Cloud Cuckoo Land

By Anthony Doerr

Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Angela, Manitou Branch Administrator

    I was eagerly anticipating this new book by the author of All the Light We Cannot See (one of my all-time favourite novels), and I was not disappointed, although this book could not be more different.

    The story follows the lives of four characters through different periods of time, from the 15th century Siege of Constantinople, the Korean War, modern-day Idaho and into an unspecified, post-apocalyptic future aboard a space mission hurtling the chosen survivors of humanity through the universe to recolonize a distant planet.

    All four characters, though vastly different in terms of their circumstances, are connected by an ancient book written in Greek that 13 year old Anna finds in a ruined monastery library at Constantinople.  All of the characters feel compelled to save, translate, and preserve the book; a fable about Aethon and his travels, and many misadventures, seeking the mythical sky kingdom of Cloud Cuckoo Land.

    Throughout the book, the characters draw parallels in the story with their own lives and situations, and for all of them the book becomes a symbol of something bigger and more powerful than themselves that helps them in their respective journeys.

    The plot of this book is complex, and jumps around time periods, which could be confusing, however, the story of Aethon that unfolds in the pages along with the stories of the characters, cleverly parallels and connects them.

    Definitely a recommended read!

Place this book on hold here

The Christmas Pig

By J.K. Rowling

Junior Fiction

Reviewed by Janine from the Winkler Branch

    The Christmas Pig is a magical story about a the lengths a young boy will go to find his missing toy pig.  Dur Pig (DP) has been Jack's constant companion since Jack was very young.  They have been through everything together from the first day of school, Jack's parent's divorce, a move to be closer to Jack's grandparents and Jack's mom's remarriage.  Jack and his new stepsister Hannah do not get along and on Christmas Eve, during a really big fight, Hannah throws DP out the car window and he cannot be found.  Jack is furious and although Hannah buys him a replacement pig, DP cannot be replaced and Jack hates the new pig so much he tries to rip his head off.  But Christmas Eve is a night for miracles and lost causes, a night when even toys can come to life, and Jack and The Christmas Pig end up on an epic adventure to the Land of the Lost in search of DP.

    Jack and Christmas Pig's journey through the Land of the Lost is a magical, albeit harrowing adventure where all kinds of inanimate objects and feelings like Hope and Happiness come to life.  Jack and The Christmas Pig have to travel through the many worlds in the Land of the Lost to find DP all while trying to avoid being caught by the Loser, the terrifying toy crunching ruler of the Land of the Lost.  With the help of several kind Things, Jack and The Christmas Pig go on a grand adventure where they have to learn how to work together in order to survive.

    I really enjoyed this book. It was cozy and magical and full of wonder, just the thing you want to read at Christmas time. It's a great book to read together with your kids. I will admit that it took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, I almost couldn't stop.  If you like reading about the impossible becoming possible and journeys through alternate realities, then this book is for you.

Place the book on hold here

If You Ever Want To Bring A Pirate To Meet Santa, DON'T

By Elsie Parsley

Junior Easy/Fiction

Reviewed by Jess, Winkler Branch Administrator

    There is only one bearded guy with a red suit and a bag full of treasures at the mall, right?  Wrong!  That's a pirate, and pirates are not known for their Christmas spirit.  What happens if you bring a pirate to meet Santa?  Well, you might sing a few sea shanty carols, get your picture taken with Santa and hopefully no one will be held at swordfish point and forced to walk the plank.  Basically, if you want to bring a pirate to meet Santa, DON'T!

    Chaos ensues in this fresh new take on the classic visit to Santa at the mall.  This book explores how a case of mistaken identity can lead to hilarious results that ultimately teach us all a lesson about the meaning of the season.  Even a misbehaving, swashbuckling pirate can spread some Christmas cheer, while plundering candy cane stock.  This book is beautifully illustrated and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone for a little Christmas fun!

Place this book on hold here.

Page to Screen: The Polar Express

 

By Chris Van Allsburg

Junior Easy/Fiction

By Janine from the Winkler Branch

  The Polar Express is the magical story of a young boy's train journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.  The beautiful illustrations in the book perfectly capture the wonder and magic of Christmas.  The book details the train's journey to the North Pole where the children will meet Santa and one of them will be chosen to receive the first Christmas present.

      While the book depicts a very lovely journey to the North Pole with very few obstacles along the way, the movie is another story.  In the movie, the journey to meet Santa is full of obstacles and conflicts. From missing tickets to conflict with the other kids on the train to getting lost at the North Pole, there is never a dull moment.  

