December often seems like the busiest time of year with holiday concerts, Christmas programs, decorating, shopping, baking and holiday correspondence to send. Â This year, while there is a brief reprieve in events and fewer and smaller get-togethers, the season seems no less busy. Â Carving out a time for reflection and peaceful moments can be restorative this time of year. Â Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, or the season of cold and darkness, the library has a plentiful selection of available resources.Â
Reading holiday- or winter-themed stories and essays is a cherished pastime of mine. No holiday season is complete without a rereading of âA Minnesota Christmas Anthology,â edited by Stephen Engles. Another favorite is âChristmas in Minnesota: A Celebration in Memories, Stores, and Recipes of Seasons Past,â edited by Marilyn Ziebarth and Brian Horrigan. It contains some of the same stories and adds
Orrville Public Library has Christmas reads for everyone
ORRVILLE Looking to curl up with a good book this holiday season? The public library has several suggestions for families and adults alike to read by the glow of the Christmas lights.
For families and children, the Orrville Public Library is recommending the books “Dasher” by Matt Tavares, “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore with illustrations by Loren Long, and “Pick a Pine” by Patricia Toht with illustrations by Jarvis.
“Dasher” follows a young reindeer named Dasher who is confined in a traveling circus until she dares to break free one day. She heads north, hoping to pursue the kind of life her mother remembers from long ago. Along the way, she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh. Could they have a future together, helping each other, and making children all over the world happy as well?
Did December sneak up on you? Well, the last month of the calendar year has arrived, and so has the opportunity for holiday gift-giving. Here are some gift suggestions in the form of books.
“Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy” is the title of a new coping guide by Beth Kempton (Scribner). In her author’s note, the British author explains that this book doesn’t just apply to two specific winter holidays. Rather, its stories, advice and ideas are based on the notion that there’s no one way to celebrate Christmas and celebration doesn’t have to be the sole activity.