Holiday Picks 2020
Babies delight in seeing images of other babies. #baby is a hip little board book of hashtags and cute photographs that is sure to bring laughs to Instagram-era parents and their little ones. #toofunny!
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Paper Peek: Animals is a tactile exploration of animals across the continents. For example, a die-cut page of an elephant is a window onto an illustration of other African animals. Turn the page to see instructions for seek-and-find and counting. Together, readers of all ages can look for one lion, two giraffes, and on up to five ostriches. One intrepid traveler in a hot-air balloon appears on each of the continents and over the ocean. The final spread is a world map showing all the animals featured.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
We have so many things to be thankful for! Let’s count them: “one thank you kiss, two strong arms, three cheers for friends . . . ” Little ones will learn the value of sharing gratitude in this irresistible board book, which contains a gentle reminder for us all.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Masquerade Party is an adorable lift-the-flap book about costumes and animals. Each page shows a character wearing a mask, with a question such as, “Who is this cuddly cowboy?” Lift the flap to reveal a “brilliant bunny.” Watch for the alliteration in both the question and the answer to practice sounds with young readers. Your little one will also enjoy the twist as a wolf goes from “wicked” to “wily.”
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Babies pay attention to their environment from day one. They are incredibly adept at interpreting messaging and learn quickly. For families who are keen to start antiracist messaging early, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi has written Antiracist Baby. The book combines antiracist messaging with short rhymes and counting. The text is scaffolded. With younger children focus on reading just the 1, 2, 3 sentences. For slightly older children, read the rhyming stanzas to learn more. Also available as a board book; however the picture book includes one extra page that contains a letter from the author to parents and caregivers intended to inspire both antiracism conversations with kids as well as provide actions that the whole family can take together.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Four turtles head out on a walk. Through spring, summer, and fall, they continue on their journey, but when winter comes they finally arrive at their surprise destination. The repetitive text allows young readers to participate in the story and the turtles’ slow-moving diligence helps explain waiting and patience. Although the destination is clearly the exciting part, the soft illustrations also provide lots to look at and discuss, demonstrating that the journey can be pretty fun, too.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
No matter where in the world you venture, you are bound to encounter some kind of dance. In Let’s Dance, readers explore all corners of the globe through different styles of dance with fun and exciting illustrations. Containing a catchy rhyming scheme and bright colors, Let’s Dance is sure to get any child up and dancing!
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Ten on a Twig is a backwards counting book with cute rhymes and vibrant colors. The illustrations feature simple, colorful birds, in decreasing sizes, sitting on a twig. As each bird falls, topples, slips, or otherwise leaves the twig, the cascading pages reveal two stories. Where are those birds going? What will they do with the pieces of twigs that they are carrying? And what will happen when that last little bird is all alone? Ten on a Twig can be read at any time, but it ends with a good-night story component. Observant readers will appreciate the endpapers at the front and back of the book.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
As you tuck your little ones in for the night, read them this story about how children around the world go to bed. They will learn that kids in some countries sleep in hammocks, elsewhere on hand-woven rugs, and others on rooftops. The text is accompanied by local artist Salley Mavor’s phenomenal hand-sewn illustrations that will fascinate children with their extraordinary detail.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Prasadam-Halls is a picture book about best friends: a colorful big bear and softly painted little squirrel. “Wherever you’re going, I’m going too. Whatever you’re doing, I’m sticking with you” is repeated over and over again in various ways. But Squirrel does the unthinkable and asks Bear for his own space! Follow this relationship up, down, and up again. Its bright, expressive pictures and heart-warming prose will make you smile again and again.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Toothy crocodiles, prickly porcupines, and pouncing tigers all need a little love. Rhyming verse and sweet illustrations convey a comforting message of unconditional acceptance, even when we’re at our prickliest. A lineup of “scary” creatures promotes empathy in young readers, and a surprise at the end offers reassurance. A perfect bedtime read.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Children hold the whole world in their hands with this interactive book. Our World introduces young readers to geographical regions of our planet. There are tall forests, wet jungles, and high tundras with explanations about each area. Best of all, the book spreads out to form a globe so you truly can give your child the world.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
In If You Come to Earth, a child speculates on what a visitor from another planet might want to know about ours. The book covers types of housing, clothing, weather, jobs, transportation, and more. Each page contains so much to look at and discuss. What else do you think a visitor should know about Earth? There are lots of great opportunities for conversations in this book, and Blackall’s illustrations are stunning as always.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
From the moment you open the cover, your senses are awakened with rich colors. Follow a child’s journey as colors transition through each season. Simple, poetic text celebrates the gentle breezes of spring, warmth of summer, nostalgia of fall, and chill of winter, all of which is a vibrant background for the subtlety of the growing family. Children will delight in the detail and exploration of color. Don’t miss the stunning endpapers!
