It’s time for our last reading challenge category of 2022! If you’re not already, be sure to follow along in our Better World Books 2022 Reading Challenge Facebook Group, subscribe to our text messages, or email list to stay up-to-date. This month’s category is Sparking Holiday Spirit. This can include any title that reminds you of the holiday season, whether it’s a classic you read every year, a book about holiday crafting, or a new holiday-centered romance. What genre do you like to read over the holidays? Keep reading for our reading recommendations for December’s category. Happy reading!
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Beartown: A Novel
by Fredrik Backman
People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever-encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys. Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected. Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain.
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Beautiful Winter: Holiday Wreaths, Garlands & Decorations for Your Home & Table
by Edle Catharina Norman
As autumn turns to winter, why not bring a touch of nature indoors by creating a charming bark wreath bursting with red roses or a twig globe entwined with delicate amaryllis? in Beautiful Winter, author and florist Edle Catharina Norman shows how to use seasonal materials and flowers to put together 53 entrancing and easy to assemble home projects. From festive garlands and beautiful wreaths to fun table decorations (including candlesticks made of apples), you’ll find an array of unique ideas to inspire you. Illustrated with more than 55 full-color photographs, this book presents glorious decorations that will warm your heart on even the coldest winter day.
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Holiday Hacks: Easy Solutions to Simplify the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
by Keith Bradford
Streamline and simplify your holiday season with this comprehensive guide filled with quick tips, easy hacks, and fun DIY project ideas–all designed for the most wonderful time of the year! While the holidays are a joyous time to spend with family and friends, we all know they can quickly become a hassle if you’re not prepared. Holiday Hacks gives you expert tips and pointers to celebrate in style–while getting the presents wrapped and sorted, the food beautifully prepared, and the decorations on point–all with a minimum of stress! Holiday Hacks includes over 600 handy tips for everything holiday-related–from how to fill your house with a festive cinnamon scent, to soothing those holiday headaches, to an easy and delicious hot chocolate hack using Nutella and milk. There’s even advice about ornament storage–egg cartons are a great way to keep your small and delicate ornaments safe in their yearly hibernation–so you’ll be ready to go when the holidays roll around again next year!
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Holidays on Ice
by David Sedaris
Sedaris’s beloved holiday collection is new again with six more pieces, including a never-before-published story. Along with such favorites as the diaries of a Macy’s elf and the annals of two very competitive families, are Sedaris’s tales of tardy trick-or-treaters and the difficulties of explaining the Easter Bunny to the French.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
by Dr. Seuss
The Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, hates Who-ville’s holiday celebrations, and plans to steal all the presents to prevent Christmas from coming. To his amazement, Christmas comes anyway, and the Grinch discovers the true meaning of the holiday.
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Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story
by Fran Manushkin
Illustrated by Kris Easler
A cat and dog create a Hanukkah miracle, just in the nick of time in this updated reissue of the beloved holiday classic. The Menashes love latkes and applesauce during Hanukkah. But a blizzard begins and erases any hope that they’ll harvest potatoes and apples in time. When a stray cat and dog show up, there’s not a lot of food to offer them, but kindness prevails, and they’re invited in. It turns out that the dog–Latke–and the cat–Applesauce–save the day.
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Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
Introduction by Ann Douglas
Little Women is the heartwarming story of the March family that has thrilled generations of readers. It is the story of four sisters–Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth– and of the courage, humor and ingenuity they display to survive poverty and the absence of their father during the Civil War.
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Royal Holiday
by Jasmine Guillory
Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie’s work trip to England to style a royal family member, she can’t refuse. She’s excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn’t expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain private secretary, his charming accent, and unyielding formality. Malcolm Hudson has worked for the Queen for years and has never given a personal, private tour–until now. He is intrigued by Vivian the moment he meets her and finds himself making excuses just to spend time with her. When flirtatious banter turns into a kiss under the mistletoe, things snowball into a full-on fling. Despite a ticking timer on their holiday romance, they are completely fine with ending their short, steamy affair come New Year’s Day. . .or are they?
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The Book on Pie: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies
by Erin Jeanne McDowell
The Book on Pie starts with the basics, including ways to mix pie dough for extra flaky crusts, storage and freezing, recipe size conversions, and expert tips for decorating and styling, before diving into the recipes for all the different kinds of pies: fruit, custard, cream, chiffon, cold set, savory, and mini. Find everything from classics like Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie, to more inspired recipes like Birthday-Cake Pie and Caramel Pork Pie with Chile and Scallions. Erin also suggests recommended pie doughs and toppings with each recipe for infinitely customizable pies: Mix and match Pumpkin Spice Pie Dough and Dark Chocolate Drippy Glaze with the Pumpkin Pie, or sub in the Chive Compound-Butter Crust for the Croque Madame Pielets . . . the possibilities are endless. With helpful tips, photographic guides, and inspirations–pie-deas–it’s almost like having Erin in the kitchen baking pies with you.
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The Gingerbread Book: 54 Cookie-Construction Projects for Party Centerpieces and Holiday Decorations
by Allen D. Bragdon
This book provides life size patterns and an entire section entitled, Basic Skills , to help any beginner start decorating in no time. With over a 154 color photos and simple instructions, the book is fun and easy to follow. This guide will show you how easy it can be to create your very own gingerbread masterpiece. Quick, cookie-constructions like The Monsters’ Picnic and charming period pieces like The Christmas Carolers can be made with edible gingerbread or modeling clay to be passed down from generation to generation. The options are endless!
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When Nicki drops one of his new white mittens in the snow, he doesn’t even notice it’s missing. One by one, the woodland animals discover the mitten and crawl inside, each one larger than the last. Brett’s classic picture book is available as a sturdy board book.
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The New Year Dragon Dilemma: A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #5
by Ron Roy
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are enjoying a visit to San Francisco when Holden, their college-age tour guide, is accused of abducting Miss Chinatown from the Chinese New Year parade and stealing her valuable crown.
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The Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats
In this book sparkling with atmosphere, a small boy experiences the joys of a snowy day. The brief, vividly expressed text points out his new awareness. A Caldecott Honor Book.
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Together for Kwanzaa
by Juwanda G. Ford
Illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger
Kwanzaa is Kayla’s favorite time of year. But this year, it looks as if a heavy snowstorm will keep her big brother, Khari, from getting home in time for the festivities! Will Khari miss the cele- bration completely? Or will Kayla and her brother somehow find a way to be together for Kwanzaa? A perfect introduction to Kwanzaa, this book will teach children all about the traditions and practices that make it special.
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Winter Garden: A Novel
by Kristin Hannah
eredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time–and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother’s life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.
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