Gift Guide: Book Edition
Written by Sally Anne Groomes
Years ago, I read about the most enchanting holiday tradition in Iceland. It is called Jólabókaflóð and translated means “Yule Book Flood.” On Christmas Eve, it is customary to give loved ones a book as a gift and then proceed to read the new book all night long. Sign me up! Seeing that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, Christmas is sure to look a little different this year, so why not adopt a new tradition of gifting books to those you love?! Here are my recommendations for readers of all ages and literary preferences.
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Children’s Books
For baby/toddler readers:
Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot books
For anyone looking to buy a book for a baby or toddler, look no further. These books are absolute gold! Each book has a fun theme or is based on a childhood song with vibrant illustrations and buttons that the child can pop on each page. It is perfect for these wiggly and distracted readers as it provides them an activity to do while you read. Some of my personal favorites are Old MacDonald’s Farm, The Wheels on the Bus, and 10 Little Monkeys.
Young children (preschool/early elementary readers):
The Complete Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem
This book is perfect for anyone who enjoyed the exploits of Peter Rabbit. This is a lovely collection with illustrations and silly characters to please the young readers in your life. It includes eight stories featuring the remarkably busy mice that live in Brambly Hedge. The detailed pictures on each page add to the magic as readers are drawn into a miniature world where entire villages exist within the trunks of trees.
Older children (elementary/middle school readers):
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
While I believe that the powerful message of this book is pertinent to readers of all ages, it is particularly geared toward upper elementary/middle school readers. This short chapter book centers around themes of negotiating difference, bullying, friendship, and forgiveness. Wanda Petronski is different from the other students in her class as she is the motherless daughter of Polish immigrants and struggling financially. The girls in her class draw attention to her and make fun of her because of her differences and never stop to realize the damage and pain their words inflict until Wanda suddenly leaves. The way in which Estes tells this story from the perspective of Maddie, one of the girls who bullies Wanda, provides a nuanced look at complicity and the power everyone has to stop or perpetuate intolerance.
For middle/high school readers that like science fiction:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
For any readers that like science fiction, time travel, and space, this will be a captivating literary adventure. The book chronicles Meg Murry, Charles Wallace Murry, and Calvin O’Keefe’s epic journey to find Mr. Murry. L’engle creates an inventive quest narrative that has profound themes demonstrating the power of love and our need for God’s divine light. This novel is the first of a quintet so you can start with just one or buy all five!
For middle/high school readers that are fans of Anne Shirley:
Pat of Silverbush by Lucy Maud Montgomery
I have been reading Lucy Maud Montgomery since falling in love with Anne of Green Gables in elementary school. However, in middle and high school I began seeking out the entirety of the Montgomery canon and stumbled upon this gem. Unlike Anne, Pat has a bustling family life and is absolutely devoted to her home. The book begins in her childhood and charts her growth to adulthood (ending when she is 18) and details her steadfast friendships, deep attachment to her family, and her progress to becoming more accepting of change. There is a sequel, Mistress Pat, that I also thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.
Non-Fiction picks:
For the Beth Moore fan club:
Chasing Vines by Beth Moore
This is Beth Moore’s most recent release and, while most of Moore’s books are targeted to women, this book pertains to anyone (men and women) walking with Christ. This book follows the fascinating theme of vines throughout the Old and New Testament. Moore provides real life applications and connections to the profound truths revealed in each of the biblical vine references and metaphors. I read the book version; however, there is also a study version that I am sure would also make an excellent gift.
For the history buff:
You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe
I do not usually find myself drawn to the history genre, but Coe captivates her audience through her cogent and riveting research into the life of George Washington. Her book provides a fast-paced yet widely encompassing look at George Washington’s personal, professional, and political career. Coe does not shy away from revealing details of Washington’s life that may read as problematic as she remains dedicated to providing a full picture of Washington, not just the impressive highlights. While never negating his accomplishments and importance in American history, Coe’s book shows less of Washington the demigod and more of him as a man capable of both greatness but also mistakes.