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Poetic, sparse sentences are paired with gorgeous photographs of fog throughout the day and from various seasons. Occasionally, double-page spreads invite readers to "feel the fog," and you most certainly will. Although the images are not local, anyone who loves Cape mornings or foggy days will appreciate this beautiful picture book.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
You Matter serves as a reminder that no matter who you are or where you come from, each and every individual is important and valued. Through Christian Robinson’s distinctive and stunning illustrations, young children are easily drawn into the story that reveals how different types of people interact and impact each other’s daily lives.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Beautifully written and illustrated, this book of poetry about a horned owl family is perfect for any child’s library. Nature’s joys and sorrows infuse this wonderful book that is both informative and engaging.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Black is a Rainbow Color is a stunning tapestry of narrative and information by Angela Joy and Ekua Holmes that celebrates multi-faceted Black culture in America. The text moves from singular “my color is Black” to a plural “our color is Black” to embrace both individual identity and the inclusivity of an expansive culture. The book also contains an impressive range of resources including an Author’s Note, playlist, historical vignettes for each page spread, lyrics, A Timeline of Black Ethnonyms in America, and a Bibliography. Engaging and inspiring, Black is a Rainbow Color is perfect for libraries — school and home.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Lift, written by Minh Lê and illustrated by Dan Santat, is an imaginative story with a touch of sibling rivalry (and acceptance). Iris loves to push elevator buttons. When her baby brother gets in on the action, their parents are delighted, but she is furious. How dare he take away her job? Her purpose? The thing that always cheers her up? Then Iris finds an old elevator button in the trash, which she decides to keep for her very own. Turns out this button opens doors to exciting, imaginative worlds. Now Iris finally has a place to herself. Nevertheless, when her baby brother needs her, she finds a way to include him in the adventure. Partially wordless, with graphic novel-style illustrations and pitch-perfect depictions of family dynamics, Lift is a treasure.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
I Am Every Good Thing is an affirming and confidence-building book by the award winning team — Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James. Written in the first person, the story centers Black boys, celebrating them with affirmations: “I am a nonstop ball of energy. Powerful and full of light. I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader” to the final page “And without a shadow of a doubt, I am worthy to be loved. I am worthy to be loved.” The narrative recognizes a range of emotions and encourages kids to develop agency. Whether readers see themselves in the pages or experience empathy by learning about others, I Am Every Good Thing is an exquisite and powerful book definitely not to be missed.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Pinkney’s reinterpretation of Andersen’s classic tale is a gorgeous celebration of friendship and self-advocacy. Rather than pining for a prince, this mermaid wants a friend. So badly, in fact, that she is willing to sacrifice everything, even her own voice. Honoring genuine friendship, Zion is horrified to discover what Melody has given up and helps her regain her voice. A contemporary interpretation that gives modern sensibilities to some of the more problematic components of Andersen’s tale, Pinkney’s version will become a classic in its own right, particularly because of his fantastic illustrations.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Fauja Singh is old — over 100 to be exact. Nevertheless, he does something most people have never accomplished: he runs marathons. This delightful story, based on true events, shows us that neither age, race, religious beliefs, nor language barriers can stop you from fulfilling your dreams. Fauja Singh sees running as a way to be happy and, at 108, he is both happy and running.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
A Pig, a Fox, and a Fox is the second book in Jonathan Fenske’s early reader series. In this three-part story, Fox uses the doll that looks just like him to play pranks on Pig, with unfortunate consequences for Fox. The narrative utilizes repeating rhymes and phrases, which will help emerging readers practice sounds and words while enjoying this silly story.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us is a wonderfully cute and wholesome story about what makes a true friendship. The story follows a cast of friendly animals, including Owl, Beaver, Hen and her chicks on an adventure to help locate Hedgehog’s beloved pet Mutty. With humorous dialogue, beautiful illustrations, and unique characters, this early chapter book is sure to entertain children reading on their own, or the entire family as a read aloud.