
Can you believe it’s 100 days till Christmas?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Also, if you don’t believe me, see this Christmas Countdown Clock. It actually says 101 days…but they don’t count Christmas Eve. Lame. Christmas Eve IS Christmas too, ya know. Everyone knows that. Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of everyone’s system, let’s move along to my 100 Days of Christmas Gifts, the Book Edition!
We have decided to simplify even more than we usually do with our 3 Gift Christmas and extend that to gifts that we give this year. We’ve had talks with family members and decided not to exchange gifts for some and for others we’ve decided to simplify and give small, meaningful gifts.
What is more meaningful than a great book?! Being a huge book lover, I love giving and receiving books. I almost always give oodles of books as gifts because they keep on giving! I <3 books! Plus, they don’t really require lots of dusting, they don’t throw up on the couch, and they don’t make you look fat.
So, this year I’m going to be sharing 100 days of Christmas Gifts, Book Edition – 100 books from our family to yours…books that we really, REALLY love and own ourselves. Books that we recommend to others.
Note: I had help compiling the teenage section because I don’t have any teenagers currently – although sometimes I think Annie is on the road there quickly. Ack!
You’ll find 4 categories below with 25 suggestions in each category. They are: men/husbands/dads, women/wives/moms, teenagers, and children. I knew I couldn’t cover every single category, but these are a great starting point.
Sometimes, I use affiliate links…sometimes, I don’t. It took me a long time to compile this list, so I don’t mind using affiliate links. But, then sometimes I like to bless another author by just promoting their book because I love it. As always, you are not obligated to use any of my links. 🙂 I’m not a pusher.
You can find past lists here: 2014 100 Days of Christmas Gifts $25 or Less and 2013 100 Days of Frugal Christmas Gifts You Can Buy OR Make Under $10.
Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas in September! I hope you and your family finds this list to be a blessing. 🙂 xoxo I just felt like throwing that in there.
25 Books For Men/Dads/Husbands
- Smart Money, Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey (Train up a child in the way he should spend…spend the time now, so that later there isn’t a mess.)
- Integrity by Dr. Henry Cloud (The 6 qualities of integrity…and we all know, you can’t be truly successful without integrity.)
- Thou Shalt Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin (There is nothing wrong with making money, as long as you go about it the right way.)
- Quitter by Jon Acuff (Do you hate your job? Do you daily dream about GETTING OUT? Then be a quitter – here’s the guide.)
- The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden (Stuff every boy or man should know how to do. A great book for fathers to use with their children!)
- American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms by Chris Kyle (If you have a gun enthusiast in your life, they would really love this history of guns in the United States! History is awesome.)
- One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson (For the history buff man in your life! A great look at the historical summer of 1927.)
- Earn a Debt-Free College Degree: No Scholarship? No Problem! by Cyrus Vanover (A fantastic read for any parent who has a child about to enter college. Don’t stress out! Here are great options to avoid college debt without a scholarship.)
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell (A must read for anyone in leadership that’s on your Christmas list. Great for Pastors!)
- Buying a House Debt Free: Equipping your Son by Steve Maxwell (Who would not want to equip their son to be able to start a family debt-free? What a huge blessing!)
- Deadline by Randy Alcorn (There are actually three books in this series. Barry has loved them all – great for the fiction reader in your life.)
- The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley (Do you know what a millionaire looks like? I bet you don’t. He’s not driving a new car or living high on the hog.)
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (This is a book that Barry remembers very fondly from growing up – he still loves it now. That’s a pretty good recommendation.)
- The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (This is the book we recommend to everyone. It’s the model we follow and how we quickly became debt-free, including our home.)
- 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller (If you hate your job…or if you’re jobless right now, or know someone who is, what better gift to give than this?!)
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (This story is phenomenal. The move is okay…but the book. Holy mackerel. Yes. Just read it.)
- Lifeviews by R.C. Sproul (A great read for any Christian man in your life. How to make a Christian impact on the culture around you…no matter where you are.)
- Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk (One of the BEST books we have ever read that helped us succeed with Humorous Homemaking. Fabulous book for the entrepreneur in your family.)
- The Strong-Willed Child by James Dobson (Do you have a strong willed child in your family? Us too – and this book will really help you understand them. Must. Read.)
- Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (About the choices you make in the blink of an eye…that aren’t really that easy.)
- John Adams by David McCullough (The story of John Adams…for your history buff.)
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (A book that every Christian should read!)
- Monster by Frank Peretti (For anyone who likes scary stories without all the bad stuff…this is for you. It will keep you in suspense the whole time!)
- The Dilbert Principle by Scott Adams (Got a Dilbert lover in your life? This is THE book!)
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Can you tell we like books on how to prosper? 🙂 It’s smart to learn the most that you can…when you quit learning, you die.)
25 Books For Children
- Have You Seen My Potty by Mij Kelly (How old are you before potty things aren’t funny? Probably dead. Anyway, this book makes us all giggle and the kids love when I read it.)
- You Are Special by Max Lucado (Man, talk about a tear jerker here. But such a good, good book for kids.)
- A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (This is Annie’s #1 favorite book! And it helps her eat lima beans happily. Win, win!)
- Mad About Madeline – The Complete Tales by Ludwig Bemelmans (Every little girl needs to read Madeline. Voila, my scar! Common phrase around here.)
- The Napping House by Audrey Wood (I don’t know how anyone in this story can nap comfortably…but hey, do what works.)
- Junior’s Adventures: The Boxed Set by Dave Ramsey (Teach your children when they are young how to behave with their money…then you won’t be bailing them out later on. We love these!)
- The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones (We love this book so much that Annie and Andy both have their own copy. The illustrations are amazing!)
- Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg (A gift from my mentor to Annie, this book is so much fun to read to your kids! And it’s interactive to boot!)
- Corduroy and A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman (These were a favorite in my childhood and now my children love them too. Passing down the love, baby!)
- Curious George Saves His Pennies by H.A. Rey (Can you tell we enjoy reading about money when our kids are little? Annie loves this book and carries it around some days.)
- Just a Little Critter Collection by Mercer Mayer (Annie loves these because she can read them. I love them because it’s one book with several of them in it. Can you say, containment?)
- Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle (This book is just so cute. So. Stinkin’. Cute. Andy loooooves it!)
- The Paddington Bear Treasury by Michael Bond (I don’t even need to tell you why these are a must have for your library. Because, they just are. Paddington is cute.)
- Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Rinker (This book was a gift from a friend because it was her kids’ favorite book…and we get it!)
- Let’s Have a Daddy Day by Karen Kingsbury (This is a great gift for your kids to get their dad…or for your husband to get for your kids! We really like it.)
- A Day at Greenhill Farm by Sue Nicholson (I’m not sure what it is about this book…but my kids are crazy about it. All of them. That says something, right?)
- The Little Golden Book of Jokes and Riddles by Peggy Brown (This book makes me and Annie snicker and snort. She reads the jokes to me and then we both laugh…and sometimes, I have to explain why I’m laughing which makes me laugh even harder.)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (I love all of Eric Carle’s books! This one just tops my list. He has a lot of great easy readers.)
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Brown (I’m not a huge fan of board books…but I love, love, love this one! For a long time, it was Andy’s favorite book.)
- Bible Stories for Curious Kids by Paul Loth (Do you have curious kids? We do. Why, Mama? Why? They love this book and we like to use it for family devotions occasionally.)
- Any books by Mo Willems (Annie went through a period where she didn’t want to read…until I found these at the library and she LOVED THEM. She would read them over and over and laugh the whole time. Can’t recommend these enough.)
- Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Perish (Okay, these make ME laugh…so that means they have to be funny, right? Great easy readers and good laughs for moms.)
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (This book deserves a spot on every child’s shelf. You can quote me on that one.)
- The Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel (I have my Frog and Toad books from when I was little…and now Annie is using them. Such great, great books!)
- Morris the Moose Goes to School by B. Wiseman (Again, I have this left from my childhood. And it’s a winner with my kids too. Books that stand the test of time should tell you something, right?)
25 Books for Teenagers
- The Lord of the Rings Triology by J.R.R. Tolkien (This will be enjoyed by not only the teens in your life, but perhaps by the whole family!)
- The Maze Runner series by James Dashner (Isn’t a book always better than the movie?! Even more so with this series recommended to me by a teenager.)
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (I’m not a teen and I loved this book and the movie! I’d say it fits a wide variety of ages.)
