Through the Year

Books for January and beyond.

Sometimes, a single book takes you through the year in one go. I’m not talking about the poem-a-day books (though many of those are lovely) or other anthologies that split up classic readings over 365 days (most of which are not so lovely). The books I list below are normal length stories whose narrative arcs span twelve months.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash.

I love these kinds of books because, as the classic saying goes, the days are long, but the years are short. When I read a story that takes me through four season and twelve months in the space of ten minutes, I remember how short the years really are, and how much this individual day matters.

Approaching the year ahead, I’m reminded that to God, a day is like a thousand years (1 Peter 3:8). Sometimes, to busy moms, a day is also like a thousand years! But in reality, the flower fades and grass falls, and time passes quickly away.

For practical considerations, these books are also nice, because they offer a natural reason to list off the names of seasons and months with kids who are still learning these.

It’s still January, so I’m counting this as a January list, but really, read these at any time of the year.

Five books for January and beyond

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Till Years’ Good End, by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Christopher Manson (affiliate link)

How did people spend their time in the Middle Ages? Each page spread gives us a peek into one month’s work and festivities, modeled on a medieval Book of Hours. Lovely illustrations and poetic text.

The Duke and the Peasant, by Sister Wendy Beckett (affiliate link)

Out of print and only available used, The Duke and the Peasant is beautiful and absolutely worth it. It’s reasonably priced online for an out-of-print book, but if you spot one at Goodwill, let me know so I can share in your excitement!

Beckett reproduces an actual Book of Hours – yes, the real medieval art, month by month. (And although the cover looks a little too cut-and-pasted, the real art inside is beautiful.)

Use each page as a picture study. Look at it, ponder it, notice it together, and only after you’ve done so read Beckett’s commentary. (Then, get A Medieval Feast by Aliki, another excellent book, and observe where Aliki got her illustrative ideas.)

This is a versatile book. The illustrations can hold young children’s attention for quite a while. The original art, vibrant and authentic, is worth careful exploration by adults. This is a book for all ages.

Note: One page (February) has nudity, depicting insufficiently clad peasants in winter. This is a small section of the page, easily covered. Beckett comments on it, so you’ll need to omit a sentence if you don’t want your kids to know.

Our Colonial Year, by Cheryl Harness (affiliate link)

Thirteen colonies, 13 months – January through December plus New Year’s Day on its own. A fun introduction to geography as well as calendars. In future weeks I’ll profile Cheryl Harness; for now, I’ll say only that this book (though not even her best) is a delight.

A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle (affiliate link)

Hermit Crab outgrows his shell and seeks a new one. Through the year, he collects natural decorations to make it feel like home. By the end of the year, he’s grown again…

Anno’s Counting Book, by Mitsumasa Anno (affiliate link)

My kids know Mitsumasa Anno best for his wordless “Where’s Waldo?”-like books that feature Anno exploring the world, one intricately-illustrated country at a time. In this simpler book, Anno gives us one month at a time. In January, we see one house, one tree, one of everything, followed by two in February. The seasons change, and along the edges, stacked blocks remind us which number month we’re on while also giving a visual representation of place value.

Bonus: The Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney (affiliate link)

This Caldecott-winner doesn’t show a full twelve months, so it technically doesn’t fit the specifications. But it’s so good, I had to include it. Chances are that you own this already. If not, go get a copy to wear out reading over and over.

An industrious New Englander and his family work through the year growing and crafting vendibles to sell in order to buy other supplies they cannot make themselves. The straightforward economics and striking prose show just how much a year’s work can produce.

So, there are five books (six, counting the bonus!) for January and beyond.

What books would you add to this list?