    I realize that it is hard to turn a 32 page children's book into a full length movie but, for me, there is just no comparison between the two.  While there is nothing inherently wrong with the book, when compared with the movie, it just seems dull.  The train journey in the movie is exciting and full of twists and turns and their arrival at the North Pole brings even more excitement whereas in the book, they ride the train, they meet Santa, they go home.  The movie also emphasizes the boy's inner struggle of whether he still believes in Santa or not, which is not really evident in the book. There is just something about seeing the story played out on the screen that makes it come alive, bringing with it cozy, festive Christmas feelings.  Add the fact that Tom Hanks plays 5 characters in the movie and you really can't go wrong. Now that I have read the book (this year was my first time), I don't know that I need to read it again, but I will continue to watch the movie every year.

    What do you think? Book or movie?

Place the book on hold here

Read-Along Book plus CD

Place the DVD on hold here

Also check out The Art of The Polar Express

The Art of The Polar Express celebrates the transformation of Chris Van Allsburg's celebrated children's book The Polar Express into a full-length, animated feature film through a fascinating collection of concept art, production storyboards, and computer-generated renderings. Production designer Doug Chiang shares his original, never-before-seen artwork that evolved into the final motion picture. Weaving these pieces together are candid interviews with the star-studded cast and crew, including Robert Zemeckis and his team of filmmaking visionaries, that deliver rare insight into the film as they divulge the secrets behind their creative process.

  

Christmas Book Recommendations

Christmas is a great time of year to curl up with a good book and a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.  Take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the season and enjoy a good festive read.  Here are some of our Christmas book recommendations.  As always, click on the titles to request the books and if you have any questions or need more information or recommendations, contact your local branch.  What are some of your favourite festive reads?

A Redbird Christmas

Large Print Edition

Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget A Redbird Christmas.

Finding Christmas

A very Munsch Christmas! For the first time ever, Canada's best loved author and illustrator team creates a festive story to ring in the holiday season - with all of the zaniness fans have come to expect, of course! Every year Julie finds the Christmas presents her parents hid: in the basement, under the bed, in the garage. But this year it's Christmas Eve and she has found nothing. NOTHING! She's worried - will be there no presents at all? Her investigation takes her to a mysterious box on the rooftop, which - lo and behold - houses all of the gifts! But, in classic Munsch mayhem, she becomes trapped inside, creating the biggest surprise of all for her family on Christmas morning.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Audiobook

Playaway Audiobook

The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant.

Christmas Parade

A lively marching band of animal musicians leads the Christmas Parade.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor

When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend--for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests--her former fiance, Benjamin Lane. Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he's given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it--and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

Gingerbread Christmas

Gingerbread Baby and his friend, Matti, take his gingerbread band to the Christmas Festival where they are a hit until the aroma of gingerbread reaches the children, signaling that it is time to run away. Clever Matti uses snow to disguise the gingerbread instruments while Gingerbread Baby leads the audience on a merry chase to the smartest hiding place ever--a giant Christmas tree.

So, This Is Christmas

When Finley Brown returns to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma, from boarding school, she finds things have changed everywhere and looks to find her own place at home.

Christmas at the Vinyl Cafe

Christmas has always been a special time at the Vinyl Cafe. For two decades, Stuart McLean travelled across the country every December with the Vinyl Cafe Christmas tour, bringing the gift of laughter and light during the darkest days of the year. The hilarious world of Dave and Morley was even more real - more vibrant - during the holidays. For many, the Vinyl Cafe Christmas stories became beloved family traditions. Now, for the first time, they have been brought together in this special collection - including the classic "Dave cooks the Turkey," as well as five new, never before published Christmas stories. From mishaps with the Turlingtons and the tale of a young Dave's first holiday disaster to the surprising "Christmas Ferret" and the touching sign off in "The Christmas Card," these wonderful new stories will delight for years to come.

Chinook Christmas

Christmas in the Prairies means snow and blizzards and bitterly cold winds. But what happens when a warm Chinook wind blows like an unexpected gift down from the Rocky Mountains, turning December into April in the blink of a child's eye? What happens when the Chinook promises a temporary magic? What happens is the people of a small prairie town abandon old habits and emerge momentarily from the grip of the harsh cold to embrace this wonder. Smack in the middle of what used to be winter, nine-year old Eric grabs his bike and sails crazily through a maze of paths and puddles that shouldn't be there at all. And on this special Christmas Eve, Eric and his sister Anni marvel at the surprise of a frozen landscape melted into vivid colours and fresh smells. And when they return home from church, they discover an anonymous gift on their doorstep. Who could have left this mysterious treat? As the Chinook whispers in his ears, Eric is certain he knows the answer.