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Amazing Islands is a non-fiction picture book about 100+ “Places that Will Boggle Your Mind.” The book starts with definitions and information about islands, including how they are made. Each page focuses on a few different islands, but also groups islands into types: islands formed by rivers, artificial islands, prison islands, and islands reclaimed by nature, to name a few. There are maps throughout, including a fold-out map of the world identifying the islands featured in the book. A glossary, pronunciation guide, index, and sources are jumping-off points for readers who want to learn more about this fascinating topic.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Being the new kid at school is never easy, which seven-and-a-half-year-old Mindy Kim knows from experience. However, she is determined not to be the odd one out, and begins to plot ways to introduce herself to her new classmates (with an idea that, of course, includes seaweed snacks). Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business is great for any witty and business-savvy child, and is the perfect reminder that no one is ever truly alone.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Space Maps is a large-format non-fiction picture book about mapping the solar system. The first section focuses on how different civilizations have represented the night sky. Parts two and three investigate components of the galaxy and the planets in our solar system, respectively. Part four investigates components outside our solar system including the Crab Nebula and Exoplanets. Finally, section five investigates humans in space, along with tools and technology invented around the world. For space enthusiasts, Space Maps includes a Glossary, Index, and Selected Sources.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Badger is finally getting his life together and becoming the successful mammal he had always set out to be. That is, until a new visitor disrupts everything. Skunk and Badger follows the lives of Badger and Skunk, new roommates getting used to living together. With illustrations by Jon Klassen, creator of I Want My Hat Back, and hilarious dialogue, Skunk and Badger will have children laughing and learning to accept even the most unexpected visitors in life.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Ways to Make Sunshine is an episodic story about Ryan and her family. Think contemporary Ramona Quimby, where each chapter is its own vignette, but collectively, the stories paint a vivid picture of a delightful family. Ryan’s stories range from moving to a new house, navigating friendships, sibling rivalry, and struggling with public performance. Ryan is sweet, smart, and entirely relatable. The first in a series, Renée Watson’s Ways to Make Sunshine will be a family favorite for a new generation.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
InvestiGators, by John Patrick Green, is a laugh-out-loud graphic novel for fans of Dog Man or Narwhal & Jelly. Mango and Brash are detectives and they are on the case. Literally. The story opens with Mango standing on the case; fortunately he gets off before it self-destructs. Expect this kind of textual and visual humor ranging from toilet-based travel (what else would you expect from a couple of alligator detectives?) to bad chicken puns about Dr. Doodledo, a large scientist-rooster and a personal favorite side character. The first in a new series, the second volume is already available.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Kate has never had any adventures; her parents do not have much time for her and she mostly entertains herself. For her eleventh birthday she decides to send a letter — with no address or stamp — asking her eccentric and fabulously wealthy Uncle Herbert for a present. The next day her uncle arrives with a train — a full-sized train — on a flatbed truck. Kate and her brother Tom sneak aboard when their disapproving parents are not looking and the train starts moving. At a mysterious station, Uncle Herbert connects some pretty wild cars to the train, setting Kate and Tom off on an adventure. The Silver Arrow is a light and endearing middle grade fantasy with an environmental message.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Mañanaland is a beautiful and poignant story of family and resistance. Unbeknownst to Max, his father and grandfather are guardians for hidden ones along a trail to help refugees find safety. Max, in a desperate attempt to understand why his own mother left when he was a baby, shepherds a young girl to the next stop. Part adventure and part refugee narrative, Mañanaland is full of heart and love. Also available in Spanish.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Mary Lambert lives on Martha's Vineyard in the early part of the nineteenth century. Some people in her community are deaf — like Mary and her father. Some are hearing — like her mother. Almost everyone in the community knows sign language.The community is insular and wary of strangers. When a scientist visits looking for "specimens" to study, Mary is skeptical of his intentions. Rightly so, as it turns out.Combining history and adventure with a coming-of-age story, Show Me a Sign is a fantastic debut middle grade novel by Ann Clare LeZotte.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Combining history and adventure with a coming-of-age story, Show Me a Sign is a fantastic debut middle grade novel by Ann Clare LeZotte.
