Book Ideas for Christmas Gifts

Have you heard the rumor that *now* is the time to be buying Christmas gifts as there is a supply chain shortage and the popular gift items are expected to be in high demand and short supply? We never buy the “popular” items so it doesn’t change much in our life, but it did get me thinking about creating a list of gift giving book ideas.

This is a rather long list, built by our whole family. We LOVE books and love reading lists of book ideas that others write! I have tried to break down these book ideas into various categories that might catch your eye and make you think of a specific person on your shopping list, or book ideas for yourself to add to your own wish list!
If the category itself doesn’t lend itself to an age category I have mentioned the age range the book ideas would be ideal for.

The book ideas shared here are mostly in print books that are widely available. Thankfully there are some wonderful publishers bringing back some of the rare out of print books! What a treat!
All titles are referral links to the product on Amazon, which if you use costs you nothing extra and helps support this website. Thanks for considering it!

Top Three Picks

I get asked this a lot when I share a list – “That’s a lot of books, just tell me your top three book ideas” … that’s a painful request, but here are my top three books, pulled from the lists below:

1. Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield is a beautiful story and would be a wonderful gift ranging from a family read aloud to an elderly family relative that enjoys a beautiful story. I read this to the boys in 2015 I believe and while many of the details have faded the feeling of the book has not. It also comes up a surprising amount of times in my book groups – this is a well loved book that evokes laughter, tears, and a sense of triumph.
2. Six Seasons, a New Way with Vegetables by Joshua McFadden – We aren’t vegetarian (and, this isn’t strictly a vegetarian cookbook) but it has inspired and revived my cooking of vegetables in such a good way. It is a beautiful book, and so well written with many explanations of the *why* behind cooking techniques and what to look for when buying vegetables. This would be a lovely gift for anyone that enjoys cooking. If it is gifted to a vegan or vegetarian I would just add a note acknowledging it doesn’t stick strictly to that diet, but that there is enough good in this book you think they’ll still enjoy it.
3. Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot – I’ve read this book about ten times now and recommend it all.the.time to people, so it is probably only fair it be on my top three list. The hardcover book is beautiful and would make a lovely *looking* gift, but the content is so impactful. This book so succulently defines what suffering is and what we as Christ followers should do with our suffering. This would be a gift only appropriate for a Christian, and, personally, I think it would be most precious as a gift if the giver has read it and can share what they appreciated from it.

Paul and the boys agreed to make their own “top three” lists of book ideas, too! So here they are:

Paul’s Top Three

1. Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic by Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient is an incredible story about a remarkable man. This story chronicles the journey of a battle scarred Viet Nam vet who was ignorantly hated by many. It chronicles his journey to resilience and is an absolute inspiration.
2. God’s Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation by David Saxton – Don’t let the word “Puritan” scare you away from this. It only speaks to the heritage of some of the teaching here. I’ve heard people talk about meditating on the word of God my whole life. In this book, David Saxton breaks down what that means. What does it actually mean to meditate on Gods word. What are some ways of planning this to work it into your life. Just as a warrior prepares for battle by learning the battlefield, this lays out a battle plan for conquering the mind through meditating on Gods word and allowing it to change you.
3. Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins – David Goggins was a terribly abused child, exposed to things no child should be. He failed his way through school eventually succeeding only by cheating. This book chronicles his adult journey, facing his fears, facing his failure and becoming known for the opposite of his weakness. He’s known as one of the worlds foremost experts on mental toughness.
4. You Can’t Win by Jack Black (not the actor)
   This book was a surprise find, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I didn’t even know it was a memoir. I started reading and immediately got drawn into this young mans sad lonely and at times exhilaratingly exciting life.  He leaves a troubled home and takes up the life of a hobo. The great part of this read was the redemptive nature of it by the end. I won’t spoil it by sharing any more. (…and yes, Paul shared four instead of three. haha)

Judah’s Top Three (age fourteen)

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien – because it is both a long story and a great story.
2. Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney – It is a wonderful tale that has inspired many other books. (note, this linked to edition has great illustrations!)
3. Redwall by Brian Jacques – it has a touch of humor and wit, as well as a nice story.

Wesley’s Top Three (age thirteen)

1. How to Draw Cool Stuff – “This is a little below my skill level but I find it fun.”
2. Dracopedia series – “is a very fun guide to draw dragons and in other books contain wonderful mythical creatures.”
3. The Sketching and Drawing Bible and The Pastel Artists Bible – “I haven’t used these as much as the other two yet. They are very educational and not as exciting, but they are still fun to have.”

