Our house is a book ranch. We have shelves and shelves full of books for kids and adults. It is hard for me to imagine life without these treasures. For several years when I had babies waking me up seventeen times each night, I read only my Bible in odd spurts of time. But now that I can sleep, I love to lounge about reading one of the six books I am in the middle of devouring.
In my opinion, book recommendations are the way to find really great reads. Non-fiction can be tricky. If my husband loves a book, I know it will be heady and brain-crunching. I have one friend who recommends books that are easy and challenging. Another friend of mine loves a good complicated Bible study.
In the spirit of sharing beloved books, here are ten of my favorites, both old and new. If you have a current favorite, leave a message in the comments. I would love to add it to my stack!
10. Honey For a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt A friend whom I dearly respect gave me this book last year. It has fantastic lists of book recommendations for children and offers lots of inspiration about encouraging them to read. It’s a fantastic resource.
9. Come Away My Beloved by Francis J. Roberts This is a book I love to give new moms. It has short, deep readings about God that touch the heart. When I had wee ones and only a few minutes to try to fill up on Bible encouragement, this book was an enormous blessing to me.
8. The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracey Hogg and Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp These were my favorite baby advice books. Together, they were a power team for me in the area of “What do I do with this screaming baby?!” No book can answer every question, but unless you grew up in a home with lots of babies, you have to start somewhere.
7. Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend This is a classic. I love everything by these wise authors (Raising Great Kids and Changes That Heal, in particular). I am pretty sure this book has kept me out of therapy many times.
6. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist A wonderful friend told me she was reading a book that reminded her of me, and then bought it for me. I read this in a matter of days and enjoyed its light and breezy feel and the stories she tells. Super fun.
5. Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge In all honesty, I have just begun reading this book. So far, I am really enjoying it. Assuming it keeps up at this level, it will be on my all-time favorite list for sure.
4. Seven by Jen Hatmaker Jen Hatmaker is a speaker, author, and pastor’s wife who is absolutely hilarious and real. In this book she shares her own self-imposed challenge against excess in various areas of life. It is funny and challenging on many levels. If you wonder what it would be like to live without so many cultural “must haves”, read on.
3. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers I rarely open the daily readings in this book without finding the words of Oswald Chambers challenging and inspiring. His writings speak directly to Christian character, the heart, and leadership.
2. Loving Your Kids On Purpose by Danny Silk I really love this book. I really, really love to recommend this book. In an era of waning responsibility in children, Danny Silk’s teaching will help you learn to lead your children in being responsible for their own lives and give you tips on how to remain connected to their hearts. A friend and mentor of mine who is a child development specialist told me it is the book that has helped more families she counsels than any other. In my opinion, it is a must read for parents.
1. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp I got a couple of chapters into this book and thought, this is the book I have been looking for for years. The language is very poetic, the teaching is practical, and the theology is deep. Even though the cover was really girly, I got my husband to read it and it changed us more than any other teaching book we have read. I am unbelievably grateful that Ann Voskamp wrote this book. Life changer.
