Among some of my fondest memories as a child includes the times my mother read to me. The gentle cadence of my mother’s voice paired with the thrill of crispy white book pages that shared a thrilling story became a nightly ritual. Then I became a parent myself and the love and the magic of reading together every night was something we all looked forward to.
As the gift-giving holiday approaches, parents may be tempted to buy the toys that honk, walk, buzz or light up. Though it may not light up or wiggle, books are an amazing gift because they are meaningful, beautiful, portable, appealing, inexpensive and a gift that can be opened again and again. Books also don’t require batteries or sizing instructions!
So for the 2021 holiday season, everyone at Audrey Press would like to offer a gift-buying challenge. For every noisy gift you buy (for adults and kids alike!) we ask that you also buy a “quiet” one; one that encourages time to unplug, slow down and be enchanted. In other words…BOOKS.
Here are a few titles from Audrey Press, Aletha Press, and Labyrinthine Press (all are available on Amazon.com) that will make exceptional gifts this holiday season.
Gifts for Readers That They Can Open Again and Again
Young Readers
A Year in the Secret Garden by Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters
Discover the joys of delving into this timeless children’s literature classic and see the Secret Garden through new eyes and a modern twist! A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, 150 original color illustrations, and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together. Grab your copy on Amazon here. {Only $19.99!}
Dragons Are Real by Valarie Budayr
What if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths, and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG? What if I told you that Dragons are indeed REAL and that they are different than you\’ve ever imagined? Did you know that Dragons are the master of disguises and will do anything for treats? Readers will love this “fairly true” story based on a childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon. Grab your copy of this vibrant picture book here. {Only $9.95!}
The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden
This book is based on the real-life observations of Tennessee native, Valarie Budayr. For parents and kids who favor nature-based books, The Fox Diaries offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together. From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Grab your copy of this hardcover picture book here. {Only $9.98}
YA Thriller
Ascension by Hannah Rials
Are you ready to be mesmerized by a modern-day teenage romance filled with “double-blooded” vampires and revenge-seeking witches? Steeped in the mystery, intrigue, and rich history of New Orleans and the secretive world of the Deuxsang, teen vampire, Cheyenne, and her forbidden love, Eli, embark on a very different, and vastly more dangerous, journey as the net of betrayal tightens around them. This intense and fresh novel is enchanting, engrossing, and impossible to put down right up to the cliffhanger ending.
Grab Ascension on Amazon for $10.95! NOTE: The much-anticipated sequel, Clandestine, is now also available on Amazon for $12.95! Ascension Trilogy 3-Book Series now available on Amazon
Adult Reading
How to To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley
Did you know that 70% of all kids quit organized sports by the age of 13, with girls quitting at 6x the rate of boys? Alison Foley, Boston College’s Women’s Head Soccer Coach, and Mia Wenjen, parenting blogger at PragmaticMom.com, help coaches — both parent volunteer and professional — crack the code of how to keep girls in sports. Grab your copy on Amazon {Only $13.99!}
Pilgrimage: A Modern Seeker’s Guide by Evans Bowen:
A tradition of all religions, Pilgrimage is a journey to sacred sites as an act of devotion and dedication. It is time to expand the definition of Pilgrimage to inform modern life. Taking time to visit a place near home or around the globe, to open the mind and heart to the Divine, brings healing and new meaning to life. Pilgrimage is both an external journey to a place longed for and an internal journey to the center of our most authentic self. The perfect gift for the fan of sacred or exotic travel. Purchase your copy of Pilgrimage: A Modern Seeker’s Guide on Amazon for only $9.95!
The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook by Donna Ashton
This book is a simple step-by-step guide to creating and understanding a Waldorf-inspired homeschool plan. The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook is a Simple Step-by-Step guide to creating a Waldorf-inspired homeschool will make a great gift so grab your copy here. {Only $17.95!}
ONE MORE THING
Are you looking for a beautiful, unconventional, hardcover, keepsake-quality diverse picture book for kids?
Check out Sissy Goes Tiny!
In Sissy Goes Tiny, eight-year-old Sissy and her parents make the bold choice to downsize their life and embark on a journey of living tiny and doing more with less. At first, Sissy struggles to get used to the idea of living in a tiny house on wheels and traveling around the U.S, but as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, repurposing, and how “stuff is just stuff,” she soon understands that a life of “living tiny” will be filled with the big adventures and learning.
You can read the full story of this journey here and also order your hardcover copy here.
\”I believe that Sissy Goes Tiny is going to open so many minds for people! A tiny house is absolutely not for everyone, but we all like to dream and step into the shoes of another lifestyle in our minds. Learning about this lifestyle I think will help people be more supportive of people who do choose to live unconventionally. Sissy and her family are a great example of that.\” Co-author, B.A. Norrgard
Join us in celebrating the idea of Tiny Living and BIG Adventures!
