Poetry, Inspiration & Picturebooks for the Holiday Season

Plus a Free download for you and a recommended bookstore to support

“One virtue of keeping the seasons of the sacral year is that they can help us to redress an imbalance, either in our own spiritual life or in the culture of our church or denomination. “…redressing an imbalance…(can) help us restore that quietness, that inner peace, that willingness to wait unfulfilled in the dark, in the midst of a season that conspires to nothing but fling bling and tinsel at us right through December.”

Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day from Advent to Epiphany, Malcolm Guite

Judging by the aisles this week at Costco, Christmas will be here tomorrow. Sigh.

Actually, scratch that. The change didn’t happen this week…If you are a regular shopper at that big box store, you are painfully aware the commercialized, consumer-driven powers that be decided the Christmas holiday season would assault us in late September. I still can't wrap my brain around the fact there are kitty cat Halloween costumes next to the pumpkins and princess outfits, one aisle over from the faux Christmas trees and gift wrap.

Christmas is More Than a Day

With the church calendar as a guide, we know that Christmastide is the entire season from Advent, beginning December 1^st this year and ending with Epiphany on January 6^th. The rhythms inherent in the needed slow down provided to us in the Christmas season—if we choose to heed them—can help refocus our attention away from the bling and onto the kingdom of God come to Earth.

Yes, our spirits need (a lot of) help slowing down in the busy holiday season ahead; one quiet way to steal away for a few moments’ peace is by immersing ourselves in beauty, truth and inspiration found in good books. To that end, I herewith offer you a resource of poetry, picture books, devotional reading and delightful fiction to accompany you in the upcoming Christmas season.

(l to r, top then bottom) Advent Readings, various, A Christmas Carol, annotated with discussion questions, poetry and prompts, my friend K.C. Ireton's book 'Circle of Seasons' is what introduced me to the Church Year, Malcolm Guite's reflections on each of the poems in Waiting on the Word is remarkable. The Mr. Dickens story has a ghost in it, but not the one you think (I'm re reading this this year. My dear friend Kris Camealy has also written some wonderful reflections great for pondering.

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Without further ado, here is a list for you of readings for Christmastide. It's never too early to begin pondering to set our hearts aright. Look for the button below to download the list as a pretty PDF, FREE to subscribers.

I should add, it was very difficult to choose only ten picture books and only ten inspiration/nonfiction. I kept erasing and backspacing to limit myself on the page, but goodness, you should see my bookshelves!

If I had to choose two favorites, they would be Lanier Ivester’s new book Glad and Golden Hours, (Rabbit Room Press) and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. The illustrations are by P.J. Lynch and they are remarkable. My dear friend Kimberlee gifted the picture book to me several years ago and it is a treasure to read every year.

Lanier’s is a memoir, cookbook, reflective essays and inspiration all in one; I've never read anything like it. It is a beautiful bountiful book and I believe will become my new seasonal favorite. Her writing is exquisite.

These titles are self-explanatory....but the cover illustrations! Glory.

You will note there are no live links for purchasing any of these books—I trust you’ll have your favorite sources, online or otherwise. Simply copy and paste the title here into your browser and hit ‘Enter.’ Voila!

Or better yet, get thee to thy favorite bookstore. May I recommend Noooks? They’re on Substack and owners Shawn & Maile would be glad to accomodate you! (The store is in Lancaster, PA). From their recent Substack: To support our independent book shop, consider buying one of the books mentioned in this review (or any book really—simply message us here or at hello@nooks.gallery). Orders over $25 receive free shipping!

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And tell me, do you have a favorite Christmas season read? Especially a picture book? Please share in the Comments!

Cheers!

Jody

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