Raising Boys to Men - 12 Insightful Guidebooks For Parents

The second I read that little plus sign on the very first pregnancy test I ever took, I knew that two things had to happen.  First, I had to call my husband and shake up his lunch hour with the crazy wonderful news. Second, I had to drive to the nearest bookstore and scour the shelves for the very best books that would help me figure out how to navigate everything from nausea to nursing.

As you might have guessed, all of those highlighted and tabbed pages did not make for a textbook labor and delivery, nor did it birth a textbook baby (haha, surrrrprise!!), but there's a few of those books that I have returned to for guidance with each and every baby we've had since the first one arrived fourteen years ago.

Outnumbering the baby books on our shelves is a growing stack of guidebooks that I have returned to time and time again for wisdom and advice.  With six wonderfully different personalities, interests, talents, strengths and temperaments to nurture, I have found each and every one of these books to be incredibly helpful and encouraging when it comes to raising our sons.

I refer to these texts as guidebooks, because, while much of them contain great wisdom and advice, sinking all of your time and effort into a bunch of books and hoping that the right formula will result in a perfect child is simply a waste of time.  That being said, it doesn't hurt to set aside our parenting pride and seek out the knowledge of a few trusted resources (including scripture and prayer!) to guide us along the parenting pathway.

Please note that some of these references are not exclusive to raising boys, and can be excellent resources for families with both boys and girls.  Several of these texts taught me not only about my children, but also about myself, giving me insights into the ways that I love, discipline and respond to tough situations based on my own personality and the way that I was raised.  All of those factors combined have a tremendous influence on the decisions I make as a parent.  To have those sources of knowledge as a parent is incredibly valuable!

Do you have a favorite parenting resource? I'd love to hear about it!

Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons || Strong Mothers, Strong Sons 

Compass || How We Love Our Kids || Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime 

The Birth Order Book || Boys Adrift || Wild at Heart   

 The Temperament God Gave You || Bringing Up Boys ||  Character Building

Love and Logic Magic: When Kids Leave You Speechless || *Bonus!* The Art of Manliness

1.  Boys Should Be Boys by Meg Meeker is tops on this list for me.  She dives right into the nature of boys and affirms who they are despite what the world is telling them (and everyone else) who and what they should be. 

2.  Strong Mothers, Strong Sons by Meg Meeker is one worth investing in, particularly if you are questioning or struggling to understand the role you play in your sons life. I'm reading this one for the second time, and am gathering new bits of wisdom that I missed the first time through!

3.  Compass: A Handbook on Parent Leadership by James B. Stenson - With a strong emphasis on character formation and how to deal with cultural influences, Stenson's book is one of our go-to handbooks that we reach for time and time again. This is a great one for dads to read.

4.  How We Love Our Kids by Milan and Kay Yerkovich came by recommendation of a wonderful friend of mine.  The authors dive in to five different love styles of parenting, and I have to say that discovering and understanding my love style has really changed the way I communicate with my sons!

5.  Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime by Dr. Ray Guarendi - just read this book, or any of his books for that matter.  Dr. Ray is hilarious. Your house can be burning down with frustration and he can still make you laugh despite all of the parenting struggles you may be dealing with. 

6.  The Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman was one of the first books I read as a new parent. I'll admit the whole birth order thing gets a little confusing if you have four or more but, for the most part, his points on oldest, middle and youngest children are really interesting and spot on!

7.  Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men by Leonard Sax - If you have sons, I highly encourage you to take the time to read this one.  It's an eye-opener to say the least. (This title of his is also a worthy read.)

8.  Wild at Heart by John Elderedge was one of the first, and most influential, books Steve and I read together as a couple.  For me, it opened my eyes and heart up to the remarkable and wonderful nature God has given to men and shown me, through that understanding, how to relate to our sons (and to my husband as well) in the most positive ways.

9.  The Temperament God Gave You by Art and Loraine Bennett is a wonderful resource for better understanding the varying personalities in your home (even your own!) and how to encourage those personalities to thrive together despite their differences.

10.  Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson is probably one of the most popular books written on the topic of raising boys.  It's popular because it's THAT good. There is one particular topic that Dr. Dobson addresses that I very clearly disagree with, but it does not detract from the quality advice and insights in the rest of the book.

11.  Character Building: A Guide For Parents and Teachers by Dr. David Isaacs is not one that you will sit down and devour in one sitting.  It's a lot of information, but a tremendous resource to have on hand in your are striving to teach your children about virtue.

