Give a Flood of Books This Christmas!

There’s an old holiday tradition in Iceland called Jolabokaflod and it’s something we think Huntsville should start embracing ASAP. This national custom translates to “Yule book flood”, and it’s celebrated by exchanging books and spending the evening reading them on Christmas Eve. How perfect is that???

We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to consult our favorite local bookseller, Lady Smith, owner of Snail On the Wall bookstore, to share her holiday picks to give (and receive!) this Christmas.

Great Books to Give This Holiday Season for Jolabokaflod

How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure, by John Rocco
Buy It Local
Every home library in the Rocket City needs this new release—a big, thick book you’ll come back to again and again to learn about the people and technology behind the first mission to the Moon. In words and pictures that will appeal to all ages, it highlights the some 400,000 unsung heroes, from engineers to seamstresses, who achieved this extraordinary feat.

She Come by It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs, by Sarah Smarsh
Buy It Local
Who doesn’t love Dolly? But you’ve probably never thought of her as a feminist. Whether you want to give her that label or not, Smarsh’s tribute shows the many ways this music legend has been a model and mouthpiece for women who often don’t have a voice. It’s filled with anecdotes, quotes, and the kinds of stories that make for a highly enjoyable read.

No Reading Allowed: The Worst Read-Aloud Book Ever, by Raj Haldar, Chris Carpenter, Bryce Gladfelter
Buy It Local
Despite the title, this book begs to be read aloud, and it’s hard to know who’ll have more fun with the homophones, homonyms, and word play—you or the kids. “Man, a tea sounds great” or “Manatee sounds great”? You’ll have fun laughing together at the pitfalls of the English language.

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, by Christina Soontornvat
Buy It Local
We know the ending to this real-life story that unfolded before the world’s eyes in 2018, but this middle-grade account of the amazing, ambitious rescue will still make your pulse race. The book combines photographs, interviews, and scientific details, but it’s the page-turning story about the people—both the rescuers and the boys—that will captivate you.

These Violent Delights, by Chloe Gong
Buy It Local
If you like romance, thrills, fantasy, or a combination of all three, get ready to be swept away by this YA novel. These Violent Delights riffs on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet plot, setting it in 1920s Shanghai with teenage lovers, blood feuds, rival gangs, and a monster lurking in the city’s river.

Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler’s Best, by Neal Bascomb
Buy It Local
This intriguing nonfiction book proves there’s no end to the World War II stories that remain to be told. The setting is the 1938 Grand Prix in Pau, France. The real-life characters are Rene Dreyfus, a driver banned from races for his Jewish heritage; Charles Weiffenbach, an automobile maker with a failing company; Lucy Schell, daughter of a multi-millionaire with a penchant for car racing; and, of course, the shadow of Hitler looming over it all. This book is in our History Bundle and has a young readers edition in our Young Adult Bundle. See all our Book Bundles here.

Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery, by Agatha Christie
& Mystery of Mrs. Christie
Buy It Local here and here
Mystery lovers will thrill to the release of two Christie-related books: first, a new collection of the renowned author’s wintertime stories, including one called “Christmas Adventure,” never before published in the United States; and then, just before New Year’s, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, a historical novel based on one episode in the author’s life—her unexplained disappearance for 11 days in 1926.

Skunk and Badger, by Amy Timberlake and Jon Klassen
Buy It Local
This new book for young readers feels like a classic already, with its vintage-style drawings and timeless odd-couple story. Badger doesn’t welcome his new roommate; after all, who wants to live with a Skunk? Gradually, as you giggle at the antics of these two animals, you might realize you’re gaining some insight into friendship and inclusivity as well. This book is in our Young Reader Bundle; see all our Book Bundles here.

Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life, by Gina Homolka
Buy It Local
List-makers and resolution-keepers, we see you. As soon as this holiday ends, you’re already thinking ahead about strategies for the new year. So, go ahead and curl up with this cookbook that has more to read than recipes. This book is filled with photos and detailed tips on how to have healthy snacks, breakfast, and dinners ready in advance, so you and your family can focus on life.

In a Holidaze, by Christina Lauren
Buy It Local
If that title rings true, and the holidays make you feel dazed and confused, this cheerful romance is the answer. Writing duo Christina Lauren know how to help their fans escape into stories with likable characters, amusing banter, an occasional steamy scene, and, finally, a happy ending. This book is in our Holiday Reads Bundle; see all our Book Bundles here.

You Might Also Like…

Advertisement

Rocket City Mom

Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.