Split into four sections for the four weeks of Advent, these practical suggestions and reflective meditations about climate change and the environment are set alongside beautiful fine art paintings relevant to the season. Climate change is the most important, urgent issue of our day – but while there are technical and political issues, the fundamental problem with the fight against climate change is spiritual. If you want a book advent calendar that specifically features books you can read (instead of just book-themed gifts), then this 25 Days Book Christmas Advent Calendar is a great option! I was amazed, in my research, to find such a huge variety of different styles: some imaginative, some traditional, some for families, some for groups, some long, some brief, some with illustrations, some with activities. There really is something for everyone in this list. May you find a resource which will draw you into God’s heart this Advent!

You can get these calendars in your choice of 12 days or 24 days of gifts, and they come in varying genres and themes and for varying age groups. You can also choose between getting advent calendars with gently-used books inside, or getting ones with all new books!

Buy the 12 Day Bookish Advent Calendar now! (or buy it on Etsy here!) 2. 25 Days Book Christmas Advent Calendar BRF’s Christmas devotional for 2022 takes you all the way through from Advent to Epiphany, with in-depth daily devotionals (which include the Bible reading presented in full – very handy), introductions to each week of readings, and questions/creative prayer to use in groups. You do need to set aside a bit more time to read this devotional, as the print is small and the daily readings are a little longer than those in other books, but the sacrifice of time will more than make up for itself in terms of the richness of thought, depth of theological understanding, and challenge of personal application contained here. Tales from the Jesse Tree (Amy Scott Robinson, 2014) THESE fine and pertinent meditations on Christian spirituality from the former lead bishop on the environment weave the Advent themes of expectancy, judgement, and hope into the serious urgency of our environmental crisis. Looking for a book-themed Christmas advent calendar that has lots of cute gifts to open and enjoy? This 12 Day Bookish Advent Calendar is an excellent choice! Like Bach’s great Wachet auf! chorale, this walk through the weeks of Advent is both a carefully constructed meditation, and an unsettling call to action.’ NEIL MacGREGOR, BROADCASTER AND FORMER MUSEUM DIRECTOR

If you’re looking for an Advent guide which will widen your experience beyond the gospel retellings, here it is. Like a grown-up version of the Jesse Tree, The Whole Christmas Story does just that: it ponders the whole Christmas story, starting with creation in Genesis and ending with the new heaven and new earth described in Revelation. The format is traditional: Bible passage (helpfully included in full), followed by articulate and warm commentary. Jo Swinney expounds Scripture deeply and wisely, with nuance which stems from a recent tragedy. A worthy companion to your Advent. The Promise and the Light (Katy Morgan, 2021) This intriguing compilation from GodSpace features over 60 readings to take you from the start of Celtic Advent (mid-November) right through to Epiphany. The argument is that it’s good to start preparing hearts and minds before the busyness of December takes over, and I appreciate this. Each of the readings is more like a blog post than a Bible commentary: warm, relatable, sprinkled with personal stories and humour – and of course each one has a different flavour, depending on the author who has penned it. There is plenty of Scripture quoted and referred to, and I found myself pondering several interesting ideas as I dipped in. Redeeming Advent (Lucy Rycroft, 2019)Once you have all the books or bookish items for each day’s gift, then wrap them in cute wrapping like this bookish wrapping paper or these printable storybook boxes. Or, if you prefer, get a whole Christmas Advent Box kit so all you need to do is add the items! If you’re looking for a book to help you explore lament, pain, suffering and darkness in an accessible but theologically-rich way, this is the one. It’s not been written specifically as an Advent devotional, but the six chapters follow the liturgical year – starting with Advent then Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time – so to read it during Advent would be highly appropriate. I love Rachael Newham‘s warm style, dotted with anecdotes from her own experience, connecting with us in our hard times, and deeply persuading us that lament has an important role to play in life and faith. The questions at the end of each chapter would make a great Advent study for small groups – you could read a chapter each week of Advent and take the rest into January (or start the whole thing in November!). Brightest and Best (Philippa Ruth Wilson, 2022)