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Family Holiday Traditions | Rudolph 50th Anniversary Books + GIVEAWAY #Rudolph50

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I’ve always loved the holidays because it has always felt like a magical time of year. When families spend extra time together ,and we try to help out others less fortunate. A time to reflect on another year that has passed us by. I grew up with a lot of family traditions during the holidays, many of which I’ve tried to continue on with my children. Here are a few of my very favorites.

Wesley with Christmas Tree in Mamas and Papas suit

My parents always made decorating the tree a fun event, typically the weekend after Thanksgiving. My dad would set up the tree and lights. My mom usually took care of the garland and then we would all hang ornaments.  I loved all the twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments each night during the month of December and still do. We follow much this same format for decorating. My kinds love it!

Bentleyville Chistmas 2011 1.2A tradition we’ve started with our own family is visiting Bentleyville, our own local festival of lights that happens to be the largest of its kind in the U.S.  It is completely free, although donations are appreciated. Bentleyville has so much to offer including skating rink, Santa, characters,  fire pits for roasting marshmallows, cookies and cocoa, etc. This attraction is really amazing and draws a huge crowd each year. My favorite time to go was when we went on Christmas day, shown in the picture above. It was extra warm that year and it was awesome getting to wish so many people a Merry Christmas.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer 50th Anniversary BooksAnother favorite tradition is getting to open a couple of presents on Christmas Eve. They were always related to bedtime and included a pair of pajamas and something else we could sleep with such as a new stuffed animal or blanket. We would change into our new pjs and watch a Christmas movie. They were usually nostalgic movies such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer so when I see the movies now, I’m always taken back to when I was a little girl.

50YearsRudolph

50th Anniversary Celebration

Did you know that this year marks the 50th Anniversary Celebration of this beloved classic? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the longest-running and highest-rated holiday TV special of all time, and it is inarguably a beloved part of the American holiday tradition. The anniversary celebration will includes a major tie-in with the U.S. Postal Service, tribute promos from CBS, a collector’s edition DVD with new bonus material, a new stage musical, theme park and in-mall entertainment, and a social media campaign – #ShineBright – that celebrates uniqueness in association with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.

Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer Book Collection

Square Fish, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, has released 6 new Rudolph-themed books that span a variety of formats, including the first ever graphic novel starring Rudolph and company, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS, by Brendan Deneen. Other formats include a classic storybook, a picture book, slide-and-find and lift-the-flap board books, and a ‘My Reader’ edition specifically designed for beginning readers.

I was sent all six books and since my kids range in age from 2 to 8, there really is something for my whole family. This is a great addition to our Christmas Eve tradition.

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Classic Story (Deluxe 50th Anniversary Edition for ages 4-8)
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Slide and Find (Board Book for ages 2-4)
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Life-the-Flap (Board Book for ages 2-4)
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph Saves the Day (Paperback picture book for ages 3-7)
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: My Reader (Level 2 Paperback Reader for ages 5-7)
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Island of Misfit Toys (Middle-Grade Graphic Novel for ages 7-12)

The Island of Misfit Toys BookThe Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Island of Misfit Toys was a perfect fit for my oldest son Lucian. He really enjoyed all the pictures found in this graphic novel!

Island of Misfit Toys Book Inside Warren is my first grader who is just learning to read books. This Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (My Reader, Level 2) (My Readers) was a perfect fit and something he could read entirely on his own. He also loved all the stickers found at the end of the book in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph Saves the Day.
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Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer My Readers Level 2 The two board books were very entertaining for Wesley, my two year old. He absolutely loved all the sliders in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Slide and Find.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Book for Toddlers While he loves it when I read him the story, he is also content just to play with all the sliders by himself. He likes that he can move things independently.
Rudolph Saves the Day BookThe Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Lift-the-Tab (Lift-the-Flap Tab Books) was also a big hit with Wes. He was giggling when I would tell him what the characters would say behind the flap such as “I’m cute! I’m cute! She thinks I’m cute!”
Rudolph the Red Nose Reinder 50th Anniversary Books Collage I personally like the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Classic Story: Deluxe 50th-Anniversary Edition . It is the perfect book to read to all my boys and is the classic story I know and love.
Rudolph Books Giveaway

BUY IT:

Bring this beloved classic story home to your family with any or all of the Rudolph 50th Anniversary books shown, available at major retailers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Visit Macmillan Kids Books for more great books to add to your collection.

WIN IT:

One lucky reader will win this entire collection of six new Rudolph children’s books for their family as shown in this post!

Prizing provided by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; open to US residents only.

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Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for sponsoring this conversation today about traditions and offering a giveaway!

 

96 Comments

  1. My favorite holiday tradition is baking holiday sugar cookies and then decorating them together as a family.

  2. I always get a sub platter, make dips and appetizers on Christmas Eve and all day we have friends and family stop by. It is a hectic, fun day and that evening my oldest comes to the house and he and my daughter open gifts from each other, aunts and uncles and friends. Favorite day of the year!

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