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Afterparties: stories

Anthony Veasna So

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A Roxane Gay's Audacious Book Club Pick!

Named a Best Book of Summer by: Wall Street Journal * Thrillist * Vogue * Lit Hub * Refinery29 * New York Observer * The Daily Beast * Time * BuzzFeed * Entertainment Weekly

A vibrant story collection about Cambodian-American life--immersive and comic, yet unsparing--that offers profound insight into the intimacy of queer and immigrant communities

Seamlessly transitioning between the absurd and the tenderhearted, balancing acerbic humor with sharp emotional depth, Afterparties offers an expansive portrait of the lives of Cambodian-Americans. As the children of refugees carve out radical new paths for themselves in California, they shoulder the inherited weight of the Khmer Rouge genocide and grapple with the complexities of race, sexuality, friendship, and family.

A high school badminton coach and failing grocery store owner tries to relive his glory days by beating a rising star teenage player. Two drunken brothers attend a wedding afterparty and hatch a plan to expose their shady uncle's snubbing of the bride and groom. A queer love affair sparks between an older tech entrepreneur trying to launch a "safe space" app and a disillusioned young teacher obsessed with Moby-Dick. And in the sweeping final story, a nine-year-old child learns that his mother survived a racist school shooter.

The stories in Afterparties, "powered by So's skill with the telling detail, are like beams of wry, affectionate light, falling from different directions on a complicated, struggling, beloved American community" (George Saunders).

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Klara and the Sun

Kazuo Ishiguro

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER * Once in a great while, a book comes along that changes our view of the world. This magnificent novel from the Nobel laureate and author of Never Let Me Go is "an intriguing take on how artificial intelligence might play a role in our futures ... a poignant meditation on love and loneliness" (The Associated Press).

BOOKER PRIZE LONGLIST Nominee * GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick * On PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SUMMER 2021 READING LIST

"What stays with you in 'Klara and the Sun' is the haunting narrative voice--a genuinely innocent, egoless perspective on the strange behavior of humans obsessed and wounded by power, status and fear." --Booker Prize committee

Here is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?

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Five Tuesdays in Winter

Lily King

"Five Tuesdays in Winter moved me, inspired me, thrilled me. It filled up every chamber of my heart. I loved this book." --Ann Patchett

By the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Writers & Lovers and Euphoria comes a masterful new collection of short stories

 

Lily King, one of the most "brilliant" (New York Times Book Review), "wildly talented" (Chicago Tribune), and treasured authors of contemporary fiction, returns after her recent bestselling novels with Five Tuesdays in Winter, her first book of short fiction.

 

Told in the intimate voices of complex, endearing characters, Five Tuesdays in Winter intriguingly subverts expectations as it explores desire, loss, jolting violence, and the inexorable tug toward love at all costs. A reclusive bookseller begins to feel the discomfort of love again. Two college roommates have a devastating middle-aged reunion. A proud old man rages powerlessly in his granddaughter's hospital room. A writer receives a visit from all the men who have tried to suppress her voice.

 

Romantic, hopeful, brutally raw, and unsparingly honest, this wide-ranging collection of ten selected stories by one of our most accomplished chroniclers of the human heart is an exciting addition to Lily King's oeuvre of acclaimed fiction.

 

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How Beautiful We Were

Imbolo Mbue

A fearless young woman from a small African village starts a revolution against an American oil company in this sweeping, inspiring novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Behold the Dreamers.

ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Esquire, Marie Claire, and Kirkus Reviews

“Mbue reaches for the moon and, by the novel’s end, has it firmly held in her hand.”—NPR


We should have known the end was near. So begins Imbolo Mbue’s powerful second novel, How Beautiful We Were. Set in the fictional African village of Kosawa, it tells of a people living in fear amid environmental degradation wrought by an American oil company. Pipeline spills have rendered farmlands infertile. Children are dying from drinking toxic water. Promises of cleanup and financial reparations to the villagers are made—and ignored. The country’s government, led by a brazen dictator, exists to serve its own interests. Left with few choices, the people of Kosawa decide to fight back. Their struggle will last for decades and come at a steep price.
 
Told from the perspective of a generation of children and the family of a girl named Thula who grows up to become a revolutionary, How Beautiful We Were is a masterful exploration of what happens when the reckless drive for profit, coupled with the ghost of colonialism, comes up against one community’s determination to hold on to its ancestral land and a young woman’s willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of her people’s freedom.

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The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

AN OPRAH BOOK CLUB SELECTION

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION - A FINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE FOR FICTION - SHORTLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE

A Booklist Best 10 Novels of the Year

An Instant Washington Post, USA Today, and Indie Bestseller

The 2020 NAACP Image Award-winning poet makes her fiction debut with this National Book Award-longlisted, magisterial epic--an intimate yet sweeping novel with all the luminescence and force of Homegoing; Sing, Unburied, Sing; and The Water Dancer--that chronicles the journey of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous era.

The great scholar, W. E. B. Du Bois, once wrote about the Problem of race in America, and what he called "Double Consciousness," a sensitivity that every African American possesses in order to survive. Since childhood, Ailey Pearl Garfield has understood Du Bois's words all too well. Bearing the names of two formidable Black Americans--the revered choreographer Alvin Ailey and her great grandmother Pearl, the descendant of enslaved Georgians and tenant farmers--Ailey carries Du Bois's Problem on her shoulders.

Ailey is reared in the north in the City but spends summers in the small Georgia town of Chicasetta, where her mother's family has lived since their ancestors arrived from Africa in bondage. From an early age, Ailey fights a battle for belonging that's made all the more difficult by a hovering trauma, as well as the whispers of women--her mother, Belle, her sister, Lydia, and a maternal line reaching back two centuries--that urge Ailey to succeed in their stead.

To come to terms with her own identity, Ailey embarks on a journey through her family's past, uncovering the shocking tales of generations of ancestors--Indigenous, Black, and white--in the deep South. In doing so Ailey must learn to embrace her full heritage, a legacy of oppression and resistance, bondage and independence, cruelty and resilience that is the story--and the song--of America itself.

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The Perfect Christmas

Debbie Macomber

What would make your Christmas perfect?

For Cassie Beaumont, it's meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing's worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance.

What's left? A professional matchmaker. He's Simon Dodson, and he's very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a di[fb03] cult, acerbic know-it-all, and she's astonished when he accepts her as a client.

Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa's elf at a children's party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all—and she's finally ready to meet her match.

But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise!

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The Christmas List

Richard Paul Evans

A heartwarming and inspirational Christmas novel in the tradition of The Christmas Box, Grace, The Gift, and Finding Noel. The New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Box and The Walk series returns with a holiday novel of hope, love, and redemption.

Dear Reader,

When I was in seventh grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, gave our class the intriguing (if somewhat macabre) assignment of writing our own obituaries. Oddly, I don't remember much of what I wrote about my life, but I do remember how I died: in first place on the final lap of the Daytona 500. At the time, I hadn't considered writing as an occupation, a field with a remarkably low on-the-job casualty rate.

