We are celebrating Christmas! See below for some great activities and resources for a little fun.
As you can imagine, we have a good collection of books on Christmas (and don't forget the Christmas music, can't have Christmas without some of that) from cooking through to crafts. Here are a few books recommended by our Collections Team.
By Heather Thomas.
60 fabulously festive vegan and vegetarian recipes. Whether you are hosting veggie relatives and are at a loss of what to cook, or you're a vegetarian or vegan who wants more than a dry nut roast, these special festive recipes will help you celebrate in style!
From the Collections Team: Christmas is a wonderful time for cooking (and eating) but for vegetarians and vegans it can often be a struggle to find suitable festive recipes. Well, this is the book for those people (and people who eat meat too!). The wide variety of culinary ideas here range from desserts to bakes to warm pies. Los of food to leave you full and satisfied! As a bonus, there are plenty of suggestions about how to prepare your fridge and pantry ahead as well to keep you stocked up through the festive season. Time to get cooking!
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By Guillaume Marinette, Sandra Mahut and Howard Curtis.
Guillaume Marinette shares over 50 festive recipes, from low-maintenance shortbread to show-stopping Christmas logs. Featuring cookies, nougats, truffles, frozen desserts, brioches, drinks and more, Christmas treats will enchant your holiday meals for years to come.
From the Collections Team: There's no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by filling your house with the delicious aromas of a mouth-watering bake. Featuring recipes for cookies, truffles, festive bark, cupcakes, chocolate logs, stollen, frozen desserts, brioches, drinks and more, the book is packed with treats for beginners and baking experts alike. Written by experienced pastry chef and YouTuber Guillaume Marinette, these failsafe recipes will delight your holiday meals.
Edited by Pamela Clark
At the Weekly we love Christmas. it is an occasion to indulge in good food as we celebrate with family and friends. But Christmas entertaining isn't all bubbles and giggles; it can be a daunting experience. To help, we have created nine delicious menus with easy-to-follow recipes that will ensure your Christmas feast is as enjoyable for you as it is for everyone else.
By Lee Lennan
After thirty-seven years of joy in the Magic Cave, children were treated to the thrilling spectacle of the first Christmas Pageant in 1933. A Christmas pageant to escort Father Christmas to his Magic Cave has been the only one of its kind in the world.
There is much magic in this book. It is to be found in its folkloric themes and stories. It forms the basis of the fanciful evolution of the Christmas Pageant as seen today. colourful, historic imagery emerges like magic from the pages.
Nicole has offered us one of her online favourite recipes. I know I want to try this one. Christmas Jelly Cake is reportedly easy to make around kids and is always a hit, and there is no baking required. Here is a photo of Nicole's yummy creation.
The Collections Team has voted to offer you this recipe.
Spinach and cheese puff pastries
This is a quick and easy family favourite that are good hot or cold. Perfect for bringing along to family gatherings. And also, the spinach is very festively coloured when topped with tomato sauce (green and red!)
By James Patterson and Tad Safran
No stockings, no gifts, no tinsel, and no tree -- has Christmas been cancelled? It's mid-December and for the fifth year in a row, there is little sign of the festive season in the Sullivan family's household in Harlem. But this year, a mysterious someone is sending gifts to widower Henry Sullivan and his two children, Will and Ella. First, a small-beaked and feathered face pokes its head out from between the branches of a pear tree. Before they know it, the Sullivan's home is quickly full of boisterous animals and house guests, all demanding their attention. The next twelve days turns the Sullivan family's lives upside down in ways they never could have imagined. And even though this Christmas will be messy, it may be just the gift their family needs.
By Sarah Morgan
This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal--to avoid their well-meaning family's endless stream of prying questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don't intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention. Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone and the prospect of losing her job. Unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller, the season promises to be anything but festive. She'll just deliver her proposal to his family home and then leave. After all, she wouldn't want to intrude on the Miller family's perfect Christmas. When Lucy appears on the Miller family's snow-covered Highland doorstep, she's mistaken for Ross's girlfriend. By the time the confusion is cleared up, they're snowed in--she can't leave, even if she wants to! But does she want to? As secrets spill out like presents from an overstuffed stocking and the chemistry between her and Ross ignites, this is going to be either Lucy's worst Christmas ever or the best mistake of her life"
by Emma Dodd
Christmas is joy that is overflowing It's sparkling eyes and faces glowing. Christmas is sharing the laughter and fun and being with family, old and young. Christmas is peace, stars twinkling above a night of sweet dreams and a heart full of love.
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by Lauren Holowaty
Peppa wants an adventure with a magical Christmas Elf! Will her wish come true? It's the most magical time of the year, and Peppa has made a wish to have an adventure with an elf from Santa's workshop! When mysterious things start happening all around her, Peppa thinks it's the work of a naughty elf! What is really going on?
by Yvonne Mes and Jody Pratt
A group of little bilbies are hunting for decorations to turn their Australian bush home into a magical Christmas wonderland. Join them on their adventure and meet some friendly Australian animals along the way. This joyful rhyming picture book showcases Australia's colourful flora and fauna, and includes a bonus puzzle page and Christmas craft activity.
Here is this year's Create and Craft video. This time Laura shows us how to make some easy Christmas baubles.
Click here to view form.