12.  Love and Logic: When Kids Leave You Speachless by Jim and Charles Fay is just one of this duos fantastic resources for parents.  Love and Logic is a simple every action has a consequence philosophy. If you're a Love and Logic parent you know how helpful their tips for discipline and communication are! 

*Bonus* Okay, so this one is kind of a bonus book, and has not made the "Tried and True" list yet but The Art of Manliness by Brett McKay came highly recommended by another homeschool family, and I knew I had to give it a go. It just arrived a few days ago, so I'm only a few pages into it, and so far it's as entertaining as it is interesting!  Now that we have a high schooler under our roof, I have a feeling that this one will be fun to share with our boys as they get older!

The Lovely New Additions to Our Family Christmas Book Basket

One of my favorite childhood memories is of when I was quite small, maybe six or seven. I was invited to my friend Kim's house for a sleepover just days before Christmas.  I'll never forget the cozy warmth of their farmhouse, which was decorated in the most charming and magical way. The top of the upright piano glistened with the delight of a perfect little Christmas village, the tall, robust tree strung with what seemed like a million lights, set the entire house a glow.

Kim and I wiggled our little selves underneath the tree and, wedged between the soft carpet and broad canopy of branches, we stared up into the sparkling lights while her mom read to us story after story, until we couldn't hold our eyes open any longer.

I'm quite certain that that experience sparked the beginning of my love affair with books.  And the treasure of that memory is what inspires me to read to my own children beneath the tree lights or snuggled up by the fire during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

{Who am I kidding.  We have boys.  If they laid under the tree, it would be a horizontal nightmare in approximately 7 seconds.  We read on the couch and stare at the tree from afar, and that's as magical as it gets.} 

{Link to last years list}

A couple of years ago I decided to share a few of the books I had collected for our Christmas book basket.  Then, last year, I added a few more.  Your response to those posts was tremendous, so I've decided to continue sharing that list plus the new additions we make each year.

Choosing just one or two books for our basket is no easy task, because my wish list is a mile long. I like to keep all of our treasures together in one big basket for the boys during the holidays, and I actually pack the basket away when the Christmas season ends.  Doing so helps me keep track of our beloved stories and also builds an anticipation for reading them that otherwise might not be quite as strong if the books were left out on the shelves of our library year round.

And, also, hiding the books is just me protecting our financial investment in the children's inheritance.  Aren't they going to be thrilled to see 10,000 books written into the will? Concealing the goods keeps tragic shredding and "accidental" destruction to a minimum, since books have also been known to be used as frisbees, snack platters and door stops in our house.

Here are the two new additions to our collection 

that I am excited to share with you:

24 Stories to Welcome Jesus

 

This book was chosen for the little guys in our family! Although it's intended to be read from the beginning of Advent (December 1) to Christmas day, we will be reading it throughout the Christmas season. Here is a more detailed description from Ignatius Press:

The joy and hope of Christmas are at the heart of this book intended for the whole family. Starting with the 1st of December (like an Advent calendar) each day has a new story, leading up to Christmas. Richly illustrated, this collection includes stories based on the Gospel accounts of the birth of Christ, as well as stories about Advent and Christmas customs. Also presented are original tales about living the Christmas message. 

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth 

by Dandi Daley Mackall

If you enjoy the tradition of baking cookies at Christmas time, you and your kiddos will LOVE this book! Set during the depression era, The Gift of the Christmas Cookie is an inspiring story that beautifully intertwines the legend of the Christmas cookie with a tale of great generosity. The illustrations are as lovely as the story.  You will never think of Christmas cookies the same way after reading it!

You guys know I cannot keep all of this literary goodness to myself....so I'm happy be GIVING AWAY a $25 gift card to Amazon.com!! Both the new titles, and most (if not all) of the books from my list of twenty-five favorites can be purchased there.

The giveaway begins today, Monday, December 1 and ends Friday, December 5.  The winner will be announced on Friday on my Facebook page and contacted via e-mail.  
Good luck and happy reading!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

World War I, A Little Bit of Austen, Space Ventures, and Lot's of Boy Stuff - It's What We're Reading Wednesday!

People often ask me how I am able to keep television and media time at a minimum with the boys. First, I'll let you know that it isn't always easy (teaching our kids anything worthwhile is always an investment of time and energy), but if you set a certain standard of expectations when your kiddos are young, and follow through with consistency, they are more likely to develop a strong appetite for exercising the imagination with activities, such as reading, that don't involve being "plugged in."