What intrigues me most about Mrs. Johnson's assignment is the opportunity she gave us to confront our own legacy. How do we want to be remembered? That question has motivated our species since the beginning of time: from building pyramids to putting our names on skyscrapers.

As I began to write this book, I had two objectives: First, I wanted to explore what could happen if someone read their obituary before they died and saw, firsthand, what the world really thought of them. Their legacy.

Second, I wanted to write a Christmas story of true redemption. One of my family's holiday traditions is to see a local production of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. I don't know how many times I've seen it (perhaps a dozen), but it still thrills me to see the change that comes over Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from a dull, tight-fisted miser into a penitent, "giddy-as-aschoolboy" man with love in his heart. I always leave the show with a smile on my face and a resolve to be a better person. That's what I wanted to share with you, my dear readers, this Christmas -- a holiday tale to warm your season, your homes, and your hearts.

Merry Christmas

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Christmas Sweets

Joanne Fluke

Gathered in one volume for the very first time, here are three yuletide tales of mystery, murder, and romance, featuring your favorite sleuths . . .

THE TWELVE DESSERTS OF CHRISTMAS by JOANNE FLUKE
It's the perfect mix of naughty and nice when two lovestruck boarding school teachers watch six kids over Christmas break. But when someone wants the cozy couple's romance to burn out faster than a scorched fruitcake, it's Hannah Swensen to the rescue, armed with her sleuthing
skills--and twelve deliciously festive recipes . . .

NIGHTMARE ON ELF STREET by LAURA LEVINE
Aside from the mortifying costume, how bad can a gig as a mall Santa's elf be? Jaine Austen finds out when she's teamed up with the Santa from Hell. But things go from bad to worse when he's found murdered on the job--and Jaine is a suspect. Now all she wants for Christmas is to find the real killer . . .

THE CHRISTMAS THIEF by LESLIE MEIER
Elizabeth Stone is ready for a white Christmas in Tinker's Cove, Maine--until a fancy Yule ball at the Florida hotel where she works dumps snow on her plans. The sponsor's jewels have gone missing and the police are asking about her ties to a cute mystery guest. Good thing Elizabeth's mother, Lucy Stone, flew down to surprise her. ʼTis the season for a little investigating . . .

Includes Luscious Holiday Recipes!

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The Twelve Dates of Christmas

Jenny Bayliss

'Tis the season for finding romance in this hilarious and uplifting holiday read

When it comes to relationships, thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say "Bah, humbug." The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn't exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate's found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt's neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor . . . right?

Yet with each new date more disastrous than the one before--and the whole town keeping tabs on her misadventures--Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it's least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it's been right under her nose all along. . . .

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The Matzah Ball

Jean Meltzer

A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK SELECTED BY * POPSUGAR * BUSTLE * BUZZFEED * BOOKPAGE * GOODREADS MEMBERS

"The Matzah Ball had me laughing out loud...an all-around terrific read."--Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Oy! to the world

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she's hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach.

But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah's not magical. It's not merry. It's not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel's determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy--Jacob Greenberg.

Though Rachel and Jacob haven't seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah--and Jacob--in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

"A luminous celebration of all types of love, threaded with the message that everyone is worthy of it."--Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk

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Christmas from the Heart

Sheila Roberts

"Olivia Berg's charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia's grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he's declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart. Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don't have money to spare, you don't have money to share. You'd think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that. With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia's Christmas budget depends on Hightower's contribution. She's focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission. When Guy's Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he's relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What's a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn't learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?" -- Amazon.

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Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy

Diana Palmer

This Christmas, the best kind of trouble comes in threes: Three bestselling authors. Three stories of holiday romance. And three cowboys who are ready for love--whether they know it yet or not . . .

MISTLETOE COWBOY * Diana Palmer
Horse whisperer Parker doesn't drink, smoke, or gamble, and he doesn't have much to do with women, either. Until he meets winsome widow Katy, and her sweet child. Could Christmas kisses under the mistletoe bring the handsome wrangler the gift of his very own family?

"No one beats this author for sensual anticipation."
--Rave Reviews

BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE * Marina Adair
To claim his slice of the family ranch, Texas Ranger Noah is forced back to Tucker's Crossing. All he expects to find is a tractor load of painful memories--until a holiday storm, a power outage--and perhaps the magic of Christmas--deliver him to rescue an intriguing woman named Faith. But just who's rescuing whom?

"Marina Adair is a breath of fresh air."
--New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones

MISTLETOE DETOUR * Kate Pearce
When Morgan Valley rancher Ted Baker gets out his tow truck to pick up a snowbound driver, he doesn't expect to find his old school friend Veronica on the lam with her pet pig--much less true love--just in time for Christmas . . .

"Captures the spirit of the West."
--Booklist on The Maverick Cowboy

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A Christmas Revelation

Anne Perry

"Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat."--The Wall Street Journal

In this intriguing, uplifting holiday mystery from bestselling author Anne Perry, an orphan boy investigates a woman's kidnapping--and discovers there's more at stake than a disappearance.


It wouldn't quite be Christmas without a holiday mystery decorated with all the Victorian trimmings, as only New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry can render it. Now the tradition continues as mayhem is once again found under the mistletoe, and intrigue stalks the cobblestone streets and gaslit parlors of old London Town.

Formerly a river urchin living on the banks of the Thames, nine-year-old Worm has never experienced a family Christmas. But thanks to a job at Hester Monk's clinic in Portpool Lane, he's found a makeshift family in kindly volunteer Miss Claudine Burroughs and curmudgeonly old bookkeeper Squeaky Robinson.

When Worm witnesses the abduction of a beautiful woman by a pair of ruffians just days before Christmas, he frantically turns to Squeaky for help. A one-time brothel owner, Squeaky knows the perils of interfering in nasty business, but he can't bear to disappoint Worm--or leave the boy to attempt a rescue on his own. What neither of the would-be saviors expects, however, is that the damsel in distress already has her dilemma well in hand . . . and is taking steps to bring her captors to justice for crimes far worse than kidnapping. But the rogues, as cunning as they are deadly, are not to be underestimated. The aid of cynical old Squeaky and hopeful young Worm just might make the difference between a merry triumph over evil and a terrible yuletide tragedy.

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Christmas at White Pines

Sherryl Woods

Love Often Comes in Surprising Packages

A Christmas Blessing

Widowed Jessie Adams was about to give birth, and she needed help--fast! Unfortunately, the closest ranch in her small Texas town belonged to her late husband's brother, Luke, who didn't know a thing about delivering babies. And though this charismatic rancher was her only hope, he was the last person Jessie wanted to be stranded with in her time of need.

Natural Born Daddy

Jordan Adams proposed a marriage of convenience to single mom Kelly Flint because he thought it was time they each settled down with a perfectly compatible, always dependable partner. After all, they'd both learned the hard way that love only leads to heartache. But to his surprise, Kelly made it clear marriage would be anything but platonic, and her young daughter kindled fond feelings of fatherhood in his heart. Now he had to convince Kelly that he was not only a natural born daddy...but also the perfect husband she'd been waiting for all her life.

