Love the interactive element of it all...

from Amazon:
Amazon.com Review
Children can design their own nativity scene over the course of the month with this handsome advent calendar by Kurt Adler. Crafted of wood and painted in a nighttime sky color scheme, the handsome piece features 24 doors around an empty manger. The magnetic character behind each door may be placed in the center to help fill out the scene as the days lead up to Christmas. The calendar measures 14-1/4 inches high by 17-1/4 inches wide and can be displayed on a wall or tabletop. --Kara Karll

Product Description
This adorable Magnetic Nativity Advent calendar has a compartment for each of the 24 days of Advent as well as accompanying magnetic Nativity figures. Each day upon opening one of the hinged compartment doors, you'll find one of the magnetic figures to place in the center of the Advent calendar. Create your own personal Nativity scene! Durable construction ensures that you are able to use this Advent calendar year after year. From the Kurt Adler collection. Each wooden Advent calendar is a decoration, not a child's toy. 17"x14 1/4"x2".

We've had this for 3 years now, and it's always popular. Each day a boy takes a magnetic shape out of the appropriate door (corresponding to the December calendar) and sticks it to the background. All 4 of my boys love creating the picture as the days progress. I will admit that we've had the occasional cow in the sky, lol.

In 3 years of use this calendar has stood up well to the test of 4 rambunctious boys. It hasn't gotten scratched and looks just as good as the first day we opened it up.