Summer Reading that Helps You Grow

May 6, 2024 / by Monica Ball & Brenda Thompson

Reading throughout the year is an enjoyable activity but there is something special about summer reading…

Sitting outside listening to the sounds of summer while you read a good story or explore a new topic can be relaxing and rewarding. Slowing down and taking time during summer vacation to build background knowledge, explore a new topic or simply enjoy a novel stimulates the love of reading. Vocabulary, reasoning, concentrating and critical thinking skills are improved by exposure to books. Listening to your children read to you or reading to them can happen throughout the summer months in various places and settings.

There are so many places and opportunities to find reading material for yourself and your family. You are invited to visit our church library where you will find Christian books and materials selected with the purpose of helping people of all ages to grow in their Christian walk, learning biblical truths, and becoming worshipers maturing in Christ.

The East White Oak library is always open and available for you to peruse and check out materials. Find listings according to Subject, Title, or Author here! If you need help navigating the library, stop by on Sundays between services where a library volunteer is available to help you find what you are looking for.

Recommended Resources from the Library Team

Picture books / Young Readers

• Good Book Company has come out with excellent books, helping children to understand the Bible and live out their faith.
• Biography series “Do Great Things for God” (ages 4-7), shows how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
• “Tales that Tell the Truth” make Bible stories come alive.
• A couple other favorites by Betsy Childs Howard: Polly and the Screen Time Overload and Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up

Older Kids and Teens

“The Wingfeather Saga” by Andrew Peterson is a popular series. Check out this and other fantasy series written from a Christian worldview.

Adult Fiction

The church library has a large selection of Christian fiction from a variety of genres. Following last fall’s sermon series on Ezra, readers might be interested in reading Lynn Austin’s book Return to Me (part of The Restoration Chronicles series). This novel brings to life the biblical books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Adult Non-Fiction

We have many biographies of people who are witnesses of God’s faithfulness. Some recent additions:

• Women Who Risk – Tom Doyle
• The Watchmaker’s Daughter – Larry Loftin
• Wurmbrand – Voice of the Martyrs

Cultural Issues: Some titles to bring clarity and encouragement:

• We Will Not Be Silenced – Erwin Lutzer
• The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self – Carl R. Trueman
• The Gospel Comes with a House Key and Five Lies of our Anti-Christian Age both by Rosaria Butterfield
• Surviving Religion 101 – Michael J Kruger
• Culture Shock – Chip Ingram