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The Christmas Wish

Nora Roberts

All I Want for Christmas

Identical twin boys Zeke and Zach want only one gift from Santa this year: a new wife for their lonely single dad, Mac Taylor, a builder who fixes things up in their small town. But convincing their love-wary dad that their music teacher, Nell Davis, is not only part of Santa's plan but Mac's soul mate isn't quite as easy as they'd hoped...

First Impressions

When Vance Banning moves to rural Maryland, all he wants is peace and quiet. The last thing he needs is his outspoken--yet infuriatingly sexy--neighbor, a beautiful woman named Shane Abbott, getting into his business. But he has no idea how determined Shane is when it comes to giving a helping hand--or a loving heart.

Previously Published.

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A Holly Jolly Diwali

Sonya Lalli

Lalli's prose is deft, her characters are delightful and her book is the just-right holiday romance.--USA Today

One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning.

Twenty-nine-year-old Niki Randhawa has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She's always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she's always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. When she's laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn't exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya's wedding.

Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it's the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual.

When Niki and Sam join Diya, her husband and their friends on a group honeymoon, their connection grows deeper. Free-spirited Sam helps Niki get in touch with her passionate and creative side, and with her Indian roots. When she gets a new job offer back home, Niki must decide what she wants out of the next chapter of her life--to cling to the straight and narrow like always, or to take a leap of faith and live the kind of bold life the old Niki never would have dreamed of.

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Christmas Cake Murder

Joanne Fluke

It's Christmas many years ago, and topping young Hannah Swensen's wish list is becoming the go-to baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota. But as Hannah finds out, revisiting holiday memories can be murder . . .

With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah's life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden--especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie's old notebooks--and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York . . .

Hannah's surprised by Essie's secret talent for penning crime fiction. She's even more surprised when the story turns real. As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother's house, it'll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake . . .

Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar

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The Christmas Dare

Lori Wilde

A jilted-at-the-altar bride reunites with her high school sweetheart in Lori Wilde’s sensational new Twilight, Texas Christmas novel.
 

Kelsey James always played by the rules and look where it got her—dumped and half-drunk in a poofy white dress, her Christmas wedding ruined. Then her best friend talks her into going on her “honeymoon” anyway, daring her to a “Christmas of Yes.”  It’s about time she lets loose a little, so Kelsey agrees to say “yes” to fun, to romance, and to adventure! And adventure leads her right smack into the arms of sexy Noah MacGregor.

Noah’s never one to say no to a risk—from leading his NBA team to victory to making Christmas cookies in Twilight, he’s up to the challenge! But a lot has gone on since they were teenagers, and he knows he has to take his time to make Kelsey dare to believe that what they feel is more than just the holiday magic that’s in the air . . .

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Christmas at Holiday House

Raeanne Thayne

In the town of Silver Bells, there's always a feeling of Christmas in the air... Let love--and RaeAnne Thayne--melt your heart this holiday season!

This New Year will bring widowed nurse Abigail Powell a fresh start in a different city. Excited about the chance to create an unforgettable Christmas for her young son in picturesque Silver Bells, Colorado, Abby has been hired to take care of her dear friend's recuperating grandmother. But sprightly senior Winnie insists she doesn't need looking after. What she does need is help decorating her historic mansion, Holiday House, for a seasonal town fundraiser. Abby warms to the festive task, but she'll have to contend with her own personal Grinch: Winnie's prickly grandson, Ethan Lancaster.

Ethan Lancaster is good at a lot of things. Relationships surely aren't one of them. His ex-fiancée convinced Ethan he was incapable of love, and he believes her...up until the moment he impulsively kisses Abby. What is it about this vibrant woman and her sweet son that knocks his world off-kilter? He knows they're leaving town after Christmas. He just didn't expect they'd be taking a little of his heart with them. But as he and Abby work together on the magical Holiday House through the record cold weather, visions of a different future dance in his head...one filled with warmth, love and a new beginning for them both.

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Mistletoe and Mr. Right

Sarah Morgenthaler

How the moose (almost) stole Christmas.

Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can't stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana's determined to prove that she belongs...even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town's hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.

And really...how hard could it be?

The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it's not getting any easier now that his dream girl's back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it's clear she needs help, fast...and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It's an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong...together.

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A California Christmas

Brenda Novak

Spend the holidays in Silver Springs, where the greatest gift of all is the love you never expected.

Up-and-coming TV anchor Emery Bliss can't imagine anything more humiliating than the sex tape her ex revenge-posted online. That is, until it causes her to lose her job on top of her self-esteem. Seeking solace--and anonymity--in Silver Springs, Emery isn't looking to get involved with another man any time soon. But when she's thrown back into contact with Dallas Turner, she sees something that his many detractors have missed.

Being home for the holidays and his adoptive mother's wedding isn't where mountain climber Dallas feels most comfortable. Thanks to his troubled childhood, he'd rather be on a rock face alone than trying to connect with people. Emery, however, makes him want to overcome his past...somehow.

Both Emery and Dallas had been planning on a quiet, solitary Christmas, but the sparks between them are lighting a fire strong enough to last--possibly forever.

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Robyn the Christmas Party Fairy

Daisy Meadows

It's Christmas Eve, and Rachel Walker and Kirsty Tate are very excited. They're helping to organize a big Christmas party! There's going to be carols, a festive feast, and a special ballet performance.

Or that was the plan, until Jack Frost stole Robyn the Christmas Party Fairy's magical objects. Can the girls help Robyn find them, before the spirit of Christmas is lost for ever?
 

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Pete the Cat's 12 Groovy Days of Christmas

James Dean

Pete and his friends are rockin’ and groovin’ while counting down the days to Christmas! Who needs five golden rings, when you can have five onion rings?

Join Pete and the gang for one-of-a-kind holiday cheer. He adds a cool-cat spin on a well-known Christmas carol, bringing a hip and energetic spirit to the season.

This is a perfect Christmas gift for Pete the Cat fans who are eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival.

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Dear Santa, I Know it Looks Bad, But it Wasn't My Fault

Inc Peter Pauper Press

Scalawag has been an outstanding cat all year (at least, according to him). Any troublesome incidents that Santa may or may not have heard about to the contrary can be fully explained.

So, Scalawag sets out to write Santa a series of letters in anticipation of Christmas, clearing up any potential misunderstandings, and of course, expressing his Christmas gift wish -- a Catman and Robin video game! But when one incident involves the Christmas tree catching on fire, and Miss Violet (Scalawag's ever-loving, nurturing, and forgiving caretaker) ending up in the emergency room, Scalawag gets a new perspective on things. He writes one last letter to Santa asking him to forget about the video game, and instead asks him to bring a different gift . . . one that expresses the true warmth and spirit of Christmas.

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The Cat Who Ate Christmas

Lil Chase

A charming Christmas story for the whole family about a cat who is up to no good!

It's Christmas, and Jingles the kitten has knocked over the Christmas tree and unwrapped all of the presents! What a naughty kitty. When Jingles eats the entire Christmas turkey, it's the final straw! Jingles is in big trouble now. While his family is busy cleaning up the mess, a guilty Jingles disappears. Realizing what matters most, the family sets out to look for their naughty kitten--it won't be Christmas without him.

