December Staff Picks

The staff at Crawfordsville District Public Library are in the holiday spirit and have several holiday books and movies to share this month. You can find our recommendations on display on the first floor of the library through the end of the month. And if you want to stock up on even more holiday titles, don’t miss our holiday displays on the second floor, filled with fiction, crafts, and cooking. 

Emily kicks us off with a classic holiday picture book: “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore (j E Moo): “We read this every Christmas Eve growing up and it is now a tradition with my own children!” Marva also recommends one of her favorite holiday picture books: “The Christmas Blessing” by Erin Guendelsberger (j E Gue), which follows a group of animals as they work together and learn of love and accepting one another’s differences. 

Dennis says “Nobody does Christmas music better than Michael Bublé.” Check out the album “Christmas” by Michael Bublé (CD 781.723 Bub): “Lots of great classics here, including White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Marva enjoyed the holiday movie “November Christmas” starring Sam Elliot, available to stream on hoopla with your library card. And Dellie says the holiday book “Honoring Christmas” by Linda Byler (LP FIC Byler) is “a must read that explores survival, recovery, and happiness.” 

Searching for some good holiday cookie recipes? Montica is in love with the variety of cookies in “Christmas Cookies” by Gooseberry Patch (641.5686 Chr), which contains over 200 recipes plus a collection of cookie-swap ideas. Find out how to make and share Chocolate Mint Stars, Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprints, Frosted Ginger Creams, Cranberry Crumb Bars and hundreds more. 

Of course, if you want a break from thinking about the holidays, we’ve got something for you, too. Mary enjoyed the twisty thriller “Home is Where the Bodies Are” by Jeneva Rose (FIC Rose): “Going through old home videos, siblings find a scene of their father covered in blood. The video abruptly ends. The sisters must decide to leave things alone or uncover what truly happened.” Mary also recommends the newly published true crime novel “The Barn” by Wright Thompson (364.134 Thompson). This New York Times bestseller has been named a Best Book of the Year by several publications and is “a shocking account of the murder of Emmett Till and how the truth was hidden for so long.” Another true crime book that just came out this year is “Framed” by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey (345.0122 Grisham). Brenda says this book shares ten true stories “of innocent people framed for murder and their fight for their freedom. Many of those falsely accused spent many years in jail for crimes they did not commit.” 

If you are looking for a less intense, but still powerful story, Cindy loved the book “The Museum of Lost Quilts” by Jennifer Chiaverini (FIC Chiaverini Elm v. 22) from cover to cover. While this is the twenty-second book in the Elm Creek Quilts series, new readers can still jump in and find enjoyment in this heartwarming tale. 

Stop at the library to check out one or more of these titles. Many of them are also available to check out digitally on our free Libby app. Our regular open hours are Monday-Thursday 9 am-9 pm, Friday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm, and Sunday 1-5 pm. We will be closed for the holidays December 24-26 and December 31-January 1.