One of my favorite gifts to give my children over the years has been the gift of books. I gather books for them throughout the year, slowly (and frugally!) adding to our family library. Sometimes I will hand them to the children immediately, and other times I will stash them away for Christmas, Easter, and birthdays. Thrift stores, garage sales, library book sales, and new Amazon finds all grace our family bookshelves.
As I got to wrapping presents this year, I began contemplating how the books my children would open on Christmas morning would be quickly eclipsed by the flashier presents they would unwrap. It seemed such a waste! Then I had a brilliant idea.
I determined right then and there that our family’s newest Epiphany tradition would be opening the gift of “wisdom” every Epiphany. The newness of their Christmas morning toys would have worn off and we could all settle in on those chilly January days to enjoy our newest literature. What could be a more perfect way to celebrate the visit of the Wise Men? (Of course, we have a few other Epiphany traditions too!)
Michael (3):
A River Ran Wild by Cherry (Thrift store, $.29)
From the author of the beloved classic The Great Kapok Tree, A River Ran Wild tells a story of restoration and renewal. Learn how the modern-day descendants of the Nashua Indians and European settlers were able to combat pollution and restore the beauty of the Nashua River in Massachusetts.
Three Jovial Huntsman adapted and illustrated by Susan Jeffers (Thrift store, $.29)
The woods are alive with animals hiding among the tree trunks, between their roots, on their branches. But to the three huntsmen, there is nothing there at all. They must go home empty-handed. Includes breath taking illustrations.
Puff-puff, Chugga-chugga by Wormell (Thrift store, $.29)
If Big Can…I Can by Shoshan (Thrift store, $.29)
White Snow, Bright Snow by Tresselt (Thrift store, $.29)
When the first flakes fell from the grey sky, the postman and the farmer and the policeman and his wife scurried about doing all the practical things grownups do when a snowstorm comes. But the children laughed and danced, and caught the lacy snowflakes on thier tongues.
Karol: The Boy Who Became Pope by Sullivan ($5 during TAN’s Black Friday sale)
“In the beautiful country of Poland, in the town of Wadowice, lived a boy named Karol. His family and friends called him “Lolek.”
Manners in God’s House for Little Catholic from Neumann Press ($5 during TAN’s Black Friday sale)
This necessary guide to Mass teaches children how to behave well in church. It outlines reverent behavior for little boys and girls, with quaint pictures and an easy “9 Rules for Visitors to the King.” It provides an attractive, fully-illustrated mini-missal for the Mass. It also details essential Catholic prayers, breaking them down phrase-by-phrase for easy comprehension and memorization—the perfect teaching tool to help you pass the Our Father, Hail Mary, and other indispensable prayers on to your child.
I Believe: The Creed, Confession, and Ten Commandments for Little Catholics from Neumann Press ($5 during TAN’s Black Friday sale)
This small, durable hardback book is perfect, both inside and out, for young souls to bring to confession. Careful explanations of the Creed and the Ten Commandments, and five easy steps to the Sacrament of Reconciliation ensure that your child will readily grasp the precepts of our faith, learn to examine his or her conscience, and experience the grace of having a soul wiped clean in Confession.
Lilla (5):
The Complete Brambly Hedge by Barklem (new from Amazon)
The mice of Brambly Hedge have been delighting adults and children alike for more than thirty years. All eight of the classic picture books are brought together in this exquisite volume.
The Village of Lights by Stevens (new from Amazon)
How can an old farmer and a few simple strings of Christmas lights bring hope and holiday cheer to a snowy, war-torn village?
Silent Night by Weninger (new from Amazon)
A warm and wonderful story of the creation of the timeless hymn, Silent Night, and its creator Joseph Mohr.
Delightful Stories for Children by Billings (Neumann Press)- purchased during TAN’s $5 sale
Follow the adventures of Jackie Jinks, his cousin Cricket, Paws the cat, Rags the dog, and more of their friends in this fun collection of 20 tales. Delightful Stories for Children is an ideal book for young readers just beginning to read chapter books; it is easy enough for your child to read independently, but it is also great for reading aloud. Each of the book’s chapters is a stand-alone episode, which is perfect for reading a story or two at bedtime.
More Stories from Grandma’s Attic by Richardson (free, library book sale leftover!)