The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily

Dash and Lily have had a tough year since readers first watched the couple fall in love. Lily's beloved grandfather suffered a heart attack, and his difficult road to recovery has taken a major toll on her typically sunny disposition. With only twelve days left until Christmas--Lily's favorite time of the year--Dash, Lily's brother Langston, and their closest friends take Manhattan by storm to help Lily recapture the holiday magic of New York City in December.

A Simple Christmas on the Farm

A young girl is skeptical when her parents declare they will have a simple Christmas focused on giving rather than getting, but soon their old barn is filled with food, fun, friends, and homemade gifts. Includes directions for making star ornaments, Christmas card coasters, and melted crayon rocks.

When Santa Fell to Earth

When he and his caravan come crashing down to earth during a thunderstorm two weeks before Christmas, Santa is befriended by two children, Charlotte and Ben, who try to help him save the holiday from the tricks and moneymaking schemes of Gerold Geronimus Goblynch and to take off in time for his annual rounds.

Carols and Chaos

Kate Darby, a lady's maid, and Matt Harlow, a valet, become entangled in a yuletide counterfeiting scheme at Christmas time, 1817, as they try to stave off their feelings for one another.

Comfort & Joy

Large Print Edition

CD Audiobook

Joy decides to walk away from her life for the duration of the Christmas holidays and meets a widower and his son to whom she is instantly drawn.

A Boy Called Christmas

Eleven-year-old Nikolas - nicknamed "Christmas" - has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. Still, he tries hard to believe in happiness, living with his father in the second-smallest cottage in all of Finland. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things - if only he can reach his father before it's too late.

Santa Jaws

A great white shark Santa brings treats to all the little shark pups in the ocean

Snow In Love: Four Stories

Four original stories for teens about finding love during the winter holiday season.

Finding Father Christmas

A poignant Christmas novella about a woman, desperate for a place to belong, who finds herself in London a few days before Christmas, looking for the father she never knew.

A Christmas Sonata

A young boy and his mother spend Christmas 1943 with relatives in northern Minnesota while his father is fighting in the war in Europe.  They take a long journey by train to a snowy land of vast frozen lakes, deep and sparkling cold, and the most magical Christmas tree the boy has ever seen.  He knows this will be the last Christmas he will spend with his cousin, who is dying.  The boy's uncle overhears the two cousins say there is no Santa Claus, and in a grand gesture that is nothing short of a Christmas miracle, he restores the children's faith in the spirit of the season.

All Wrapped Up

Harriet Manners knows a lot about Christmas. She knows that every year Santa climbs down 91.8 million chimneys. She knows that Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was almost definitely a girl. She knows that the first artificial Christmas trees were made out of goose feathers. But this Christmas is extra special for Harriet, because four days ago she had her First Ever Kiss. Now she just needs to work out what's supposed to happen next. A romantic festive treat from the internationally bestselling award-winning author of the GEEK GIRL series 

Six Geese A-Slaying

 A Meg Langslow Christmas Mystery

By Donna Andrews

Adult Fiction/Mystery

Reviewed by Linda from the Winkler Branch

    The annual Caerphilly Christmas Parade was always a bit chaotic, and now that it's been renamed and expanded into the Holiday Parade, the chaos is rampant.  Meg Langslow finds herself unwillingly in charge of wrangling the mayhem as The Twelve Days of Christmas, live Nativity, camels, elephants, and Dickens characters find their places.  In the middle of all this, Meg hears the words no Mistress of The Revels wants to hear: "There is something wrong with Santa!"  There is, in fact, something fatally wrong with the curmudgeonly (ex-) Santa, and it looks like no one is going to have a Happy Holiday unless Meg can figure out what happened - and why.

    Donna Andrews' Meg Lanslow series is a delight all along and Six Geese A-Slaying is no exception.  Meg and her husband Michael are an island of sanity in the middle of a cast of delightfully eccentric characters and unlikely situations, and the plot takes a few interesting and unexpected twists before delivering a tidy solution.  If you're into the cozy and the comic, this one is well worth checking out.  Better yet, there are another seven Christmas mysteries in this series, out of a total of thirty Meg Langslow mysteries - it's the gift that keeps on giving!

The Christmas Pageant

 By Jacqueline Rogers

Junior Non-Fiction

Reviewed by Dorothy from the Morden Branch

    This junior non-fiction book tells the story of Christ's birth in a way that is easy to understand. The illustrations tell the story of a group of spirited children preparing for their annual Christmas play in their rural village.  The book also incorporates Christmas carols throughout the story that include both the notes and words for the songs.

    The Christmas Pageant is a book that families can enjoy and will help them celebrate the true meaning of the holiday.  We have used it at our family gatherings and it is one that never grows old.

Place this book on hold here.