Christmas in the Libraries 2024

November 2024

Scroll down for some festive hours, events, recommendations and recipes. 

Unley Libraries Christmas opening hours

  Unley Civic Library Goodwood Library Unley Toy Library Goodwood Toy Library
Sat 21 Dec  10am - 4pm  10am - 1pm  10.30am - 3pm  10am - 12noon
Sun 22 Dec  2 - 5pm  Closed

 

 

Closed
22 Dec 2024
- 1 Jan 2025

 

 

Closed
22 Dec 2024
- 1 Jan 2025

Mon 23 Dec  1 - 6pm  10.30am - 5pm    
Tue 24 Dec  10am - 3pm

 Closed
24 Dec 2024
- 1 Jan 2025

Wed 25 Dec  Closed
Thu 26 Dec  Closed
Fri 27 Dec  10am - 5pm
Sat 28 Dec  10am - 4pm
Sun 29 Dec  2 - 5pm
Mon 30 Dec  1 - 5pm
Tue 31 Dec  10am - 3pm
Wed 1 Jan  Closed
Thu 2 Jan 10am - 8pm 10am - 6pm 2 - 5pm 11am - 1pm

Fullarton Park Readers Lounge - Closed 10 December 2024 - 3 February 2025
Unley Museum - closed 20 December 2024 - 5 January 2025

For all other City of Unley services please visit our operating hours page.


Christmas Events in the Libraries

Storytime, Wriggletime and Babytime will be celebrating Christmas in the week of Tuesday 10 December. Visit our Early Literacy programs for full details.


Book recommendations for the Festive Season

A very curious Christmas by Maddie Moate

A very curious Christmas

By Maddie Moate

Have you ever wondered how pantomime fairies fly? Or why brussels sprouts make you fart? Or the real reason Father Christmas wears red? Maddie Moate is here to answer all your curious questions about the festive period! Discover facts about wintery science and nature, and the history of celebrations around the world. Then get creative with cool experiments and festive craft ideas.

Request a copy via our catalogue

Green Christmas by Jen Chillingsworth

Green Christmas : sustainable celebrations that won't cost the Earth

By Jen Chiillngsworth

Green Christmas is a practical, illustrated guide to celebrating in a more considered way. Jen Chillingsworth will show you how to get the most out of the season and make considered choices in how you prepare, decorate and gift this Christmas. Featuring 30 projects, this practical, illustrated book showcases simple changes you can make for a greener Christmas. Jen offers achievable advice on how to sustainably shop for the season, forage for your own wreath and create beautiful handmade gifts. Complete with stunning lifestyle photography for festive inspiration, Green Christmas is packed with original ideas to make your celebrations merrier and more meaningful. Discover how to get the most out of celebrating intentionally with decorations and gifts that don't cost the Earth. With clear step-by-step instructions, planet-friendly buying guides and helpful swapping suggestions, this book will be your ultimate guide to a mindful Christmas, with less waste and more joy.

Request a copy via our catalogue

 

Festive cookery

The cozy Christmas cookbook by Taylor Vance

The cozy Christmas cookbook : 50 recipes to rediscover the magic of the season

By Taylor Vance

This modern Christmas cookbook elevates the holidays with recipes that blend classic warmth with a fresh, modern twist. From Instagram-worthy desserts to fresh takes on seasonal classics, this cookbook is your passport to a stylish and delicious celebration. Share, savor, and sparkle with these chic and cozy recipes that will make this Christmas season your most cherished and photogenic one yet.

Request a copy via our catalogue

Christmas cookies by Hannah Miles

Christmas cookies

By Hannah Miles

More than 60 magical recipes to bake, enjoy and share this festive season, from iced treats and spiced gingerbread, to crunchy biscotti and sugar-dusted butter cookies.

Request a copy via our catalogue

For more festive recipes visit our Festive Cookery recommendations

 

Christmas reads

Murder under the mistletoe by Richard Coles  

Murder under the mistletoe

By Richard Coles

It is Christmas Day and at Champton Rectory, Canon Daniel Clement and his mother Audrey are joined by the residents and guests of the big house to drink, eat and be merry. At the festive feast, peace and goodwill prevail. Until two meet under the mistletoe. One of them falls down dead. And Daniel suspects murder has returned to Champton. Can Daniel and Detective Sergeant Neil Vanloo solve the crime and catch the Christmas killer?