Our oldest sons (13 and 11) are now at an age where I can say that those early implemented standards of little or no electronics (chores, outdoor time, and quiet reading come first) has gone from being the parents rules to their personal decisions and habits. They both love to read, and I can often find them on the deck or in their rooms engrossed in a book.  I really enjoy it when they come to me eager to share all of the details of a story they have just finished. They are setting a great example for their younger siblings!

Of course they still ask to play Minecraft or watch sports on TV, and we say yes to those things too, but often they will go for days without making such requests, which is such a pleasure for Steve and me, because we know that they are finding pleasure in reading, playing outside, or engaging in games or other crazy adventures together.

Here's a sampling of the goodies we have scattered about the house right now. Some of them we finished reading this summer.  While I'm not a huge fan of incentives when it comes to academics, I thought it would be fun to "inspire" the boys to read more challenging works, so I gave each of them the option to read one book of my choosing and two of their own to be completed before school began. If they finished all of them by the end of summer, they received a gift card to Sports Academy. The oldest three all completed the challenge!

1.  All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich M. Remarque

I remember, with great fondness, reading this book in high school.  This is the book I chose for Benedict, since he really enjoys history, and is quite an accomplished reader.  After seeing how much he loved our trip to the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, I knew he would dive right into this book.  Set during WWI, the story recounts the experience of Paul Baumer, a young German soldier, who enlisted to serve his country during the war. (Note: there are places in the book where the descriptions of the war are quite graphic, and best suited for mature readers.)

2.  The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan

Ben and Andrew are both big fans of this series.  While I haven't read them myself, they tell me that they are full of action, adventure, suspense and have virtuous characters who are loyal, smart and courageous.  There have been a great deal of discussion at the supper table over the battle of good vs. evil in literature, and these books offer a clear picture of just that.

3.  Dear Mr. Knightly by Katherine Reay

I read this novel, which came highly recommended by Anne at The Modern Mr. Darcy, on the way to the lake last week, and I must say that I really enjoyed it.  If you are a fan of Jane Austen, you will appreciate the way Reay intertwines quotes and characters from Austen's most famous works throughout the novel.  

4.  Strong Mothers, Strong Sons by Meg Meeker, M.D.

I'm just getting started with Dr. Meeker's latest publication and am already taking notes.  After reading her book, Boys Should Be Boys, which I highly recommend, I was so impressed that I knew I had to add this title to my shelf.  Unlike her other works, this book is completely dedicated to encouraging healthy mother-son relationships and gives moms insightful tips on how to engage in conversation with our sons, as well as seasoned advice on respecting and better understanding their masculine nature.

5.  The Stars & Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey

Isn't the moon absolutely beautiful this time of year? Gazing at the evening sky during the late summer and fall months always inspires me to better understand astronomy so I can share it with the boys.  Now is the time to get outside, to lay on your backs and to search for constellations, shooting stars and planets with your kiddos! 

We are using these two books, to guide us through our evening adventures. I love the detailed descriptions and the vintage illustrations of both books.  They are truly worth adding to your library! Here's a brief description for both books from Amazon:

Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this classic book makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page.

Do you have any literary suggestions for me??

Please share!

Castle Cakes and Saintly Names ~ Celebrating the Saints With Your Children

I wish I could remember the person who shared with me the idea of celebrating our children's names, (because I'm sure that I didn't come up with it on my own). I'd really like to thank her for being the one responsible for the reason why I get to eat cake 6 times more per year than the average parent. You should join me, really you should!

So, what was this great idea? It's the celebration of your child's name, through the remembrance of the saint that they share a name with.

Now, if you went through a special phase where, for reasons that you can't remember, naming your child Floyd or Optimus or Tonto sounded like a great idea, don't worry, you can still jump in on this party (who knows, they may become the first saint of their name)!

Over the years, when I've shared this fun way of incorporating the lives of the saints into real family life, some of my friends have asked how to do it if their children aren't named after saints. Simple! Have your child choose a saint that he/she admires.  They can "adopt" that saint, if you will, asking him/her to pray for them.  Then, when their special saint's feast day comes up on the calendar, it's time to celebrate! (Online resources for feast days and saint bios here and here.)

There are several truly wonderful books written on the lives of the saints for your kids to enjoy, and also a lot of poorly written and illustrated ones too, so be choosy! One of our favorites is Saints: Lives and Illuminations by Ruth Sanderson. She wrote a second volume as well, which is equally inspiring.

