With the holidays approaching, enjoy this two-part series of books to get you in the spirit, curated by Reference Librarian Taylor Anderson. This week we bring you part two – non-fiction books.
American cozy : hygge-inspired ways to create comfort & happiness / Stephanie Pedersen.
“The wildly popular phenomenon of hygge gets a warm American twist with this gifty, illustrated guide from bestselling Danish-American author Stephanie Pedersen. With their overscheduled lifestyles, Americans can’t always find time for the people and things they love. Enter American Cozy, which uses the Danish phenomenon of hygge–comfort, togetherness, and well-being–to bring coziness and ease to readers’ homes, work, and lives. Filled with charming four-color illustrations, it explores organization and home décor, entertaining, cooking, creating a happier, more productive work life, de-cluttering, and slowing down.”–Publisher’s website.
Beautiful winter / Edle Catharina Norman ; [translation by Margaret Berge Hartge].
Author and florist Edle Catharina Norman shows how to use seasonal materials and flowers to put together 53 entrancing and easy to assemble home projects–from festive garlands to fun table decorations (including candlesticks made of apples).
“From the creator of the popular blog and book Dinner: A Love Story and author of the New York Times bestseller Dinner: The Playbook comes a warm and inviting guide with more than one hundred time-tested recipes and a host of inspiring ideas for turning birthdays, holidays, and everyday occasions into cherished traditions. “Families crave rituals,” says Jenny Rosenstrach, and by rituals she means not just the big celebrations–Valentine’s Day dinners, Mother’s Day brunches, Thanksgiving feasts–but the little ones we may not even realize are rituals: A platter of deluxe nachos on Super Bowl Sunday or a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes after every braces-tightening session. Whether simple or elaborate, daily or annually, these rituals all serve the same purpose for Rosenstrach: to bring comfort, connection, and meaning to everyday family life. Recipes here are organized into groupings unique to Rosenstrach but familiar to everyone: Our Family Rituals (think tomato sandwiches for lunch after a family walk to the market, or homemade popovers on sleepover mornings); Holidays We Didn’t Invent, including Friday Challah and Easter Ham (yes, both, more on that inside); a Halloween Launch Party for trick-or-treaters, featuring a self-serve simmering pot of Chicken Chorizo Chili. A section on Birthdays includes Rosenstrach’s legendary chocolate frosted “mud” cake as well as a one-size-fits-all party planner with menus that do not rely on pizza. Lastly, in Family Dinners you’ll find celebratory Sunday meals (Soy-Glazed Grilled Pork Chops, Harissa Roasted Chicken, Summer Cobbler) alongside Rosenstrach’s signature easy weeknight fare (Crispy Chickpeas and Yogurt, Shrimp Tacos with Avocado “Butter,” and vegetable-packed Burrito Bowls)–all of which translate to prime quality time with the family. In this digital, overscheduled age, How to Celebrate Everything helps families slow down, capture the moments that matter–and eat well while doing it”– Provided by publisher.
Mathematicians Hannah Fry and Thomas Oléron Evans take readers on a festive journey through the pitfalls of a traditional holiday season. Lighthearted and diverting, and brimming with Christmassy diagrams, sketches and graphs, equations, Markov chains, and matrices. Math has never been merrier.
“A treasury of projects, tips, inspiration, and techniques for year-round holiday crafting”– Provided by publisher.
The old magic of Christmas : yuletide traditions for the darkest days of the year / Linda Raedisch.
“Not so very long ago, Yuletide was as much a chilling season of ghosts and witches as it was a festival of goodwill. In The Old Magic of Christmas, you’ll rub elbows with veiled spirits, learn the true perils of elves, and discover a bestiary of enchanted creatures. Rife with the more frightful characters from folklore and the season’s most petulant ghosts, this book takes you on a spooky sleigh ride from the silvered firs of a winter forest to the mirrored halls of the Snow Queen. Along the way, you’ll discover how to bring the festivities into your home with cookie recipes and craft instructions, as well as tips for delving more deeply into your relationship with the unseen”–Page 4 of cover.
Taste of Home handmade Christmas.
Handmade surprises touch hearts and make memories. From whimsical elves made of felt to clever greeting cards crafted at home, the inspired ideas in the all-new Taste of Home Handmade Christmas promise to make everyone’s holiday merry and bright. Whether you’re new to crafting or a longtime pro, you’ll enjoy projects such as Magnolia Leaf Wreath, Memory Wire Bracelets and so many others. These are the crafts you’ll enjoy creating for family, friends, neighbors, teachers – everyone on your Christmas list.
Unwrapping the greatest gift : a family celebration of Christmas / Ann Voskamp.
A guide to help recapture the sacredness of the Advent season and to help the entire family understand and celebrate the epic pageantry of humankind from Adam to the Messiah.