As you might expect from an author, I am also an avid reader. I put together this collection of books I've enjoyed in the last year, so that perhaps you can enjoy them too! These are just a fraction of the books I've read - I selected the very best of them to recommend to you. Obviously I don't endorse every sentence of every book, but I think these ones are well worth your time!
Don't forget to check the "used" section - I buy most of my books used as it saves a lot of money (for more books 😊).
Some of these links are affiliate links, as I am an Amazon affiliate. That means I earn a small comission at no expense to you. Thanks for your support!
Faith in the Margins - a really good devotional book. I don't advocate books like this taking the place of Bible reading and prayer, but I enjoy picking this one up during the day and getting a little encouragement. Her illustrations are very profound!
The Way Home - written by a feminist-turned-Christian, this book focuses on what has gone wrong with society through the feminist movement, and how we as women should actually be living. I really enjoyed this book!
The Collapse of Parenting - this book explores what Sax considers the collapse of parenting - the shift away from parents being an authority to their children. He talks about the importance of being a parent and taking that authority.
Loving the Little Years - written by a mom with several preschoolers, I enjoyed this refreshing read. Yes, the little years are a lot of work - but Jankovic points out the right way to view these busy days.
Shepherding a Child's Heart - this book is very well-balanced and shows how important a child's heart is and how to train your children according to the Bible. I read this and liked it so much, I'm reading it aloud to my husband now.
Flourish - a book for women. It's a little eclectic, with topics ranging from marriage to skin care, but I found many helpful things included.
Why Children Matter - don't let the cover image scare you away - this is a great book! It is short, direct, and the chapters don't depend on each other (meaning if you don't pick it up for 3 weeks, you'll be fine!). Wilson's perspective of biblical parenting is excellent.
The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth - definitely my favorite pregnancy book, as it's comprehensive and written from a natural perspective. She recently released the updated edition, and I like that one even better!
Cherishing Childbirth - a short book, but packed with good advice, and written from an Anabaptist perspective.
A High Calling - a very good book for moms with small babies! It is written as a series of letters and covers topics such as attachment parenting, breastfeeding, and child spacing. Written from an Anabaptist perspective. The writing style itself is not my favorite, but I really like the content.
Breastfeeding Made Simple - I got lots of breastfeeding books with my first baby, but this one gets first prize! It is detailed enough to help you through difficulties, but it's also not a long book. I also appreciate the seven principles that she shares.
Beautiful Babies - a great read, covering nutrition pre-pregnancy to toddlerhood. It is fascinating to learn about how simple nutrition can help your pregnancy go better and your children be healthier. Don't read this if it's going to make you feel guilty, though. I think you can take some of the principles and leave other ones behind (I just still can't stomach the idea of fish roe!).
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - a great book, packed with positive birth stories and lots of information on giving birth naturally. Don't worry - it's not a hippie book! This is one I have read more than once, and I glean new things every time.
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding - I got this after reading A High Calling (see above) because my interest in ecological breastfeeding/child spacing was piqued and this book goes into it in much more detail. This is a great read!
Real Food for Fertility - A must read even if you're not having fertility issues. The amount of information on nutrition and on women's bodies/cycles is great!
The Attachment Parenting Book - this book may be old, but the principles are not outdated. I'd recommend this one if your interest is piqued by the attachment parenting information in A High Calling (see above).
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus - the pictures in this book are so good! (I am often disappointed by the depictions in Bible story books.) The stories are written for preschoolers and portray a loving Jesus. Our 1-year-old loves bringing this to her papa to read to her!
Over at the Ocean - a cute rhyming/counting story. I like how all the animals listen to their mothers! I have read this one so many times, I have it memorized!
Food for Thought - this is the kind of book that keeps adults as intrigued as children (a good thing when you have to read it four times in one day). I loved this book as a child and knew I needed a copy for my own children. The pictures are incredible!
Molly Helps Mother - there are a lot of Little Jewel Books that I like, but this one has to be my favorite!
Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook - a cute cookbook written by a mom of boys. The recipes are very healthy and the steps are color-coded for children and adults which is a really neat perk.
Flap Your Wings - a really cute story about a boy who finds an egg without a nest and a nest without an egg. You'll probably find the fallout very surprising!
The Brennan Family Series - of course, I have to recommend my own books! 😊
Amish Frontier Series - this is a very interesting historical fiction series that depicts the Amish and their moves around the country. The stories are well-written and include some good lessons. I would say that ages 8-13 will enjoy them the most.
Even Irina - a fascinating book and true story of a girl growing up under Communism in Europe. The stories are written for children but I was engrossed as an adult, too!
Better Safe Than Sorry - exactly what the title says. This book describes many common accidents around the home and farm and discusses how to avoid them. While some sad stories are included, it is not a gory book.
Christian Heroes: Then and Now - these books are great reading for children who you can't find enough reading material for! The stories are well-written, engaging, and accurate. I have read most of them but I can't vouch for them all. (I recall having some concerns with the ones about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and William Booth, and also didn't like a couple others, maybe ones about radio ministry, but there was nothing majorly offensive that I found.) Some of my favorites are Richard Wurmbrand, Gladys Alyward, Corrie ten Boom, Sundar Singh, Count Zinzendorf, Brother Andrew, Adoniram Judson, Eric Liddell, Albert Schweitzer, and Charles Mulli. (No, that's not nearly all of them - there's like 45!)
Sacred Marriage - this book has a good perspective: marriage is about holiness! It is a theory book, not a "do these 10 things for a good marriage" book.
Your Marriage God's Way - This is an excellent book! Unlike some "technique" marriage books, this one goes to the heart of the matter. You won't be setting it down thinking "This doesn't apply" because the Biblical principles apply to everyone. This is one I will be re-reading for sure!
Love Your Husband, Love Yourself - written for wives, this is another one that is worth reading and re-reading. The first half of the book is about physical intimacy, and the second half is about other marriage-related topics like communication. I have a lot of appreciation for Flander's perspectives. There are humerous stories scattered throughout that you are sure to enjoy also.
For Men Only and For Women Only - my husband and I are reading through these aloud together and discussing them, and it has been really interesting! I read them first and kept saying to my husband, "You need to read this... this is what I've been trying to tell you!" So we are. He's not much of a reader so the fact he enjoys these books says something. 😊It is somewhat psychologically focused and not every stereotype will apply to you, but there is a lot of good things to be learned in these books.
Your Finances God's Way - in true LaPierre fashion, this book skips the "how much should I save/give" type of question and addresses what the Bible says about money. This was a refreshing read.
Maria's Refuge - this is a sad book in many ways, but I still really enjoyed it. Maria grew up among the Russian Mennonites in Mexico - and without a very good grasp of God. Yet the Lord reaches her anyway.
Tales of Sumarkand - some very interesting stories and perspectives of Christians who are living out their faith despite persecution by Muslims.
Fearfully and Wonderfully - a really good book! Weaving Biblical truth in with human anatomy, this is a must-read.
Reach Out, Gather In - a book about hospitality with some thought-provoking devotionals and ideas. I also have really enjoyed some of her recipes!
I hope you get some good ideas and profitable reading in!