To continue in the holiday spirit, this book includes fun Christmas facts, Christmas jokes, the best recipe for cocoa, and even instructions for making your very own Christmas tree topper. The Cat Who Ate Christmas is the perfect gift this holiday season.

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Bad Kitty: Searching for Santa

Nick Bruel

In Bad Kitty: Searching for Santa, by bestselling author/illustrator Nick Bruel, Kitty's back for another Christmas tale—this time involving Santa and complete with a colorful poster!

In this hilarious story, Kitty battles with Santa and loses. Or does she?

Kitty wants to write a letter.
Actually, she wants to write a letter to Santa.
But has Kitty been good this year?
Hmmm . . . Kitty’s not so sure.

She writes the letter anyway and is soon on her way to meet Santa in real life at the mall!

Will she make it in time? Will Santa give Kitty what she’s asking for?

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Baby Shark: Merry Christmas, Baby Shark!

Pinkfong

Based on the global phenomenon, this official Pinkfong Baby Shark book is perfect for sharing with the Baby Shark fan in your life

It's Christmas Eve, but Baby Shark can't sleep--he is too excited But little does he know, in his dreams awaits a winter wonderland where Baby Shark will meet Santa and his magical elves. This storybook includes gift wrap, stickers, and a letter to Santa.

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Dog Diaries: Happy Howlidays

James Patterson

Dog Diaries is the first book written by a dog AND a #1 New York Times bestseller! When mischievous mutt, Junior, causes a Turkey Day disaster, getting out of the doghouse will take a Christmas miracle!
Are you ready for a festive adventure? Join me, Junior on the most PAWSOME, most BARKTASTIC journey through the HOWLIDAY SEASON. You'll read all about:

  • FANGSGIVING, CRITTER-MESS and the mysterious SAINT LICK.
  • Why strange humans called CAROL come and howl at the front door.
  • And why SHINY TREES suddenly sprout inside your kennel!

This will be the best holiday EVER! As long as the Mom-Lady doesn't find out what I did to the Fangsgiving turkey. You can keep a SECRET, right?
This hilarious, illustrated MIDDLE SCHOOL spin-off about a dog and his boy is perfect for younger readers!

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Christmas in Camelot

Mary Pope Osborne

When Jack and Annie receive an invitation to spend Christmas Eve in Camelot--a magical place that exists only in myth and fantasy--they know they are in for their biggest adventure yet. What they don't know is that the invitation will send them on a quest to save Camelot. Can they succeed even though Camelot's greatest knights have failed?

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Disney Manga: Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas - Zero's Journey Book Three

D. J. Milky

Jack's worried for his lost pet, but never fear; Lock, Shock, and Barrel are on the case. Crash-landing into an underground Christ­mas Town workshop, they're in toy heaven! But will the workers of this festive factory be welcoming to these spooky interlopers? And just what does Sandy Claws think about all this commotion in his winter wonderland?

Join Zero on his journey in the third graphic novel in this series based on Disney Tim Burton's The Night­mare Before Christmas!

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Christmas Carol

Geronimo Stilton

Ebenezer Scrooge is a cranky old mouse who is only concerned with his business and making money. Scrooge thinks Christmas is just a waste of time. But on the night of Christmas Eve, he is visited by three ghosts who take him on a journey through his past, present, and future. His experience could change him forever and teach him the true meaning of Christmas!

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Best Kids' Christmas Jokes Ever!

Highlights

What did the dog say to the Christmas tree? My bark is louder than yours! This laugh-out-loud collection of Christmas jokes will have kids giggling all during the holidays.

Perfect as a Christmas stocking stuffer, this uproarious humor collection features over 500 sidesplitting jokes--with lots of hilarious black-and-white cartoons to round out the fun. With jokes about Santa, reindeer, Christmas carols, and more, kids will amuse themselves--and their friends and family--with this jolly joke book.

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Harry Potter: Christmas at Hogwarts

Jody Revenson

Learn all about the most magical time of the year at Hogwarts Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry—Christmas!

The snowy Great Hall festooned with Christmas trees, the elaborate Yule Ball, Mrs. Weasley’s holiday sweaters—Christmas at Hogwarts is filled with magic and wonder. This book takes readers on a tour of Christmas in the Wizarding World, as seen in the Harry Potter films. With detailed profiles on everything from Harry’s Invisibility Cloak—received as a gift during his first Hogwarts Christmas—to Hogsmeade, these pages includes concept illustrations, behind-the-scenes photographs, and fascinating reflections from actors and filmmakers. This collectible volume also comes filled with removable artifacts, such as posters, stickers, and other extraordinary items.

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A Nancy Drew Christmas

Carolyn Keene

Nancy finds herself a Christmas mystery in this super special book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to the classic mystery series.

Nancy is spending her winter vacation at the most beautiful ski resort in Montana. Everything looks perfect, from the spectacular mountain views to the cozy rooms complete with fireplaces and holiday decorations. Unfortunately, not all is as jolly as it seems.

Things started to go wrong on her very first day; she hit a bad patch of ice on a run down the slopes and broke her leg in a couple of different places. Then a doctor decided she needed a giant cast and lots of bed rest. It’s been a week of unfortunate events for rest the resort too; there was a sabotaged opening dinner, multiple hotel room break-ins, and a dangerous trap was set for the star chef. And if Nancy thought things couldn’t get any worse, a giant storm is heading their way and may just snow everyone in for days. Trapped in a hotel with someone bent on destruction? Cast or no cast, this sleuth is on the case.

As Christmas approaches, both guests and staff are starting to panic. With all the odds stacked against her, can Nancy solve these crimes in time and save the holiday season? Or is this one Yuletide she’ll wish to forget?

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A Magical Christmas! (Peppa Pig)

Cala Spinner

'Tis the season for Peppa Pig Join Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, and all of their friends as they celebrate Christmas in this adorably sweet board book.

Peppa Pig really wants Father Christmas to visit this year. But Mummy Pig tells her that if she wants to have a magical Christmas, she'll have to be very good. Peppa decides to help her family, help her friends, and help the snowman outside. But will Father Christmas visit after all?

Push a magic, flashing star button to make lights flash in every scene. This adorable storybook makes a perfect holiday gift or read-aloud storytime for little ones.

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Jack and Santa

Mac Barnett

From New York Times bestselling author Mac Barnett and Geisel Award-winning illustrator Greg Pizzoli, an uproarious early reader series about a mischievous rabbit, a cranky old lady, and a lovable dog.

When Jack finds himself on the naughty list, he worries that Santa will bring him coal. But Jack wants presents--lots of them. Will Jack be able to prove to Santa that he's not so bad after all?

Welcome to the laugh-out-loud and irreverent world of Jack, a new early reader series by the New York Times bestselling and award-winning team of Mac Barnett and Greg Pizzoli.

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Christmas Is Joy

Emma Dodd

An enchanting celebration of the true meaning of Christmas, featuring two adorable reindeer

Christmas is love that lasts all year.
It's all of us, together, here.

Christmas is peace, stars twinkling above,
a night of sweet dreams and a heart full of love.


