Melissa Meyers shares book recommendations by Calvary Women

Stories for children and family

All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings

Karyn Grenz shared, “this book by Gayle Boss was a lovely blessing to my daughter last year, a lover of animals and story telling. She drew while I read the daily story bringing us to all the beautiful creatures God so perfectly designed and then ending with his Son on Christmas. Love!” 

My Birthday, Jesus’ Birthday

Julie Johnson had several books to recommend. The first is My Birthday, Jesus’ Birthday by Holly Davis, is a story geared for ages 2-6 to help them understand Jesus’ birthday in the context of their own birthday. It highlights the similarities and the differences in 32 pages.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Julie Johnson said that “this story is for everyone!” This is a beautifully illustrated story by P.J. Lynch and written by Susan Wojciechowski. It is about a woodcarver, named Jonathan Toomey. He suffered a great loss in his life, and lost all his hope. The story is a beautifully woven tale about how he finds his faith again.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

I agree with Julie that this is hands down one of the best read-aloud Christmas books for almost any age by Barbara Robinson. When the Herdman family, not known for their good behavior, volunteer for the church’s annual Christmas play, chaos erupts. Through their eyes, the Christmas story takes on a whole new meaning that is heartwarming and entertaining. Somehow, in the mess the beauty of the Christmas story shines through.

The Christmas Mystery

This is an enchanting story told by Norwegian writer, Jostein Gaarder, about a boy named Joachim. He finds a dusty advent calendar in a local shop before Christmas. Behind each door a story unravels about a girl named Elisbet. She journeys through time and across Europe to Palestine, to meet the Holy Family in Bethlehem. This also is a great read aloud divided into twenty-five chapters.

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Christmas reads for adults

I’m beginning to learn that Laura Kycek is the person to go to if you need a book recommendation. She had lots of great suggestions for Christmas reads. Here are a few of them.

The Red Glove Collection

This is a four-in-one edition written by Karen Kingsbury that includes, Gideon’s Gifts, Maggie’s Miracle, Sarah’s Song, and Hannah’s Hope. The first story, Gideon’s Gift is the story of Earl Gibson, a man who has closed off his heart to the world. Then he meets seven-year-old, Gideon, a leukemia patient. Gideon is determined to connect with Earl and to share with him the meaning of Christmas.

The second book, Maggie’s Miracle is about second chances. Megan, a high-powered attorney, who lost her husband two years prior, searches for a father-figure for her son through a local big brother matching program. Soon she finds that he is connected to a man she briefly met when they were both teenagers at a summer camp years earlier.

The third book, Sarah’s Song, is an intergenerational story. Sarah, who lives at Greer Retirement Village, begins her annual ritual of placing one special ornament a day on her tiny tree leading up to Christmas. This year though, she connects with a nurse struggling to find hope, and Sarah shares her own story of how long ago a song gave her another chance at love.

The last book in the series, Hannah’s Hope tells the story of Hannah, a lonely teenager from a powerful family. Right before Christmas, Hannah discovers her father is not her biological father. Wanting to desperately find him before Christmas, she begins a state-wide search.

Shepherds Abiding

If you haven’t discovered Mitford yet, you’re in for a treat. These books will have you packing your bags and searching for that perfect small town. This is the 8th book in the series about Father Tim, but it can be read as a stand alone. Father Tim finds a twenty piece nativity scene at the local antique shop in need of restoration. He decides it will make the perfect Christmas gift for his artist wife Cynthia. He sets about the task with trepidation, and doubt in his abilities. The tale that unfolds will remind you of the beauty that comes from faith and stepping out to bless others.

The Christmas Bus

This story by Melody Carlson takes place in the town of Christmas Valley. A place that prides itself on its holiday spirit. This year for the people of Christmas Valley, nothing is going as usual. The Shepherd’s Inn is full up of strangers. Then a young couple, who is due to have a baby at any moment, rolls into town in a wildly decorated bus. The townspeople are forced to look at what is the true meaning of Christmas.

A Cup of Christmas Tea

This book, which has sold more than 1.5 million copies, came at the recommendations of Diane Enger and Kristi Muston. When buying this book, you are also supporting a local Minnesota author, Tom Hegg, who lives in Eden Prairie. A nephew reluctantly accepts an invitation for a Christmas tea at the home of his Great Aunt. Despite his hesitancy he finds the warmth and blessing of connection and the spirit Christmas.

Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini is my own recommendation. This story alternates between a past and a present day story line. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the famous poet, and his family lived during the time of the Civil War. Longfellow penned the words to the poem Paul Revere’s ride increasing his popularity as the nation’s poet. When Longfellow lost his wife, the love of his life and mother to five children, in a tragic accident, he enters a deep darkness. Then his eldest son enlists in the army, and he despair at the possibility of losing him, too. Later on Christmas day, he hears the church bells ringing, and is inspired to write the poem Christmas Bells. This later becomes a well known Christmas Hymn.

The modern-day story takes place in present-day Boston. A music teacher, Sophia faces a budget cut and a possible job loss. She forges ahead preparing the children’s choir for a Christmas day service at the church she volunteers. She chosoes to have the children sing a hymn inspired by Longfellow’s poem, Christmas Bells. Will hope prevail?

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