Create Holiday Magic with a Book Advent Calendar: Countdown to Christmas with Stories

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to embrace the magic of December than with a book advent calendar? 

 

For readers and book lovers, this is the ultimate festive treat—a daily dose of stories or book-inspired content leading up to Christmas. Whether you’re looking for a special way to create memories for yourself, your kids, or your bookish friends, a book advent calendar brings a touch of magic, one page at a time.

 

In this post, we’ll explore some of the best book advent calendars available to order or DIY, and you can grab a FREE digital book advent calendar I’ve created just for you to make the season even more special!

 

 

 

What is a Book Advent Calendar?

 

A book advent calendar is a fun twist on the traditional advent calendar. Instead of opening a daily chocolate or small gift, you get to unwrap a new book or bookish surprise each day. It’s a wonderful way to build excitement for the holidays while inspiring more reading and adding a touch of literary magic to the season!

 

Five Book Advent Calendars You Can Buy

If you’re looking to buy a book advent calendar, here are some great options available:

 

1. Bookishly Book Advent Calendar

Bookishly is an awesome shop offering a wide variety of book boxes with coffee, tea, and other goodies. Their book advent calendar follows a 12-day format and features exclusive Bookishly Editions gift-wrapped and numbered 1-12. You can even see a list of planned titles via a link in the production description before you purchase, which I appreciate as my bookshelves are overflowing with titles.

 

 

2. Book Advent Calendar for Kids

Kid book-themed advent calendars are becoming more and more popular. And it makes sense, they are the perfect way for families to build excitement around reading with their little ones and create holiday memories. One of my favorites is this Disney: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar. It’s packed with 24 small, individual books with fun holiday themes and everyday stories featuring some of your favorite Disney characters.

 

Related Post: The Best Coffee Books for Kids

 

3. Books Are Magic Advent Calendar

An adorable and inexpensive advent calendar for book lovers! With 25 pockets, each has a fun literary surprise daily from stickers to bookmarks and fun literary surprises any booklover will enjoy.

 

 

4. Book Advent Box from Etsy

If you love supporting small businesses, Etsy has a variety of book advent calendars made by creative sellers. Some include books wrapped in festive paper and others have handcrafted elements, making them a unique gift option. You can browse book advent calendars on Etsy here.

 

 

5. LitJoy Crate Advent Calendars

If you’re looking for a magical and immersive bookish experience this holiday season, LitJoy Crate has amazing advent calendar options (some of which sell out quickly!). Their calendars often include exclusive collectibles, trinkets inspired by favorite book series, and other bookish delights that make counting down to Christmas truly special. 

 

 

 

 

DIY Book Advent Calendar: Wrap Books You Already Have

 

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, personalized twist on a book advent calendar, consider using books you already have at home! This DIY method saves money and gives you a chance to rediscover old favorites, holiday classics, or even those “to be read” titles you haven’t gotten to yet. Here’s how to create your own wrapped book advent calendar:

 

What You’ll Need:

• Books from Your Collection: Choose 12 or 24 books (or fewer if you want a weekly advent) from your own shelves. These could be novels, children’s books, holiday-themed stories, or even a mix of all those things.
• Wrapping Paper: Pick festive wrapping paper, butcher paper, or even repurposed paper bags for a simple look. Use twine or ribbons to add a finishing touch.
• Number Labels: Number each wrapped book for each day leading up to Christmas, or arrange them to surprise yourself by selecting one at random.

 

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Gather your books.
2. Wrap each one individually. 
3. Display your wrapped books in a basket, on a shelf, or even under the tree. You’ll have a lovely stack of “mystery” reads ready to enjoy.

 

Why This DIY Works So Well:

Using books you already own makes this advent calendar sustainable and special. You’ll likely uncover books you’d forgotten about, revisit favorites, or just tackle your TBR list all while experiencing the joy of unwrapping each title throughout the season. It’s a great way to bring a little extra magic to your daily reading time and keep the holiday spirit going.

 

This DIY project is ideal for families, too—everyone can help wrap books or take turns unwrapping each day’s selection making it an enjoyable book advent calendar for the whole family.

 

 

Digital Book Advent Calendar Printable

 

To make your holidays even more fun and budget-friendly, I’ve created a digital book advent calendar just for you! Each day, you’ll unlock a unique prompt, recommendation, or fun bookish activity to make your holiday season a little merrier and your reading list a little brighter.

 

Whether you’re looking to dive into reading or enjoy a few cozy moments inspired by your favorite books, this calendar has something for every mood. Grab your copy via the form below!

 

 

 

The holiday season can often feel overwhelming with shopping lists, parties, and endless to-do’s. 

 

Having a book advent calendar brings a sense of calm and joy as you or your loved ones take a few quiet moments each day to indulge in a story. It’s a simple but meaningful way to celebrate the spirit of the season and share some book love. 

 

Whether you buy a book advent calendar, DIY one, or use my free digital option, this tradition is bound to become a beloved part of your holiday celebrations.

 

Let me know in the comments which book advent calendar you’re most excited about!

 

 

More to Check Out:

• Fable Grounds Coffee: Where Stories Come to Life
• 100 Things to Make You Happy
• The Best Coffee Journals