For the foreign policy reader:
Without You, There is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite by Suki Kim
While I have cursory knowledge of North Korea, this inside look written by a journalist imbedded in DPRK as an English professor provides a fascinating “behind the curtain” look. Kim’s experience at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) reveals the deeply distressing lives and lack of agency that many North Korean’s face. While exposing many of the failures within the country, Kim’s narrative also demonstrates a level of compassion and connection to the young men destined to eventually perpetuate this flawed system. However, knowing that people like Suki Kim exist and are dedicated to bringing light to these people, in small but significant ways, provides glimmers of hope for the future.
For the reader having a hard year:
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler
Bowler is professor at Duke Divinity School and wrote her dissertation on the prosperity gospel. While previously critical of this theology in her academic work, she comes face-to-face with her own prosperity gospel when she is suddenly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in her early thirties with an infant son. I loved how Bowler candidly expresses where some of her previous ideas and concepts of God fail her and undergo valuable changes as a result of facing death on a very real and daily basis. This book is an inspiring and thought-provoking read.
For the Parent Reader:
The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
Anyone you know who seeks to raise “readers” needs to own this book. Mackenzie delves into the research evidencing the powerful impact of reading on the success of a child; in particular, the impact of reading aloud with children of all ages. She then describes how she has personally integrated reading aloud with her family including kids of all ages from toddlers to teens. What I found most helpful was her discussion of numerous books grouped by age ranges to know what and when we should be reading. She also includes an amazingly helpful book list for reference.
Fiction Picks:
For the theological reader with a penchant for satire:
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
I rediscovered Screwtape this year and have had the profound experience of a slow and deliberate reading experience. Lewis creatively crafts a masterpiece of Christian apologetics from the viewpoint of two demons trying desperately to tempt a believer to stray. While many are familiar with the text, having a personal copy to augment one’s quiet time is an enriching gift for both mind and soul.
For the Mystery-lover:
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
I am a very jumpy and anxious reader, so when I found myself genuinely enjoying this mystery, I had to take note. I found this book utterly engrossing yet not terrifying in any way. While the mystery genre was once a favorite of mine, I quickly tired of formulaic plots. Kwok’s mesmerizing narrative follows Amy in her search to find her missing older sister who never returns from a trip to Holland. I loved that while the mystery drives the plot of this book, deeper themes of cultural dissonance, negotiating family roles and pressures, and the struggle for identity are also explored in nuanced ways.
For the Literary Fiction Reader:
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
Within this novel, Stegner crafts a powerful exploration of friendship, marriage, illness, and loss. If you happened to read The Dearly Beloved with us in book club, this novel feels vaguely reminiscent as the book begins at the ending and traces the history of two married couples’ friendship as well as their personal and professional ebbs and flows. Stegner brilliantly shows the striking development of each character individually but also how one’s evolution keenly impacts the circle of relationships that surround him/her.
For the Shakespeare or light fiction fan:
Vinegar Girl Anne Tyler
Vinegar Girl is a delightful contemporary revisioning of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The novel mirrors the comedy’s famous plot points, but Tyler creatively fills in many of the gaps that Shakespeare leaves unanswered, particularly regarding his misanthropic heroine, Katherina. The characters are fun and relatable which creates a truly diverting plot. Plus, Tyler provides valuable backstory to the various characters in her novel (much more so than Shakespeare). Consequently, the reader feels great investment in the characters as one yearns for each to achieve a happy ending.
For the book lover:
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
This light-hearted read is perfect for any one in love with the art of reading, books, and bookstores. Nina is a self-professed book lover that builds her life around working at a bookstore, attending and leading numerous book clubs, and finding time to read. Her one break from books is participating in trivia (which she excels at due to her...you guessed it, copious book knowledge). While more light than profound, this book possesses an interesting and original plot and truly likeable yet still relatable characters.
Sally Anne Groomes
Washington D.C.
Sally Anne is a former literature professor who still cannot be caught without a book close at hand. Currently, she is raising her two kids, running many miles, and adventuring around the world one duty station at a time with her husband (a Navy doctor). She loves Jesus with all her heart and is learning daily how to count it all JOY.
Learn more about Sally Anne here and find her on Instagram at @sagroomes21
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