Looking for a great advent product that isn't the same old calendars with candy? What about an advent book collection for advent readings? You can wrap them up individually and open one a day starting December 1st! What A fun new traditions! Get the details below.

Advent Readings with Advent Count Down Books from Clausen Family Countdown to Christmas

Local Women Publish Children’s Books Featuring Christmas Countdown Theme

The Clausen Family Countdown to Christmas is an advent collection of 25 books written by Jannie Tharp and illustrated by her sister, Valerie Lindsay.

As part of a family tradition, Valerie had been collecting random books for her grandchildren to open each day starting Dec. 1 through Christmas Eve. As the number of grandchildren grew, she found the tradition was becoming expensive and difficult to find affordable children’s Christmas books.  

As Valerie was voicing her frustration one day, Jannie said “Why don’t we write a set of books?”  Jannie said that her imagination immediately surged with ideas and the first five books were on paper in no time.  Over the next two years Jannie wrote, edited, assisted Valerie with illustrations, and published the 25 book set.  Of course there was professional help along the way.

The books are dedicated to the women’s beloved mother, Joyce Marie VanDewerker, who would set up a beautiful Christmas village each year.  The Christmas village became the inspiration and setting for the Clausen children’s daily adventures.

Each book tells an adventure of Molly and Cam Clausen.  The children place a new figurine into their miniature Christmas village and are magically swept into the village themselves.  The girl and boy featured as the Clausen children are named after Jannie’s first grandchild, Molly, and Valerie’s first grandchild, Cam.  Other family members are featured as characters throughout the stories.  The books are numbered 1-24, with book 24 to be read first on Dec. 1.  The series ends with a bonus book to be read on Christmas Day.

These beautiful books offer families a time to read together, enjoy the magic of Christmas, and reinforce the importance of family time together.  While the books can be read and enjoyed by all ages, they may be especially appealing to children up to age 8.

The high quality full-color books are beautifully boxed in a decorated slipcase and priced affordably at $59.95.  Orders can be placed on the author’s website: http://clausenfamilychristmas.com.  More information is available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ClausenFamilyChristmas.  The books will be available for shipping late October.

Jannie enjoys country life on a century farm in the coastal area of Oregon.  Her home is land-marked with interesting yard art including a car in a tree, which has been featured in several publications.  Valerie lives near the foothills of the Wasatch Front in Ogden.  The sister’s hope is that the books will create a new holiday tradition, not only to be enjoyed by their families, but many others as well.