I had intended to send out another planned post – organised, thought out. Instead, today I choose to send my very warmest, most book-ish good wishes for the holidays wishing a peaceful New Year to you and yours, with a small dose of book-thoughts and news.
I love the community we have around us; people joining in each other’s celebrations, sharing traditions and welcoming friends and neighbours into whatever their family delights in. There have been gatherings for Diwali and for Hanukkah; I joined a cookie swap which included a book collection for New Haven Reads – I contributed choccy melts and biscotti. I have baked mince pies. I am grateful for the people around us.
We were fortunate enough to take the children to see A Christmas Carol at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York over the weekend. The production had transferred from the Old Vic in London. The set as we walked in was magical, hundreds of old-fashioned lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and within minutes we were greeted by the cast – throwing out clementines and ginger cookies to the audience. With handbell carols and an inventive set – money boxes lifting out of the floor – and some very fine acting, the production was lively and kept everyone entertained. My daughter’s teacher had read the story to her class last year, so she was pleased to be able to tell her older brother about the plot beforehand.
We will read the book soon, though we’re currently finishing off Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising which also hits that Christmassy but unsettling note. And I want to read them John Masefield’s The Box of Delights which I remember as being quite deliciously scary – as was the excellent BBC TV adaptation from the 1980s. Of course mention that ‘the wolves are running’ and I’m also thinking of Joan Aiken’s The Wolves of Willoughby Chase which while not strictly a Christmas book is certainly a winter one. So many excellent, shiver-inducing, ghostly children’s Christmas books to read, so little time…
I am not well-settled into a book of my own at the moment. I have bought a number of books for Christmas, and have to decide which to gift and which to be gifted… The time for relaxing to read is not yet upon me.
Our book, Crossings, has been released by Tara Books. It is available on their website: here. However, the post and packing to the USA or the UK is high, and I am hopeful that in a short while it will be available in some local bookshops. I know Foyles stock many other Tara Books, so I will let you know if it becomes available. But if you have friends or family book shopping in India – tell them to look out for it! We’ve also recorded a short video of Sunil and I talking about the book, so I’ll let you know when that’s on the Tara website too.
Sending happy book-thoughts and loving holiday greetings to you all! More in 2026!
Books for Our Children 