Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Living Literature
 4Real Forums : Living Literature
Subject Topic: Advent Read Aloud for Teens? Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
Mary Chris
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2175
Posted: Nov 29 2011 at 10:35am | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris

We have baskets full of picture books to read during Advent and Christmas. We love them all but now that the kiddos are older I am looking for some novels to read aloud.

We have The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, A Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street.

I just ordered Destination Bethlehem for the Kindle. I have also been looking at Letters From Father Christmas, is that something that can be spread out over a week as a read aloud for teens?

So those of you with older kiddos....what do you read?

__________________
Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
Back to Top View Mary Chris's Profile Search for other posts by Mary Chris
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: Nov 29 2011 at 1:27pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

I was rereading Miracle on 34th Street myself. Love that movie, book is even better.

Letters from Father Christmas thrills my sons. They are looking at it from a different angle, as they still belive, and this is proof of his existence. I think it can be broken down year by year...there are letters when his children were young. I can't remember the time frame.

Have you tried any of Ruth Sawyer's Christmas collections? I've been checking those out and find them sooo delightful. She has about three that I know of, one is online.





__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 
Erin
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator


Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
Posted: Nov 29 2011 at 1:57pm | IP Logged Quote Erin

Mary Chris wrote:
So those of you with older kiddos....what do you read?


Mary Chris
I have to admit to not having alot for my teen boys, and I haven't found anything nothing new to interest them for some time.

I have managed to find a few, more for the tween set which can be enjoyed by teens.
Jotham's Journey - Arnold Ytreeide
Bartholomew's Passage - as above
Tabitha's Travels - as above
The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder
The Donkey Who Always Complained - Thornton Frances Beauchesne (OOP)

Younger set again;
Starlight in Tourrone - Suzanne Butler (OOP)
Miracle in the Wilderness - Paul Gallico (OOP) Long pic bk.
The Story of Holly and Ivy - Rummer Godden

__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
Back to Top View Erin's Profile Search for other posts by Erin Visit Erin's Homepage
 
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
Posted: Nov 29 2011 at 2:06pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

Chari's Christmas through Literature has lots of ideas.. they read as a group with adults, teens and younger children.

__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
Back to Top View JodieLyn's Profile Search for other posts by JodieLyn
 
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar
Non Nobis

Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
Posted: Dec 03 2011 at 8:45pm | IP Logged Quote Mackfam

I have a few recommendations, Mary Chris. These are mostly compilation books, and many/all (??) may be oop.

*********

Christmas Stories from Many Lands by Herbert Wernecke (1961) - this is a compilation of 35 stories from 35 different countries of the world, all by different authors. There are some beautiful stories gathered here, two of which are by a favorite author of mine, Ruth Sawyer. This book would make a fine read aloud for any age, but lends itself particularly well for an older child (tween/teen) as independent Advent reading. (Please note that Mr. Wernecke is not Catholic, and therefore does not write from a Catholic perspective, however his book, Christmas Stories From Many Lands is a compilation from several different authors, all of whom share rich and varied Christmas stories from various countries. Some of these authors are Catholic, like St. Francis of Assisi.)
    Worth checking out by the same author, Herbert Wernecke:

    ** Christmas Customs Around the World (I don't have this book so I can't review it, but it does look interesting.)

    ** Christmas Songs and Their Stories (I ordered this book for my teen for this year's reading, but don't have it yet. I'll review it after I get it if anyone is interested.)
Joy To The World: Christmas Legends (1966) by Ruth Sawyer - As mentioned above, Ruth Sawyer is a favorite author of mine. She weaves an amazing story! In Joy To The World, Ms. Sawyer takes 6 stories and retells them. They're all quite delightful!
    The Two Lambs: A Legend from Ancient Arabia
    This is the Christmas: A Legend from Serbia
    The Precious Herbs of Christmas: An Irish Fairytale
    What the Three Kings Brought: A Personal Christmas Story
    San Frolian of the Wilderness: An Old Spanish Legend
    The Miracle of Saint Cumgall: A Legend of a Lost Saint

The God in the Cave by G.K. Chesterton. This is just a short essay from Chesterton's book, The Everlasting Man, but Chesterton is a favorite here, and this essay is certainly a part of any teen's reading basket. Be sure to click through to part 2 of the essay.

The Gifts of the Christ Child and Other Stories by George MacDonald. FULL DISCLOSURE: I don't have this book, and I haven't previewed it yet. I've been intrigued by this book because of Lewis' admiration for MacDonald and ordered it for my dd to read this year. Also recommended, but out of print is, The Christmas Stories of George MacDonald by George MacDonald (some of these stories have been reprinted in The Gifts of the Christ Child and Other Stories.

The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke - for reading after Christmas around Epiphany.

Christmas in Prose and Verse edited and compiled by Alison Putala. Though most of this book works well as a read aloud, overall, I think it makes a nice collection/compilation for a teen/older reader.

*********

For slightly younger readers....say between 8 (or reading well independently) and tweens, A Newberry Christmas edited and compiled by Charles Waugh.


__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
Back to Top View Mackfam's Profile Search for other posts by Mackfam Visit Mackfam's Homepage
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: Dec 07 2011 at 5:02pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM

These are short novels but could be used for a shorter read aloud.

The Noble Doll
The Bird's Christmas Carol
The Trees Kneel at Christmas

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar
Non Nobis

Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
Posted: Dec 07 2011 at 5:03pm | IP Logged Quote Mackfam

MaryM wrote:
These are short novels but could be used for a shorter read aloud.

The Bird's Christmas Carol

The Trees Kneel at Christmas

Oh, these are both REALLY good ones!!!

__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
Back to Top View Mackfam's Profile Search for other posts by Mackfam Visit Mackfam's Homepage
 
Mary Chris
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2175
Posted: Dec 08 2011 at 10:09am | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris

Thanks for all the suggestions!

We started reading Letters from Father Christmas last night. I was able to download The Bird's Christmas Carol to the Kindle. I love The Tress Kneel at Christmas, I've checked it out of the library before, maybe that's one for my Christmas list.

I think we'll also try to read Miracle on 34th Street and I'd better hurry and get The Best Christmas Pageant ever started. So much reading......so little time!

__________________
Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
Back to Top View Mary Chris's Profile Search for other posts by Mary Chris
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com