We really wanted the crafts to be as three dimensional as possible.

Tessa: Yeah, there were several that I really wanted to work and just didn't. Jared: Were there any craft ideas that just didn't work? Or that your kids decided they didn't like? What are you working with now, and how has the illustration process changed? Jared: The medium you used for this storybook seems really different from the watercolor, pencil, and ink you used in a book like Just Nicholas. Annie suggested that we also do a companion storybook to provide more depth and connection, which I hadn't considered but made perfect sense. We came up with something that could be as simple as one sheet of paper, crayons, scissors and tape daily, but could be built upon, customized for individual families' needs, and used year after year. We began tossing ideas around for what we thought could make a meaningful Advent practice for families without being overwhelming. Our young children didn't have the patience for or interest in long readings or complicated projects, and we didn't have the desire to do daily lesson planning and supplies shopping. We wanted something that was engaging and fun, but simple for families in a season that is already jam packed. Tessa: In a similar way to our first book together, Just Nicholas, my sister and I were looking for a way to celebrate the season of Advent with our young children and decided to come up with it on our own.

Jared: How did the idea for the Unexpected Gift storybook and activity book come about? Recently, I was able to ask Tessa about what it was like to illustrate the storybook and activity book. As you make each activity, the Christmas story becomes hands-on and tangible. The activity book contains 25 activities to make as well as 25 Bible verse ornaments to decorate. Unexpected Gift helps children to understand the wonderful truth that at Christmas God became a baby. Recently, 10 Publishing released a new children's storybook and companion activity book for Advent entitled Unexpected Gift by sisters, Annie Kratzsch and Tessa Janes.

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