If you’re like most Americans, chances are a book will find itself gift-wrapped underneath your Christmas tree this year. According to statistics from the Association of American Publishers (AAP), books remain one of the most popular gifts to give and receive, with sales jumping by 6 percent from 2003 to 2004.
For those individuals wanting to give a gift with special spiritual meaning, books are also a great idea, because there are so many Christian books available today.
The AAP said that sales of Christian books jumped an “astounding” 37 percent in 2004, continuing the recent trend of religious books being the fastest growing segment of the book industry.
Step into any Christian bookstore across Alabama and you see evidence of this — thousands of books on every imaginable topic.
How, though, do you find your way through the shelves to find that perfect Christmas gift this year?
Best sellers
At LifeWay Christian Store in Homewood, sales associate Joi Tribble said that there are a number of books she predicts will be popular this year.
She said the store always sells a number of Christmas-themed books, but best sellers are always popular gifts as well. For adults, Tribble said that “Jesus, Name Above All Names” (2004, Penman Paper) is an excellent gift book that can perfectly fit into a stocking. Its author is Roy Lessin, one of Dayspring Cards’ most prolific writers.
Tribble also recommended “Christmas Carols for a Kid’s Heart” by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada (Focus on the Family, 2004). Although written with children in mind, it is perfect for adults to read to their children.
“This is the third in a series and I’ve already had people come in and ask for it,” Tribble said. The book includes Christmas carols, stories, devotions and music to read with and to children of all ages.
“Another book I’m recommending to people is ‘Praying the Names of God’ by Ann Spangler,” Tribble said.
“This has actually been popular for a few months, but it can be read as a daily devotion so it’s good for the new year.
“I’m also expecting the new John Piper book ‘When I’m Not Desiring God’ to be very popular,” Tribble said. “This will be out before Christmas and should be very good.”
Tribble also said that books make great gifts for children and that a number of new Christmas releases are perfect for the youngster on anyone’s list.
She recommended “Punchinello and the Most Marvelous Gift” by Max Lucado (Tommy Nelson, 2004) — a book that follows the characters from Lucado’s popular “You Are Special” — and “The Christmas Troll” by Eugene Peterson (NavPress, 2004) — a creative story by the translator of “The Message” Bible that teaches a lesson on gift-giving.
She also said many of the hardback Christmas books for children have been made into board books for younger children. “They’ve started creating these board books so that younger children can enjoy the stories as well,” she said.
Seasonal books
At Master’s Shoppe in Bessemer, co-owner Carolyn Youngblood recommended a number of different books for Christmas gift-giving. Titles for adults include Jan Karon’s “Shepherds Abiding” (Viking, 2003), a Christmas book in the popular Mitford series.
“This book was out last year for Christmas, but it still remains popular this year,” she said. She also recommended “God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogemen,” a unique book that tackles attitudes about Christmas.
For children, Youngblood mentioned “The Legend of the Christmas Tree” by Rick Osborne, which she said is one of her favorites.
Other good children’s titles include “Emma’s Gift” by Molly Idle, “Solomon and Friends Learn About Christmas” by Awana and “A Parable for the King” by Beth Moore.
Youngblood said many of the Christmas books are beautiful gifts that can be treasured for years to come. Especially when they are bought in hardback form, they can be enjoyed for years and even handed down. “They are really a very good investment,” she said.
Book publishers are also gearing up for the holidays and looking forward to increased sales for Christmas. At New Hope Publishers — a publishing ministry of national Woman’s Missionary Union in Birmingham — publicity and advertising manager Elizabeth Shelton is excited about several new books. “We have four books that we’re promoting as great holiday gifts this season,” she said. Those books are “Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-filled Devotions” by Diane Eble; “Postcards from Heaven: Courage and Comfort from God’s Heart to Yours” by Claire Cloninger; “A Whisper in Winter: Stories of Hearing God’s Voice in Every Season of Life” by Shannon Woodward and “An Unexpected Christmas” by Denise George.
While Christmas-themed books will sell well during the holidays, general Christian titles will be just as (or more) popular. Many of the best-selling Christian books on the shelves of bookstores right now will also remain popular as gifts.
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