December Books

FICTION

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, by Marie Benedict

In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Her husband, a World War I veteran, and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author.

Fresh Water for Flowers,
by Valérie Perrin

Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Casual mourners, regular visitors and sundry colleagues — gravediggers, groundskeepers and a priest — visit her to warm themselves in her lodge, where laughter, companionship and occasional tears mix with the coffee she offers them.

Miss Benson’s Beetle, by Rachel Joyce

From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an uplifting, irresistible novel about two women on a life-changing adventure, where they must risk everything, break all the rules, and discover their best selves.

Big Girl, Small Town, by Michelle Gallen

Majella is happiest out of the spotlight, away from her neighbors’ stares and the gossips of the small town in Northern Ireland where she grew up just after the Troubles. She lives a quiet life caring for her alcoholic mother, working in the local chip shop, watching the regular customers come and go. Then her grandmother dies and Majella’s predictable existence is upended.

NONFICTION

The Berlin Shadow: Living with the Ghosts of
the Kindertransport
, by Jonathan Lichtenstein

In 1939, Jonathan Lichtenstein’s father, Hans, escaped Nazi-occupied Berlin as a child refugee on the Kindertransport. Almost every member of his family died after Kristallnacht and, upon arriving in England to make his way in the world alone, Hans turned his back on his German Jewish culture. As Hans enters old age, he and Jonathan set out to retrace his journey back to Berlin.

Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear,
by Eva Holland

Since childhood, Holland has been gripped by two debilitating phobias: fear of losing her mother, and fear of heights. Finding the nerve to face down her fears, Holland not only shows us how to grapple with our own, but invites us to embrace them as a way to live happier and feel more alive.

I Cook in Color: Bright Flavors from My Kitchen and Around
the World
, by Asha Gomez

Best known for her easy mix of cooking traditions from the American South and her homeland of Kerala in Southern India, chef Asha Gomez continues to evolve her unique cooking style.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Meerkat Christmas, by Emily Gravett

Sunny the Meerkat wants Christmas to be PERFECT. So, he sets out to find snow, and Christmas trees, and the most amazing dinner. But something is still missing, and he may just have to go all the way back home to discover just what it is. Everyone’s Christmas will be just perfect with this fun holiday read-together. (Ages 3-6.)

Counting Creatures, by Julia Donaldson

The much-loved author of the Gruffalo and Animalphabet is back with this clever, beautiful title, just perfect for nature lovers and animal lovers alike. (Ages 4-7.)

Find Fergus, by Mike Boldt

Oh, Fergus. He just doesn’t GET hide and seek. After hiding among moose, polar bears and skinny trees, Fergus finally discovers the perfect hiding place. But when it’s time for the game to be over, Fergus is nowhere to be found. Oh, Fergus. (Ages 3-6.)

Cat Kid Comic Club, by Dav Pilkey

Fans of the wildly popular Dog Man books will be inspired to dream up their own stories and unleash their own creativity as they dive into this new graphic novel adventure. (Ages 9-12.)

Five More Sleeps ’Til Christmas, by Jimmy Fallon

Every kid knows it’s the nights before Christmas that are the hardest. The excitement, the toys dreamed of, the anticipation! This fun Christmas countdown book is the perfect way to help giddy tots get through those last five nights before the big day! (Ages 3-8.)

Exploring the Elements, by Isabel Thomas

Everything in the world is made of 118 elements, and this fun title is an artful and accessible guide to each and every one of them. Sections include the design of the periodic table, graphically stunning layouts featuring each element’s letter symbol, atomic number, attributes, characteristics, and uses. This little gem is the perfect gift for that kid who appreciates something interesting and unusual. (Ages 9-14.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

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