Clearly, the format is just irresistible. Wonderfully illustrated and brimming with Christmas spirit, the calendar features 24 jewel-like miniatures board books, nestled in a three-panelled, stand alone backer.

The books are numbered 1 through 24, and, like the peek-a-boo windows on an Advent calendar, are meant to be opened one per day from December 1st through Christmas Eve. Read in sequence, they capture the magic of the first Christmas, from Gabriel's visit to Mary (Book 4) to the three Wise men gazing at the star (Book 9) to Jesus' birth (Book 24).

Each book is one of four different trim sizes and features a gold thread loop so that after it's read, it can be hung on the Christmas tree.