Our family's tradition is to bake a cake in the shape of a castle.  Then, we read about our child's saint, and talk about what it means to live a life of saintly virtue.  When our oldest was about four years old, he became fascinated with knights and kings. It seemed natural for us, then, to make a connection between saintly virtue and knighthood.

We found these three books to be a great way to encourage our boys toward chivalry, courage, generosity, sacrifice, service and perseverance - strong, admirable and virtuous behaviors of the saints!

Brave Young Knight

The Squire and the Scroll

I'd Be Your Hero

As the older boys have outgrown these books, they have found a great selection of literary joys that inspire them to follow the path of virtue, including Sir Wyvern Pugilist's Dragon Slayers. 

They also truly love taking on the teacher role, being the ones who read to the younger boys, passing on what they have learned about striving toward a life of virtue.

Our boys really look forward to the remembrance of their special saint.  This is one tradition that I believe will have valuable, and lasting implications for our sons.  They even talking about passing the tradition on to their own kids!

Although I tailor everything we do around here to boys, since we haven't any girls (yet!), I think that this could easily be modified for girls, using the same castle mold and presenting the idea of what it means to be God's princess, discussing the virtues that the female saints heroically lived during their lifetime.

{Castle Cake Mold from Nordic Ware}

One thing I love about using the cake mold, is that I rarely ever do any decorating, and I always use a boxed cake mix, letting each child choose their favorite flavor.  Sometimes I dust on a little powdered sugar or drizzle on a simple glaze (it looks like icicles when it dries!).  It really is great enjoyed plain or served up with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

I love this decorating idea for saints whose feast days fall during Christmas! 

{Photo Credit}

A really simple and sweet way to decorate the castle for girls.

 {Photo Credit}

Good old powdered sugar never disappoints!

{Photo Credit}

Do you have any celebratory traditions that you 

enjoy in honor of the saints?

Please share them with us!

Our Party Plans for Saint Valentine's Day ~ 12 Ideas for a LOVE-ly Day

Happy Friday, Friends!! After two days of intense posts, I'm ready for something light and sweet!! Valentine's Day is just a week away, and I am sooooooper excited!! Holidays are a big deal around here.  We bake, we craft, we read, we dress, we dance for our favorite occasions.  I like to keep a Valentine's day Pinterest board stuffed full of great ideas (although most of them will never get used) so that I can plan something new and fun for our family to enjoy each year.  

Here's a few things that I'm hoping will make this year's festivities memorable!

♥ For the Classroom:

Great stories that capture the spirit of any holiday are a must in this house.  I found a huge list of a variety of books online, and really appreciated this compilation of Real Love Read-Alouds from Not Consumed.

For the little ones, an active game such as this Heart Hopscotch from Toddler Approved is a great way to exercise gross motor skills and practice counting at the same time.  And, its *easy* to make!!

I'm loving this Musical Hearts Game from No Time for Flash Cards.  I honestly think our whole family will end up playing it...and laughing the entire time. Get out your love jams.  Steve and I are making a playlist today.  So far I've contributed "I Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie and the Blowfish.  You know you love some Hootie!

Last year the boys wrote a Love sensory poem from Calico and Cupcakes, and I'm going to do it again this year, because their answers were so precious.  The lines say, "Love sounds like.....Love feels like.....etc."  My favorite answer was "Love smells like BACON."  Mmmmm Hmmmm!!

♥ For Our Taste Buds:

I always make something crazy good for our Valentine supper, something that requires a dress code of elastic waistband attire, but the kids would just as soon eat mac 'n cheese if only they could have their fill of the sweets.  I thought it might be cute to give them each a box (or small decorated brown paper bag) filled with this Strawberries and Cream Puppy Chow from Life, Love & Sugar for dessert.

Even though I won't be indulging this year, I thought I would make my lover a fun little cocktail to enjoy before dinner (and maybe steal a couple of sips!). 15 Love Cocktails for Valentine's Day from All Yummy Recipes has a fantastic list of sippers, and I really want to try them all. Gin and Jam is the one featured here, because Hendrick's Gin is my faayyyvorite!

Homemade gifts, to me, are the best gifts of all.  These Heart Candy Jars from The 36th Avenue might take a bit of time, but I think they would make really sweet teacher or grandparent gifts.  As a bonus, when the candy runs out, the jar would make a perfectly lovely candle holder!  The tags are FREE to print on the website as well!

