I've read other books on tea, but I think A History of Tea: the Life and Times of the World's Favorite Beverage, by Laura C. Martin, might be my favorite. Lots of fun stuff here! Tea was once traded for horses. It was once made into bricks, which stored well and traveled easily. The samurai contributed to the spread of tea houses and the tea ceremony. Considered a medicine, it was first found in apothecaries. The first tea bag was introduced in 1904, by Thomas Sullivan of New York. Oh ... and here's something that was news to me: Peter Stuyvesant brought tea to New Amsterdam (later to become NYC) in 1647. Ten years before it was introduced in London!

For a fun look back at some of the foods that we ate, were popular, or made their first appearance, check out The Century in Food: America's Fads and Favorites, by Beverly Bundy. There's a nice time line for each decade, and some great pictures, but sadly, somewhere along the line the decision was made to put white type, in a small font, on a pastel background so some sections were hard to read. (Although younger eyes might not have the same problem). ;-)

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And finally, for this holiday season, a few fun books for the upcoming Twelfth Night.

I've listed many versions, or perhaps they are visions, of The Twelve Days of Christmas and them to fall into two categories: traditional and non-traditional. And, there always seem to be more! Still not a song I like much, but I love many of the visual interpretations. And even a few of the 'twisted' musical versions. (There's one from the about the twelve days after Christmas that is a hoot)!

For a traditional look at this song take a look at The Twelve Days of Christmas with illustrations by Emma Randall. It's a nice, rather folksy look with interesting borders for each day. Watch how each picture just keeps getting busier ... and busier ... :-)

Alison Jay is known for her crackle-glaze style artwork, which makes her version of The Twelve Days of Christmas truly unique. Follow along as the couple does a bit of shopping and then heads off to a Christmas party. See if you can spot another familiar holiday character in each of the pictures!

I decided to call the version of The Twelve Days of Christmas, with pictures by Greg Pizzoli, a "cross over" version. While the gifts involved are traditional (well, mostly), those receiving them are not! Love the swimming swan with a floatie! Do the parents look a bit worried to you?

I guess you just can't start kids too young on this traditional (if annoying) song. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jane Cabrera is a board book! Here you will find a party tree, and drumming dogs ... elves and snowmen ... and a special ride home at the end. Charming and fun.

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I have a few more Christmas mysteries still to post! :-)

Seems I'm reading the Snow Globe Shop Mystery series, by Christine Husom, out of order, The Iced Princess is the second in the series. (See December 9, 2017 for the others). The holiday season is approaching fast so store owners Camryn and Alice (aka Pinky) hire some extra help. (Their stores are adjoined so they will share). Turns out the new employees do not get along and soon, one of them ends up dead. Other suspects, and events from the past emerge as the police and store owners try and figure out the why and how of the murder. And who, or what, is responsible for the light in the store bathroom going on and off at random times?

For some reason I especially enjoy short stories this time of year so Murder Under the Christmas Tree: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season, edited by Cecily Gayford, was the perfect read. It's a collection from familiar authors (Sayers, Doyle, Marsh, Peters, and more) with familiar situations (locked doors, vanishing weapons, 'traditional' motive), making for some needed 'down time' in front of the fire. :-)

And, one last Christmas mystery (I think) (!) Six Cats a Slayin', is part of the Cat in the Stacks series by Miranda James. Two notes arrive for Charlie ... one an unwanted invitation to a gathering he'd rather not attend, and one included with a box of five kittens, pleading for him to care for them. He reluctantly goes to the gathering (where the body is found) and happily takes in the kittens. Turns out, the corpse is not who she said she was ... and why had she returned to town claiming to be part of an old family? And who left the kittens? Is it the same person spotted peeking in the windows? Sad and fun, this has been an enjoyable series. Diesel, a Maine Coon Cat (and 'the cat in the stack') is a favorite character of mine.

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It is the morning of Christmas Eve and Santa is sick, too sick to get out of bed. Will Christmas be canceled? (The title is a bit of a spoiler here)! ;-) Find out what happens in this clever, rhyming story. (I read it out loud). Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins, by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Mark Chambers.

