Lots of people grumble about how the holidays seem to encroach ever earlier into the preceding season. We hardly have time to stow our patriotic bunting before that one aisle in the grocery store starts insisting it’s time for bats and jack o'lanterns—which are then quickly muscled off the shelf by Christmas baubles.
Unfortunately, I’m not here to dispel this rush. In library-land, we have a tiny window of time to circulate our new holiday books before interest wanes and they go dormant for the rest of the year. It’s such a bummer to see a perfectly wonderful turkey cookbook with a dozen eager holds, knowing that most of those holds will be discarded with the leftovers on Black Friday.
So this year, let's all plan ahead for our season's readings. To help with that, I’ve compiled some recent additions to get you into the holiday spirit, well before you even knew you were interested:
BAKING ALL YEAR ROUND: HOLIDAYS & SPECIAL OCCASIONS by Rosanna Pansino
"...a delightful celebration of themed baked goods suitable for a myriad of occasions..." Publishers Weekly
"[YouTuber Pansino] offers recipes designed to suit celebrations of nine North American holidays... fans will not be disappointed..." Booklist
ALASKAN HOLIDAY by Debbie Macomber
"Macomber brings her signature charm to this appealing tale of an aspiring chef and a taciturn, small-town sword maker." Publishers Weekly
"Macomber's descriptions of the Alaskan town and Josie's culinary adventures add fascinating details to this thoroughly charming holiday romance." Booklist
FEASTING: A NEW TAKE ON JEWISH COOKING by Amanda Ruben
" ...a playful, inviting addition to Jewish cooking libraries that is well worth passing down." Foreword Reviews
" ...a fresh perspective to traditional Jewish cooking with innovative recipes, modernizing and brightening a cuisine..." Publishers Weekly
DECK THE HOUNDS: AN ANDY CARPENTER MYSTERY by David Rosenfelt
"...irresistible series..." Kirkus
" Plenty of humor, a passion for animal rescue, and a healthy dose of Christmas cheer...make this the perfect holiday gift for animal lovers." Publishers Weekly
TOMOKA FUSE'S ORIGAMI BOXES by Tomoko Fuse
"A terrific guide to learning or practicing origami." Booklist
"...an excellent introduction to an ancient art form." Publishers Weekly
WINTER DRINKS: 70 ESSENTIAL COLD-WEATHER COCKTAILS by The Editors of Punch
"...an enticing medley of cocktails--classic and modern--to be enjoyed in the winter months." Publishers Weekly
EVERGREEN TIDINGS FROM THE BAUMGARTNERS by Gretchen Anthony
"A stodgy Midwestern socialite is forced to re-evaluate many of her deeply held beliefs in this stunning debut." Kirkus
"...successfully mixes realistic emotional responses to big life events with a sense of humor..." Library Journal
CHRISTMAS AT THE CAT CAFE by Melissa Daley
"...this is a tale for cat lovers who enjoy a sweet, sentimental story." Publishers Weekly
"...a heartwarming tale that's sure to please..." Booklist
HOLIDAY AND CELEBRATION BREAD IN FIVE MINUTES A DAY: SWEET AND DECADENT BAKING FOR EVERY OCCASION by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois
"...this book is a real confidence-booster for home cooks who wish to sharpen their bread-making skills." Publishers Weekly
THE ADULTS by Caroline Hulse
" A snappy writing style and changing viewpoints make the pages of this debut fly by..." Library Journal
"This debut is the whole package- realistic, flawed characters placed in an increasingly tense situation, resulting in a surprising, suspenseful novel." Publishers Weekly
-Ransom Jabara is a Collection Development Librarian at Lawrence Public Library.
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