Emma Dodd's joyful celebration of this wonderful time of year, as seen through the eyes of two reindeer, is a pure delight.

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The Christmas Feast

Nathalie Dargent

When Wolf, Weasel, and Fox steal a turkey for their Christmas feast, no one expects the meal to have her own ideas about the celebration. Don't they want to fatten her up first? Haven't they even hung up mistletoe or baked gingerbread? But the more time the three friends spend with Turkey, the less anyone wants the fun to end...

Perfect for holiday story times, this festive book will provide plenty of laughs with its witty narration, amusing characters, and playful illustrations.

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5 More Sleeps ‘til Christmas

Jimmy Fallon

Host of NBC's The Tonight Show and three-time #1 New York Times-bestselling author Jimmy Fallon returns with this sweet and spirited Christmas picture book.

Just 5 more sleeps 'til Christmas!
Can you believe it's here?
I know that Santa's coming soon
'cause I've been good all year.

Everyone who grew up celebrating Christmas remembers the excitement that built up to the most magical day of the year. But why not make the last week until Christmas more fun by counting how many sleeps until the arrival of Santa and his reindeer?

Accompanied by the beautiful and energetic artwork of Rich Deas, enjoy the humor of Jimmy Fallon as he prepares readers for the most exciting week of the year in this new holiday tradition for your family—5 More Sleeps 'til Christmas.

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Countdown to Christmas

Dina Rosen

It's been a tough year. Give the children you love some Christmas magic. A heartwarming holiday story and perfect bedtime read!
Santa hasn't left his home in the North Pole since last Christmas. Now he must plan for a safe journey around the world. Santa turns to a special group of kids who band together to design innovations that help him SAFELY deliver toys and spread Christmas cheer. The young characters accept the challenge and find a sense of control and Christmas spirit in a crazy time.
This book will bring joy & comfort to your family in a year where children are feeling new worries and asking Santa for more than toys: Vaccines, visits from grandparents, and life to return to normal.
Visit authors' website for family resources and other activities: https: //poagerosen.wixsite.com/protect

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Amelia Bedelia Wraps it Up

Herman Parish

"It's the holiday season, and Amelia Bedelia doesn't have enough money to buy presents for anyone. But that won't stop Amelia Bedelia! Along with her friends, she decides to launch a gift-wrapping business in order to make some extra cash. But wrapping presents with Amelia Bedelia is far from ordinary! And when the business expands to include tree decorating, popcorn popping, snow shoveling, and carol singing, you can bet that the misunderstandings are many!" --

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Llama Llama Holiday Helper

Anna Dewdney

Celebrate the holidays with Llama Llama and all his friends in this beautifully illustrated picture book, based on the hit animated Netflix series!

Look out, world--Llama Llama is a TV star! The beloved character, made famous by Anna Dewdney's best-selling picture books, is the star of his own original series, now airing on Netflix.

In this beautiful picture book, Llama Llama and Mama Llama are just about done with getting ready for the holidays. So Llama decides to help out his friends -- hanging wreaths, decorating trees, and baking cookies. Join Llama, Gilroy, Nelly, Euclid, and Luna as they celebrate their favorite time of year.

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Christmas Around the World

Mary D. Lankford

Children sample the symbols, celebrations, and foods that make Christmas so special in 12 richly diverse countries. The lighted parols or star lanterns, of the Philippines, Germany's intriguing prune people, and the posada processions in Mexico that end with a pinata party--all these and more will expand a child's knowledge of how others celebrate this season. Includes a section of craft ideas. Full color.

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Christmas 123

Eric Carle

Join the Very Hungry Caterpillar for some Christmas counting fun in this delightfully festive board book. The pages are filled with Eric Carle's distinctive artwork, from 1 jolly Santa Claus to 10 beautifully wrapped presents. And children will love to spot the Very Hungry Caterpillar making an appearance with every number in this perfect Christmas gift!

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The Christmas Story

Anita Ganeri

Introduces the events surround the birth of Jesus. Also includes information on Christmas customs; the well-known carol, "Away in the Manger;" and a recipe for Christmas cookies.

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A Night of Great Joy

Mary Engelbreit

Mary Engelbreit, New York Times bestselling illustrator of the blockbuster Christmas classic The Night Before Christmas, brings readers a holiday picture book that's sure to become a family favorite, with a cover that sparkles with glitter and foil and celebrates the joyful season of Christmas.

A Night of Great Joy tells the story of the nativity through the performance of a children's Christmas pageant. With adorable illustrations and simple storytelling, Engelbreit paints a wonderful picture of the night Jesus was born.

This gorgeous picture book is for children ages 4 to 8. A Night of Great Joy brings peace to the world and highlights:

  • The arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem on a donkey
  • The three wise men presenting their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus lying in a manger
  • The birth of Jesus, guiding them with the star of Bethlehem, the magi riding from Jerusalem on camels, and a chorus of angels

Your entire family will love reading A Night of Great Joy during the holiday season. Engelbreit's brilliant illustrations will create a sweet holiday tradition you'll want to read every Christmas.

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Origami for Christmas

Robyn Hardyman

By following the instructions in this book, readers could have the best-wrapped Christmas presents in their family! A colorful gift box and gift bow are just two of the origami projects included in this fun crafting title. In addition to clear step-by-step instructions for each craft, this book includes fun facts about the history of Christmas and how its symbols are part of celebrations today. Full-color photographs show readers what the origami Santa hat, snowman, or star will look like once they've completed the project, helping prepare them for the most wonderful time of the year!

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The Queen and the First Christmas Tree

Nancy Churnin

Queen Charlotte brought her family's festive holiday yule bough from Germany to England. While planning a Christmas Day party in 1800 at Windsor Castle for over 100 children, she realized a single bough isn't enough. So she brought in the whole tree instead, making it the first known Christmas Tree in England. This story tells a little known fact about a favorite holiday tradition.

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Waiting for Snow

Marsha Diane Arnold

Badger cannot wait one more minute for it to snow. When his friend Hedgehog explains that everything comes in its time, Badger is unconvinced and impatient as ever. But Badger's friends have a few tricks up their sleeves to try and get the snow's attention and distract their pal in the meantime. Though in the end Badger sees there's no trick--only waiting--until at last, it's time.

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Bears in the Snow

Shirley Parenteau

Shrieks of joy ensue when Big Brown Bear devises a clever sled that can carry four bears in this quintessential winter adventure.

Here's a bright red sled
On a snowy day.
Where are the bears
To come out and play?

The little bears are ready to play in the snow. But -- oh, no! Their sled is too small! It's not as much fun to go sledding only two at a time, but what can they use to carry them all? Luckily, Big Brown Bear has an idea -- and it starts with a belly flop!

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Winter Wishes! (Shimmer and Shine)

Kristen L. Depken

An all-new Step 2 deluxe Step into Reading leveled reader featuring Nickelodeon's Shimmer and Shine--plus shiny stickers!

