Christmas will be here before you know it! I have the PERFECT book for your kids for Christmas too. The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie from Ideals Publications. If you want a book that will teach children what Christmas really should mean then this book must be in your TBR pile.
About The Sparkle Box
Here is the touching story of a young boy who unknowingly participates in a powerful new Christmas tradition: honoring Jesus on His birthday by giving to others.
Sam is so excited about Christmas! He’s thinking about his Christmas list, looking forward to holiday parties, and puzzling over one very mysterious gift: a sparkly box sitting on the mantel. In the midst of the festivities, Sam and his family participate in various acts of kindness to others. On Christmas morning, when Sam finally opens the Sparkle Box, he finds only slips of paper that record the family’s good deeds. Sam’s mom explains that the things that they’ve been doing are, in fact, a gift for Jesus, for Jesus said that whatever we do for those in need, we do for Him.
About the Author of The Sparkle Box
Author Jill Hardie and her family began placing a gift for Jesus under their Christmas tree as a way of bringing more meaning to the holiday. The first time they opened His gift, the commercialism of the season melted away and they felt a profound joy and peace. Jill hopes that The Sparkle Box will spark a new Christmas tradition, bringing light into thousands of lives.
My Review of The Sparkle Box
I read this book to my Princess this week and we both loved it. The book talks about happy tears and by the end of this book I too had happy tears in my eyes. This is exactly the kind of Christmas book that I want my daughter to enjoy. This is the true meaning of Christmas that I want to teach her. She is exited about presents and making cookies, but those are just the superficial things. Doing things for others is such a great way to represent Christ. My husband and I are looking into ways locally that we can volunteer with her this holiday season.
I HIGHLY recommend The Sparkle Box for the children in your life. You won’t be dissappointed. This book is quality, the illustrations are exceptional and the message – spot on! Buy it today.
Win The Sparkle Box
One lucky Long Wait For Isabella reader will win their own copy of The Sparkle Box. Simply enter the Rafflecopter form below with your Facebook account or email address for your chance to win! This giveaway is open world wide 18+.
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We feed the homeless every month, we cook them dinner and serve it to them. My kids can be involved in both aspects. We also do the Operation Christmas Child gift/shoe boxes every year and my kids know the money that goes into those gifts comes out of their christmas money, usually about $30 (they pick the age group and the gifts). This year we are going to adopt a child (which will feed the child’s entire family) in a small village in Egypt that out church has “adopted” and I’m hoping one day when the kids are older they can go on a missions trip to see that village and the family they adopted. I just want my kids to grow up knowing how good they have it and that they can help others, so we are very involved in community service.
I posted on your facebook my ideas 🙂
Angel Tree, take mittens and coats to local Salvation Army Toys for tots
visit a local senior living center – they love visits from children
This sounds like a great book! It seems like these days kids no longer know the true meaning behind the holidays, they think it is all about gifts, and that is sad!
Give out cards at a nursing home, or do a Samaritan’s Ministries shoe box!
Sounds like the perfect book for this time of year.
volunteering in a school
Go to a senior living center. I take my son monthly and they love the visits!
I find that volunteering time is the best, especially during holiday parties. I know they always need help during book fairs the most.
Bring card and treat to elderly neighbours.
I would say visiting the elderly in a nursing home.
This looks great. We love books here!
what a fun book!
Take treats and Christmas cards to the local nursing home. You would be amazed at how many of them are forgotten!
animal shelter
go to a retirement home and bring snacks and read and sing, etc
Go to a nursing home and spend some time with the people there. They would love a little one come make a gingerbread house with them!!
Could ask the salvation army to help ring the bell, I remember doing that was I was younger with my mom.
visit seniors in a nursing home, fill a shoebox for children, donate toys
Visiting elderly or taking something handmade to an elderly you may already know.
Meals on Wheels always can use volunteers.
Your kids can make cards for CARDS FOR HOSPITALIZED KIDS:
http://www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com/
volunteer at a seniors center
go to a dollar store and buy a bunch of mittens and hand them out to the homeless
Making cards and caroling at the nursing homes
freebiegoddess03@aol.com
I used to take my kids to serve Thanksgiving dinner at the Food Coalition every year
shoebox treasures..small gifts in box send to children in need.
this would be a nice gift to give my 3 year old son
Volunteer with the food bank to help organize gift and food or help distribute it.
Purchase toys together, let her pick them out, and donate them to organizations that accept toys for children in need
find an old man or old lady in a nursing home who has no family to visit them and make their day
Pick a present together for a needy child.
you and her can ask people you know like friends and family, maybe put a post on facebook, if they have any clothes or jackets thay no longer wear and maybe some non parishable foods they can donate and you and her can collect this stuff together and show her that there are people out there who are less fortunate and it is always better to give than recieve!!
There are many fun options for you out there…You can adopt an angel and shop with your child to help teach her about giving. Does she like to sing or put on a show? See if your retirement center or nursing home would like for you two to come entertain and spread cheer. Bake cookies with her to take to a hospital waiting room (ask beforehand some won’t allow homemade gifts). See if anyone from your church or community, could benefit from some goodies or a meal. At the grocery store or toy store let her pick some food or toys for the less fortunate.
Operation Christmas Child, visiting the elderly, donating food or clothing to those in need. Make crafts to give to others.
buy Christmas gifts for a needy family
give cookies to a childrens hops.
Taking meals to shut-ins and the elderly.
meals from the heartland?
Lovely books! I should have one for my niece… Thanks for the information.
Have a Holiday party & invite friends & family. Ask them to bring a non-perishable food item for charity. Have her decorate bags/boxes to put the items in. Then after the party take her to drop off the goodies at a local food bank.
my grandkids and I help at the food bank-the kids sort cans and stack
ask your child to give away toys they no longer use and donate to a family in need
Sounds like the perfect book for this time of year.
a lot of nursing home have people that can not afford things like slippers and shampoo and a lot of them can not afford it. the down side is it seems whenever me and my children go one of them always catches a cold. however you could drop it off it might be fum to wrap them and let your baby draw pictures or something on them or a card and also there are a ton of churches that are in need of things for angel tree and you could also make cards for the soldiers who can not get home. make your own ornaments and give them to food pantries to hand out with the food just to name a few
an angel tree or visit nursing home
I did Operation Christmas box with my 3 year old. I let her decorate the box and help filled it. She loved it. We also got a tracking number so we can see what country it went to.
I think picking a child’s name from the angel tree and shopping for him/her would be fun. Or donating food to a local shelter.
Visit a senior care facility!
we always pick a name off the tree at church and then go shopping for the requested items. our children help us find the items on the list!
Toys for tots is great. Have her pick out a toy to donate. Also, maybe sponsor a family in need. I’ve done it through Catholic charities.
Toys for tots is one of my favorites. Let her pick out the toy.
We have done the stuff a shoebox with our church to be sent to needy people. I think it is called operation shoebox. I have had my preschooler and grade school age kids help me pick out items and pack them in the shoeboxes.
Well this isn’t volunteering, but maybe going out shopping for a toy to donate.
Volunteer with Toys 4 Tots 🙂
Take a tag from the Angel tree and let your daughter pick out the appropriate gift. Let your daughter drop it off.
Give the dogs baths at the animal shelter. Most people who volunteer go right in and walk the puppies and leave. They never show adults attention OR bathe any of them.
We do the angel tree every year. My daughter loves to help pick a family with children around her age and then help to buy presents.
Buying a toy for the toy drive is fun. Volunteering at the animal shelter is fun… See about helping to walk the dogs… the kids love to be outside, and our center at least is very good about finding us the most kid friendly dog when we go and help out.