A young girl delights in her grandmother’s stories of days gone by, sparked by keepsakes and simple questions, Grandma shares marvelous stories of mischief , discovery, and laughter, such as a beautiful heart-shaped locket and a curl that cost Grandma more than a lock of hair.
The Hundred Dresses by Estes – (free, library book sale leftover!)
Eleanor Estes’s The Hundred Dresses won a Newbery Honor in 1945 and has never been out of print since. At the heart of the story is Wanda Petronski, a Polish girl in a Connecticut school who is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress every day.
Matilda by Dahl (free, library book sale leftover!)
Here is Roald Dahl’s original novel of a little girl with extraordinary powers. This much-loved story has recently been made into a wonderful new musical, adapted by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
The Little House in the Woods by Whitehill Hunt (free, library book sale leftover!)
Christian (7):
Saint George and the Dragon by Hodges (new)
Pasteur’s Fight Against Microbes by Birch (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
Marie Curie’s Search for Radium by Birch (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World by McNulty (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
‘[An] irresistible account of a child’s imaginary 8,000-mile journey through the earth to discover what’s inside. Facts about the composition of the earth are conveyed painlessly and memorably.’
The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Standiford (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
It is one of the worst storms ever – the snow has not stopped for days and it is 30 degrees below zero. But somehow Balto must get through. He is the lead dog of his sled team. And he is carrying medicine to sick children miles away in Nome, Alaska. He is their only hope. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Find out in this exciting true story!
Sisters of the Last Straw #1: The Case of the Haunted Chapel by Boyce ($5, TAN’s Black Friday sale)
The Sisters of the Last Straw and the Case of the Haunted Chapel is the first in a series of children’s books that convey the fun-filled story of a group of misfit nuns. These sisters and their madcap adventures teach the importance of tolerance and forgiveness.
The Vikings by Janeway (free, library book sale leftover!)
Leif Erickson came from a long line of Viking seafarers-men who for hundreds of years had sailed the Atlantic, North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and everything in between.
The Story of Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark by Rowland (free, library book sale leftover!)
As a young girl, Sacajawea was separated from her family when she was captured by a band of Minnetaree warriors and taken to be their slave. Several years later, she was bought by a French fur trader to be his wife. Then, in 1804, when she was only sixteen years old, Sacajawea met Lewis and Clark.
The Light at Tern Rock by Sauer (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
Will Ronnie have to spend Christmas stranded in a lighthouse?
The Little Riders by Shemin (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
Set during the Second World War when the German army occupied Holland, The Little Riders is an exciting, moving adventure story, just right for reading aloud.
Twenty and Ten by Bishop (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
During the German occupation of France, twenty French children were brought to a refuge in the mountains. One day a young man came to their school with a request: Could they take in, and hide, ten Jewish refugee children?
Old Bones by Pace ($.29, thrift store)
“This is the true, rags-to-riches story of Exterminator, one of the best-loved American horses. Old Bones, as he was affectionately called, came out of nowhere to win a Kentucky Derby and to run a hundred races before his retirement.”
Miss Hickory by Bailey ($.29, thrift store)
Most dolls lead a comfortable but unadventurous life. This was true of Miss Hickory until the fateful day that her owner, Ann, moves from her New Hampshire home to attend school in Boston—leaving Miss Hickory behind.
Mountain Born by Yates (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
In Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates, she used her experiences from her early years of living on her father’s large farm and the hours spent with a News Hampshire shepherd in writing this fiction story. Wolves, weather, a black lamb, a trusty dog—all are part of Peter’s life on a mountain farm.
Out of Darkness by Freedman (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
A biography of the 19th century Frenchman who developed Braille.
Lowell (11):
Built to Last by Macaulay (new)
A nomad fashion’s a home that’s meant to be built and rebuilt. A family tears down an old house and erects a new one in its place. Even the Eiffel Tower wasn’t meant to be anything more than temporary. As humans, we don’t always build things to endure the test of time.
Osceola: The Unconquerable Indian by Hartley ($.29, thrift store)
Osceola brave, ruthless and smart adopted Seminole who led his people during the Second Seminole War (from 1835 to 1838 although some Seminoles continued to resist until 1858).
Pinky Pye by Estes ($.29, thrift store)
“A captivating story, told with loving tenderness, whimsical humor, suspense, it has all the special magic that is Eleanor Estes’ trademark. . . . Don’t miss it.”
