Monday, October 29, 2012

GIVEAWAY and Review: The Sparkle Box Book & Box


I LOVE THIS IDEA FOR A NEW TRADITION!

I had the pleasure of reviewing the book The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie and published by Ideals Books Publishing. The story is about a young boy named Sam who is excited about Christmas and is planning out his Christmas list and thinking about holiday parties but is intrigued by the sparkly box on their mantel. Over the Christmas season, Sam and his family perform various acts of kindness and service and each time they do a slip of paper with that activity written on it is placed in to the box, but Sam doesn't know this. On Christmas morning, Sam finally gets to open the box and finds all the paper slips of the kind activities listed on them. His mom explains to him that all of the good deeds they had been doing during the Christmas season were their gifts to Jesus. The Sparkle Box is filled with all the things they had done for others, which Jesus has said is also done onto him.

I thought this is a great way to help remember the reason for the season. Since I have already read the book to my kids, they know we will be filling up the box with our kind deeds. There are many things we do during the holiday season that are acts of kindness, but I love that we are presenting them as a gift to Jesus and can review on Christmas Day all those kind acts we have performed.


Author Bio
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.  

Illustrator Bio
At a very early age, Christine Kornacki developed a love for painting and bringing stories to life.  After receiving a BFA in illustration from the University of Hartford, her dreams of illustrating children's books began to take shape.  She spends her days painting in her studio, which adjoins a charming cafe in New Haven, Connecticut.






Check out the Official Book Trailer:



ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN THEIR OWN SPARKLE BOX BOOK & BOX SET!!!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

48 comments:

Unknown said...

We do operation christmas child every year- one box per child and that would go in there. We are also looking for other ways to serve in the community.
Janna
Petenjanna@yahoo.com

Jen said...

We always leave presents, food and a gift card for a family we know in need...ring the door bell and run :) This is a super cute book and idea!

Julie said...

Like Janna we also will do Operation Christmas Child; we also do coats & mittens or hats to the clothing drives & hopefully something new this year.

Unknown said...

we have a community service project once a week-- Our family this year serves and works the Soup kitchen at the church in our community--Its a good project to learn from

blessnel said...

A pair of shoes!

kymoneill2@hotmail.com said...

give gift card to single moms

Nichole said...

We always buy gifts for families in need.

Anonymous said...

Donating toys is my favorite thing to do.

siobhantwohig86 at gmail

Kristen said...

We do Operation Christmas Child, so I'd put something about that in there.

LorraineH said...

Each of my kids fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child every year. I love the idea of this book. I think it will encourage my kids to think of other ways to bless people!
slkhall@ yahoo.com

Unknown said...

My family and co-workers donate to our local urban mission and toys for tots every year.

JuliaGulia said...

Adopting children of prisoners through the angel tree program to buy gifts for from their incarcerated mom or dad.

Amanda said...

We do Operation Christmas Child boxes each year, and we also donate to the Compassion Christmas fund to provide gifts for our sponsored children.

Jenny said...

We always donate toys.

Shelley said...

One thing we do is Operation Christmas Child.

sarah buki said...

we raise money to send kids to school in africa

amkj2002 said...

We our doing our own Operation Christmas Child box as well as donating a bag of items to school who will be assembling boxes.

amkj2002 said...

We are going a box for Operation Christmas Child as well as donating a bag of items to the school who will be assembling boxes.

amkj2002 said...

We our doing our own Operation Christmas Child box as well as donating a bag of items to school who will be assembling boxes.

Nicole said...

We are making Operation Christmas Child boxes and we will donate hats, socks, and gloves to the homeless shelter that my husband works at.

Sunnie said...

Id say some of my stockpile of hygiene products
sunniewoodyplus2 atmsn.com

Amber said...

I would make treats for my neighbors.

Angie Bailey said...

Donate toys to less fortunate children. ~ Angie PreciselyMine

Lenetta said...

Make goodies to give out to neighbors, friends, and people at church. Thanks for the chance!

Make It Happen Mama said...

Donate my son's outgrown clothing to a women & children's shelter

Unknown said...

Presents!

lorides said...

We always do the secret Santa at church for kids in need

Southern mom of 4 said...

We do so many...Our church adopts 2 families, we do the operation child every year, donate unwanted blankets and coats, and donate food to the food banks

Unknown said...

We will visit the nursing home and spread joy to the elderly this Christmas season.

Nicole Brockwell said...

We visit the nursing home and Operation Christmas Child every year.

Teish said...

Operation Christmas Child is one of my favorite things to participate in!

Anonymous said...

We invite others over for all holidays that have no place to go. Cantonbrandy@yahoo.com

gallerhea said...

The Giving Tree, to buy a gift for a local child in need, and Operation Christmas Child Shoebox, to provide a gift for a child in a faraway land!

:) Rhea Stogsdill Chladek

Coupon Mommy said...

We choose several angels from the Angel Tree at our church, stuff boxes for Operation Christmas child

Coupon Mommy said...

We choose several angels from the Angel Tree at our church. We also stuff several boxes for Operation Christmas child

Dakarimom5 said...

We will be helping at the animal shelter and will be helping at a soup kitchen.

Jennie said...

We will be donating food and gifts to our neighborhood center to be distrubuted to those in need :)

Sue H. said...

We will send a box to a needy child via Operation Christmas Child. My kids get so excited about this!

Adventures as a Small Town Mom said...

Every Christmas we always buy gifts for a family in need through our church. We also participate in March of Dimes walks in addition to other great causes.

Renee Ruder said...

Angel tree program

Unknown said...

we do angel tree and purchase gift cards to restuarants to give to homeless for meals.

Unknown said...

We do the angle tree..I am excited because my daughter is two and will understand more about doing this.

Unknown said...

We do the angle tree..I am excited because my daughter is two and will understand more about doing this.

Hannah said...

We adopt a family for christmas.
yellowturtle123 @ yahoo

Unknown said...

We donate to Toys for Tots and also find someone local to help on 2hands.org!

Daigle 9 said...

We leave little gifts on elderly persons doors that we know are having a hard time. Usually hubby and i forgo gifts and divide that money up to gift cards to the pharmacy or grocery store.

Naomi C. said...

no kids yet - but this would be a great tradition to start in our home.

Missy L said...

Buying a Christmas gift for a needy child, kids making cards for sick people, serving others as opportunities for it come up