Hanna and her Papa have arrived in a small prairie town in Dakota Territory 1880. They hope to settle, for Hanna to attend school, and to open a dressmaking shop. Nothing is certain for them, as Hanna is half-Chinese. She has experienced rejection before and at first finds more of the same discrimination. Although Hanna faces many hardships, with a determined spirit she works hard to carve a place for herself and fulfill her dreams.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
City Spies is the first book in a new kid-espionage series by James Ponti. Sara Martinez, aka Brooklyn, is recruited to join an elite team of spies training in a remote village in Scotland. Her teammates — Paris, Sydney, Rio, and Kat (from Katmandu) — each possess their own special skills and talents. They are led by Special Agents Monty and Mother (not their real names). This action-packed book is a favorite among local middle school readers.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
From the Desk of Zoe Washington is a fun, fresh story about family, friends, and baking. On Zoe's twelfth birthday, she receives a card from her father. Unsure why he's writing her now after years of silence, Zoe begins a tentative correspondence. Her dad claims to have been imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. And he hasn't been silent. He's been reaching out to Zoe. Zoe is inspired to do research, talk to her grandmother, and read about racial injustice and the prison system. With the help of her former best friend – assuming they can sort out that mix-up! – Zoe is determined to uncover the truth, all while working on the next best cupcake recipe for a junior chef contest. Readers will fall in love with Zoe and her whole family.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Mia lost her voice the day she fell off the balance beam in gymnastics. She fell because she was scared, and she was scared because someone older, stronger, and more powerful had crossed boundaries. Now she lives in Vermont, helping her grandmother with the family cricket business as she tries to regain her voice.Few authors could adequately illuminate the range and the nuances of harassment and abuse of power, along with their lasting impact on women's experiences, in a charming middle grade story with delightful characters and a quirky cricket-filled setting. Kate Messner is one such author.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
The Magic Fish is a phenomenal debut book by Trung Le Nguyen that weaves fairy tales, immigration narratives, and coming-out stories together in a riveting, heart-warming graphic novel. Tien and his mother read fairy tales together to help them find a common language — she speaks mostly Vietnamese and he speaks mostly English. Along the way, he learns more about his parents’ history as he works to find the language he needs to tell them his own story. A fascinating read that will linger long after its happy ending.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Dragon Hoops, the latest graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, is primarily a story of a California high school basketball team. Yang intersperses the stories of the coaches and players with the history of basketball. However, Yang also writes himself into the story as he grapples with wider contexts, like the intersecting history of basketball and race in America, balancing team versus individual talent, and the tension between athletics and academics in public education. Dragon Hoops is an engaging tale of competition, cooperation, and finding inspiration even in unlikely places.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
In Reynolds’s “remix” of Dr. Kendi’s similarly titled book for adults, the text and information takes on a new life. Reynolds uses accessible language to engage with complex topics. He also uses formatting, font, and typography to create nuanced meaning. The tone is conversational and creates a space for active participation. Never has American history been so engaging. Read Stamped on its own, or in conjunction with Kendi’s books for adults. Teachers, Stamped is a must-have text for school and classroom libraries.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
The Vietnam War is known as a protested war; college students voiced their opposition loudly and frequently. Deborah Wiles’s Kent State brings one of the most shocking college protests to life for today’s generation of students.
