January always brings with it anticipation of what the new year might hold. I thought I’d recommend some of the books (the overviews may include spoilers) I’ve been reading this month and, I hope, inspire you to continue, or begin, your reading journey:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis – This is the first book (in publication order) in the delightful series The Chronicles of Narnia. In this story we are are introduced to brothers and sisters Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, many mystical creatures (including a faun named Mr. Tumnus), the magical land of Narnia, and Aslan (the King of Beasts). It is an excellent read aloud.

Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austin, by Rachel Dodge – Rachel Dodge takes three prayers of Jane Austin (yes, the same Jane Austin who wrote such classics as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility) and spends about ten days on each prayer. She brings in quotes from Ms. Austin’s books, verses from Scripture, and includes delightful daily prayers to pray aloud.

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, by C. S. Lewis – This is the second book (in publication order) in The Chronicles of Narnia. In it we are introduced to Caspian the Tenth of Narnia, Reepicheep the valiant mouse, and Trumpkin the dwarf. We are also reacquainted with Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, and (of course) Aslan. This is also an excellent read aloud.

The Tolkien Reader, by J. R. R. Tolkien – This is a collection of works by the man who gave us The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It includes his famous essay “On Fairy Stories”, the short story “Farmer Giles of Ham”, and poetical works in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, as well as other writings.