When Nickelodeon's Shimmer and Shine accidentally bring home two mischievous ice sprites, the twin genies must return the sprites before their palace becomes a winter wonderland! Boys and girls ages 4 to 6 will love this Step 2 deluxe Step into Reading leveled reader based on Nickelodeon's Shimmer and Shine that features over 30 shiny stickers. A perfect holiday or winter read! Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Boom Zahramay! Join the madcap, magical adventures of genie-in-training twin sisters Shimmer and Shine as they grant wishes for their best human friend Leah and show preschoolers that things are always better when you work together.

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Winter Dance

Marion Dane Bauer

Snow is coming, and it's time to get ready! The squirrel gathers nuts, the geese soar south, and the snowshoe hare puts on its new white coat. But what should the fox do? Each animal advises the fox that its own plan is best, but the fox thinks otherwise--yet it's not until he meets a golden-eyed friend that he finds the perfect way to celebrate the snowfall.

Stunning illustrations by the new talent Richard Jones are the perfect complement to the Newbery Honor winner Marion Dane Bauer's lyrical and playful homage to the natural world.

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The Storm Whale in Winter

Benji Davies

In this sequel to The Storm Whale, the boy, Noi, is caught in a storm at sea and his whale friend comes to his rescue.

When Noi's dad sails out on one last fishing trip before winter, Noi waits for him at home. But as the storm worsens and his dad does not return, Noi decides to go looking for his dad. But the storm is powerful and dangerous, and soon Noi, too, is stuck in the icy sea. When it seems that all hope is lost, a friend comes to help Noi and his father. Poignant and evocative, this is a beautiful celebration of friendship and family, and the special bond between a father and son.

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Snow Scene

Richard Jackson

A playful guessing game set in a snowy landscape, this gorgeously illustrated picture book offers a cozy look at a cold winter that slowly melts into a bright spring with only a handful of carefully chosen words.

A close-up of tree trunks leads to the question "What are these?"
A page turn reveals: trees!
Look to the right—what are those?
Shadows of crows!

Follow the clues on each spread until the snow starts to melt and spring is revealed.

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Michelle the Winter Wonderland Fairy

Daisy Meadows

Let it snow!

Kirsty and Rachel are together again! Kirsty's mom won an online contest for a photo she submitted to a travel website. The prize is a trip for four to a beautiful snowy resort where a winter festival is being held.

There's just one problem-- Jack Frost has stolen Michelle the Winter Wonderland Fairy's magic items! As long as they're missing, people won't be able to enjoy all the wintry activities.

Rachel and Kirsty have to help Michelle before Jack Frost ruins winter fun for everyone!

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Let's Build a Snowman!

Kristen L. Depken

Children ages 4 to 6 will love this Step 1 Deluxe Step into Reading leveled reader about Barbie, her sisters, and her puppies having fun building the perfect snowman. It's perfect for Christmas and winter. A sparkly cover and over 30 shimmery stickers add to the fun! Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story. For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Since 1959, Barbie has shown girls that they can live their dreams. From an astronaut to a chef to a president, she knows that girls can do anything!

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The Ice Castle

Holly Anna

Hi! I’m Daisy Dreamer and my totally true imaginary friend Posey and I are going on a winter adventure! Oh, and you’re totally invited, too!

I love snow days! I mean, who doesn’t? But do you know what’s better than a snow day? A snow day in the World of Make-Believe! Obviously! But do you know what’s even better than that? A snow day in the World of Make-Believe visiting a really real Ice Castle! Join Posey and me, as we build snow-nimals, go bed-sledding, and have a brrr-tastic snowberang fight. There’s just one thing to remember: Stay out of the Ice Castle’s tower. It may be a little cursed, but that’s snow reason to not come along!

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Daisy Dreamer chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.

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Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter

Kenard Pak

As leaves fall from their trees, animals huddle against the cold, and frost creeps across windows, everyone knows—winter is on its way!

Join a brother and sister as they explore nature and take a stroll through their twinkling town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the setting sun to curious deer, they say goodbye to autumn and welcome the glorious first snow of winter in Kenar Pak's Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter.

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Winter Is Here

Kevin Henkes

From Caldecott Medalist and Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes and acclaimed painter Laura Dronzek, the bestselling and award-winning creators of When Spring Comes and In the Middle of Fall, this picture book about winter celebrates the sights, sounds, and smells of the season.

Snow falls, animals burrow, and children prepare for the wonders winter brings. Caldecott Medalist and award-winning author Kevin Henkes’s striking text introduces basic concepts of language and the unique beauty of the winter season. Laura Dronzek’s expressive paintings beautifully capture the joyful wonders of winter.

This is an engaging companion to the best-selling When Spring Comes and In the Middle of Fall. Winter Is Here is an ideal choice for story time, seasonal curriculums, and bedtime reading.

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The Snowy Nap

Jan Brett

Snow is on the way, and as Hedgie trundles around the farm all his friends tell him of the winter-time fun he will miss as he hibernates--Icicles decorating the chicken coop! Lisa making snowmen! The pond turned to slippery ice! It sounds so amazing, Hedgie decides to stay awake instead of going to his burrow. But then a snowstorm starts. Luckily, Lisa finds him and brings him inside so Hedgie gets to see the wonders of winter from inside the cozy house.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid #13: Meltdown

Jeff Kinney

When snow shuts down Greg Heffley's middle school, his neighborhood transforms into a wintry battlefield. Rival groups fight over territory, build massive snow forts, and stage epic snowball fights. And in the crosshairs are Greg and his trusty best friend, Rowley Jefferson.

It's a fight for survival as Greg and Rowley navigate alliances, betrayals, and warring gangs in a neighborhood meltdown. When the snow clears, will Greg and Rowley emerge as heroes? Or will they even survive to see another day?
 

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Little Owl's Snow

Divya Srinivasan

Little Owl experiences his first snow and first winter in this perfect follow-up to Little Owl's Night and Little Owl's Day!

"Winter's almost here!" says Little Owl, as he observes leaves falling, animal friends hibernating, and a chill from his feathers to his feet. And just as he and his friend racoon are watching their breath make fog in the cold air, it happens: Snow! Here is the perfect follow-up to Little Owl's Night and Little Owl's Day, and a wonderful introduction to the changing of the seasons!

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A Home in the Barn

Margaret Wise Brown

Perfect for fans of Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny, and Big Red Barn, this never-before-published picture book from beloved children’s book author Margaret Wise Brown tells the comforting, snowy story of animals seeking shelter from the cold in a big warm barn.

Brought to beautiful life by Caldecott Medalist and multiple award-winner Jerry Pinkney, this is a must-have for every child’s library and is perfect for cozy wintertime readings.

Outside in the cold, hear the wind rattle, come to the barn, keep warm with the cattle...

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Good Morning, Snowplow!

Deborah Bruss

For fans of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site!

As the rest of the town settles in to bed, one man, his dog, and a trusty snowplow get ready for a night's work. Follow them through slick roads and swirling drifts in this sweet, rhyming book by Deborah Bruss and New York Times bestselling illustrators Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson.

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Wintercake

Lynne Rae Perkins

Sometimes a mistake can be a wonderful thing.

Sometimes a mistake is cause for celebration.

Sometimes making a mistake leads to rousing adventure and a whole new chapter.

That’s exactly what happens to Lucy and Thomas in this luminous and festive picture book about a holiday mistake, cake, and friendship.