♥ For {Fashion} Fun

This is our lil' Charlie, dapper in his Love Day duds at 11 months.  I discovered this adorable top from Antsy Pants on Etsy and couldn't resist.  The company has lots of sweet clothing for boys, and a great variety of sweet attire for many holidays.  

Why do I have this here?? I haven't polished my nails since 2001!  But, I think if I had girls in la casa we would be all over this Valentine's Day Mani from the Beauty Department!  Mucho cuteness! So, for those of you who have girls, I say go for it! 

Okay, I confess I cannot resist these Knit Boot Toppers from Etsy.  Aren't they so cute? They also come in grey with red hearts, which is my pick.  Yes? No? What do you think??

♥ For the Home:

This Crayon Hearts from Martha Stewart craft has been circling the web for a couple of years now, and I've always wanted to do it, but have never tried.  Now that most of our crayons in the classroom are worn down to little stubs, or broken in pieces, I think it's a good time to make it happen! They will be so pretty hanging in front of a window...until someone's mysteriously curious fingers rip them down, grind them into the carpet, or try to eat them.  Okay, maybe I should rethink this one!

I have to say that while I curse Pinterest for many reasons, I love admit to loving it for just as many. One reason is no matter what the holiday, I can find beautiful FREE printables to decorate our home with (EASY PEASY!!). This one from  A Thoughtful Place is so lovely!  If you search "Free Valentine's Day Printables" you will come up with loads of options for cards, gifts and decor.  Sweet!

♥ For the Heart: {One of my favorite quotes of all time....}

Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility..... It is therefore able to undertake all things, and it completes many things, and warrants them to take effect, where he who does not love would faint and lie down.  Love is watchful and sleeping, slumbereth not.  Though weary, it is not tired; though pressed, it is not straitened; though alarmed, it is not confounded; but, as a lively flame and burning torch, it forces its way upwards and securely passes all.  

- Thomas A Kempis (1379-1471) -

How are you planning to celebrate? 

Do you have a favorite craft, book, recipe or gift idea? 

We'd love to hear it!

Flannery O'Connor & A Perfect Porch Swing

See this??...

{I searched for a photo credit but came up short.  Message me if you know the source of this photo so I can give credit where credit is due!}

This is where I would live in the summer if it weren't for current desert conditions (were in a serious drought *again* here people, pray for us!), and if I had a staff the size of Downton Abbey's to cook the meals and brush my hair and change the diapers.

"Lazy days of summer" is an idyllic term at best for farmers and their families.  April to October is our busiest season, which is why I don't homeschool in the summer (unless you call reading every day, practicing the piano and mastering math drills on the computer "school").  

Despite the intensity of the work around here, I do appreciate, so very much, the long days of sunlight and the break from the classroom, because it affords me more opportunities to read for enjoyment vs. reading for research sake or for the kids' sake.  I think it's of great value for our children to see us read in our spare time, to choose literature as our leisure.  I'm witnessing the fruits of this decision in my oldest children, especially, who rarely ask if they can watch television. When the chores are completed, if not playing or practicing a sport, they can often be found reading, and they all ask if they can stay up and read at night - even Charlie can't fall asleep without a heap of books in his crib!  This is a great joy for me!

{Flannery O'Connor's collected works}

Do you ever find that certain genres of art, literature or music seem to pop up in your daily life, sometimes repetitively, and that repetition leads you down a path of interest in the art?  In my college days, I read a little bit of Flannery O'Connor, but at the time I was more interested in her biographical life as a Southern Catholic.  

Because her name has come up in conversation a couple of times recently and quotes from O'Connor have floated across my Pinterest page, I took it as a sign and purchased her Collected Works to add to our home library.

I may not have a dream porch to perch on, but you can be sure that any "free" moment this summer will be spent engrossed in Flannery's talents.  Eighty pages into Wise Blood and I'm hooked.  

What are you reading now?? 

Feel free to share! I'd love to hear about your current literary passion!

A Peek Inside Our Christmas Book Basket

You may have tangible wealth untold:

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be - 

I had a mother who read to me.

~ Strickland Gilllilan

After the birth of our first son, I began building a library of books for our family.  Reading to the children every day is something we all enjoy very much.  And, when a special holiday comes around, choosing themed books from our shelves for story time is so much fun!

During Advent and Christmas, we keep a special basket by the tree filled with our holiday favorites.  I thought I'd share a few of them with you! 