We all found this very painful to narrow down to the top three – and my whole heart hurts thinking that maybe we disinterested even just one person by those three recommendations! I hope you will read on and maybe find a gem or two for yourself or loved ones.

 Book Ideas For the Wellerman Sea Shanty Lover

Has the sea shanty craze hit your home? It’s the most fun, except for the occasional song about drinking copious quantities of alcohol that the kids belt out at inopportune moments. (hah!) There are some delightful books about Nantucket or whaling that I have enjoyed over the years for an assortment of ages.

Obadiah trio by Brinton Turkle – I do believe this was my first introduction to Nantucket and whaling. It is a gentle and sweet story that takes place in Colonial America about a little Quaker boy named Obadiah. It is beautifully illustrated and really nice to read outloud. A fun gift to go along with this would be a spy glass, like Obadiah is gifted in Obadiah the Bold. roughly, ages 4-8

The True Adventure of Daniel Hall by Diane Stanley – a bit of a harrowing picture book story of a boy on a whaling ship, so not for the faint hearted child, but my own boys loved it around ages 6-8. And I loved reading it to them!

When Nantucket Men Went Whaling by Enid Meadowcroft – this is, unfortunately, one of the out of print books that can be hard to find. Currently the link has the book priced at $19 and it is not available on Ebay. This is a lovely illustrated book that shares a lot of factual information about Nantucket and whaling. I read it to a group of children age 4-8 this summer over several days, and they enjoyed it.

In the Heart of the Sea, The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick – I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! It is the true account of the wreck of the Essex in 1819, which served as inspiration for the classic Moby Dick. It is really well written and a fascinating sea adventure story, filled with courage and horrific suffering. for adult reading 

Book Ideas to Make You Feel Better About Yourself

Perhaps I could have come up with a better heading, but these are the books I read or listen to while doing hard things to give me some perspective and help me push through whatever it is I am trying to get done. Of note, each one of these would have some content to be aware of. Language, references to sex, etc. So use your own discretion for age and audience.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is a personal memoir of his attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail in a summer. Spoiler: he doesn’t. This was WONDERFULLY funny – there were many moments that caused me to laugh out loud – and very informative about the history and formation of the AT.

The Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing is a well researched story about the incredible adventure Shackleton and his men endured when their ship got stuck in ice.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Kraukauer is a riveting account of a relatively recent disaster that occurred on Mt Everest.

The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz an incredible true story. In 1941, the author and six other fellow prisoners escaped a Soviet labor camp in Yakutsk–a camp where enduring hunger, cold, untended wounds, untreated illnesses, and avoiding daily executions were everyday feats. Their march–over thousands of miles by foot–out of Siberia, through China, the Gobi Desert, Tibet, and over the Himalayas to British India is a remarkable statement about man’s desire to be free.

You Can’t Win by Jack Black – Paul discovered this gem and shared it with me (it’s number four on his top three list! ha!) but I thoroughly enjoyed this redemptive story about the criminal hobo and his adventures around the country.

Niagara: A History of the Falls by Pierre Burton is a wonderfully informative collection of history and stories about Niagara Falls.

Book Ideas For Family Read Alouds

Any of these books would be wonderful read alone, but these titles are all ones we have enjoyed reading as a family over the years and any of these titles would make a lovely family gift.

King of Glory by Paul Bramsen is an excellent “Bible story” book for children and adults alike. Broken down into 70 simple readings this book focuses on the rescue story of God saving rebellious sinners. So while it sticks close to scripture the stories retold in it are about the redemption story.

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson is a delightfully heartwarming story about a homeless man in Paris and a fatherless family that is struggling.

Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat is truly laugh out loud funny about the antics of a boy and his pet owl.

The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne is full of wit and humor. It is more fabulous for the adult reading it than for the child listening, and yet it is sure to be adored by the child. If you have never read it, I highly recommend this!

Little Pear books by Eleanor Frances Lattimore have been a treasured favorite since we discovered them. The stories have stayed with the boys and they still talk about Little Pear’s experiences and adventures. These books have been, for my boys, everything a good book should be – a friend. I have recommended this series to many and all who have read it have thoroughly enjoyed it. (note: this is for the younger crowd as a read aloud, maybe for kids age 6-10)

Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Brisley  is another treasured series for the younger crowd. The stories were first written in 1925 and while the main character is a girl my boys were charmed by the stories. I appreciated the depth of character that is revealed through her choices in her various adventures.

