The Sparkle Box - I'm Giving One Away!

For children, gifts are one of the parts of Christmas they look forward to the most! So how do we help parents refocus their children's attention on giving at Christmas? The Sparkle Box is a new book which could be a tool to help parents do exactly this!

The Sparkle Box  
Author - Jill Hardie
Illustrator - Christine Kornacki
Publisher - Ideal's Children's Books
Ages - 4+

Favorite Features -

• wonderful illustrations full of color and life - these paintings really add to the charm and message of the book
• book includes a "Sparkle Box" in the back which families can use in their own homes
• solid message encourages children and families to focus on giving to others - and in so doing, to give a gift to Jesus for His birthday!

In the story of the Sparkle Box, as Sam thinks about Christmas, he is curious about a sparkly box on the mantle. In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas, his curiosity deepens - what is the Sparkle Box and what is in it?

On Christmas morning he finally gets to open it and is surprised at what he finds inside. His mom tells him, "The Sparkle Box is our gift to Jesus on Christmas Day, His birthday. Jesus taught us whatever we do for people in need, we do for Him. So each year we'll think of some special gifts to give Jesus. We'll write down these gifts and put them in the Sparkle Box. On Christmas morning, we'll open the box and read out loud the gifts we gave in honor of His birthday."

This is a wonderful tradition for families to begin! You can help! Provide opportunities for families to be involved in service projects in the weeks and days leading up to Christmas - such as the Gifts of Hope Catalog from WorldHelp or Operation Christmas Child from Samaritan's Purse. The Sparkle Box is a wonderful book to help children and families focus on giving this Christmas!

I'm happy to say, not only did Ideals send me a book to review, but they are making another available for me to give away! If you are over the age of 18 and would like to be included in this give-away which will be on October 29, 2012 - please comment below to let me know if you have followed on Google Friend Connect, followed by liking on facebook with the tab in the "Find us on Facebook" box ON THE BLOG (not just liking the post) and/or have followed About the Children's Department by email. For each of these which you have done you will receive one entry. In addition, if you "share" this post, you'll receive an additional entry (please let me know if you share). This will help me be able to draw names from among people who would like to win this book and it gives you several ways to enter the give-away! Thank you for reading About the Children's Department and for sharing it with the people you know!