a fun lift-the-flap guessing game. Using the clues on each page, kids can guess which dinosaur the fossils in the book belong to. When they life the flap, a full-color illustration of that dino and even more interesting facts are revealed. Intended for toddlers through preschool-aged children, this is one dinosaur book for kids that they’ll want to read over and over again.

A dinosaur children’s book based on a movie

‘Jurassic World: The Very Hungry Dinosaur’ written and illustrated by Monica Garofalo
Insight Editions

My own kids are usually more open and willing to read a book if it’s based on a character, movie, or TV show that they’re already familiar with. Though this isn’t always the case with children’s books about dinosaurs, if you’re looking for a new title to put on your dino-loving child’s bookshelf, Jurassic World: The Very Hungry Dinosaur follows the adventures of the prehistoric stars of the Jurassic World movie series. The book details the story of a hungry herbivore who joins up with other dinosaurs in the park to escape their enclosures and eat their way around the entire island.

A personalized dinosaur children’s book

'On A Journey Among Dinosaurs' by Playstories
Playstories

This personalized children’s book about dinosaurs from Playstories is completely customizable. A Journey Among Dinosaurs is a 32-page fictional tale that let’s your child take center stage as an explorer who travels to a land where dinosaurs roam freely. On a mission to save a dinosaur egg, they discover different ways dinosaurs lived. The story will include your child’s name as well as an avatar version of them that you can design with their eye color, hair color, skin tone, and various clothing options. Prior to placing your order for this custom storybook, you can view a preview of the entire book online.

A dinosaur children’s book about record-breaking dinosaurs

'Book of Dinosaurs: 10 Record-Breaking Prehistoric Animals' by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster
Phaidon

In Book of Dinosaurs: 10 Record-Breaking Prehistoric Animals, young readers are introduced to ten amazing dinosaurs through an interactive guessing game. For each record-breaking dino, readers are given clues and hints alongside an illustration of the creature’s skeleton so that they can try to guess the answer before turning the page to reveal the dinosaur and a handful of special facts about each one. From the team responsible for the bestselling Book of Bones, author Gabrielle Balkan and illustrator Sam Brewster have filled 48 pages with touch-and-feel skeletons alongside a plethora of interesting and educational facts. This dinosaur children’s book is currently available for preorder, with an anticipated shipping date of June 15, 2022.

A lift-flap dinosaur book for kids

'Peek Inside Dinosaurs' by Anna Milbourne, illustrated by Simona Dimitri
Usborne

This particular book actually sparked a love of dinos for my youngest son. From Usborne books, Peek Inside Dinosaurs offers fun illustrations of different dinosaurs alongside flaps that kids can lift to learn more about each one. The pages of this board book are hard and sturdy, so the flaps actually hold up over time, even with heavy use. The book’s easy-to-digest facts are simple enough for emerging readers to understand, but still interesting enough for adults to enjoy right alongside them. Best suited for kids ages 4 to 8, this colorful children’s dinosaur book is the perfect starting point for young kids who want to learn more about dinosaurs.

A dinosaur children’s book from Dr. Seuss

'Oh Say Can You Say Di-No-Saur? All About Dinosaurs' by Bonnie Worth, illustrated by Steve Hayfele
Bookshop

An oldie, but a goodie, Oh Say Can You Say Di-No-Saur? All About Dinosaurs is a Cat in the Hat Learning Library book that is great for introducing young readers to facts about their favorite Jurassic species. Though the story is written by Bonnie Worth and not Dr. Seuss himself, it’s rhythmic construction is familiar to all who know and love Dr. Seuss’ classic works. (The book was published in 1999, eight years after his death.) Beloved characters from The Cat in the Hat introduce concepts like how fossils are formed over time and why some dinos were able to fly.

A dinosaur children’s book about a tiny T-Rex

'Tiny T. Red and the Impossible Hug' by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck
City of Asylum Books

If you thought all dinosaurs were huge, think again. How incredibly adorable is that little dino guy on the cover of Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug? Not only is he a ferociously cute character, but your kids will just adore the story of how he tries to cheer up his friend despite not having arms long enough to hug him. The sweet and silly story by Jonathan Stutzman comes to life thanks to the colorful illustrations from Jay Fleck. With simple text and an easy-to-follow storyline, this dinosaur children’s book is best suited for preschool and kindergarten-aged kids.

A dinosaur children’s book fairy tale

'Goldilocks And The Three Dinosaurs' written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Burgundy Books

My kids can't get enough of Mo Willems' genius storytelling and illustration style. His creativity is as evident as ever in Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, a tale that offers a twist on the classic story of Goldilocks, but replaces the three bears in the original with a hilarious trio of dinosaurs. Kirkus Reviews calls the book “A hilariously fractured fairy tale” and “top-notch for group storytime.”For kids who love dinosaurs, but also really enjoy reading or hearing fairy tales, this dinosaur children's book combines the best of both worlds. This 40-page book is fully illustrated and best suited for kids from preschool through second grade.