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (I adored this book when I was a teen! And great books stand the test of time, am I right or am I right?)
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (I won’t lie – I can binge watch these movies over and over and over and still NOT be tired of them. Ever. Every teen girl should read this book.)
- Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (Okay, if you’re going to read Anne of Green Gables, you HAVE to read Anne of Avonlea. It’s a rule or something.)
- Deception by Randy Alcorn (We are big Randy Alcorn fans here…but he’s not for the faint of heart. Probably for an older teen audience.)
- Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson (Have you met anyone who doesn’t like this book? I didn’t think so. A total classic.)
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (While this one makes me want to cry and eat chocolate, I still love it. Man. Tear. Jerker. But a good kind.)
- The Chronicles of Narnia boxed set by C.S. Lewis (Sure to be enjoyed by the entire family, why not buy this set and read it out loud as family quality time?)
- Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes ( I haven’t read this one…but when a teen from a homeschooling family likes it, I know it’s a winner.)
- The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (This is a historical book that EVERYONE should read. We need to know our history or be doomed to repeat it.)
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Sometimes it counts to just watch the movie instead of reading the book. This is not one of those times.)
- The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques (Series books are so great for kids or even adults. Because it gets you hooked and makes you want to keep on reading to see what happens. Give the gift of reading!)
- Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Perfect if you have a Lord of the Rings fan on your hands!)
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (Great for teens, and pre-teens…and even better as adults because it’s easier to pick up on the irony!)
- The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars (A story about a 14 year old girl who goes through a difficult time in her life…a really, really good read.)
- The Shadow Children series by Margaret Haddix (A series set in the future – enjoyed by several teens and recommended to me by a homeschool mom.)
- Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling (To teach teens about a prank gone wrong. Ha ha!)
- Holes by Louis Sachar (I loved this movie and I bet the book is even better! I’ve been assured by teens that it is!)
- The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting (A man who can talk to animals. Wish I had that talent. I included it in the teen list, but I think children would enjoy this as a read aloud.)
- The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Warner (I adored these when I was little. I still adore them. They probably are toward the lower teen age.)
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (I am a big advocate of teens reading the classics! I think too many avoid them for new novels. This one? Total classic!)
- Journeys of Faithfulness by Sarah Clarkson (Stories of how God can reach into the life of an ordinary girl and use her. How awesome!)
- Little Bear’s Outdoor Adventure Guide for the All-American Boy by Richard Wheeler (When a 15 year old boy had his mom KonMar-ing the whole house, he asked this one not be removed. Now THAT is a recommendation. LOL)
25 Books for Women/Moms/Wives
- Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann (This is how I taught Annie to read. It’s such a super simple book to use and it’s a tear-free way to get your kids to learn to read. This was our Preschool “Curriculum.” Recommended to me by Smockity Frocks.)
- Your Real Food Journey by Trina Holden (Hands down the BEST book on real food I’ve ever read. It’s so full of grace. It’s not one of those real food books that makes you feel like an idiot or a failure. Can’t recommend this book enough – and I am not an affiliate, just a lover of the book.)
- Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin Odom (I am a cloth diaper fanatic. I love me some butt fluff! I get questions about them all the time, and I always direct people to this conclusive resource. Again, not an affiliate but I adore the book.)
- The Red Bread Beckers Cookbook by Sue Becker (Hands down the BEST bread cookbook ever. EVER I SAID! I tell everyone to buy this. It’s the best ever and just about the only one I use these days.)
- King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking (It took me a long time to buy this book because it’s kinda pricey. But I’m so glad I did! It’s fantastic…and I like to buy it for friends as a gift.)
- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (Having done an entire series on this book for Instagram and the blog, you can know that I adore this book. I’ve recommended it so much that all my friends have bought and read it. And loved it. If you haven’t jumped on the train yet, now is the time!)
- Large Family Logistics by Kim Brennman (This book is actually out of print…but you can find it used. I purchased it used from another mom. Such a GREAT resource. And no, it’s not just a book for large families…it’s a book with great advice for any family!)
- Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp (I don’t talk much about parenting advice…for fear of getting reamed…but this is our go-to resource for parenting. We read it once a year if not more. Such a good book for getting to the heart of your child.)
- Heartfelt Discipline by Clay Clarkson (I pretty much love everything the Clarksons have written. You can bet if they wrote it, it’s good. This is no exception.)
- Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick (Sometimes I have a hard time remembering that my kids needs as much grace as I do…which is like every 60 seconds.)
- Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Hubbard (This is a great supplement to Shepherding a Child’s Heart. I love them both!)
- The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson (Sometimes it can get discouraging in motherhood. I love that Sally Clarkson has the gift of lifting up mothers and giving them great encouragement. This is a book that I enjoy re-reading on a regular basis.)
- The Hunger Games Triology by Suzanne Collins (I think this book would fit lots of categories. I didn’t expect to like it much, but I LOVED IT!!!! And I love the movies too. Love. Love. Love.)
- Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (This is my go-to book for preserving anything. It’s fabulous. Everyone needs this one for their kitchen.)
- Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide by Clay Clarkson (This is HANDS DOWN my favorite devotional for family Bible time. We just loooooove it!)
- Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (I loooooove Pioneer Woman. I actually read this series on her blog before it was a book. Then I bought the book and read it again. When I Kon-Maried the house, this stayed.)
- The Pioneer Woman Cookbooks by Ree Drummond (All of them are awesome. ALL OF THEM! I have never made one of her recipes that didn’t make me want to slap my Mama.)
- Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung (Having had some sketchy views about God’s will, I have found this is one of my favorite books of all time. I re-read it a lot.)
- Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving by Judi Kingry (This is a great supplement to the Ball Blue Book. Tons more recipes! I like to buy it for friends.)
- How to Manage Your Mouth by Connie Hughes (I love this book by Smockity Frocks. It’s a 30 Day Challenge and she has one for kids too. Don’t we all need to manage our mouth? Not an affiliate, just a big fan.)
- The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley Morgan (When I was learning how to make a Capsule Wardrobe, I used this book for help. It’s really great!)
- Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist (This is a book of essays on food. I loved it. The recipes are great too – especially the Mango Chicken Curry.)
- Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon (I’ve had some pretty skewed views about health and weight in the past. This book helped me a lot. And who doesn’t want to read a health book by someone named Bacon?)
- Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes (This is actually part of Annie’s 1st Grade curriculum. I’ve had so many friends tell me how great it is! I’m learning to draw right along with her.)
- Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt (I love this book because it’s a book of lists. I love lists. I love lists that are lists of books for ages. LOVE!)
What would you add to the list?
Ok, I couldn’t leave without adding some of my favorite history books to your lists too. I think every person should read:
1. The Long Walk Home, by Nelson Mandela
2. Wild Swans, by Jung Chang
3. Warriors Don’t Cry, by Melba Pattillo Beals
4. Truman, by David McCullough
🙂 Ah…good stuff
Thanks for adding some!
Clearly you’re in to non-fiction help books for women, and I love them too, but I’d love to have seen some more good fiction on your list for women. Here’s some of my favs!
1. Pavillion of Women, by Pearl Buck (Read this once now and learn from it. Then read it in a few years and be surprised at what you now understand that you didn’t understand the first time. Such a great book!)
2. Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale (yes, I know…sounds like a kids book and it’s GREAT for kids, but I’ve enjoyed this more than once as an adult and totally recommend it!)
3. Watership Down, by Richard Adams (yep, another seemingly kid/teenage book with an amazing story and stuff to learn for any age.)
4. Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear (so much love!)
5. Those Who Love by Irving Stone (not to be taken as history, but is the story (with a whole lot of research) of John and Abigail Adams
Wow that’s about as eclectic a list as I’ve ever created. 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Yeah – I don’t read much fiction these days. 🙂
What a GREAT compilation! I just love everything you share! I would also add
Letters from a Skeptic by C.S. Lewis
XOXO <3
Tammy
Isn’t C.S. Lewis amazing?!
Great list! Thanks for putting it together!
You’re welcome!
Thank you so much for the book list.I downloaded many samples and added many to my wish list. Enjoy your post so much.
Yay! I’m glad you found it helpful!
Stacy, thank you for the list of books! We give three gifts for Christmas to our children … one of clothing, one of books and one is a special want. For our older children I have gotten lazy about the books and just give a gift card to the local bookstore. I agree with you … anything by the Clarkson’s and the Tripp book are definite treasures.
I’m so glad you like them too! It’s nice to have someone back you up. 🙂