My Pray and Play Nativity Busy Book - A Quiet Felt Book

This Advent and Christmas season, introduce your little ones to the joy and meaning of the season this enchanting, colorful, interactive quiet felt busy book! This teaching toy combines playful learning with the story of the Incarnation, making it the perfect gift for young children eager to explore the true meaning of Christmas.

Designed by a pediatric speech language pathologist and in collaboration with the design team at Brother Francis, this book is ideal for everything from Mass during the Christmas season to celebrating at a holiday party, or from a long ride to Grandma’s house to quiet play at home.

Velcro tabs, buttons, zippers, clasps, and multiple textures will stimulate little hands and encourage exploration. Every scene has been thoughtfully depicted to accurately bring Scripture to life and the bold and beautiful colors are meant to capture the eyes, minds, and hearts of all the little ones who pray and play with this book.

Activities:

• Interactive Christmas Tree: The inside front cover features Brother Francis and his charming Christmas tree where kids can decorate with six festive ornaments that easily snap on and off. Once the tree is adorned, spin the double-layered star at the top to celebrate the season! Plus, a bonus star keychain is included as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.
  

• Advent Wreath Activity: Children can engage with the Advent Wreath by snapping on and off the four Advent candles and the white Christ candle. Each Sunday during Advent, they can “light” the candles, culminating in the special moment of lighting the Christ candle on Christmas morning.

• Away in a Manger: Open the barn doors to reveal a beautifully crafted manger scene with movable figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and barn animals. The shiny Christmas star above adds a magical touch, and a bonus pregnant Mary figure allows children to retell the Christmas story before Jesus' birth.

• Wisemen Journey: Inspired by Matthew 2:10, this page depicts the joy of the wisemen as they travel with gifts and camels, following the Christmas star. Kids can unzip the page and position the wisemen next to the manger scene for an interactive storytelling experience.

• Angels and Shepherds: With “Glory to God in the highest” written above, this page features three angels and three shepherds with their five sheep. Children can match the sheep with the correct button color and number and unzip the page to bring the angels and shepherds closer to the Christ child.

• Nativity Puzzle: Complete the beautiful Nativity scene by matching the nine puzzle pieces to the faded image, encouraging problem-solving and fine motor skills.

• Scripture Match-Up: Children can assemble the Scripture verses from Luke 2:11-12 by matching colors, reinforcing their understanding of the Nativity story.

• Gifts for Jesus Reflection: Open the three gift boxes from the wisemen. This engaging page includes fine motor skills practice with zippers, latches, and buckles, along with three removable felt pieces representing frankincense, myrrh, and gold. The last gift encourages the child to think of the self gift s/he can be to Jesus and others.

Features:

• Integrated carry bag with handles.

• Pages that can be zipped in or out of the book so you can share activities between children or choose which activities you want your children to work on.
  

• Made from non-toxic, soft felt and high-quality velcro to secure the loose pieces for each page.

• Meets and exceeds U.S. child product safety requirements. Due to the natural printing process, colors in book may vary slightly.
  

Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Instructions for set up:

1. The individual pieces on each page need to be separated, so please take a few minutes to get the book set up before giving it to your child.  While this can be done by pulling them apart, scissors can speed up this process by snipping the small parts that connect pieces.
2. As the felt is new and “pristine”, a few pieces may not stick at first. However, the more you use it, the easier the pieces stick. (Brushing the pages with a clean toothbrush or hairbrush will help the pieces to stick.)
3. We have included extra, soft-sided velcro pieces that are sticky, in case you want to add specific locations on the story pages. 
4. The mirror on the back page is covered by a blue film which can be removed by reaching under the felt edge and gently scratching to peel it away.
5. Please note that the star on the top of the Christmas tree spins, and does not snap on and off.