The Book Nook

Happy Holidays!   Thanks to the knowledgeable staff at Black Earth library, this column is stuffed with seasonal reading ideas.  There are offerings for several holidays grouped by age and holiday, with apologies if some areas seem underrepresented.  However, I see more offerings with each passing year and am happy to share what I’ve found, including suggestions for Spanish-speaking readers. Before we dive in, I’d like to thank my library colleagues for providing their suggestions and I wish them and all of you the very best for the holidays and beyond!   Adults For warm-hearted humor, try Sophie Kinsella’s “Christmas Shopaholic”.  Becky encounters multiple problems that threaten her plans to create the perfect Christmas for her family in this humorous book filled with unusual situations and a loveable protagonist. Mystery lovers can test their solving skills with Agatha Christie’s “Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night”, an inventive detective novel which the famous detective is contacted by a dying man’s wife. John Grisham’s “Una Navidad diferente” is a satirical look at the tyranny of Christmas as a couple discover the consequences of trying to skip the holiday. Christian readers can try Richard Paul Evans’ novel “The First Gift of Christmas”, or delve into either his Mistletoe series (starting with “The Mistletoe Promise”) or Noel collection (starting with “The Noel Diary”).  “The Christmas Box” is a sentimental tale of a man who has lessons to learn about the holiday and it kicks off a series with the same name.  Debbie Macomber is known for non-explicit romance and has multiple holiday-related series, such as Mrs. Miracle or Angels Everywhere.  She also has several standalone holiday novels, such as “Twelve Days of Christmas”, “Dashing through the Snow” or her latest “The Christmas Spirit”. Speaking of romance, authors Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have teamed up to give us “A Merry Little Meet Cute”, a seasonal story that’s both naughty and nice.  Jenny Colgan’s “The Christmas Bookshop” is a cute contemporary romance, or try “Kiss Her Once For Me” by Alison Cochrun, a sweet but messy LGBTQ+ rom-com with a slightly implausible plot offset by feel-good moments. Adore horror?  There’s “Secret Santa” by Andrew Shaffer, a fast-paced evil yet fun story about a woman who’s the target of mean-spirited pranks.  Or try “Krampus: The Yule Lord” by Brom, a dark fantasy that blurs the lines of good and evil and in which the title character seeks retribution against Santa.  Joe Hill’s “NOS4A2” has a high creepiness factor in this smart thriller with a steam punkish heroine.   Maulana Karenga is the person behind the creation of the Kwanzaa holiday.  In her book “Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture”, she introduces us to the celebration’s roots, the Seven Principles, suggested activities and more.  An attractive layout and FAQ section make this an excellent guide to the holiday’s history and meaning. For those more interested in the feast aspect, try Eric V. Copage’s “Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking”.  This informative guide offers easy to prepare recipes and menu ideas which can be used year-round and is an essential tool for those new to the holiday. “The Miracle Jar – A Hanukkah Story” by Audrey Penn centers on problems that arise with a family preparing for the holiday.  The focus is on creativity and Hanukkah’s real meaning, providing a heartening tale brightened by Lea Lyon’s illustrations. “The Story of the Jews” by Simon Schama offers well-written non-fiction by an expert historian in an in-depth look at ancient Jewish history.  He uses wit and archaeological records in such an amazing way that it spawned shows on PBS and BBC, winning him an Emmy award. Because Hanukkah is considered a military holiday by some, I found “Pumpkin Flowers” by Matti Friedman on a few lists.  A sobering and sometimes chilling account that draws on the author’s personal and military experience, resulting in a potent memoir for those curious about the Middle East. Moving from memoir to romance is “The Matzah Ball” by Jean Melzer, in which we get differing perspectives on the holiday season in a tale of a Jewish girl who secretly loves Christmas.  There’s nice handling of difficult subjects with a satisfying feel. “How to Celebrate Winter Solstice” by Teresa Villegas has suggestions for those seeking to incorporate a secular celebration while exploring how people connect to our planet.   Teens/Young Adults   Popular authors John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle teamed up for a trio of novellas in “Let it Snow”.  