Every year, I like to add a new book or two to our collection, and write the year inside the front cover.  For this season, I chose The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.  It came highly recommended on Pinterest, and after reading a little more about it, I was sold. We can't wait for it to come in the mail!

Also new this year is The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long. After seeing the breathtaking illustrations, I wondered why I waited so long to purchase this little treasure! Now for the books we've enjoyed for the past few years...

Good King Wenceslas is one of my all time favorite stories to read during Advent.  The illustrations are magnificent (boys will especially appreciate the grandeur of the king and his knights), the text is of course the traditional hymn by the name of the title, and the richness of the tradition behind the carol is a superb teaching/catechetical tool.  If you have any Czech blood in your heritage, it is worth the time and effort to do a map study on the Czech Republic, look up pictures of Prague, and bake or buy some Kolaches (a traditional Czech pastry - yummy!!). 

If you would like to read more about St. Wenceslas before enjoying the book with your family, here is a link:

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=284

I don't think I'd be exaggerating if I said that I've read The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher at least 100 times since we've added it to our collection.  The boys just love it! The illustrations are hilarious, and even I cannot hold back the giggles!

If you want to make it educational, you could introduce the following:
Art: Let the kids identify the colors of the sprinkles, then talk about the color wheel.  They can paint a page of sprinkles using primary colors, then mix their own secondary. (Bingo daubers would also be fun!)
Language Arts:  Teach the term alliteration.  Let the kids find patterns of alliteration throughout the text.  Also, you could have the older kids write a summary, putting the events of the story in order using the terms first, second, next, then, finally, etc.
Character Formation:  Teach the virtues of generosity, helpfulness, charity, industriousness, etc. Then, discuss how the Sprinkle Snitcher is the antitheses of these good behaviors.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas is an adorable story about the joy of serving others.  Kids will easily pick up on the themes of friendship, thoughtfulness, sharing, joy, sacrifice and encouragement.  It is also a nice introduction to naming animals most of us don't see every day such as a mole, a badger and a crow.  The illustrations of the bear rekindled my understanding of why teddy bears have been such a popular stuffed animal for children to own for generations. Your little ones will love it!

A beautiful story is made even more poignant when it's words are matched with equally beautiful illustrations.  The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree is one of those stories.  This one ranks high on our list of favorites!

Tonight You Are My Baby is a beautiful story or the birth of Christ from Mary's perspective.  It is beautifully written with a tenderness and warmth.

Father and Son A Nativity Story is a gentle story of St. Joseph and his overwhelming feelings toward raising the son of God.  I love hearing my husband read it to the boys every year.

The Gift of the Magi is a beautiful demonstration of the exemplary virtues of generosity, sacrifice, and self-gift lovingly enacted through two individuals during the Christmas season.  Though the text will be too advanced for little ones, if they are patient, the language can be simplified and explained as the story is read.  It is one of those books that I never tire of reading as an adult, and the richness of the illustrations give a unique life to the story.

Who is Coming to Our House? is a perfect story for Advent.  I added it to our basket last year (read about it here!) and it quickly became one of our favorites!

Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo is a truly lovely story of a little girl whose heart is awakened to the needs of the less fortunate, and the measures she takes to extend kindness to them.  

Many of you probably have at least on Tomie dePaola book in your library.  He is a great storyteller and his books can often be recognized by the illustrations alone.  These are two that are nice for the season...you may even be lucky enough to rescue one off of the bargain book rack!  The 50% off sticker adds such a nice touch, don't ya think?

One of the first Christmas books to enter our library, Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect is a simple yet wonderful story.  It encourages discussion on why Christ came into the world and how we can model His self-donating love to others.

A good friend of mine graciously recommended this fantastic trilogy to me several years ago, and the anticipation of their reading never ceases.  They follow the Advent calendar, and one chapter is read for each day, ending on Christmas day.  I love how they generate discussion of Jewish laws and traditions, prior to the birth of Christ.  The chapters end with a brief but insightful reflection for practical life application.  The author does a wonderful job of weaving the characters together through adventures and exciting situations that will keep the kids on the edges of their seats. Jotham's Journey is the first in the series.

I hope that you enjoy this short list of titles and are able to find most of them in your local library, discount book store or perhaps they will be gifted to you.  Most of all, I hope you savor the time you have to read to your little ones (and big ones - my older boys still love picture books!)

If you have a favorite Christmas book that you'd like to recommend to us, please leave a note in the comment section!