Depending on your age you'll either find the entries here familiar, or puzzling! Mid-century Christmas: Stocking Stuffer Edition, by Sarah Archer. Wrapping paper was new ('created' when someone ran out of tissue paper). Many things were made from foil. Cards (both U.S. and Russian) had a spacey theme.

I had such fun reading this book! I nodded so much I almost made myself dizzy! ;-) See how many things you remember in The Boomer Book of Christmas Memories, by Vickey Kall.

Although Canadian Reader gave me Christmas at the Vinyl Cafe, by Stuart McLean, last year, I just could not bring myself to read it. (He died in February 2017). This year I could, and it was wonderful. Most of the stories were ones from his radio show, (the first time all the Christmas ones have been gathered together) but there were also five new ones! Charming, delightful and funny (Dave does manage to get himself into, um, interesting situations) this will be a yearly read for me.

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Happy Solstice! From here on, the days will start getting longer again. This was cause for celebration in many cultures and you can read about them in The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice, by Carolyn McVickar Edwards. Mine was the 5th Anniversary Edition, but I've not read the earlier versions so I don't know if there were any changes. The grand variety of stories was certainly fun, but I most enjoyed the spins on familiar carols to make them appropriate for the solstice.

Today is the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year. Learn how humans figured that out in The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice, by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Jesse Reiseh. Loved the different time periods, and locations and how various civilizations determined the day. In the back there are activities to do, too.

Yule: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Winter Solstice, by Susan Pesznecker, from Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials was a delightful read. From the old rituals (tied to nature and a rural life) to new (adapted to city life and schedules determined by the clock), to recipes and crafts, it's all about celebrating this dark time of year. What I really liked was the idea of combining the various celebrations: pagan, religious, secular, personal ... embrace the differences and make something special of your own.

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An old standard is given a delightful new look in Jingle Bells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers. It's the perfect day for a sleigh ride for the young girl and boy ... and their dog ... (keep an eye on him). Look for things along the way, too, deer, swans, a mouse ... Charming!

On a Wintery Morning, by Dori Chaconas and illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson is a sweet, story in rhyme, about a father and daughter on an early morning walk. There's snow, and bunny tracks and more. It will make you smile.

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It's been some time since I read one of the Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery books, by Kate Kingsbury, but I remembered them as enjoyable reads. Mulled Murder was no exception. There have been some big changes: long time staff are moving on, one will be getting married at the Pennyfoot, on Christmas Eve. There are many events (some good, some .... well, a tradition). A body is found on the beach, and then another behind the house. One is dead, the other, a young woman, is alive but with amnesia. The plumbing stops working. And all with new staff who do not always seem qualified. And what about the old tunnel (once thought to be used by smugglers) leading to the beach from the wine cellar?

A Scandal in Scarlet is the fourth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery by Vicki Delany. There's been a fire at a local historic house, one that brings in a lot of tourist dollars. An auction is planned to raise money for repairs, but that's when all the trouble starts. The body of the museum chair is found in the set up room for the auction. She is an ex-wife, and not too popular. Neither is the new wife, actually. And there are children (now adults, but with a grudge). And what about the murder from seven years ago? There are too many details, a lot of suspects, each with a good motive, will Gemma Doyle be able to figure it out? Another fun romp!

Author Donna Andrews has several Christmas themed mysteries in her Meg Langslow Mystery series, and Lark! The Herald Angles Sing may be the best. When an abandoned baby is found in the manger of the Christmas pageant during a rehearsal, the hunt is on for who and why. As details emerge, it becomes a case crossing county lines (rivals at best) which, for legal reasons, hampers what local officials can do. But what about a band of well meaning locals? And if they get caught? Loved the solution here! Talk about the power of women! :-)

The elves are getting ready for Christmas when they discover that the sleigh is not ready for flight. What to do? Is it time for a new look? So many elves, so many ideas! Which one will Santa chose? Check them out in 12 Sleighs of Christmas, by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Jake Parker.