From a horrible breakup to being stranded, this contemporary combination of humor and love has a pleasing conclusion linking all three stories. A wintery atmosphere and Eastern European folklore take center stage in Naomi Novik’s novel “Spinning Silver”, an absorbing retelling of “Rumplestiltskin” aimed at those who enjoy fantasy or complex emotional drama. “El cuaderno de desafíos de Dash & Lily” by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a kitschy, cute read about two people who communicate in an unusual way. Jacqueline Woodson won awards for “Brown Girl Dreaming, an autobiographical account of her childhood as she learned about civil rights, race, religion and the joy of telling stories.  Although aimed at ages 10+ and not a holiday book, its message can be enjoyed year-round by older audiences.  “Eight Nights of Flirting” by Hannah Reynolds is a cute, rom-com is about a socially awkward girl seeking a miracle in this fun, predictable and warm story. In a similar romantic vein, Laura Silverman’s “Recommended for You” is aimed at Jewish teens looking for representation in print.  This one offers lots of diversity, teen angst, funny banter and happy endings. “Color Me In” by Natasha Diaz features a half-black Jewish teen passing for white in New York City.  The story explores intolerance, finding one’s voice and the meaning of friendship.   Kids    “How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?” by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Jon Klassen is aimed at ages 4-7.  This classic combines the absurd and serious to explore a puzzling subject in a hilarious way. Animal lovers can try “The Mitten”, by popular author Jan Brett where readers follow a lost item in this charming and funny picture book beautifully illustrated by the author.  “Dream Snow” by Eric Carle also features animals and a farmer who worries there won’t be a white Christmas.   “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!” is the ninth installment in Mo Willems’ beloved series in which Pigeon just can’t resist disobeying Santa’s orders. “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” by Charles M Shulz is now available in multiple formats.  Besides print copies, there are Kindle and Ipad versions filled with interactive goodies that lets kids animate, decorate, play along with the music and collect rewards. Two staff picks surfaced for those who speak Spanish.  ”Si Papá Noel No Tuviera Su Trineo” by Gilberto Mariscal poses the question: how would Santa deliver presents if his sled was broken?  The story and lovely illustrations by Chuwy will stoke the little one’s excitement for Christmas.   Alice Schertle has authored over 40 books for kids, and teamed with illustrator Jill McElmurry to create “La Navidad del camioncito azul” which features a truck that spreads cheer by delivering presents.   Hanukkah starts on December 7 and an excellent book for kids 3-8 is “A Moon for Moe and Mo” by Jane Breskin Zalben, where two vastly differently kids find a common bond.  For the same age, there’s “The Three Latkes” by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Feronia Parker Thomas in which three potato pancakes brag about how delicious they are – to a hungry cat.   Barbara Brown wrote a lovely picture book aimed at kids 5-7 called “Hanukkah in Alaska” that shows miracles can happen in different ways.  Stacey Schuett’s beautiful illustrations add color and realism.  For search and find lovers, there’s “Uh! Oh! Hanukkah” by Don Channen.  Each page offers four items to find while telling the story of the holiday.    “Kevin’s Kwanzaa” by Lissa Bullard with illustrations by Constanza Basaluzzo centers on the origins, rituals and meaning of the holiday.  It includes a glossary and instructions for making a Kwanzaa drum. “A Kwanzaa Celebration: pop-up book” by Nancy Williams and award-winning illustrator Robert Sabuda offers a colorful, fun and ingenious look at the symbolic images and other details of this joyous holiday. Donna Washington’s debut, “The Story of Kwanzaa” explores the seven-day festival in a way that reflects principles that can be universally applied in this primer aimed at kids 6-10.  It’s enlivened by bold illustrations by Stephen Taylor and a recipe is included.  “The Shortest Day” by award-winning author Susan Cooper (illustrations by Ellis Cooper) is for kids curious about the winter solstice, based on a poem that connects people with the earth.  In the same vein is “The Return of the Light” by Carolyn McVikar Edwards.  This book looks at how humans have celebrated the changing of seasons with twelve traditional tales from around the world. “I Don’t Celebrate Anything” by Donna Neuman (illustrated by Alexandra Rusu) has an engaging porcupine who feels left out because they don’t celebrate holidays in her house.  This one has a nice message stressing the importance of family. Again, best wishes for a warm and wonderful holiday!