Madeline L’Engle in her book WinterSong writes, “As we move into Advent we are called to listen, something we seldom take time to do in this frenetic world of overactivity.  But waiting for birth, waiting for death—these are listening times, when the normal distractions of life have lost their power to take us away from God’s call to center in Christ” (58).

The Donkey’s Song by Jacki Kellum (illustrated by Sydney Hanson)—The simple, lyrical verse and cute illustrations would make this a great picture book for young readers.  The donkey’s Beanie Boo eyes seemed a little out of place to me, especially since they didn’t match the rest of the aesthetic; however, they’ll probably make this book and character even more of a hit with kids.

The Twelve Hours of Christmas by Jenn Bailey (illustrated by Bea Jackson)—So cute!  I love the glowing illustrations and expressive faces of all the characters in this “12 Days of Christmas”-inspired story about one family’s Christmas Day.  Kids are the best judges of good read-alouds, but I have a hunch this would be a winner.  Also, as you take in each page, keep an eye out for the missing kitten!

How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky (illustrated by S. D. Schindler)—Have you ever pictured Santa as a young man?  Weird, I know, right?  Yet we were all young once, and every hero has an origin story, including Santa.  Follow him through his multifaceted career to find out how he gains all the skills he needs for his ultimate job.  The illustrations are colorful yet pleasantly quaint, with a late nineteenth-century feel—a perfect fit for a fun story.

Winter Tales / Dawn Casey (illustrated by Zanna Goldhawk)—Rich illustrations and a lovely mix of familiar and unique winter and Christmas tales from around the world make this a Christmas must-have.  I also like that each story tends to be only about four pages, making it easy to finish in one sitting, and I imagine, ideal for read-alouds for young audiences with short attention spans.

The Advent of Glory by R. C. Sproul—Sproul offers a meatier Advent devotional than the one I started by Paul Tripp (and quit).  Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the Incarnation story and ends with a prayer by well-known Christian writers, such as Sinclair Ferguson and Joni Ericson Tada.

Bright Evening Star: Mystery of the Incarnation / Madeline L’Engle—In true L’Engle style, this is a remarkably unique take on Christmas devotionals.  Essentially, Bright Evening Star is a memoir-Advent mashup where Madeline L’Engle muses on parts of her life and how they relate to Christmas and the Gospel story.  Pretty unusual, and probably not for everyone.  However, as a growing fan of L’Engle’s memoirs, I have enjoyed witnessing her journey from a seeker to, as far as one can know this side of glory, a believer, and you can see that path if you read her personal works from the early days versus the end of her life.

WinterSong: Christmas Readings / Madeline L’Engle and Luci Shaw—This book is a collection of poems, short stories, and essays, grouped into chronological categories that carry you through the Christmas and winter season.  As with most collections of this sort, the offerings are a mixed bag.  Overall, though, this is full of gems that make it well worth the read.  Even when I disagree with the authors’ theological opinions on certain matters, I appreciate how seeing others’ viewpoints helps me understand them better, think more critically, and broaden my own understanding of a topic so familiar I too often forget the miracles and glory of it all.

Winters in the World: A Journey Through the Anglo-Saxon Year / Eleanor Parker—Fascinating.  This is a book I could imagine Tolkien or C.S. Lewis either writing or avidly reading.  Parker strikes the perfect balance of scholarly information and authority without being dry.  I especially enjoyed learning about the meanings behind words and traditions and how they’ve played out—even to the modern day in some cases.

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Merry Christmas!