I've always loved snow globes so was pleased to find Celebrating Snow Globes, by Nina Chertoff and Susan Kahn. To be honest, I did forget how tacky some of them were! Just a fun book, with great pictures. There were (and are) snow globes of people (movie stars to presidents), landmarks, sports, pretty much anything you can think of. My favorite was the bare tree with autumn leaves as the 'snow'. I once gave a snow globe to some friends of mine ... it was a 'California' snow globe (but any warm state would work). It was filled with water and featured several lumps of coal, a pipe, and a top hat floating around. It was hysterical! :-)

And look! A mystery series featuring snow globes! Snow Way Out, by Christine Husom, is the first in her Snow Globe Shop mysteries. Cami has recently returned to her small home town and is working in a little store called Curio Finds that features snow globes. One evening she finds one she does not recognize that has a scene of a man sitting on a bench in the park. On her way home she comes across that very scene, only the man on the bench is dead. The next morning the unfamiliar snow globe is gone. It will happen again. Not a bad start to this new series! And, for you crafty types, there are instructions on making your own snow globes.

Frosty, the Dead Man, by Christine Husom, actually the third in the Snow Globe Shop mysteries, but I found it before I did the second book. I had no problem reading them out of order. It's nearing Christmas now, and to prepare for the upcoming surge of shoppers, more snow globes have been ordered, this time from a company not used before. The first shipment contains just four snow globes, three with more traditional themes, one with an odd theme of a hunter and three bears. Curiously this one sells first, several other customers come in and ask about it, and then the buyer ends up dead. Another shipment arrives, also with just four snow globes, but this time with one missing ... one with a bear theme. Was it stolen by a store employee? Why? (I actually figured out part of the answer this time)! As with the first book, there are instructions for making snow globes, but this time the 'snow' is more kid friendly.

Reading Hermit With Dog