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Do you have stacks of books all over your house? Do you worry if your 'to be read' pile has fewer than a dozen books on it? If so, you might just enjoy I'd Rather Be Reading: the Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life, by Anne Bogel. I smiled and nodded frequently as I read this book, especially over how to arrange your collection! I laughed out loud when the author explains how designers say to do this, and then to ignore what they say! (Thank goodness, because that advice can be silly). And, I did read under the sheets with a flashlight. I don't pick books just because they are on a list of some sort. There is much to enjoy here! :-)

It's coming up on the time of year when I pull out the dvds to my favorite holiday movies. I play them each year, and in a particular order. Canadian Reader brings some, too, and we add them to the pile. Christmas has long been a popular theme in movies, and TCM has put together a lovely collection on just this: Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season, by Jeremy Arnold. There's a synopsis, and a bit of history, a listing of the cast and some great pictures for each entry. A very nice read.

Another book on the subject of horses on my 'to be read' pile was The Equine Legacy: How Horses, Mules, and Donkeys Shaped America, by C.S. Purdy. These animals worked everywhere ... breaking trails west, pulling plows, building roads, towing ferries and barges, working on treadmills to run ... well, many things, in mines, cities ... they helped deliver mail and keep the streets safe. The author is convinced they are the unsung heroes of our past. (And that there should be more than a few statues in their honor). Well read, well researched, this was just a great read! Oh, when that fire bell rang? The fire wagon, usually pulled by three horses, could be heading out the door in seven seconds.

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It is a wet, grey day when a grandmother takes her granddaughter to the ballet. Her dress is uncomfortable and there is an annoying boy in the lobby of the theater. Then the music starts, the curtain goes up and she is captivated by the colors and dances of The Nutcracker and the evening goes from dull and boring to magical. The magic continues as she and her grandmother walk home. Waltz of the Snowflakes, by Elly MacKay is a charming wordless book worthy of several viewings.

Giraffe Problems, by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith deals with something about which I have no experience, none at all .... being Too Tall! A giraffe feels bad about his neck, after all, there is so much of it! He tries various ways to conceal it. Will he ever get used to being so tall?

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Old Moorhan's Shredded Sporran, the fourth in The Belchester Chronicles, by Andrea Frazier is best described as "another tongue-in-cheek romp for our intrepid decrepit heroes." That is perfect, and I quoted it in full, from the back cover. Lady Amanda and Hugo are home again, hoping for some peace and quiet after their 'vacation' in Scotland. Alas, that is not to be as Hugo's less than pleasant sister arrives, with two wild, destructive kittens. Priceless heirlooms have gone missing, and staff are dropping dead around the estate. Pay some attention to the names, they are listed at the front. They are often not pronounced how they look!

The Lawley Case, in the Markham Sisters Mystery series, is the last story in the last book I have by Diana Xarissa. I now have to wait for Canadian Reader's arrival in mid-December. This time the sisters have some truly annoying guests at the B&B, and Stuart, the gardener is worried about conversation he overhears at the hardware store. Could someone be growing .... special plants? And why has the stepson of an elderly friend of his returned? Aggie, the kitten, is beginning to display special talents, too, keep an eye (or maybe that should be ear) on her.

For a charming and delightful winter time cozy mystery, read Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women, by Emily Brightwell. Set in Victorian England, even single men have a house staff, and those working for Inspector Witherspoon often help with his cases. (Unbeknownst to him). After all, servants might not talk to a detective, or a constable, but they will talk to other servants! This year everyone had made special Christmas plans, but they may all have to be canceled when Inspector Witherspoon is given a case ... pretty much a cold case ... it is six weeks old and the initial man on the case bungled it badly. I picked this book up because of the theme, but it is the 36th title in this series! I may have to go back and start at the beginning. :-)

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I actually read these books this past summer, but when I discovered that December 7th was on a day I usually do a post, the timing was just too good to ignore. ;-)

A couple of excellent shows on the History Channel about Pearl Harbor sent me on the hunt for books. The first to arrive was a short, juvie biography: Doris Miller: Hero of Pearl Harbor, by Bill O'Neal. (His mom was expecting a girl, and, liking the name, kept it. He would often go by the name 'Dorie'). Needing a job, Dorie joined the Navy. At that time, African Americans were only allowed to work in the mess, but fortunately, he had been watching the gunners at work. When the attack came on December 7, 1941, he took over one of the guns, firing at the incoming planes until he was out of ammunition. Yes, this was written for young readers, but it's a nice bio of a remarkable man. Perry told me Doris Miller shows up in the movie 'Tora! Tora! Tora!', but is unnamed.

