Category: Books

  • How to choose which books to get at the library

    I request books from the Durham County Library online–often 25 at a time since that is the max–to read to Ryan (3) and Jacob (1).  I use the following reference books for suggestions on what to get. 

  • Jim Trelease: The Read-Aloud Handbook: Sixth Edition

    Jim Trelease: The Read-Aloud Handbook: Sixth Edition

    A must! This books tells you why you should read to you kids. It is inspiring! And it tells you what books are the best books to read for each life-stage.

  • Mary Ruth Wilkinson & Heidi Wilkinson Teel: A Time to Read: Good Books for Growing Readers

    Mary Ruth Wilkinson & Heidi Wilkinson Teel: A Time to Read: Good Books for Growing Readers

    More recommended books by Regent College professor Loren Wilkinson's wife Mary Ruth. Additional subtitle: "For those who love books, children and God."

  • William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe: Books That Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories

    William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe: Books That Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories

    Foreword by Robert Coles. More suggested books to read–theme is building character. These are books with positive morals.

  • See also some of the lists of the books I have ordered in the past in my Books category. Amy also checks out puzzles at the library which is another good idea.

  • Ken Carder’s course The Local Church in Mission to God’s World books

    I am the preceptor (teaching assistant) for retired United Methodist Church Bishop Ken Carder’s course “The Local Church in Mission to God’s World” this semester at Duke Divinity School.  Here are the books on the reading list and his syllabus.   Update January 2010: Here is the 2010 version: Ken Carder's course The Local Church in Mission to God's World

    Required Texts:

    Other resources:

    See the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence website for more Duke Divinity School resources on pastoring.


    Posts on Ken Carder's other course Introduction to Christian Ministry (Fall 2008):

    Ken Carder: Introduction to Christian Ministry books (Fall 2008)

    Education in the Local Church: Taylor, Willimon, Storey, Niebuhr, and Groome

    Review of Pastor: Theology and Practice by Will Willimon

    Review of With God in the Crucible by Peter Storey