One of our favorite Christmas traditions is to give our kids a “Night Before Christmas” gift. It’s the one gift they get to open on Christmas Eve and they almost always include the same general items :: new pajamas (usually Christmas-y), some hot cocoa or a treat, and a new book. Very simple but it’s so funny how the kids really look forward to those “Night Before Christmas” gifts!

And, because it’s such a SIMPLE gift to put together, there’s still time for you to create a “Night Before Christmas” gift for your kids and make it your tradition, too!

Here are five adorable Christmas-y books from SkyPony Press that would be great for a “Night Before Christmas” gift box!

The Runaway Santa

Written by Anne Margaret Lewis and illustrated by Aaron Zenz, The Runaway Santa: A Christmas Adventure Story will remind you a lot of the lovable book The Runaway Bunny. This time, however, our little “runaway” is none other than Santa!

This year Santa wants a vacation from the North Pole and tells Mrs. Clause he’s going on a worldwide exploration. Mrs. Claus, always caring for her jolly Santa, decides that she’ll help him pack the perfect items for each of his adventures. After all, if Santa is going to walk the Great Wall of China he will need his balance pole and if he is going to hop with the kangaroos in Australia, he will most definitely need his comfortable tennis shoes.

But, it’s not long after all this dreaming of exploration, that Santa realizes he really only needs to pack along one thing…er, person!

The Night Before Christmas: A Brick Story

My  kids are all about LEGOs this year! So I knew they would adore this LEGO version of the classic The Night Before Christmas!

The book follows that classic story that we all know and love and could probably recite without looking at the pages but you’ll definitely want to look at these pages! The writer and illustrator do a beautiful job of making the story come to life in the form of LEGO creations! Right down to a LEGO Christmas tree, LEGO presents, and even LEGO reindeer!

My kids were so inspired by The Night Before Christmas: A Brick Story that they immediately went to work creating their very own LEGO reindeer and Christmas scenes! Again, absolutely perfect for any LEGO lovers out there!

Tough Cookie

We’ve all been there — mixed up a recipe or forgot an ingredient. Then you taste it and realize something definitely is missing! But what would happen if you forgot the ginger in your gingerbread cookies? According to author Kate Louise you’d end up with a Tough Cookie!

And apparently that missing ginger causes this little cookie to be a bit naughty! But, throughout the story, this little “tough cookie” learns that it’s not his ingredients that make him who he is — it is his character that defines him.

A sweet story for kids ages 3-6, Tough Cookie definitely teaches kids about kindness, helping others and finding your true self.

The Daring Prince Dashing

We’ve all heard the Cinderella story. And pretty much every version possible of it! But I’ll bet you haven’t heard this version!

Please meet the young Prince Dashing. That’s right, this time we’re seeing the “Cinderella” story from the prince’s side. And this isn’t any normal prince! Nope! He’s all about his adventurous, daring, and often dangerous activities. {Reminds me of my son!}

Then one day he meets a young girl who gives him a run for his money when it comes to adventure! Of course you know the rest of the story…or do you?

The Daring Prince Dashing is a very fun book that all kids will love! A really cute and fun story with great illustrations!

The Five-Minute Brain Workout for Kids

This is a book I was particularly interested in as we embark upon Christmas break from school! Filled with 365 fun word puzzles, The Five-Minute Brain Workout for Kids will keep them busy and entertained! And even learning!!

Designed for ages 7+, The Five-Minute Brain Workout for Kids incorporates a variety of different type of word puzzles — cross-word puzzles, word searches, find the letters, find the words, definitions, etc. The book is broken up into ten different levels, each one harder than the one before, which will help stretch and test your kids as they move through the book.

This is one of those books that is absolutely perfect for those holiday road trips!

Each of these books are available now at most major book retailers and would make a perfect addition to your “Night Before Christmas” gift box!

What fun books are your kids hoping for this Christmas?