The Last of Books at Christmas.... Finishing the List

The Last of Books at Christmas.... Finishing the List

The weak winter sun has managed to break through the morning’s grey sky.  A single beam of its light pierces the bookshop window; a swath of pink gold illuminating the way to the children’s book section.  You check your list once more.  Only two more people to buy for, and they are two of your favourites.  Then you’ll gather up your purchases and head to the little cafe on the corner for a restorative lunch before heading off for another one of your best-loved Christmas chores... Gift Wrapping!  

But first.... those last two people on the list.....

Henry, Who’s Just Begun Reading on His Own, 

but Still Likes to be Read to Every Now and Then

He’s been read to since his first day on Earth.  Goodnight Moon.  Where the Wild Things Are.  It was just several months ago that his mother caught him reading by himself one afternoon in his little rocking chair by the window.  She tiptoed away to call you.  Ah, another reader in the world.  Cause for hope and celebration.  Henry was fun to choose for this year.  You think he’ll adore this selection and you hope he’ll let you read at least one to him.

Tell Me the Day Backwards

by Albert Lamb

Mr. Wuffles!

by David Wiesner

The Dark

by Lemony Snicket

Fog Island

by Tomi Ungerer

________________________________________

 Your Friend, Caroline, Who Was Serious When She Told You

 She Was Leaving Town for Christmas

It was over a late lunch on a particularly hectic, particularly rainy day in October when she told you she had booked ten days in Belize and would fly out the evening of December twentieth. 

 “But what about the tree?  Your Christmas cards?  

The parties?  The presents?”, you’d sputtered. 

 “I’m taking the year off”, she'd said flatly. 

 She’d smiled so serenely, you knew there was nothing you could say to change her mind.  And really, who are you to try?  Caroline has had a pretty raucous year, and maybe this is precisely how she should spend her holiday, even if it does sound ill-advised and slightly treasonous to you.  Well, you searched to find the books perfect for this type of escape and you think you’ve done pretty well.  You’ll ship these to her hotel in Belize to be waiting for her to flip through by the pool. 

 What was that.....a touch of envy?

No.  Couldn't be.

Debutantes 

by Diana Oswald

All the Time in the World:  A Book of Hours

by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins

The Goldfinch

by Donna Tartt

Beauty at Home

by Aerin Lauder