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A Day So Gray

Marie Lamba

Once you start to notice, colors and reasons for gratitude are everywhere, and that changes everything! Celebrate the hues and comforts of a cozy winter day as a discontented girl at first notices only dull grays and browns in a snowy landscape but is coaxed by her friend to look more closely. Soon she finds orange berries, blue water, purple shadows, and more. Warm friendship and a fresh way of seeing things transform a snow-covered landscape from bleak to beautiful!

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Poppy and Sam and the Search for Sleep

Cathon

Winter is coming, and Poppy and Sam's tiny garden neighbors are getting ready to hibernate. After stocking their pantries for the colder days ahead, Poppy and Sam settle in for a long winter's nap as well. But what is Poppy doing wrong? She can't sleep and nothing seems to work! Determined to hibernate like her friends, Poppy sets out with Sam to ask the other creatures for their deep-sleep secrets. But advice from the bees (snuggling into a honeycomb), a frog (a bedtime mug of fly milk), and the ants (quiet reading) don't help Poppy drift off to dreamland. Even's Sam's lullaby misses the mark, so the loyal panda pledges to stay awake all winter with his sleepless friend. As snowflakes fall, they encounter Simone, a mouse, who reveals that mice don't hibernate but stay active all winter. Delighted by the news, Poppy asks if she can spend the winter with the mice, reading comics and snacking on cake. Poppy and Sam settle in for the fun times ahead--and, exhausted by their quest, promptly drop off to sleep.

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Cozy

Jan Brett

Cozy is the softest musk ox in Alaska, with the warmest fur you ever did feel. When a storm hits while he's separated from his family, he starts to feel lonely--but not for long. As the snow piles up, animals start to notice just how warm and cozy Cozy really is! One mama lemming has a bright idea . . . maybe the best place to spend the winter is under Cozy's fur!

As more and more animals burrow in, Cozy adds to the house rules: quiet voices, gentle thumping, claws to yourself, no biting, and no pouncing. That seems easy enough . . . until the lemmings, snowshoe hare, snowy owl, arctic fox, and wolverine begin to bicker. Luckily, signs of spring soon appear, and that means Cozy can find his herd and his new friends can head to their summer homes. But not before promising to get cozy with Cozy next year!

Jan Brett brings a new lovable character to life through this gorgeous tale of sharing, friendship, and living in harmony.

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Froggy Builds a Snowman

Jonathan London

Froggy has a rollicking good time at his first Winter Carnival!

It's Winter Carnival day, and Froggy can't wait to build a snowman. But school principal Mr. Mugwort says there is a lot to do first. Skating! Sledding! A snow fort! Finally it's time to build a snowman, but Froggy builds a snow dinosaur instead. And of course the day wouldn't be complete without a wild snowball fight.
"That was my best winter carnival ever!" says Froggy.
"That was your only winter carnival ever!" says his friend Max.

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Step-by-step Crafts for Winter

Kathy Ross

Younger children will enoy these easy-to-use craft books. Step-by-step illustrations guide children age five and up in making fall and winter crafts--twenty in each book--including games, toys, useful and wearable items, decorations, gifts, and holiday crafts (Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween; Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah).

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Winter

Ann Herriges

Winter brings ice, snow, and cold temperatures. Some animals hibernate while others change their habits to survive the cold months. Readers will learn about how people, animals, and plants deal with the cold, chilly weather of winter!

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Winter Trees

Carole Gerber

"Trees that once had leaves are bare.
They're dressed instead in lacy white.
Snow dusts their trunks and coats their limbs
with flakes that outline them with light."

Join a boy and his dog as they use their senses of sight and touch to identify seven common trees in the snow covered forest. Intricate illustrations and lyrical text make distinguishing different types of trees easy--even in the middle of winter, when only bare branches stand like skeletons against the sky.

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How Do You Know It's Winter?

Ruth Owen

Describes some of the signs of winter, including changes in light and temperature, plants at rest, bare branches on trees, animals and birds responding to the cold and lack of food, and other differences, and suggests related activities.

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What Do People Do in Winter?

Rebecca Felix

This Level 1 guided reader discusses human activities during seasonal change. Students will develop word recognition and reading skills while learning about what activities people do in the winter season.

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Best in Snow

April Pulley Sayre

Discover the wonderful world of snow with this companion to the celebrated Raindrops Roll!

With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre sheds sparkly new light on the wonders of snow. From the beauty of snow blanketing the forest and falling on animals’ fur and feathers to the fascinating winter water cycle, this nonfiction picture book celebrates snowfall and the amazing science behind it.

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All about Animals in Winter

Martha E. H. Rustad

Some animals' fur turns white. Other animals hibernate. Winter is here! Celebrate the season with lovely photos and a simple design that beautifully support early readers.

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Hello Winter!

Shelley Rotner

Vivid photographs of frozen wonderlands and cold-weather fun come together in a lively tribute to winter by an acclaimed author-photographer.

This third book in a celebrated series about the seasons takes children from the shortest day of the year to the approach of spring. In beautiful photographs and a short text ROTNER notes changes in the physical earth as winter approaches as well as animal and plant adaptations. A glossary is included.

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When Winter Comes

Aimée M. Bissonette

Though a forest may be blanketed in snow or a lake frozen over, families who enjoy the outdoors in winter, happily bundled up to play in the energizing weather, know that wildlife is still teeming there.

When winter comes,
and deep snow blankets the woods,
and ice forms cold and smooth on the lakes,
thick enough for us to skate on,
some people think our woods are empty.
But we know better.

The fallen log that is used to hide behind in a snowball fight is a shelter for tree frogs, caterpillars, ladybugs, and slugs. The drifts of fallen snow that families snowshoe across have winding tunnels made by meadow mice in search of seeds and bark. The towering trees families ski among shield birds from winter winds.

When Winter Comes celebrates the joy of playing and exploring in the outdoors during the winter months.

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Way Too Many Latkes

Linda Glaser

Faigel makes the best Hanukkah latkes in Chelm, but somehow, this year she's forgotten how to make them! She sends her husband, Shmuel, to ask the rabbi for help. And in Chelm, the village of fools--oy vey!--this becomes a recipe for disaster!

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There Was a Young Rabbi

Suzanne Wolfe

Hanukkah is a very busy time! Join the young rabbi as she makes festive preparations--spinning the dreidel, cooking a tasty meal, lighting the menorah, and more--in this cumulative, rhyming story reminding readers of the Hanukkah miracle of long ago! Learn about Hanukkah's festivities and rituals, and about the Jewish holiday itself.

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The Story of Hanukkah

David A. Adler

No celebration of Hanukkah would be complete without recounting the events of more than two thousand years ago that the holiday commemorates. In a simple yet dramatic text and vibrant paintings, the story of the courageous Maccabees and the miracle that took place in the Temple in Jerusalem is retold.

