rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

The Giving Manger teaches children to look for opportunities to love and serve others

Start a New Christmas Tradition Centered on Giving

Nashville, TN — The true spirit of Christmas often gets lost in busyness of the season. As the events of 2020 have made us slow down and shift some of our priorities, this year is the perfect time to refocus on the joy of giving and honor the real reason for Christmas: Jesus’ birth. With The Giving Manger (WorthyKids/ October 13, 2020/ISBN: 9781546034223/ $39.99), creators and sisters Allison Hottinger and Lisa Kalberer offer a faith-based interactive family tradition that encourages acts of kindness.

Each Giving Manger box set contains a hardcover picture book, a wooden manger, a bundle of straw, and a sturdy Baby Jesus figure—everything a family needs to start the tradition in their own home. The included book, The Giving Manger, uses a story to introduce families to how the tradition works and gets children excited about participating.

The Giving Manger tells the story of a family who shifts the focus of their Christmas. Young Anne and Ben always look forward to Christmas. Each year their dad makes a special wooden toy for them, but he tells them this year will be different. They are starting a new tradition, and there will be more gifts this year, starting December 1. The kids misunderstand, thinking they will be getting more gifts, but instead, the gifts are given by them to others. Initially disappointed, the children quickly change their attitudes when they see the joy that doing kind things and giving to others brings.

“This is a special story to us because it represents the same shift we’ve seen in our own families,” Kalberer shares. “The focus used to be lists and what the kids were going to receive for Christmas, but in adopting The Giving Manger the focus shifted to what we can give. Christmas is different in our homes than it used to be, and we couldn’t be happier about it!”

Once the family reads the story together, it’s time to place the empty manger in a prominent spot in the house. In the days leading up to Christmas, family members place a piece of straw in the manger each time they perform a kind deed or act of service. Filling the manger will become a fun, interactive project for the entire family, prompting even young children to look for ways to love and serve others.

As the family works together to fill the manger with straw, both hearts and home will be filled with the joy and contentment that comes not from wish lists and getting, but from giving and loving others. On Christmas Day, the family will place the baby Jesus in the manger—now full of the straw that represents the acts of love and service done in honor of Jesus’ birth.

“As we began to raise our own families, we often felt like the true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of giving was getting lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. We wanted to start making the season more about giving and showing kindness to others,” says Hottinger. “We originally made the tradition just for our own family, but when we told friends about what we were doing, we had so many friends who wanted one too!”

In the back of The Giving Manger, readers will also find a list of activities as inspiration. Each act of kindness does not need to be a grand gesture, but can be simple gestures such as putting away a brother’s shoes, drawing a picture for a grandparent, helping to empty the dishwasher without being asked, or leaving a candy cane and a note for the mail carrier. The goal is to become more kind and giving-minded in daily life so that the actions come naturally all year round.

Each item in the box is built to last so families can keep the tradition going year after year.

Visit www.thegivingmanger.com for a downloadable activity list and to take part in a letter writing service project.

Allison Hottinger and Lisa Kalberer are sisters who are passionate about giving back. As they began to raise their own families, they realized that the true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of giving was getting lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. They put pen to paper, wood to the saw, and clay in their hands to create the book, manger, and Baby Jesus that make up The Giving Manger–a complete tradition to help families focus on the real meaning of Christmas. They hope that The Giving Manger can spread kindness and promote service as families come together and shift the focus of Christmas from getting to giving. Allison lives in Ladera Ranch, California, and Lisa lives in Austin, Texas.

Learn more at www.thegivingmanger.com and on Facebook (@thegivingmanger) and Instagram (@thegivingmanger).

For review copy and interview information, contact: ajenningspr@gmail.com or 903-874-8363.

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
7 THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER UPDATED AND EXPANDED
DAVE RAMSEY
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
10 SINCERELY, STONEHEART
EMILY WILSON HUSSEM
View All
1 LOVED TO LIFE
ANN VOSKAMP
2 DON'T LET DOUBT TAKE YOU OUT
TODD MULLINS
3 BELIEVE
ROSS DOUTHAT
4 HERE BE DRAGONS
MELANIE SHANKLE
5 BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
JOYCE MEYER
6 LIT UP WITH LOVE
DERWIN GRAY
7 LIVING FEARLESS GUIDED JOURNAL
JAMIE WINSHIP
8 I'VE GOT QUESTIONS
ERIN HICKS MOON
9 STEPS
JOHN ORTBERG
10 WHEN CULTURE HATES YOU
NATASHA CRAIN
View All
1 TWO SECONDS TOO LATE
DANI PETTREY
2 THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME
DENISE HUNTER
3 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
4 THE KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
5 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
6 THE BEIJING BETRAYAL
JOEL C. ROSENBERG
7 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
8 THE CARPENTER'S SON
JOHN GRAY
9 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
10 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
View All
1 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
7 THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER UPDATED AND EXPANDED
DAVE RAMSEY
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
10 SINCERELY, STONEHEART
EMILY WILSON HUSSEM
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
5 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
6 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
7 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
8 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND THE EASTER STORY
JAN BERENSTAIN AND MIKE BERENSTAIN
9 GOD GAVE US EASTER
LISA TAWN BERGREN
10 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
3 POCKET PRAYERS FOR GRADUATES
MAX LUCADO
4 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
5 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
6 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
7 MANGA BIBLE
SIKU
8 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GUYS FOR TEEN GUYS, Leather
PATTI M. HUMMEL
9 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
10 THE POWER OF A PRAYING TEEN
STORMIE OMARTIAN
View All
1 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
2 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
3 THE CASE FOR EASTER
LEE STROBEL
4 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
5 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
8 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
9 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
10 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE THE VERY FIRST EASTER
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
View All
1 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
3 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS, AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS, CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
4 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER, MARK DEVER, JOHN PIPER
5 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
7 NIV LARGE PRINT VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 KJV LARGE PRINT PERSONAL SIZE REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
10 KJV LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
5 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
6 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
7 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
8 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
9 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
ZONDERVAN
10 NLT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New Revised Standard Version
9 New International Reader's Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
2 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
5 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
6 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
7 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
8 BATALLAS SILENCIOSAS
DAVID SCARPETA
9 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Rosa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
DIAZ-PABON, LUIS ANGEL
6 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE CON CIERRE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Turquesa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA DE PROMESAS EDICION PARA NINOS
EDITORIAL UNILIT
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA TIERRA SANTA ULTRAFINA LETRA GRANDE
VIDA
View All
1 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
2 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
RICK WARREN
6 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
7 EL VIA CRUCIS PARA TODOS
CLARENCE ENZLER
8 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
9 ¿Y AHORA QUE?
RALPH HARRIS
10 EL VALLE DE LOS HUESOS SECOS
YIYE AVILA
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA webinar: AI Legal Developments | AI & The Biblical Story
June 13 | 10 am central
ECPA International Christian Rights & Export Fair
June 17-18, 2025 | Chicago, Illinois
ECPA webinar: Building and Managing an Effective Intern Program
July 11 | 10 am central
ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona

Career Center

Backlist and Brand Director
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, Remote
Publicity Manager
Baker Book House Company, Ada, Michigan (Hybrid)
Acquisitions Editor
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon
Assistant Director of Marketing, Christian Publishing Group
Penguin Random House, Remote
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA