Powered by a book like {foo}
Recommendations based on The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomeyby Susan Wojciechowski
* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
A young man's struggle to gain knowledge and self-confidence, inspiring a revolution in navigation.
In Revolutionary War–era Salem, Massachusetts, a young Nat Bowditch, the smallest member of a sea-faring family, astounds his schoolteacher with his talent for mathematics. He dreams of someday ... (Wikipedia)
The Tale of Three Trees
by Angela Elwell Hunt
A parable of three trees' journey of faith and ultimate sacrifice.
Featuring the wonderful illustrations of Tim Jonke, this best-selling children's book tells the Easter story from a new and unusual point of view. Three trees on a mountain dream of what they wanted ... (Barnes & Noble)
You Are Special
by Max Lucado
A parable about unconditional love, teaching children to appreciate their unique qualities.
Max was interested in helping children understand their value - not from the world's perspective, but from God's. Wemmicksville is a land created by Eli, the "God" figure of the story. He creates ... (Goodreads)
The Gift of the Magi
by O. Henry
A young couple's story of love and sacrifice as they give up their most prized possessions for one another.
On Christmas Eve , Della Young discovers that she has only $1.87 to buy a present for her husband Jim. She visits the nearby shop of a hairdresser, Madame Sofronie, who buys Della's long hair for ... (Wikipedia)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
A family of delinquent children put on a disastrous Christmas pageant, learning the true meaning of Christmas.
Laughs abound in this bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history ... (Goodreads)
Heidi
by Johanna Spyri
A young girl's journey of discovery, learning the joys of friendship and nature.
Heidi , is an orphaned girl initially raised by her maternal grandmother and aunt Dete in Maienfeld , Switzerland after the early deaths of her parents, Tobias and Adelheid (Dete's brother-in-law and ... (Wikipedia)
In His Steps
by Charles M. Sheldon
A group of people vow to follow Jesus' teachings in their everyday lives, and the impact it has on their community.
In His Steps takes place in the railroad town of Raymond, probably located in the eastern U.S.A. (Chicago, IL and the coast of Maine are mentioned as being accessible by train), and Chicago Illinois. ... (Wikipedia)
The Bronze Bow
by Elizabeth George Speare
A young man's journey of redemption, as he struggles with anger, violence and oppression.
This book is set in first-century Galilee . The main character, a young Jew named Daniel bar Jamin, who lives at the same time as Jesus of Nazareth . Daniel's father was killed in front of him, as an ... (Wikipedia)
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear
by Don Wood
A resourceful mouse outwits a hungry bear to save a strawberry.
First published in 1984, a picture book in which the Little Mouse will do all he can to save his strawberry from the Big, Hungry Bear, even if it means sharing it with the reader. The Little Mouse ... (Barnes & Noble)
Last of the Breed
by Louis L'Amour
A journey of survival and self-discovery in the wilds of Alaska and Siberia.
The start of the book chronicles Joe "Mack" Makatozi's daring escape from captivity and introduces another captive, an English chemist whom the Soviets believe is working on chemical warfare agents. ... (Wikipedia)
At Home in Mitford
by Jan Karon
Small town life in Mitford, filled with spiritual and comedic moments.
Enter the world of Mitford, and you won't want to leave. It's easy to feel at home in Mitford. In these high, green hills, the air is pure, the village is charming, and the people are generally ... (Goodreads)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by Elizabeth George Speare
A young girl's struggles to find her place in a Puritan Connecticut town.
In April 1687, 16-year-old Katherine Tyler (known throughout the story as Kit Tyler) leaves her home in Barbados after her grandfather dies and a 50-year-old man tries to marry her. She relocates to ... (Wikipedia)
Firestar's Quest
by Erin Hunter
Firestar embarks on a journey to find a new home for his clan, encountering new challenges and making new allies along the way.
There is peace at last between the warrior Clans, and Firestar is proud of the strength and unity of the cats he leads in ThunderClan. All four forest Clans are thriving, training new warriors and ... (Goodreads)
Where the Red Fern Grows
by Wilson Rawls
A young boy embarks on an adventure with his beloved hunting dogs, learning valuable life lessons.
An old man named Billy Colman rescues a redbone hound under attack by neighborhood dogs. He takes it home with him so that its wounds can heal. In light of this event, he has a flashback to when he ... (Wikipedia)
The Testament
by John Grisham
A billionaire's will creates a legal battle between his descendants and the townspeople who have been displaced.
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, ... (Goodreads)
Jayber Crow
by Wendell Berry
An exploration of life and faith, set in a small Kentucky town.
"This is a book about Heaven," says Jayber Crow, "but I must say too that . . . I have wondered sometimes if it would not finally turn out to be a book about Hell." It is 1932 and he has returned to ... (Goodreads)
The Story About Ping
by Marjorie Flack
A little duck named Ping lives on a boat on the Yangtze River and learns the importance of being on time.
The story begins when Ping, the duck, is taken by his owner to feed on the riverbank. Later, when it is evening, Ping is the last duck to return, so he hides to avoid being spanked. The following day ... (Wikipedia)
Love You Forever
by Robert Munsch
A boy is comforted and loved by his mother throughout his life, reminding him that her love is unconditional.
An extraordinarily different story by Robert Munsch is a gentle affirmation of the love a parent feels for their child—forever. "A young woman holds her newborn son and looks at him lovingly. Softly ... (Goodreads)
Thy Gold to Refine
by Gerald N. Lund
A historical fiction novel set in the early days of the Mormon Church, following the journey of a family as they face trials and tribulations.
"The Lord said he would raise up a pure people. For what, Benjamin? Why does the Lord need a pure people?",, Benjamin stared into Joseph's steady gaze for several seconds, then understanding came ... (Barnes & Noble)
Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey
A young girl's adventure with a bear family, learning lessons of nature and responsibility.
"The book opens and closes with a picture of little Sal and her mother in the kitchen, the mother is canning blueberries... One sees in this opening picture Sal entertaining herself by placing the ... (Wikipedia)
Pinocchio
by Eugene Bradley Coco
A wooden puppet yearns to become a real boy and embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning valuable lessons along the way.
"The only thing left to do now," said Geppetto to the puppet, "is to give you a name. Let's see... I shall call you Pinocchio!" Geppetto is a lonely woodcarver who makes a boy puppet and wishes, with ... (Goodreads)
Little House in the Big Woods
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Childhood memories of living on a family farm in the Midwest during the late 19th century.
The novel describes the homesteading skills Laura observed and began to practice during her fifth year. It does not contain the more mature (yet real) themes addressed in later books of the series ... (Wikipedia)
Shiloh
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
A young boy finds a stray dog and wants to keep him, but faces challenges from his family and the dog's original owner.
The novel is set in the small town of Shiloh, West Virginia, ,[nb 1], where an eleven-year-old boy named Marty Preston finds a stray beagle named Shiloh wandering in the hills near his house. Shiloh ... (Wikipedia)
Under the Dome: Part 1
by Stephen King
A small town is suddenly cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible dome, causing chaos and revealing dark secrets.
At 11:44 a.m. on October 21, 2017, the small Maine town of Chester's Mill is abruptly and gruesomely separated from the outside world by an invisible, semipermeable barrier of unknown origin. The ... (Wikipedia)
Pollyanna
by Eleanor H. Porter
A young girl's journey of optimism and positivity, despite the struggles she faces.
The title character is Pollyanna Whittier, an eleven-year-old orphan , who goes to live in the fictional town of Beldingsville, Vermont , with her wealthy but stern and cold spinster Aunt Polly, who ... (Wikipedia)
I'll Be Your Blue Sky
by Marisa de los Santos
A woman inherits a house from a stranger and discovers secrets that lead her on a journey of self-discovery and healing.
The New York Times bestselling author revisits the characters from her beloved novels Love Walked In and Belong to Me in this captivating, beautifully written drama involving family, friendship, ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Lost Years
by T.A. Barron
Merlin embarks on a journey to discover his true identity and purpose, facing challenges and making allies along the way.
THE SAGA BEGINS... A raging sea tosses a boy upon the shores of ancient Wales. Left for dead, he has no memory, no name, and no home. But it is his determination to find out who he is - to learn the ... (Goodreads)
Horton Hatches the Egg
by Dr. Seuss
An elephant who agrees to incubate a lazy bird's egg, and discovers true friendship and loyalty.
The book centers on a genial elephant named Horton , who is convinced by Mayzie, a lazy, irresponsible bird, to sit on her egg while she takes a short "break", which turns into her permanent ... (Wikipedia)
The Medusa Plot
by Gordon Korman
The first book in the "39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers" series. The Cahill family must stop the Vespers from unleashing a dangerous toxin on the world.
The book starts out with the kidnappings of Fiske Cahill, Reagan Holt, Natalie Kabra, Nellie Gomez, Alistair Oh, Ted Starling, and Phoenix Wizard. Then jumping back to Dan and Amy waiting for the ... (Wikipedia)
The Moffats
by Eleanor Estes
The Moffat family, consisting of four siblings and their widowed mother, have adventures and mishaps in small-town America during the Great Depression.
The Moffats are a fatherless family in Cranbury, Connecticut, which Estes modeled after her hometown of West Haven . Mama is a dressmaker with four children: Sylvie, Joey, Janey and Rufus. The two ... (Wikipedia)