The events and ultimate tragedy of the loss of four students at Kent State University is told starkly and powerfully, utilizing a variety of voices and perspectives, to illuminate the deadly events of May 4, 1970. If Kent State is unknown to today’s students, after reading this book, it will not be forgotten.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
A Phoenix First Must Burn is a stunning collection of fantasy and science-fiction short stories by an outstanding group of innovative writers. Each story is fun, thought-provoking, and unique. With vampires, time travel, selkies, dragons, and more, there is something for everyone in this collection. The featured authors have published an impressive range of individual books: use this collection to discover and rediscover a favorite writer. The author bios list more than enough reading to keep you busy through 2021.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
The Extraordinaries is a delightful superhero fantasy by TJ Klune. Of course, for Nick and his world, superheroes aren’t fantasy. They are real. People with extraordinary skills continually save the city, and Nick is their biggest fan. Really. He has a long-running fan-fiction blog with a very active following. Nick is distressed, though. He’s tired of writing from the sidelines. He wants in on the action. Is it possible for an ordinary teen to become Extraordinary? Quirky, with a menagerie of lovable secondary characters, The Extraordinaries is snort-laugh funny and absolutely charming.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Yaa Gyasi’s second novel follows Gifty, a graduate student in neuroscience at Stanford. Gifty is following mice brain responses to stimuli, while awaiting a visit from her severely depressed mother.
Transcendent Kingdom is a deeply personal novel that underscores the sacrifices and struggles immigrants and people of color endure in pursuit of the “American dream.” For readers who appreciated the excellent writing and story line in Homegoing, Transcendent Kingdom will more than meet the high expectations we have for this author.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Anxious People is undoubtedly my favorite book of this year, and maybe even of all time! Fredrik Backman follows the convergence of a failed bank robbery, an apartment viewing, and the unique lives of the people involved to form an engaging story that I couldn’t put down. Using his usual wit and sarcasm, Backman touches upon mental health, love, friendship, tolerance, grief, and so much more in a work that is as poignant and moving as it is comical.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
New York City is Alive. Its five boroughs, embodied by flesh-and-blood avatars, are in a battle for their lives. The City We Became, the first in Hugo Award-winning author N.K. Jemisin’s new sci-fi Great Cities series is a fantastical call-to-arms, beautifully written, unique and original. The story and themes, although perhaps unintentionally, are terrifyingly timely.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
In Migrations, Charlotte McConaghy presents a world where wildlife has been all but exterminated. It could be the world of a distant future, although recent alarms voiced by naturalists indicate that the extinction of wildlife may be closer to the present than we realize. The heroine, Franny Stone, is determined to follow the final flight of a small flock of Arctic Terns, whose migration from the Arctic to Antarctica is the longest migratory trip in the animal kingdom.
In order to follow these terns, two of which she has banded, Franny convinces the captain of a fishing vessel to follow the flock from Greenland to Antarctica. Along the perilous voyage, Franny is tested by the crew; we also learn about Franny’s past and the ultimate reason for her determination to carry out a trip that her beloved scientist husband Niall is unable to perform.
