Christmas Reading

The following titles were holiday readings recommended by the Wolfner Library staff in December 2000.

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!

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Susan Higgins, Reader Advisor: Cp-G.

A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg.
RC 40835, BR 10231.
Shortly before Christmas a young man receives a letter from a great aunt asking that he stop in for a cup of Christmas tea. Although he does not want to replace his childhood memories of her with what she might be like now, he reluctantly accepts.

Lisa Sanning, Reference Librarian.

The Night before Christmas by Clement Moore.
BR 12029.
Original version of the well known Christmas poem about a visit from Saint Nicholas. Print/Braille.

Paul Mathews, Reader Advisor: A-Co.

Hard Christmas by Barbara D'Amato.
RC 42834.
Researching a feature story on the Christmas tree industry, Cat spends Thanksgiving with the DeGraaf family near Holland, Michigan. The beauty of the rural landscape and the clan's warm welcome mask growing tensions until someone puts a young farm worker through the tree baler. A Cat Marsala Mystery, Book 6. Series Code MCT. Some strong language and some violence.

Ginny Ryan, Reader Advisor: H-L.

Historical Christmas Stories by Nora Roberts, Patricia Potter, and Ruth Langan.
RC 33997, BR 8732.
Roberts reintroduces the MacGregor family, when a young widow falls for wounded minuteman Ian McGregor. Another story explores the conflicting emotions of relatives and sweethearts divided by the Civil War. Lastly, a rancher's daughter and former town troublemaker are reunited. Some descriptions of sex.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans.
RC 43556.
Richard and Keri Evans and their four-year-old daughter, Jenna, are living in a cramped, one room apartment when a unique opportunity arises. Mary Anne Parkin, an elderly woman with a large home, is looking for a live-in couple who can cook and do light housekeeping. And children are welcome. As the four become a family, Richard, who is starting his own business, learns a valuable lesson from Mary Anne and her Christmas box. The Parkin Family, Book 2. Series Code PAF.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.
RC 23625, BR 12001.
On a dark Christmas Eve, a boy who believes in Santa Claus boards a mysterious train, the Polar Express. He and the other children, still in their nightclothes, drink hot chocolate and sing carols as the train races through snowy landscapes carrying them to a huge city at the North Pole to visit Santa Claus.

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters by Patricia McKissack and Frederick McKissack.
RC 40586.
It is 1859. The Virginia plantation is getting ready for Christmas. The Big House is clean, the tree decorated, the fireplace lit, and food prepared. Visitors will be welcomed, carols sung, stories told, and gifts unwrapped. There will be talk about war. Meanwhile, preparations in the Quarters are for singing, dancing, eating, and family reunions. The slaves talk about freedom.

Nancy Doering, Youth Services Librarian.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.
RC 47536, BR 12020.
The Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, tries to abolish Christmas by stealing all the presents from the people in the valley.

Cheryl Hassler, Reader Advisor: M-R.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.
RC 38118, BR 5636.
Everyone agrees that the Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. When they hear about the free refreshments at Sunday School, the Herdmans not only show up, but also muscle their way into the lead roles of the annual Christmas pageant. The Herdman Children. Series Code HERD.

A Holly Jolly Murder by Joan Hess.
RC 47470.
Bookstore owner Claire Malloy is invited to attend a winter solstice celebration by a customer, Martha Hendlerson, who is a druid. Claire arrives at the ceremonial site but soon learns that the Druids' benefactor, Nicholas Chunder, has been murdered. Her boyfriend, police officer Peter Rosen, is out of town, but Claire offers to help find the killer. Claire Malloy, Book 12. Series Code MLY. Some violence.

Ho-Ho Homicide by Corinne Holt Sawyer.
RC 42373.
Murder at Camden-sur-Mer, a California retirement home. Large Caledonia Wingate and tiny Angela Benbow get another chance to help Lieutenant Martinez. The body of fellow resident Beatrice Benton was found among the lower branches of the lobby Christmas tree. Beatrice had been nicknamed Birdy for her habit of feeding wild birds. Could her messy flock have caused someone to kill her? Wingate and Benbow, Book 6. Series Code WIB.

Carol Mathews, Reader Advisor: S-Z.

Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark.
RC 44421, BR 10612.
The Dornan family is in New York City on Christmas Eve because Tom Dornan has just had surgery for leukemia. When his wife drops her wallet, Cally Hunter, desperate for Christmas money, picks it up. Young Brian Dornan follows her, because inside the wallet is a recuperative Saint Christopher medal for his dad. But Cally's brother, an escaped convict, is waiting in her apartment, and he has plans for the money and for Brian. Some strong language.

Deborah Stroup, Coordinator of Volunteers.

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
RC 42044.
This series of daily lessons for women is based on six principles the author developed to help define her life, and to reconcile her spiritual and creative longings with her often overwhelming and conflicting commitments.

Debbie Musselman, Public Services Librarian.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
RC 43546, BR 3328.
Classic Christmas story of nineteenth century England in which the miser Scrooge finds the true spirit of Christmas. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 178.

Richard J. Smith, Director.

Cajun Night before Christmas by Trosclair.
WOC 350.
Take the traditional story of jolly old Saint Nicholas, dress him in muskrat from his head to his toes, pile his skiff high with toys, and hitch it to eight friendly flying alligators.