Books To Gift This Holiday Season as Christmas and Hanukkah converge

‘Tis the gift buying and gift giving season! 

According to the National Retail Association, in 2023, Americans spent a record-breaking $966 billion on holiday-related retail, which includes gifts, decorations, and other seasonal purchases. This year the start of Hanukkah aligns with Christmas Day, a rare occurrence you can read about in the Dec. 9 issue of our www.ReadTheSpirit.com online magazine.

Due to this concurrence of significant religious holidays, retail sales this December are sure to be extraordinary—especially if you are thinking about the long-lasting value of books for your holiday gift list. 

For Christmas 2024 and Hanukkah 2024, consider books that will resonate with themes of faith, community, resilience, and celebration. Here are some recommendations from the Front Edge Publishing catalog of books. 

Books With Faith and Spiritual Reflection

• “Thirty Days with Abraham Lincoln” by Duncan Newcomer offers inspiring reflections on leadership and faith.
• “Flavors of Faith: Holy Breads” by Lynne Golodner is a culinary and spiritual exploration of traditions tied to faith.
• “This Jewish Life” by Debra Darvick includes fifty-five voices enabling readers to experience a calendar’s worth of Judaism’s strengths—community, healing, transformation of the human spirit and the influence of the Divine.
• “Torah Tutor” by Rabbi Lenore Bohm is a contemporary self-guided study of the first five books of the bible, this is a perfect gift for both Hanukkah and Christmas. 

Books About Community and Diversity

• “Changing Our Mind” by David P. Gushee continues to help countless families around the world with its message of inclusion, welcoming and acceptance. 
• “Friendship & Faith, 2nd Edition” is a collection of true stories by women from a dozen faith traditions celebrating the bonds that unite us.
• “100 Questions and Answers About the Religiously Unaffiliated” by the MSU Bias Busters, this basic guide, describes the differences amongst this diverse group, explains why discrimination and laws force some to hide their beliefs and why they would like to shed the label of “nones.
• “Blessed are the Peacemakers” by Daniel Buttry is about men and women who do not seek fame and fortune, but rather peace. This book will motivate and inspire your gift recipient. 
• “Two Envelopes” by Rusty Rosman is the perfect gift for everyone, especially the seniors on your gift list. Rusty uses humor and common sense as she guides you through all of the things you want your loved ones to know after you’re gone. 
• “Finding God in Unexpected Places” by Rabbi Jack Riemer collects some of this popular preacher’s most beloved sermons—including some about Hanukkah.
• “Sanctuary” is the inspiring story of an evangelical church in Iowa where people decided to welcome LGBTQ friends and neighbors—and the triumphant way that church overcame the many obstacles they encountered along the way.
  • This uplifting, collective memoir of an especially compassionate congregation was just named one of the Top 24 LGBTQ Christian books of 2024 by the nationally known activist Kitteredge Cherry.
  • And it was just recommended by pastor, author and columnist Robert Cornwell, as well. He has led his congregation through this kind of inclusive journey and concludes: “A book like this can prove very helpful to congregations seeking to move toward a more open and inclusive position.”

Books of Resilience and Inspiration

• “Telling Stories in the Dark” by Jeffrey Munroe is an inspiring non-fiction book that illuminates the transformative power of sharing our most profound experiences of suffering.
  • Jeff’s book was honored this month by Kristin Du Mez in her list of best books for 2024 holiday shopping.
  • Jeff’s book also was honored in Jeff Crosby’s Top 25 of 2024.
  • And, Telling Stories was recommended in a new December 2024 review in the Christian Reformed Church’s BANNER magazine.
• “Healing a Shattered Soul” by Mindy Corporon is a testament to finding peace and purpose after tragedy.
• “Shining Brightly” by Howard Brown is an invitation to readers, from Howard, to picture how they might join him in shining more light in our world.
• “Beacon of Justice, Community, and Hope” by Larry Guillot tells the 60 year history of The National Catholic Reporter newspaper. This is the gift for the Catholic’s on your list, any journalist and anyone who works for a non-profit organization. 

Books that Are Fun and Creative

• “Sadie Sees Trouble” by Linda Jarkey is a delightful children’s book that encourages children to put down their devices and encourages creativity. 
• “A Special Kind of Heartache” by Laura Smith will transport readers to the beach in this second in a series of cozy mysteries, set in the South Carolina low country.