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The Parakeet Named Dreidel

Isaac Bashevis Singer

When young David and Mama and Papa are celebrating Hanukkah one frosty winter evening in Brooklyn, Papa sees a parakeet sitting on the window ledge. He lets the parakeet in and everyone is delighted to find that it speaks Yiddish. They name it Dreidel and it becomes part of their family. Many years later, when David is in college, he is at a party one night and tells Dreidel's story—only to discover that Zelda, a young woman at the party, owned the bird herself as a child. Papa and Mama are worried that they will have to give their beloved pet back, but then David and Zelda decide to get married after college, and everyone agrees that they should take Dreidel with them as they start their own family.

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The Missing Letters

Renee Londner

It's almost Hanukkah and the dreidel-maker's shop is busy. But all is not well for the four Hebrew letters that will soon go on the wooden tops. The Heys, the Nuns, and the Shins are jealous of everyone's favorite letter, the Gimel. They decide to hide the Gimels so that the dreidel-maker can't use them. But then the other letters learn that the Hanukkah story wouldn't be complete without the Gimels! Is it too late for the missing letters to be found?

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The Amazing Adventures of Super Dreidel

Howard Eisenberg

Rachel and her brother Randy didn't know when they built a Super Dreidel for Hanukkah that it would fly them thousands of years back in time and into the middle of a war. They didn't know it would help the Maccabees win it. But then Super Dreidel crashed, and suddenly there was something else they didn't know: how in the world they could ever get home to Mom, Dad, and their dog Spot.

 

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Simon and the Bear

Eric A. Kimmel

Before Simon sails to America, he promises his family that he will get a job and send for them. Simon's mother knows he will need a miracle, so she reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah wherever he may be. Little does either of them know that Simon will spend the first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sinks.The lone survivor out in the wide ocean, Simon lights the first candle, and it attracts a visitor: a polar bear. Does she eat him? No! She shares his latkes, enjoys his songs, goes fishing for him, and even keeps him warm at night. By the last day of Hanukkah, Simon has nearly given up hope of ever being rescued. But then he recounts all of the miracles that have befallen him so far. Perhaps it is not too much to hope for one more, he thinks, as he lights all of the candles in the menorah. The bright glow signals a passing ship, and Simon makes it to New York after all. This fanciful Hanukkah tale-like none you've ever read before-celebrates eight miracles: family, friendship, hope, selflessness, sharing, faith, courage, and love. A retelling of the ancient Hanukkah story is included on the last page.

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Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf

Greg Wolfe

In this delightfully inventive holiday tale, an elf named Shmelf takes a journey from the North Pole . . . and discovers all the joys of Hanukkah.

Shmelf is one of Santa's most important elves. He's part of the List Checking department, and he makes sure all the good boys and girls get their presents! But when Shmelf finds out that some children are missing from Santa’s list, he goes to investigate.

What Shmelf uncovers is Hanukkah, a wondrous and joyful holiday that Jewish families celebrate each year. As Shmelf observes a family lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and hearing the Hanukkah story, he sees how special the traditions of the holiday truly are--and he wants to be a part of it! Luckily, Santa just might have a special role in mind for Shmelf . . .

The rich traditions of Hanukkah come to life in this whimsical and magical story that’s perfect for the holiday season.

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Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah

Sylvia A. Rouss

Sammy Spider watches longingly as Josh Shapiro lights another candle and receives another brightly colored dreidel each night of Hanukkah. Sammy's mother reminds him, "Spiders don't spin dreidels, spiders spin webs!" Then, on the last night, Sammy gets his own spinning surprise.

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Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas

Pamela Ehrenberg

In this sweet and humorous picture book, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas, a multi-cultural family (Mom's Indian; Dad's Jewish) celebrate Hanukkah while incorporating traditional Indian food.

Instead of latkes, this family celebrates Hanukkah with tasty Indian dosas. To her brother's chagrin, little Sadie won't stop climbing on everything both at home and at the Indian grocery store, even while preparing the dosas. As the family puts the finishing touches on their holiday preparations, they accidentally get locked out of the house. Sadie and her climbing skills just may be exactly what is needed to save the day.

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Oskar and the Eight Blessings

Richard Simon

A refugee seeking sanctuary from the horrors of Kristallnacht, Oskar arrives by ship in New York City with only a photograph and an address for an aunt he has never met. It is both the seventh day of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve, 1938. As Oskar walks the length of Manhattan, from the Battery to his new home in the north of the city, he passes experiences the city's many holiday sights, and encounters it various residents. Each offers Oskar a small act of kindness, welcoming him to the city and helping him on his way to a new life in the new world.

 

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Origami for Hanukkah

Robyn Hardyman

In North American, Hanukkah is thought of as a winter holiday. But in the southern hemisphere, Hanukkah happens during the summer! Fun facts like this one are found throughout this fun craft book. Readers can learn about the history of Hanukkah while creating gifts perfect for one of the eight nights of the holiday! Candles, envelopes to hold money, and dreidels can all be created from paper by following the clear instructions found in this book. Photographs of each step show each project in process and in its colorful, completed form.

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Nonna's Hanukkah Surprise

Karen Fisman

Rachel loves visiting her Italian grandmother, even though Nonna celebrates Christmas and Rachel and her parents celebrate Hanukkah. Rachel plans to share Hanukkah with her whole family, so when Rachel's special hanukkiah goes missing, Nonna steps in to save the day.

 

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Maccabee!

Tilda Balsley

Judah and the little army of the Maccabees fight to free Jerusalem from the cruel King Antiochus in a rhyming version of the famous Hanukkah story.

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Is It Hanukkah Yet?

Nancy Krulik

Families who celebrate Hanukkah will recognize the familiar anticipation of the little girl in this story. And what better way to make the wait go faster than to read this sweet family story. Kids will recognize their favorite songs, games, and traditions in this early reader that captures the joy and warmth of the Festival of Lights.

Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

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I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Dreidel

Caryn Yacowitz

A family drives through the snow to visit their beloved bubbe, who spreads out a Chanukah supper for everyone to enjoy. But one dish goes a little wrong:

"I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel
A Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel...
Perhaps it's fatal."

Indeed, Bubbe's first bite leads to an insatiable taste for oil, latkes, applesauce, gelt -- even menorahs! But as the family tries to distract her from her gluttony, the items she devours grow ever larger. Will they be able to reconnect with her and bring her home for the last night of Chanukah -- or will her feasting in fact be fatal?
Beyond the joy of a Jewish take on this most American of folk songs, the illustrations here offer hilarious parodies of great works of art by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hopper, Rockwell, Matisse, Picasso, and other masters--adding a whole new layer of humor and culture to the familiar tune. You'll love this old lady, and want to visit her every Chanukah for years to come.

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Happy Llamakkah!

Laura Gehl

Follow along with the Llama family's Hanukkah traditions as they light their menorah, spin the dreidel, fry latkes, and more. Laura Gehl's lively rhyming text and Lydia Nichols's vibrant illustrations make for a festive read. The book also features kid-friendly back matter, with expanded information on the holiday's history and traditions.

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Happy Hanukkah, Pout-Pout Fish

Deborah Diesen

Celebrate Hanukkah with Mr. Fish and his friends—it's eight nights of fun! From a delicious meal to lighting the menorah, Hanukkah is a time of joy. Toddlers will love swimming along with the pout-pout fish as he turns little pouts into big smiles in this original board book.

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