A dinosaur book for kids where a fun story meets real facts

'How To Catch A Dinosaur' by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Andy Elkerton
The Tiny Bookstore

Hilarity ensues when a group of kids tries to catch a dinosaur for their science fair to prove that they still exist in How to Catch a Dinosaur. With a blend of both non-fiction facts and a fun cast of characters in a kid-friendly fiction story, this book is a great pick for little dino lovers. Part of the New York Times bestselling How To Catch series, author Adam Wallace and illustrator Andy Elkerton deliver a children’s dinosaur book that your kids will want to read over and over again. Best suited for kids ranging from 4 to 10 years of age.

A children’s dinosaur encyclopedia book

'The Dinosaur Book' by John Woodward, illustrated by DK Publishing
Bookshop

This Smithsonian book guides kids through an encyclopedia-style exploration of everything there is to know about dinosaurs. From where they lived and what they ate to what creatures preceded and how we learn about them today, The Dinosaur Book teaches kids all about their favorite subject through plenty of informative facts and gorgeous photographs. With information on prehistoric plants, mammals, and reptiles, there’s much more than just dinosaurs covered here. Best suited for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 years old, educational facts presented in a kid-friendly way will keep your child engaged in this dinosaur children’s book.

A touch & feel dinosaur book for kids

'Dinosaurs: Touch and Explore' by Stephanie Babin, illustrated by Ninie
City of Asylum Books

Inside of Dinosaurs: Touch and Explore, little hands can feel what it might have been like to touch a dino's bumpy skin, their rough bones, and more. Each page offers an engaging sensory experience so that little ones can get hands-on with the soft feathers that might have graced a dinosaur's wings or the smooth scales that could have lined an aquatic dinosaur's exterior. For the littlest dinosaur lovers from ages 3 to 5 years old, an introductory book with dino basics is a great choice to read together with parents and a perfect way to help kids learn more about their favorite creatures.

A dinosaur book for kids with kittens

'Kitties On Dinosaurs' written and illustrated by Michael Slack
Bookshop

This silly and sweet read is perfect for kids who love when dinosaurs take center stage in a story. In Kitties on Dinosaurs, a group of kittens who like to climb on things decide to try to scale the dinosaurs who live on an island nearby called Dinosaur Island. The book’s narrator warns the kitties about the dinosaurs’ big teeth and cautions them not to climb up a hungry dinosaur or they might get eaten. So, the kitties hatch one hilarious plan after another as they work up the courage to climb the dinosaurs without winding up as a dino snack.

A children’s book about dancing dinosaurs

'Dinosaur Dance!' written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton
Bookshop

Not only can dinosaurs roar, but they can dance too! Filled with onomatopoeias that describe how the dinosaurs zing, zap, cha-cha, and bop to the music, this board book features dancing dinosaurs doing all sorts of cool moves and making plenty of fun noises that are super exciting for parents and little ones to read aloud together. Intended for children in the toddler and preschool age range, this sweet read is just perfect for the littlest dinosaur fans. If you're looking for a fun way to get dino-loving kids dancing themselves as they read, don't miss out on Dinosaur Dance!

A Magic School Bus dinosaur book for kids

‘The Magic School Bus In The Time of the Dinosaurs’ by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen
City of Asylum Books

Is there any topic that Ms. Frizzle and The Magic School Bus crew can't tackle? In The Magic School Bus: In The Time Of The Dinosaurs, kids can learn all about dinosaurs as they travel back in time millions of years with Ms. Frizzle and her class of adventure-loving kiddos. When the classroom’s magical bus transforms into a time machine, the students in the story are transported to prehistoric times so that they can get up close and personal with real dinosaurs in their natural habitat. From nesting to dietary needs, young readers can get the inside scoop on how dinosaurs lived, all through the lens of an exciting time-traveling field trip.

A sing-along dinosaur book for kids

‘We Are The Dinosaurs’ by Laurie Berkner, illustrated by Ben Clayton
Bookshop

If your kid is super into dinosaurs, it's likely that you have already heard the catchy dino-themed tune by Laurie Berkner, the lyrics of which inspired her book, We Are The Dinosaurs. Kids can sing along as they flip the pages of this fun book all about dinosaurs marching around and doing what dinos do. Each page is filled with vibrant illustrations by Ben Clayton that beautifully depict the actions described by Berkner’s lyrics. A Publishers Weekly review of the book noted that, “Berkner's fans and newcomers alike should find much to enjoy about in these boisterous, independent-minded dinosaurs' adventure."

A dinosaur book for kids that breaks down myths

‘Dinosaurs: Face and Fable’ written by Seymour Simon
City of Asylum Books

There is a lot to learn about how dinosaurs lived, but there is also a lot that science has yet to explain about the era when these massive, magnificent creatures roamed the earth. Aimed at teaching kids in their middle elementary school years how to separate the myths about dinosaurs they may have heard from a young age from reality, scientific, and historical fact, Dinosaurs: Fact And Fableis an informative picture book that explores the topic of paleontology from fossils to extinction and more. Filled with plenty of engaging illustrations and photographs, clear and easy-to-understand text, interesting sidebars, prehistoric timelines, a glossary, and more, this fact-filled book is a great choice for older kids who love dinosaurs.

