Celebrate Advent With One of These Books

A number of years ago, the Higham family was introduced to an exciting Advent tradition. While serving as the youth pastor, at St. Paul's in Somerset, our new friends asked if we had ever read a book called, Jotham's Journey, by Arnold Ytreeide. Of course we had not.
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As the Christmas season approached, a family in the church shared their copy of Jotham's Journey with us. That Christmas we began reading. Unfortunately, our kids were still a little too young. But then we tried again the next Christmas. Success!

Advent is all about preparing for Christmas and the arrival of the Christ-child. From lighting candles to sharing in various devotions, the idea of having some kind of family Advent tradition is nothing new. But these adventurous storybooks help to reimagine and rethink the Advent season.

Jotham's Journey was the first storybook we read as a family during Advent. For each day in Advent, you read another chapter in the book. Each chapter stretches the adventure, leading both Jotham and the reader on an amazing journey. Within a couple of chapters our kids were hooked. Suspense, mystery, adventure, sword fights, good guys, bad guys, and edge-of-your-seat cliffhangers make this series an exciting must read Advent tradition. And it's been our tradition ever since.

We love these books and we want to share them with your family this Advent season!
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Jotham's Journey

The first book we read was the original, Jotham's Journey. It's the beginning of the story. We meet Jotham, a 10 year old boy growing up in Israel, who gets separated from his family. His adventure leads him to encounter thieves, robbers, and kidnappers, wise men, shepherds, and innkeepers until at last he finds the most treasured of treasures.

We would encourage you to order Jotham's Journey first. It really does kick off the adventure. Click on the book cover on the right to order your copy from Amazon.
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Bartholomew's Passage

Bartholomew's Passage, is the second book in the series of Advent storybooks by Ytreeide. In this book we meet Bartholomew, a young boy who's village is destroyed Roman soldiers. Like others from his village, Bartholomew finds himself a slave to a tyrannical master. But Bartholomew escapes and becomes friends with a man named Nathan. The adventure leads Bartholomew on an exciting journey that eventually crosses paths with a familiar young friend. 

Click on the book cover on the right to order your copy from Amazon.

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Tabitha's Travels

In July of 2010, Ytreeide released his third Advent book, Tabitha's Travels. Structured the same way as Jotham's Journey and Bartholomew's Passage, Tabitha's Travels, follow Tabitha on her own amazing journey. Crossing paths with two familiar friends, Tabitha experiences an exciting journey that leads her to the Messiah's birth.

Because this book intersects both Jotham's and Bartholomew's stories, it would be best to read about Tabitha after you read the other two books. You can order your copy of Tabitha's Travels by clicking on the book cover to the right!

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The Advent season begins Sunday, November 27th, 2016. But it's not too late to order your books. Order using our Amazon affiliate links from this page. Each books sells for about $15.

​This year, we are ordering the newest book in the series,  Ishtar's Odyssey. Published in September of 2015, Ytreeide, continues the adventure, this time through the eyes of the ten-year-old son of a Persian wise man as their caravan follows a star across the desert.

We are really looking forward to reading this new book!

​- the higham family

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