Mother West Wind’s Children by Thorton W Burgess   First published in 1911 these charming old stories are wonderful for children in their creativity, descriptions of nature, humor, and lessons in virtue and character. These stories answer a collection of “why” question – why does Peter Rabbit have long ears? Why does Bobby Coon wash his food? The imaginative answers are memorable and tuck little tidbits of information away for children to remember about the animals.

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield is a surprising delight. The main character, orphaned Betsy, has been rather sheltered her entire life until her living arrangements suddenly change and she is given responsibilities. She rises to the new challenges and, again, great character is revealed as she faces various challenges. This book brought laughter and tears to the boys when I read it.

The Three Sneezes was a much loved book with both boys. It is a collection of fairy tale type stories, set in Switzerland. We really enjoy stories that share about other cultures, and this particular book was a huge hit with the boys.

Gentle Ben  by Walt Morey- A believable, albeit fictitious, story about a boy and a grizzly bear in rural Alaska. There was learning, adventure, and character development. I loved reading this book to the boys!

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli is a story that takes place in the 14th century. Well written and engaging, particularly excellent for boys and illustrating courage and excellent character in the face of hardship.

The Ark by Margot Benary-Isbert is a beautiful book about a family living in post WWII Germany, with the struggles and the triumphs. It reveals strength of spirit and character that will inspire and I’d highly recommend it.

Book Ideas For the Cookbook Lover

There is a very special group of people that enjoy reading cookbooks. These are some of our favorites for young and old!

The Forest Feast for Kids by Erin Gleeson – this is a vegetarian cookbook, but it has beautiful images and lovely kid-friendly recipes for them to make. The pictures make it really easy for kids to follow along. roughly ages 7-10

Six Seasons, a New Way with Vegetables by Joshua McFadden – Paul gifted be this for my birthday and I have loved it so much. The author breaks down the why, and has such a gift for mixing flavors. We aren’t vegetarian (and, this isn’t strictly a vegetarian cookbook) but it has inspired and revived my cooking of vegetables in such a good way.

Book Ideas for the Person Who has Read “Everything”

My A/O loving friends will role their eyes at this category as many of the books on this list come from there, however I tried to add a few other gems and for those not familiar with A/O perhaps there will be some new books on this list for you and your loved ones!

Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie Bober is an insightful book on the life and the character of one of our countries most extraordinary first ladies. Very interesting read (I actually read it outloud to my boys, but wish I had enjoyed it in my head by myself!)

Book of Marvels by Richard Haliburton – this is one of my very favorite books. It can be purchased as two separate books – The Orient and The Occident, or combined together in one if you find a vintage copy (Amazon has a modern copy that is both together but I am unfamiliar with the publisher so buy at your own risk!). It is the travel adventures of Richard Haliburton as he travels the world to see various monuments and wonders of the world.

Napolean’s Button How 17 Molecules Changed History by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson I haven’t personally read this one yet, but Judah has and Wesley is part way through it. They narrate each chapter to me and I plan to read it myself eventually. It is basically a history of chemistry, through story.

Never Give In, The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill by Stephen Mansfield is a relatively short but excellent read on the leadership of Winston Churchill

Carry On Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham is an amazing story that takes place in the 18th century about a mathematical genius who changes the world of navigation. More than that though, his kindness and love for human beings impacted many sailor’s lives.

Old Liberty Bell and/or Big Miss Liberty by Frances Rogers – I have no link to these books as they’re unfortunately out of print and quite expensive. These are distinctly children’s chapter books, but delightfully written and so informative about the history of each of the subjects and they would be worth spending the money on if you were particularly passionate about the subject matter.

They Looked for a City by Lydia Buksbazen – I haven’t read this book in years but have it on my list to read again soon. But I remember the feeling it left me with and with that I will steal from Amazon’s description in order to share better what it’s about – This fascinating book tells the incredible but true story of a Jewish family in Eastern Europe and their bitter but triumphant struggle for survival. Their lives weave a tale of betrayal and separation, confusion and desperation, failure and success, as they are caught in the maelstrom of war, torn apart by a devastating series of events, and experience a truly miraculous family reunion.

The Journey that Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden – we love the Rey’s work and this beautiful book was a fascinating glimpse into the troubles and trials this couple faced. It was an easy and short read aloud and we all enjoyed it immensely.

The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard- my oldest LOVES card tricks and learns them by reading books. Of all his magic trick books, he says this is the best one for learning card magic.

Marine Sniper 93 Confirmed Kills by Charles Henderson – not one I have personally read, but one Paul enjoyed.