The holiday season is coming, but this will be a holiday like no other. Pearl Harbor Christmas: a World at War, December 1941, by Stanley Weintraub is a time line history of the days following the attack in Hawaii to January 1, 1942. I like how the author covered, well, many things. From what the enemy was planning and doing, to soldiers on leave (with good food. And beer. Lots of beer.). Soldiers in Germany were only allowed to play one song (O Tannenbaum). Archibald MacLeish, then director of the Library of Congress, requested permission to move many of the founding documents to safe storage in Fort Knox. Plans were made to cover the war on several fronts, not all were sound plans. I loved the description of Churchill flying in to D.C., which was all lit up, after he'd been in black out conditions for years in London. One line, from an old hymn, took on special significance.

Seems Churchill was not familiar with the hymn 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' and was moved by the line 'in the dark streets shineth'. There was a reference to it in a speech he made, (along with one from Franklin Roosevelt) in those dark days of December 1941. Author David McCullough wrote a nice history of those speeches, combined it with the stories behind 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' and 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' as well as wonderful archival photos to create a companion book to a concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I've not seen the concert, but In the Dark Streets Shineth: a 1941 Christmas Eve Story was a powerful, reflective read. (And it seems, that while Churchill might have sung lustily, he was not always in tune)!

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While not quite a picture book, Weird But True! Christmas: 300 Festive Facts to Light Up the Holidays does have a lot of pictures so for that reason I'm am including it here. It's just a fun little book with odd facts from Christmas celebrations around the world. It's one of the National Geographic Kids publications so the photos were excellent. :-)

I think this book would make a wonderful companion to Sing a Song of Seasons (November 23, 2018 post) as both deal with seasonal changes. Here, in Sometimes Rain, with words by Meg Fleming and illustrations by Diana Sudyka, it's with short rhyming verse and delightful pictures. Both celebrate the outdoors.

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When looking for books on winter, the holidays, and so forth, I came across Twelve Kinds of Ice, by Ellen Bryan Obed and illustrated by Barbara McClintock. It is one those books that is a 'quiet delight' and while it is cataloged as a Children's book, adults will enjoy it ... maybe even more so. It starts with the first ice of the season, that which is thin and appears on the surface of a water bucket and is easily broken with the tap of a finger. As the book progresses, the ice gets thicker and lasts longer, finally reaching the point of being strong enough for skaters (don't miss Dad and his skating partner). Eventually, of course, the days get longer and the ice gets thinner, Dad calls it 'punk ice'. Lost items appear ... mittens, even a broken hockey stick. There is one more ice left, a very special ice, but you'll have to read the book to find out what it is. Charming, sweet, this is a special read.

I've decided to call Bibliophile: an Illustrated Miscellany, by Jane Mount 'wonderfully absorbing.' In the introduction it said the goal was to increase the pile of your 'to be read' books ... and it will! It started with pictures (hand drawn, not photos) of books on shelves and just sort of took off from there. The author/illustrator asked friends what books they liked, which they might use to define themselves, favorites as a kid, and so on. It also describes wonderful bookstores world wide (one in Japan has bike racks, and places to secure your dog ... and a pet hotel). There are also fun quizzes throughout, one with a five word description of a book, see how many you recognize! Warning, this is an easy book to just read 'one more page' until there are no more. (A personal observation here: I found it odd that neither Robert Louis Stevenson nor O. Henry were mentioned).

Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, by Shanna O'Reilly and Brennan O'Reilly is another in the Images of America Series. Located on what became the campus of the University of Washington, it was a celebration of sorts. Many states, cities, and countries were featured in the various buildings and pavilions. There was even the biggest Ferris wheel in the world. (You'll chuckle, these days it'd barely make it in a kiddy park)! As always, wonderful pictures, but for the first time I found a few typographical errors. Still, a most interesting read.

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