The Phantom Tollbooth by Juster (new)
It has been fifty years—and millions of readers—since the world was first introduced to Milo and his adventures in the Lands Beyond with Tock, the Humbug, and the captive princesses Rhyme and Reason.
I, Juan de Pareja by Borton de Trevino (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
In the era of Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Dyke, Spain had its own great painter: Diego Velasquez. His assistant is an African slave, Juan, who, by helping his master in his studio in the preparation of paints and stretching of canvasses, becomes an artist himself.
Black Horses for the King by McCaffrey (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
Galwyn, the son of a bankrupt and dishonored aristocrat, has always had an ear for languages. So when Lord Artos—later known as King Arthur—needs an interpreter to help him buy large horses to breed a troop strong enough to carry armed warriors against the Saxon invaders, Galwyn gets a chance to redeem his father’s honor and make a name for himself.
The Shakespeare Stealer by Blackwood (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”–or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare’s players perform.
Shiloh by Reynolds Naylor ($.29, thrift store)
Marty will do anything to save his new friend Shiloh in this Newbery Medal–winning novel from Phillis Reynolds Naylor.
Hittite Warrior by Williamson (cheap used on Thriftbooks)
Once a dominant force in the ancient world, the Hittite Empire is now on the brink of collapse. Uriah Tarhund, a young Hittite warrior, soon finds his village in smoldering ruins and the empire crumbling. His only hope of survival is to seek the aid of Sisera of Canaan, his father’s ally.
Ethelred Preston or the Adventures of a Newcomer by Finn ($5, TAN’s Black Friday Sale)
Come Rack! Come Rope! by Hugh Benson ($5, TAN’s Black Friday Sale)
Come Rack, Come Rope is one of Robert Hugh Benson’s best-known novels. Based on true events and individuals in the time of the Elizabethan persecution of Catholics in England, Come Rack, Come Rope centers on Robin and Margaret, who give up their love for another and hope of marriage in order to minister to their persecuted neighbors
The Miraculous Medal by Fabyann Windeatt (purchased as large discount set and handed out over several years!)
“Sister, it couldn’t have happened!” declared the priest. “It was all a dream, like the other time.” But Sister Catherine was sure she had truly seen Our Lady. And then Our Lady came again!
Saint Thomas Aquinas by Fabyann Windeatt (purchased as large discount set and handed out over several years!)
Saint Margaret Mary by Fabyann Windeatt (purchased as large discount set and handed out over several years!)
Pauline Jaricot by Fabyann Windeatt (purchased as large discount set and handed out over several years!)
Saint Dominic by Fabyann Windeatt (purchased as large discount set and handed out over several years!)
Husband:
I even found some titles for Husband because we love books too!
The Spiritual Combat and a Treatise on Peace of Soul by Scupoli ($5, TAN’s Black Friday Sale)
A classic!
The Three Marks of Manhood by Dilsaver ($5, TAN’s Black Friday Sale)
Author G.C. Dilsaver writes that the time has come for Catholic families to re-discover true patriarchy – time for Catholic men to accept and fulfill their role as leader and head of their families. The role of Christian manhood, as ordained by God and confirmed by Catholic teaching, is symbolized by three staffs: the Scepter of authority and self -discipline, the Crosier of spiritual stewardship, and the Cross of redemptive suffering.
Secrets of the Kingdom: Meditations of Fr. Richard Ho Lung, M.O.P. ($5, TAN’s Black Friday Sale)
In Secrets of the Kingdom Father Richard Ho Lung, M.O.P. shares his intimacy with Christ and his insights into Christian living. Learn the secret to a rich and vibrant life of prayer in the midst of a fast-paced and hectic world.
The Ten Commandments by Monsignor Charles Pope ($5, TAN’s Black Friday Sale)
The Ten Commandments by Monsignor Charles Pope is a powerful, in-depth investigation into the Decalogue. Pope expertly and lovingly dives into the Ten Commandments, illuminating their eternal importance to the spiritual life while relating them to our modern day-to-day struggles.
So how do you celebrate Epiphany?
Other posts you may enjoy:
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas (Easy-style!)
This is a great idea – giving the gift of wisdom for epiphany! I’d definitely like to do this in our family
Thanks so much, Marcy! I really enjoyed it this year. It helped us to extend Christmas through the whole Christmas season for sure and, as an added bonus, the kids were actually excited about BOOKS!