Christmas Memories to Share

As we head for the holidays with our Christmas Unit Study Adventure, we would love to share some Christmas book suggestions for you to enjoy with your family while you are creating memories!

 

 

Family Read Aloud:

 

Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent, by Arnold Ytreeide.
This is an exciting advent story for the whole family about a ten year-old boy, Jotham, and his journey across Israel in search of his family. His adventures are exciting -- this is the first advent book that we read completely through, cover to cover!

General Family Interest:

Stories of the Great Christmas Carols, by Kenon Renfrow and June Montgomery. Published by Alfred Publishing Company.

Ten beloved Christmas carols are included in this engaging book, along with historical information about the origins of each carol. This edition contains an easy-to-read story of the creation of each carol; a simplified arrangement of each carol with text; information on those who wrote the text and the music; plus a fun activity page that reviews the information presented. Songs include: Angels from the Realms of Glory, Away in a Manger, The First Noel, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, O Come, All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night, Silent Night, What Child Is This, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks.

 

Younger Students:

The Jesse Tree, by Geraldine McCaughrean. Published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.

  As Mr. Butterfield carves a Jesse Tree in an old dusty church, a curious young boy distracts him, asking about the various symbols on the tree. Against his better judgment, the old man finds himself retelling the familiar Biblical tales that trace the lineage of Christ, from the Garden of Eden to Jesus' birth. Under the carpenter's skilled hands, the Jesse tree grows--and an unlikely friendship begins to take root as well. The Jesse Tree will captivate readers who know and love the Bible stories as well as those who are reading them for the first time. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Older Students:

 

One Wintry Night, by Ruth Bell Graham. Published by Baker Books.

This is one of our family favorites for all ages. In this beautifully illustrated book, a young injured boy seeks help from a grandmotherly woman during a snowstorm. While the two wait out the storm in her cabin, the woman lovingly shares the story of the Bible from Creation to the Resurrection, and each chapter ends with a bit of a cliffhanger -- perfect for family reading time during December.

Be sure to visit our Christmas Facebook Co-op, and share your Christmas discoveries, activities and inspirations with us!