Five Favourite What We're Reading Advent Books! (Whew! Every link-up covered!)
Here's some of our current Christmas faves around our house - its a bit of a smorgasbord!
1.
Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
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If you haven't yet found an Advent devotional and are in the market for one let me recommend Pope Benedict's perfect conclusion to his book series on the life of Christ. I'm always so surprised at how insightful and down to earth Pope Benedict can be in his writings. He's truly a brilliant scripture scholar, but how he brings such loftly truths from Scripture to an approachable level is a great gift for us. I found so many new ways of thinking about the Nativity, Mary and Jesus from this book I'm so glad I read it.
Gemma appears to finally be at the perfect age for Little House! I'm so happy about this fact I can't even tell you. She adores this Christmas book and the illustrations feel perfect for the Little House stories.
3.
The Huron Carol
The Huron Carol is one of my favourite Christmas carols. I love the haunting melody and it's dramatic telling of the nativity in a native context. The words were originally written by St. Jean de Brebeuf who is an amazing saint. I've been to the site where the Canadian martyrs were killed in Northern Ontario and hearing this carol makes me think of standing in those deeps woods, knee deep in snow (in March!), and how brave those missionaries were almost 400 years ago. Its also a beautiful testament to the power of the nativity being accessible to every culture.
But back to the book! This book has interesting but beautiful illustrations by Frances Tyrrell, and I've found that the kids have really taken to learning the hymn through this book.
2.
One Shining Star: A Christmas Counting Book
Looking for another toddler-friendly Christmas board book? Who isn't! This one seems to have been a favourite for each of my kids at about 2 and under. It has sweet illustrations and plenty of animals which keeps that age group interested. I sometimes encourage the counting books because they can be "read" while you're accomplishing five other things. Bad mom!
1.
The Christmas Angel
This book isn't theologically correct, and it pains me a little. Thomas Aquinas has ruined children's literature for me! But what it lacks in an imprimatur from my philosophy professor, it makes up for in its sweet story and beautiful illustrations. It's a little story of a "small angel" coming down to earth to witness Christ's birth. My kids ask for this one again and again, so I keep it around. I really like the impression it leaves that all of heaven was moved by the importance of Christ the Saviour being born in a stable.
Lovely linking up with Miss Moxie and her Five Favorites and Housewifespice for What We're Reading Wednesday!
The Huron Carol
The Huron Carol is one of my favourite Christmas carols. I love the haunting melody and it's dramatic telling of the nativity in a native context. The words were originally written by St. Jean de Brebeuf who is an amazing saint. I've been to the site where the Canadian martyrs were killed in Northern Ontario and hearing this carol makes me think of standing in those deeps woods, knee deep in snow (in March!), and how brave those missionaries were almost 400 years ago. Its also a beautiful testament to the power of the nativity being accessible to every culture.
But back to the book! This book has interesting but beautiful illustrations by Frances Tyrrell, and I've found that the kids have really taken to learning the hymn through this book.
2.
One Shining Star: A Christmas Counting Book
Looking for another toddler-friendly Christmas board book? Who isn't! This one seems to have been a favourite for each of my kids at about 2 and under. It has sweet illustrations and plenty of animals which keeps that age group interested. I sometimes encourage the counting books because they can be "read" while you're accomplishing five other things. Bad mom!
1.
The Christmas Angel
This book isn't theologically correct, and it pains me a little. Thomas Aquinas has ruined children's literature for me! But what it lacks in an imprimatur from my philosophy professor, it makes up for in its sweet story and beautiful illustrations. It's a little story of a "small angel" coming down to earth to witness Christ's birth. My kids ask for this one again and again, so I keep it around. I really like the impression it leaves that all of heaven was moved by the importance of Christ the Saviour being born in a stable.
Lovely linking up with Miss Moxie and her Five Favorites and Housewifespice for What We're Reading Wednesday!
follow along:
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Look at you, reading grown up books! You're an inspiration to us all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for Number 3--that looks really good--the illustrations, the native people, and the story. What about the carol? Now I'm going to search it out on Youtube. c:
ReplyDeleteI was unfamiliar with the Huron Carol, but our new baby is named after St. Isaac Jogues, so I'm thrilled at the discovery. It's playing on youtube now so I can learn it and sing it to him.
ReplyDeleteWe just checked out Christmas in the Big Woods--the Little House picture books are so good! I'm going to look into the Huron Carol too--sounds good.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of the Huron Carol, or most of those other ones...thanks!
ReplyDelete