Books and Resource Recommendations For The Holiday Season
By Siena McCleery
With the holiday season in full swing, readers are looking for ways to satisfy their literary appetite this winter whether through new books or unique resources in the literary world. Whether you live in an area where snow is piling up in towering hills near your house, blanketing your neighborhood in a peaceful quiet, or you are experiencing a more tropical winter scene and the sun is still shining at all hours of the day, the following book and resource recommendations can serve as great ways to continue to engage with the Beatrice Martin Foundation’s mission while allowing you to step into the magical world of literature this winter season.
To begin, a great starting place is looking towards a list of current banned books and choosing one that piques your interest. Afterall, by reading banned books that are disappearing off school shelves across America, you are playing a role in fighting for the ability to read diverse stories. Two great resources where you can access banned book lists are the American Library Association’s up to date list that can be found here, which provides reasons the books were banned, as well as Harper Bazaar’s comprehensive list of banned books linked here.
Next, below are some great recommendations of books to get you in the holiday spirit. We have sorted them into categories based on reading level and genre to provide a wide array of options suitable for even the most picky of readers!
Children’s Book Recommendation:
Celebrations Around the World by Katy Halford
A picture book that helps kids learn about important cultural celebrations from people across the globe.
Young Adult Recommendation:
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
This novel by Indigenous author Waubgeshig Rice is an important and timely read set in a remote Anishinaabe community during the winter and follows the community as they face a crisis.
Rice is an Anishnaabe journalist and author from Canada
Classics Recommendations:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Step into the literary world of Louisa May Alcott this season as you read this novel that is grounded in feminist themes.
In addition, check out both Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon’s well rounded book club lists:
As you gear up for the New Year and engage in some reflection on this past year, consider some healthy reading habits you hope to implement throughout 2024. Perhaps you will choose to follow one of the above books clubs or become more active in your local or wider literary community. The holiday season is a great time to plan out how you will make 2024 a meaningful year and continue to further your interest in books!
If you prefer to snuggle up on your couch with some hot cocoa and a different media to enjoy other than an adventure filled paperback, thrilling hard cover, or heart-warming special edition, another wonderful option are podcasts and author talks! Below are some of our favourite author talks that will help you see into the minds of the incredible individuals who bring these stories to life. Moreover, many of these resources are educational in nature as they touch on the topic of banned books.
Why we love this one:
Our Missing Hearts is a stunning and moving novel that touches on important issues and follows the perspective of a young boy, Bird, as he navigates an almost dystopian America where book bans are commonplace.
Celeste Ng has been a powerhouse in the literary world, especially in recent years with one of her hit books “Little Fires Everywhere” being adapted to television in the hit series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.
2. The Danger of A Single Story TED talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Why we love this one:
Adichie’s knowledgeable talk opens your eyes to the importance of multiple perspectives and how singular stories can have negative impacts.
Adichie also has written a plethora of well-known books including the paper version of the above talk - consider listening to this speech or picking up a copy of one of her many books here.
3. Panel discussion on banned comic books hosted by the St. Louis Public Library
Why we love this one:
Prompts readers to consider a genre that is not discussed as much: Comic Books
In addition, popular resources for book podcasts include the New York Times “The Book Review Podcast”. If you are having trouble finding a podcast that works for you, consider this list of recommendations from Oprah Daily!
In conclusion, allow these resources to act as a springboard into how you will spend this winter as a reader. It is important to be intentional about making time to read and expanding your literary horizons. These colder months are a great time to settle down with an engaging novel, audiobook, or podcast and spend time exploring new books or perhaps returning to childhood favourites. Do not be afraid to read a book that captured your attention years ago in elementary school or challenge yourself with a non-fiction read or even a memoir. Remember to take strides towards developing your literary acumen and share your favourite reads with those around you.
Works Cited
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. “Books.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2023, https://www.chimamanda.com/book/. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Banner, Bernadette. “Celeste Ng discusses “Our Missing Hearts.”” YouTube, 9 December 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQhUttOtohc. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Burlock, Charley. “The Best Book Podcasts for Every Kind of Reader in 2023.” Oprah Daily, 12 July 2023, https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/a43935032/best-book-podcasts-for-every-reader/. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Cain, Susan. “Oprah's Book Club List 2023 - All 103 Books Oprah Has Recommended.” Oprah Daily, 24 October 2023, https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/g23067476/oprah-book-club-list/. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Halford, Katy. “Celebrations Around the World by Katy Halford.” Penguin Random House Canada, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/602681/celebrations-around-the-world-by-katy-halford/9781465483904. Accessed 23 December 2023.
The New York Times. “The Book Review Podcast.” The New York Times, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/column/book-review-podcast. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Reese's Book Club. “Reese's Book Club.” Reese's Book Club, 2023, https://reesesbookclub.com/picks. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Rice, Waubgeshig. “Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.” Goodreads, 2 October 2018, https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/39082248. Accessed 23 December 2023.
St. Louis Public Library. “Banned Comic Books: a Panel Discussion.” YouTube, 23 September 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTNvNNfBUlA. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Summers, John. “Banned & Challenged Classics | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues.” American Library Association, 2023, https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics. Accessed 23 December 2023.
TED. “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story | TED Talk.” TED Talks, 6 October 2009, https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Waid, Mark, and Mike Wieringo. “Here Is Every Book Banned in America.” Harper's BAZAAR, 11 September 2023, https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/a45012950/banned-book-list/. Accessed 23 December 2023.
Waubgeshig Rice, and Sean Cranbury. Waub Home - Waubgeshig Rice Author Journalist Waub Home, 2023, https://waub.ca/. Accessed 23 December 2023.
