Our children have also always received a new Christmas book which has helped us build an amazing collection over the years! I’m still waiting for a few more to arrive, but I just started wrapping most of the books for this year and wanted to share them with you all.
You are welcome to download my St. Nicholas labels over at Dropbox with either Black or Green text.
Here is the list of books my husband and I picked out for our children this year:
For Captain:
Fifteen year old Matt Bergin is staying in Glastonbury for Christmas with his cousins, Luke and Annie Martin. Matt feels drawn to Glastonbury Tor, and St Michael’s Tower, which crowns its summit. The cousins learn the secret of Glaston Tor and find themselves propelled back in time to 1940s France and the Second World War. They are given a mission by an enigmatic stranger, who asks them to help a young German couple and their son escape from wartime France. But the fearsome Gestapo are on their trail. Matt and his cousins will discover that their destinies are intimately linked to this family, and to a mysterious young stranger who will stop at nothing to learn their secret. With a compelling plot, captivating characters, suspense, excitement and ever-present danger, The Secret of Glaston Tor will take you on an incredible journey into the past, present, and future – and into the never-ending battle between good and evil . . . This book is particularly meant for 11-14 year olds, but can also be read to older young people, or by adults.
Our oldest son loves reading books about WWII. I think he will enjoy this one as well! If so, there is
a second book in the series that I may include in his Stack of Books for Christmas/Epiphany too.
For Ranger:
“Since he was in the first grade, fourteen-year-old Nicholas Gilroy has felt that God might be calling him to be a Catholic priest. To determine whether he has a vocation, he applies and is accepted as a freshman at Saint Peter’s High School Seminary. Nicholas, who has been homeschooled, is overwhelmed by the size of the building. He is also intimidated by the vice rector, Father Stephen Reynolds, who, from Nicholas’s perspective, should be in the marines and not in a seminary. The young man soon develops a friendship with Jose and Luke, two other freshman boys, which helps him to achieve success on the football team and to enjoy his new life at Saint Peter’s. But when Nicholas signs up for an after-school program to help tutor children in the inner city, he finds himself thrown into an adventure that puts his life at risk and changes him forever. In this novel, a teenage boy enrolled in a seminary participates in an after-school tutoring program in the inner city and comes face-to-face with life-changing danger.”
A book about a Catholic boy named Nicholas? I think that will work for St. Nicholas Day! It looks like one that my boys would enjoy.
For Twinkle Toes:
“Katy sets out in the snow to visit the new baby born in the innkeeper’s stable. She is bringing gifts: a loaf of bread, her cat Sasha and, most importantly, her favourite toy — a wooden bird whistle. But Sasha doesn’t want to play in the cold snow, and the animals of the forest eat the bread. Soon Katy’s carefully chosen gifts are gone — except the most special one of all. As the snow gets deeper and she gets colder, Katy wonders whether she’ll ever have the chance to give her gift to the baby? Katy’s Christmas Gift is a heart-warming and original version of the Christmas story for young children. Bernadette Watt’s lively illustrations are full of colour, light, joy and festive feeling.”
Note: This is a newer renamed edition, with the same beautiful illustrations inside,
For Chiquita:
“Traces the life of Christ from birth to Pentecost,
discussing the church calendar and its annual cycle of dates.”
I can’t believe we haven’t had these next two books before now! They are amazing! I ordered them from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts last summer and can’t wait to read them with our children.
For Snuggles:
“Retells the events surrounding the first Christmas,
from the Annunciation to the Presentation of the Infant Jesus at the temple.”
Another excellent book! I love that there are a couple pages dedicated to St. Nicholas and St. Lucy…
… and a couple more for the Saints of the Christmas Season including St. John and St. Thomas Becket – aka patron namedays in our home!
For Rose:
’Twas the evening of Christmas, when all through the town,
Every inn was so crowded, no room could be found.
Tired Mary and Joseph, who went door to door,
At last found a place on a small stable floor.
“For over 200 years, families have gathered on Christmas Eve to hear the much loved words of Dr. Clement C. Moore’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. This year, families can gather together to share the real Christmas story––the story of Jesus’ birth. ’Twas the Evening of Christmas echoes the familiar language and rhythm of Dr. Clements’ poetry, but instead of focusing on Santa, it focuses on the baby Jesus, who is, after all, the true hero of Christmas. All families will delight in this simple retelling of the most famous story ever told. With a cover that comes alive with foil and sculpted embossing, this book is sure to become a Christmas classic”
There is a chance I may save this book to use as our final book in our annual Advent Book Basket or as an O Antiphon gift for O Emmanuel, but I know Rose would love receiving it too!
For Bud:
“Seek and find characters from the popular holiday book A Chrismtas Carol on each page and follow them throughout the story. Each page contains beautifully illustrated characters to find and details to spot, accompanied by abridged text. This seek-and-find book is the perfect way to introduce younger children to the world of Charles Dickens.”
Our soon-to-be-six year old has ALWAYS been a huge fan of seek and find themed books.
I think he’s going to love this one too.
They also have
a Pride & Prejudice version that I might need to get for the girls!
For Grace:
“Meet Saint Anastasia, one of the greatest Christmas saints and the Patroness of Martyrs. Take her hand and let her lead you to the Crib! When people think of saints that remind them of Christmas, Saint Anastasia is almost always forgotten. For centuries, this humble and unassuming martyr has remained hidden in the shadows of the stable. Yet of all the saints in Heaven, she is the only one whose feast day falls on Christmas itself! It’s about time she stepped forward and made some new friends! Join Saint Anastasia and her best friend, Saint Theodota, as they bravely prove their love for God and neighbor, even unto the sacrifice of their own lives. With charming full-color illustrations and easy-to-read text, this third book in Susan Peek’s new series for children (companion to her series for teens, “God’s Forgotten Friends: Lives of Little-known Saints”) is sure not only to capture the hearts of Catholic children everywhere, but to inspire and inflame them with a greater love for their Holy Faith and the saints who lived and died for it.”
I almost bought this book for our little grace last year… I was convinced she was a girl, but
we didn’t officially find out until Christmas Eve so I decided to wait. It will be the perfect book to start her collection of Christmas themed picture books this year.
For additional Christmas book suggestions you can find some of our lists in the archives:
Our 2015 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels
Our 2016 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels {I’m planning to share our 2017 Basket and Labels next weekend!}
New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Stacks of Books on Christmas Morning or Epiphany:
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
.: Giveaway :.
I’m hosting giveaways every weekend of November this year, leading up to the first Sunday of Advent on December 3rd. This week I have six prizes to give away, all perfect for Advent, the feast of St. Nicholas, and Christmas gift giving from some of my sponsors here at Shower of Roses!
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:
Prize #1 – 8GB Saint Nicholas Flash Drive and 16 GB Our Lady of Guadalupe Flash Drive
sponsored by The Deo Gratias Company (combined value $32.98)
Congratulations, Amy!
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