A dinosaur book for kids about showing affection

'How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?' by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
Bookshop

This adorable story about all of the ways that dinosaurs can say "I love you" is a sweet way to talk with your kids about expressing emotions under the guise of their love for dinosaurs. With more than 7 million copies sold, How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You is one of the most popular illustrated children’s books about dinosaurs to date. The central theme of the story is that despite being naughty sometimes, little dinosaurs are loved so very much by the big dinosaurs who are raising them. Not only is this dinosaur children’s book perfect for dino-loving kids, but every kid can relate to the different ways of showing affection.

A dinosaur book for kids about a prehistoric party

‘Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp’ by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by Scott Nash
Bookshop

Saturday Night At The Dinosaur Stomp is a fiction picture book about a group of dinosaurs who let loose and has a giant prehistoric party. The text of the story is told in a rhyming scheme that helps keep kids engaged as they read all about how dinosaurs wiggled, moved, and grooved to the beat of their favorite music. The 32-page book is filled with fun illustrations by Scott Nash. Intended for children ages 4 to 8 years, this story is a fun way for kids to celebrate a love of dinosaurs by reading about the characters having an absolute blast together dancing and singing.

A dinosaur children’s book for bedtime

‘Good Night Dinosaur’ by Mark Jasper and Adam Gamble, illustrated by Cooper Kelly
City of Asylum Bookstore

Part of the bestselling book collection, the Good Night Our World series, Good Night Dinosaur is a gorgeously illustrated board book that brings the world of the dinosaurs to life. On each page, dino-loving children can say good night to a different type of dinosaur as they too begin to wind down for a night of restful sleep. From the Spinosaurus to the Triceratops, the Ankylosaurus, Deinonychus, Plesiosaurs, Supersaurus, Ornithomimus, and more, each dinosaur is identified by its scientific name, so that your children can not only wish each creature good night, but they can learn at the same time.

A dinosaur book for kids that roars

‘Noisy Dinosaurs’ written by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Tiger Tales
Bookshop

When my kids were in their toddler and preschool years, they absolutely loved books that made noise, and the Noisy Books series were definitely a favorite in our house — specifically this children's dinosaur book. Noisy Dinosaurs includes sounds meant to mimic prehistoric dinos and give kids a feel for what it might have been like to hear real dinosaurs roar. A sturdy board book that will hold up over time (speaking from my own experience), this read is filled with 12 full-color pages that feature photo-realistic illustrations of different types of dinosaurs accompanied by a button that plays five different dinosaur-style sounds when pressed.

A children’s book about dinosaur facts

'National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs' by Katherine Hughes, illustrated by Franco Tempesta
City of Asylum Books

Filled to the brim with interesting and informative facts about dinosaurs, National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaursis a wonderful first look inside the factual and scientific world of dinosaurs. Intended for kids from ages 4 to 8, this title is part of the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book Series. Each page is filled with simple facts about different types of dinosaurs that are easy for young readers to understand, accompanied by photo-realistic illustrations by Franco Tempesta. If you’re looking for a book that will keep your little dinosaur fan engaged and learning, this is a fantastic starting point.

A dinosaur book for kids about differences

‘Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs’ written and illustrated by Byron Barton
Bookshop

Just like people, dinosaurs come in all kinds of shapes and sizes with different traits and personalities. From big dinosaurs to small ones, scared dinosaurs to fierce and ferocious dinosaurs, meat-eaters, vegetarians, and more, dinosaurs are as diverse as we humans are, and Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton showcases just how beautiful those differences are. With simplistic text that describes each different type of dinosaur and engaging full-color illustrations, this is a great choice for parents of the youngest dinosaur lovers from birth through preschool age. One Amazon reviewer noted, "This book is really wonderful and colorful. It's one of my son's absolute favorites."

A seek & find dinosaur book for kids

'My First Search & Find: Dinosaurs' by Kidsbooks Publishing
Amazon

Even if your kids love to read, sometimes a book that doesn't actually require processing actual words can be just as fun to explore when it features their favorite subject. From Kidsbooks Publishing, My First Search and Find: Dinosaurs, is a seek and find activity book that features page after page filled with dinosaurs for kids to enjoy. Though some reviewers note that the items listed to search for are not all dinosaur related (for example, a bucket or a shovel), there are colorful dinosaurs engaged in different activities on every page, so there are plenty of chances for dino-loving children to enjoy seeing their favorite prehistoric creatures in this board book.

A dinosaur book for kids about wishes

‘The Girl and the Dinosaur’ by Hollie Hughes, illustrated by Sarah Massini
Bookshop

In The Girl and the Dinosaur, a young girl named Marianne finds a dinosaur skeleton while digging in the sand to look for buried treasure on the beach. Marianne makes a wish upon a star for the dinosaur that she found to come to life. According to the book, her wish comes true because she makes the wish with all her heart. Once the dinosaur comes to life, the book follows the pair as they embark on an adventure of a lifetime that will certainly spark your child's dinosaur-loving imagination. This dinosaur children's book is best suited for kids from preschool through first grade.

With so many dinosaur books for kids to choose from, your dino-loving child is sure to having a roaring good time as they read all about their favorite prehistoric beings.