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The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert and photographs by Per Breiehagen is an amazing book with real photos of the authors’ daughter Anja! It is a Nordic tale about a little girl who is brave and kind and has a dream of one day helping Santa. One day she decides to set out to look for Santa. Before she leaves, she helps an old neighbor catch her cat, she decorates her gingerbread house and sweeps out her sauna. She even finds her a small Christmas tree. Anja sends her friends gifts and writes them kind notes to tell them she will visit when she finishes helping Santa.
Anja receives help along the way from a red cardinal bird and a gentle horse.
She also meets a musk ox who helps her to go under the glacier to the tundra where there is a waiting polar bear. They travel a while and then they rest. Anja reads the polar bear a story as he naps. I love how this little girl becomes connected to the animals who are helping her.
Finally, in a clearing in the snow-covered trees, Anja meets Santa! Santa appreciates the kindness and joy she spreads wherever she goes so he thinks she will make a great elf. Then, he does something so exciting – he asks Anja to drive his sleigh! Anja does and then she drives it back to her home just before Christmas morning. Before he leaves, Santa gives her a very special gift. It’s a magical bell. He tells her to ring it three times if she ever needs help.
Here is a free copy of the printable. I have included one sheet with all the images and 2 separate ones if you want to print one on red construction paper and one for the gifts on tag or white. Click on the picture to download.
To further promote the idea of kindness and giving, my students will be using my popular Thoughtful Christmas Writing Prompts for Caring Kids writing activities. Now it is their turn to show how they can be grateful and giving over the holidays. Teachers love how students are allowed to write about something other than gifts at Christmas time. Students love the feel of writing about giving. Topics include favorite Christmas family memories, what it means to give the “gift of time”, what you could give someone that doesn’t cost money and more.
You can check it out here:
Our Christmas countdown activities is our favorite!
My favourite thing to do on the holidays is to spend time with my family. I enjoy all the food, decorations, and Christmas eve church service, but my favourite thing is definitely seeing family, especially now that my children are adults!
Love this idea. Thanks!
This could possibly be the cutest Christmas craftivity that I have ever seen!!! My favourite thing to do over the holidays is definitely visiting with family and friends…followed closely by catching up on my reading <3.
I love to have time to spend with my family. It isn't very often that we can get everyone together. I will have the whole family here over the Christmas break. The first time in 4 years.
I love your post about special Christmas books. I have some favourites that I share with my class every year.
Thanks for sharing and having this giveaway! I like to spend time with family, especially now that we have been transferred across the country! I like the smell of Christmas trees, listening to carolers, driving around to see the Christmas lights and Luminaria, and drinking hot chocolate. 🙂
I loBe The Christmas a Wish. Thanks for the freebie:)