Migrations is a cautionary tale and a celebration of the natural world. At its heart, however, Migrations is a love story, detailing the lengths to which Franny will go to honor her husband as well as the natural world she holds so dear.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
This deceptively small book packs an emotional wallop. The protagonist, Antonia, is working through her grief after the sudden death of her husband. In the midst of her struggles, her bipolar sister goes missing and a young, desperate pregnant migrant woman lands on her doorstep. The "sisterhood," as Antonia and her sisters have been labeled, is demanding Antonia's attention as she works out a way to hide the undocumented woman — too much for Antonia as she struggles with her own issues. Afterlife has it all — current immigration issues, family drama, personal struggles, questions about life after life — wrapped up in a beautifully written gem of a novel.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
The Taboada family receives an alarming letter from a recently married cousin alleging mistreatment at her new husband’s hands. Catalina’s unhinged tone prompts the family patriarch to send his headstrong daughter, Noemi, to the remote Mexican countryside to investigate. What she finds is a derelict mansion on an inhospitable mountain top and a family to match.The Doyles are an old British family that arrived decades earlier to exploit the area’s natural resources. Having fallen on hard times, they seek a return to their former glory. Both contemptuous of, and perversely drawn to, their unwelcome guest, the Doyles may have designs for this second Taboada cousin as well. Noemi must now protect both herself and Catalina while fighting bizarre visions and the scheming Doyles.
Part horror story with a feminist flair, part allegory for colonialism, Mexican Gothic is the ideal read for those who like spine tingles with substance.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
The Mountains Sing tells the story of four generations of the Tran Family and their changing fortunes from 1930 – 2017. These changes of the Trans’ circumstances are aligned with the political changes in Viet Nam in the 20th century. The family built their wealth only to have changing forces (the French, Communists and their Land Reform policies, and the Vietnam War) destroy their livelihood and push them to live as refugees, apart from other family members over the years.The story is narrated by Tran Dieu Lan and her granddaughter, Huong. Their strength, perseverance, and grace are inspiring. Tran Dieu Lan persists to find ways to protect her children and care for her granddaughter as she struggles to reunite her family split by these historic events. Huong lives to carry on the lessons of her grandmother.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Helen Macdonald, the author of the memoir H Is for Hawk, has been a naturalist since an early age. She has always been an astute observer of the natural world, and from her observations developed a philosophy that she shares with her readers in Vesper Flights, a collection of her essays.
Macdonald describes our world situation: These are “terrible times for the environment,” as we are living through “the world’s sixth great extinction, one caused by us.” Her essays are more than a call for action — her love and appreciation for the natural world makes us vividly aware of what could be lost. Above all, Macdonald hopes that her work “is about a thing that seems to me of the deepest possible importance in our present-day historical moment: finding ways to recognize and love difference . . . To think what it might mean to love those that are not like you.” Vesper Flights is a beautiful gift. Highly recommended.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Through extensive research Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson identifies and examines the factors that shape global caste systems. Beautiful writing, compelling real-life stories reveal the impact of these insidious constructs not just on the individual, but on politics and culture . . . and how, hopefully, we can move beyond them to something better, something humane.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
There is no doubt that Jon Meacham has the utmost respect and admiration for John Lewis; this high opinion shines through every page of Meacham’s biography. Born into poverty in the segregated South, Lewis, as a teenager, began his life-long dedication to the cause of civil rights. John Lewis was a strong, steadfast proponent of this cause; as Meacham depicts Lewis, he was not the famous figure that Martin Luther King, Jr. became, or perhaps as well known as other leaders. He avoided the spotlight. Through setbacks and numerous arrests, the lunch counter protests, Freedom Rides, the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and his time in Congress, John Lewis pressed on, ever hopeful. In the Afterword, written by Lewis, he notes: “The message of the civil rights movement was straightforward, and it was a message grounded in hope. We are one people; we are one family; we all live in the same house— the American house . . . We won the battles of the 1960s. But the war for justice, the war to make America both great and good goes on.” Lewis’s message of hope, equality for all, and his commitment to non-violence will inspire all who read Meacham’s book.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
