Winter reads to chill with at local libraries

Whether you are shopping for a Christmas gift for someone who loves to read, or just planning on settling down with a good book, Susquehanna County libraries have suggestions in mind and ready for your perusal.
At the Hallstead-Great Bend branch, Valerie Burdick said that psychological thrillers by author B.A. Paris have been flying off the shelves, going out as soon as they are returned. She noted Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown as titles that are particular favorites by Paris.
The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena are also extremely

popular.
Craft books and other Christmas non-fiction are also frequently checked out.
Other nonfiction genres, like memoir, are very popular. An example is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, an autobiographic account of an eccentric family, which has renewed interest because of the release of the film based on the book.
Books with Christmas themes, such as Merry and Bright by Debbie McComber, are also hits with readers this time of year.
Burdick said that perennial favorite author Danielle Steele has “a couple of new novels that we are hearing are really good.”
As for children’s books, Burdick said that it seems like a lot of kids into graphic novels, such as Dog Man.
The hit series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, has a newly released book 12, The Getaway. She noted that picture books by Mo Willems are also well-liked, and Big Nate is another popular title.
Personally, Burdick said she loved Ruth Ware’s In a Dark, Dark Wood and is currently reading The Lying Game.
Artist and illustrator Jan Brett is very prolific and adored. A Home for Christmas has been wildly popular since 2016, she said.
She also recommended When Dinosaurs Came With Everything.
For young adults, Burdick recommended several series, like Cassandra
Clare’s A Clockwork Princess and A Clockwork Prince, or the Mortal Instrument series.
At the Susquehanna County Library’s Montrose branch, Gina Cherundolo said, “Our Christmas books are very popular, now that we have our new library. Christmas books are going out all year round, but now we have featured book shelves in several places, with popular authors set out, and new arrivals.”
She said, “Christmas crafts, and other nonfiction, are available, we have quite a selection.” Displayed were The Best Christmas Ever by Mary Engelbrait, and A Martha Stewart Christmas.
She noted that in all the sections of the library, Christmas books can be found by a Christmas sticker on the spine of the book.
Cherundolo likes to make themed displays of books throughout the library. “Fiction is the most popular genre. The bread and butter of the holiday books are the little novels, Amish fiction, large print, Christian fiction.”
On a Christmas display shelf stands a selection of Christmas themed books by popular authors. Notable are Linda Lael Miller’s A Snow Country Christmas; Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas by Sheila North; The Season of Us by Holly Charmberlin; PD James’ The Mistletoe Murder; Anita Hughes’ Christmas in Paris. Also displayed are The Gingerbread Cookie Murder and the Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke. William W. Johnstone, a popular Western writer, has Christmas offerings: A Frontier Christmas and A Rocky Mountain Christmas.
Elizabeth Berg’s The Handmaid and the Carpenter is a novel based on the story of Mary and Joseph. For those interested in Christmas music, there is The Story Behind the Best-loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins.
“In the old library, we had to put holiday books in the basement, and they were brought up on cart at the start of the season. There is room here for all the holiday books, they aren’t rotated in and out anymore,” said Susan Stone, librarian. There is a whole children’s library section of holiday picture books, including Pippin the Christmas Pig by Jean Little.
The Children’s Library at the Montrose branch has Toddler Time for 2 to 3 and a half year olds, accompanied by an adult, on Thursday, Dec. 14 and Dec. 28, as well as Jan. 11 and 25.
Storytime Lapsits for infants to two year olds, accompanied by an adult, will be held on Dec. 21 and Jan. 18. Story hour for four year olds and up is held on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m.

LIBRARY STAFF FAVORITES

Christmas Tree by Jill Salamon

Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Mistletoe by David McPhail (a picture book)

Light of Christmas by Richard Paul Evans (a picture book)

Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry  (a picture book)

Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Miracle on I-40 by Curtiss Ann Matlock