Raising Men: From Fathers to Sons: Life Lessons from Navy Seal Training by Eric David – another recommendation from Paul

Book Ideas For the Graphic Novel or Comic Lover

These aren’t for everyone, but they have been so popular with my boys from when they started independently reading to current ages. They would be thrilled if I found them some comics they hadn’t yet read.

Astrix this is to the entire collection, each as an individual book. We collect them as an omnibus (Three stories in one) They come as hardcovers that complete a picture when all the spines are put together that way. Astrix is probably the number one recommendation I have for a purchase for middleschool/highschool boys. Andrew Kern, founder of Circe Institute, was the first place I read a recommendation on this cartoon and in the years since we have started collecting them I have found a small handful of others recommending them – they’re a gem worth collecting! The boys originally just found them to be funny cartoons, but they have come to draw connections from them for historical references in their other readings.

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale is a collection of stories that cover historical events. Best for early reader – young middle school.

 The Faithful Spy by John Hendrix is about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Best for early reader to young middle school.

Calvin and Hobbes comics – these truly just get funnier the older the boys get and the more connections they make in the world.

Book Ideas for Lovers of Picture Books

Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling is a great option for transitioning into chapter books. Each ‘chapter’ is one page in length and has a full page illustration beside it. The story follows the adventures of a hand carved canoe through the Great Lakes. It is truly a wonderful book that is both educational and interesting.

Twenty One Elephants and Still Standing by April Jones Prince – a truly delightful story about the historic event of the completion of the Brooklyn bridge and PT Barnum marching 21 elephants across it.

The World’s Greatest Elephant by Ralph Helfer is a fun book that is presented as true, but a bit of research shows that this isn’t quite accurate. A fanciful twist on a true story, perhaps. But it is a really fun story about Modoc the Elephant and Bram of the Ringing Brother’s circus fame.

The Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer is a charming story about the adventures of Lars, the little polar bear. There are a lot of different stories in this series, so make sure to look for them all! The stories are simple and sweet – easy to finish in one sitting.

Katy No Pocket by Emmy Payne is a delightful story and is charmingly illustrated by H. A. Rey.

There are Rocks in My Socks Said the Ox to the Fox by Patricia Thomas is a funny story about an ox who has rocks in his socks and follows the poor advice of a fox to get rid of said rocks. She has also written Stand Back Said the Elephant, I Am Going to Sneeze which is another fabulous rhyming story. The price for “used” is in the $4 range currently.

Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain by Edward Ardizzone is a charming, classic adventure story that is both well told and beautifully illustrated.

Peppe the Lamplighter is a beautiful, heart tugging story about an immigrant family in Little Italy, NYC and their new life in America. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is inspiring and reveals a lot about the struggles of poor, hard working immigrants.

Book Ideas on Homemaking

Home Comforts The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson is amazing! I have read the first few chapters and then jumped around to the relevant chapters (and will continue using it as a reference book.) This is a super practical, very thorough look at keeping house. The author is a lawyer who works outside the house and yet loves home and creating a welcoming atmosphere. So it is pretty efficient, built around finding a system that works for *you*, and really logical and engaging in the writing style.

The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer is a book I first read when the boys were super little. I recall feeling discouraged and like I didn’t see how to apply what she was talking about. About a decade later I read it again and was shocked to discover how many of her ideas were implemented in my every day life.

The Gospel Comes with a Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield is a pretty challenging and extreme example of hospitality.

The Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch very practical and encouraging book on Biblical hospitality.

Simple Hospitality by Jane Jarrell is another practical and encouraging book on hospitality. It’s the first book I read on the subject as a newly wed, so it may be more basic than others on the subject matter.

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson – this is a bit of a funny category to place this book in, but it also fits really well. The subtitle to the book is “Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making” – and it is truly an inspiring and beautiful book for those pursuing the good, the beautiful, and the true. 

Book Ideas On Loving the Church – the bride of Christ

It’s become a theme of interest to myself lately, and a theme conversations reveal is a real need with many: how do we love the local church body well? While none of these books speak directly to this subject, all of these books ministered to me and taught me on this subject of loving the body of Christ.

Prosper by Nate Bramsen – We read it outloud as a family and I have read it on my own and discussed with a friend. It is such a beautiful book that encourages intimacy with the Lord and gives pause to consider the challenges we think stand in our way to intimacy with the Lord – which if church issues plays a part of your story, I think you’ll be remarkably challenged and encouraged.
I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in this book. We have gifted it to a number of people and several have expressed it’s one of their favorite books. age 12+

Messiology by George Verwer – this was my first book by George Verwer and wow! With humility and grace he shares about being anchored in God’s word and His truth – while recognizing we as humans mess things up and God can and will work through it. It really caused me to reflect on why I get worked up about things and how God is all powerful and capable of working in the mess.