The Splendid and the Vile is the long-awaited book by Erik Larson. It covers the first year of England’s involvement in World War II and Hitler’s relentless bombing campaign in which 45,000 British citizens were killed. It shows Churchill’s teaching of the “art of being fearless” through excerpts from diaries and once secret intelligence reports. The book includes day-to-day experiences of Churchill, his family, his son Randolph, and his unfaithful wife Pamela. Well worth the wait.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Do your vegetables need a flavor boost? Are you looking toward going vegetarian? Either way, Ottolenghi’s new cookbook Flavor will provide answers to any questions you may have regarding vegetables. In his introduction, Ottolenghi notes that “vegetables are not as good at imparting flavor as are meat and fish,” and the recipes in this, his newest book, face the “challenge to ramp up flavor in vegetables and take [them] to new heights.” Fans of his previous cookbooks attest to his ability to combine flavors and ingredients in magical, intriguing ways. Flavor is no exception.Ottolenghi first lists what he considers the essential 20 ingredients that boost flavor. The cookbook is then divided into three sections — process, pairing, and produce — to guide the cook in selecting and preparing exceptional vegetables. As with his previous cookbooks, Ottolenghi draws upon world cuisine for a wide range of flavorful options. Flavor is a wonderful addition to any cook’s library.~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Leafing through the pages of Oceanology is a virtual dive into a world about which many of us know so little. Stunning photographs explore the depths of the oceans, coral reefs, estuaries, salt marshes, and beaches with their land-based inhabitants. Vivid color illustrations provide up-close images of land and sea creatures. In the foreword, naturalist Chris Packham writes of Oceanology: “So here is an opportunity to meet . . . the extraordinary diversity of miraculous life that has evolved in the oceans.” After exploring this world, we may be inspired to heed Packham’s advice: “There has never been a more important time to immerse ourselves in the wonder of the briny world and thus learn to love and protect it . . . Dive in and stand up for our oceans.”
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
David Allen Sibley has become a reliable, known name in the world of birding and field guides, but his new release is anything but ordinary. What It’s Like to Be a Bird offers an innovative look into the lives of these very prominent members of our ecosystem and their daily lives. Featuring pages full of interesting facts, beautiful illustrations, and answers to frequently asked questions about birding, What It’s Like to Be a Bird is engaging and accessible to novice or seasoned bird-lovers of any age.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Time-travel through human history — from the earliest civilizations to contemporary societies — in this fascinating exposition of material culture. History of the World in 1000 Objects uses various cultures’ greatest achievements in art and technology to illuminate the past. Exquisite color photographs illustrate the genius of humans throughout time. A perfect book for art and history buffs of any generation.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature is a gorgeous and informative book for the whole family. It opens with a poem entitled “Leisure” followed by a note from the author which firsts explains that the 50 moments described are events that happen over a period of time, whether days, weeks, months, or longer, and then suggests readers “go outside to see what you find when you take the time to slow down.” The 50 moments feature animals (butterflies, tadpoles, sea stars), plants (bluebells, poppies, moss), environment (ocean waves, fall leaves), weather (rainbows, snow, clouds), and actions (eating, escaping, hatching). The final section, “Slow Down Today,” provides some suggestions for slowing down, and questions to inspire investigations of nature. Further Reading, a Selected Bibliography, and an Index offers (UK centric) resources on nature and mindfulness.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
We live in a world filled with amazing people. Should you need proof, check out Humans by Brandon Stanton, the author/photographer of the very popular book Humans of New York. In the Introduction to Humans, Stanton notes that while working on Humans of New York, he realized his work really wasn’t about the city, it was about “the power of the individual story.” With this realization, he traveled overseas, photographing and interviewing “hundreds of people around the world.” Stanton cautions that this work is not an anthropological study — there is no way that one photographer could capture “every ethnicity, every religion, every voice.” Nevertheless, Humans opens a window on the lives of a wide range of our fellow travelers on this eccentric, diverse globe — people we would unlikely meet without Stanton’s dedication to documenting their stories.
~ Eight Cousins
Holiday Pick 2020
