I don’t really understand the whole “12 days of Christmas” thing. If they fall AFTER Christmas, why do we sing about them in December? What are the days BEFORE Christmas called? (Advent? How many songs wish you a Happy Advent?) And Hanukkah? How many gifts do you give then?
Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, whether you give one gift or many, whether you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, as a culture, we give gifts to friends and families in December. And because I am a librarian, you already know what I am going to say next, don’t you?
What better gift than books? From the youngest to the oldest person on your list, you can find a book for everyone.
Here are some of my choices, based on lists from other sources and my own heartfelt selections. Some are new this year, many are not — all, however, are still in print.
For the eye (senses)
“Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” by Andrew Bolton (2024) — This Metropolitan Museum publication showcases four centuries of garments and accessories inspired by the natural world, that delight the eye, but really engage all the senses.
For the brain (intellect)
“Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-floor Ecosystem” by Melissa Stewart — Using beautiful illustrations by Rob Dunlavey, this nonfiction picture book describes the impact that a whale carcass has on the ocean ecosystem.
For the mouth (taste)
“Be Ready When the Luck Happens” by Ina Garten (2024) — uplifting memoir by The Barefoot Contessa, who also has written 13 bestselling cookbooks.
“Ottolenghi Comfort” by Yotam Ottolenghi (2024) — wonderful comfort food recipes from around the world are showcased and updated in this celebration of food and home.
For the heart (sentiment)
“A Cup of Christmas Tea” by Tom Hegg (reprint 2015) — beautiful watercolor illustrations support a lyrical poem about a young man who resents having to visit an elderly relative at Christmas.
“The Clown of God” by Tomie dePaola (reprint 2019) — this classic retelling of a French legend by a master children’s author/illustrator ends with a Christmas miracle.
For the gut (humor)
“Holidays on Ice” (1997) or “Me Talk Pretty One Day” (2000) by David Sedaris — side-splittingly funny whether you read them or listen to audiobooks.
For the feet (exploration)
“Atlas Obscure: An Explorer’s Guide To the World’s Hidden Wonders” by Joshua Foer (updated 2019) — a bestselling travel book that highlights how strange and wonderful our world is.
For the not fully grown (ages 2-12)
“How to Hug a Pufferfish” by Ellie Peterson — Underwater animals learn to ask the pufferfish before they give hugs in this adorable picture book. Winner of the Washington State Book Award.
“Berry Song” by Michaela Goade — A vibrantly illustrated picture book that tells the story of an Indigenous grandmother and granddaughter foraging for food in Alaska. A Caldecott Honor award book.
“The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels” by Beth Lincoln — Anyone who loves the dictionary will enjoy the Swift Family, whose names (and definitions?) are selected from the dictionary at their birth. Winner of the Barnes & Noble Children’s Book Award.
Beth Wood is the senior collection development librarian for the Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.
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