Humility by Andrew Murray – this is a very interesting subject matter to read on. A quote from the book- “Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.” I am putting it in this category as I find many of my “church issues” are actually rooted in my own pride, and to truly let the Lord work through me and show me what He wants from me, I must lay aside my own pride.

Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd Jones – I have found most prints of this book to be hard to read and Amazon doesn’t seem to have my copy that is wonderfully legible, so you may want to look in person for this book. But wow! It is so good. Much like Humility, Spiritual Depression deals with our own heart issues that can cause spiritual depression (which, if you’re not connecting the dots – will have an effect on the local church body.)

The Twenty Piece Shuffle; Why the Poor and Rich Need Each Other by Greg Paul deals with some very messy and dark stories, but also shows the remarkable paradox, where the poor can miss their blessedness while the wealthy overlook their own desperate needs. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything, but I learned a lot from this book.

Too Small to Ignore by Wes Stafford is a really hard and challenging read as Mr. Stafford shares his own personal story of growing up as an MK in a bordering school where abuse ran rampant, but he beautifully turns it to the love and grace of God, and turns it to the necessity for us to see the value in children and to love them well. Whether you work with children in your church or not (maybe especially if not!) I think this book will encourage and change the way you interact with children. (Same for his other book, Just a Minute.)

Book Ideas On Christian Living + Disciplines

What Jesus Wished People Knew About God by Jurgen Schulz is a refreshing and beautiful look at the prodigal son story that Jesus tells, while revealing to us the heart of God.

Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot – this is my number one recommendation in this category. It is a relatively short book (eight chapters I believe) and has had such a huge impact on my life. What do we do with suffering? This book so succulently defines what suffering is and what we as Christ followers should do with our suffering. age 13+, though having a specific challenge you can name as suffering would make it more relatable for the teenage years

God’s Battleplan for the Mind by David Saxton was a surprising discovery, but one both Paul and I really enjoyed. It dives in deep about the importance and the practice of meditating on God’s word.

Edges of His Ways by Amy Carmichael is a daily devotional that is one of my very favorites to use and to gift.

Exploring Romans by John Phillips – in the Fall 0f 2019 I was challenged to read and know the book of Romans, and so 2020 was spent immersing myself in that book. I read many commentaries on the book of Romans and John Phillips was by far my favorite! Accordance app carries all of his commentaries if you prefer them in digital form. We have both as I like reading the commentaries in paper form, but then referencing them as digital resource.

Book Ideas on Christian Biographies

Becoming Elisabeth by Ellen Vaughn – if you’re a fan of Elisabeth Elliot’s writing or radio program I think you will love this book. It is so well written and well researched and gives a lot of “behind the scenes” of Elisabeth Elliot’s life with glimpses into her journal. This is book one of a two part “series” and I cannot wait for the second book to come out! age 12+

I Dared to Call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh is the fascinating story of a wealthy Muslim woman who God reveals Himself to through dreams and, later, a local missionary who shares more of Christ with her.

God is Faithful compiled by JB Nicholson Jr is a collection of short stories about missionaries and God’s remarkable and timely provisions for them.

By Searching by Isobel Kuhn is the story of how Isobel Kuhn came to commit her life to Christ. I really appreciated the struggles she shared and her transparency as she worked through her doubts. I know of her mission work but haven’t yet read anything else by her, but hear that her other books are also excellent!

Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose is a remarkable testimony of a woman’s faith during her trials through WWII. Wesley has listened to this story three times (he is particularly drawn to biographies!) and while he highly recommends this book he also cautions that it is a sad and hard to listen to story (having listened through it twice myself, I concur! But it is SO good and I learned much from her faithful example.)

Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson is a fascinating history of Christianity in other nations and how some nations, without having God’s word, knew truths about God as revealed to them through nature or through legends passed down. Super good and interesting!

Whew! That’s all the book ideas for now. I will come back to add to this list in years to come (in fact, the boys sent me more books they thought should be added to this list and I just don’t have time to add them all!) We try to read widely and these books hopefully reflect that – but even in reading widely I know I have forgotten many wonderful books, so as they come to mind I’ll note them  down and add them here periodically.

Thanks for being here and happy reading!

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