Request a copy via our catalogue

A Christmas gift for the East End Library girls by Patricia McBride  

A Christmas gift for the East End library girls

By Patricia McBride

With the echoes of war reverberating around London, Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane are delighted to be blessed with some good news: the King and his Queen will be making a visit to the East End. As excitement builds, so does their apprehension. With each passing day, the threat of destruction from air raids increasingly plagues their worried minds. But with Christmas on the horizon, their morale is at an all-time high, and the girls are determined to display to their esteemed guests all they have done with the library - and with so little. For Mavis especially, she is more focused on the library than ever - her beloved Joe is still fighting overseas and she is waiting for news on whether she might adopt young Joyce. But perhaps the royal visit will not be the only Christmas gift she will be surprised with this year...?

Request a copy via our catalogue

For more Christmas reading visit our Christmas reads page

We will be adding to these lists, so keep an eye on them.


 Christmas recommendations for children

Duggee's night before Christmas

Duggee's night before Christmas

 

Discover the magic of Christmas eve with Duggee and the Squirrels. 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the clubhouse, not a Squirrel was stirring, not even a mouse. It's Christmas Eve and the Squirrels are tucked up in bed fast asleep. Suddenly a noise outside wakes them up. Who could it be? Happy Woofmas to all, and to all a good night!

Request a copy via our catalogue

We disagree about this tree by Ross Collins

We disagree about this tree

By Ross Collins

A fantastically funny festive story about the Bear and Mouse who ALWAYS disagree from the award-winning Ross Collins, creator of the bestselling There's a Bear on My Chair. Bear and Mouse have finally overcome their differences and are living together in perfect harmony... until it's time to decorate the Christmas tree! Bear wants dazzling lights, while Mouse prefers gigantic baubles... and, wait a minute, did Mouse just put a MANATEE on the top?! A topsy-turvy tree is definitely THE LAST STRAW and it looks as if Christmas is RUINED. But maybe, just maybe, Bear and Mouse can reach a compromise in time...?

Request a copy via our catalogue

The Christmas sprout by Richard Dungworth and Samantha Meredith

The Christmas sprout

By Richard Dungworth and Samantha Meredith

Say hello to a small green chap called Stephen Sprout! Stephen is no ordinary sprout, but a Christmas sprout who is on a quest to spread the gift of kindness and he needs your help! All of Stephen's friends are having wobbles and squabbles, so it's up to this sort-it-out sprout to save the day just in time for Christmas.

Request a copy via our catalogue

More children's Christmas recommendations including picture books, non-fiction, films and crafts.


Recipe recommendations

Previous years' Christmas recipes

Recipes

Christmas 2023

Jacinta, from our Youth and Children's team, has a recipe and a website recommendation for you this year.

Christmas Mint Slice balls

These are exactly what they sound like - Mint Slice biscuits combined with cream cheese, chocolate and some sweets for a garnish. Quick easy and totally delicious. From Jacinta: I love making these for Christmas parties, super easy sweet treat to put together so you don’t arrive empty handed! 

Visit Bake Play Smile for this recipe.

Jane's patisserie - Christmas baking recipes

From Jacinta: a baker after my heart, Jane’s Patisserie is a wealth of festive baking ideas.  

Visit Jane's Patisserie


Nicole, our Digital Literacy Coordinator (Reboot Maestro), has recommended some adult decadence along with some fun with the kids.

Tiramisu

This one is from Jamie Oliver and definitely comes under the 'decadence' option with chocolate, orange, vin santo, marscapone and silky ricotta.

Visit Jamie Oliver's website.

Search for his recipe books in our catalogue.

Eton Mess wreath

This is one of those recipes where the kids will both enjoy helping to make it and devouring it, plus it is one of the healthier options with fruit and yoghurt. This also makes it lighter to eat after that Christmas lunch.

Visit Kidspot Kitchen.


Christmas 2022

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.

Christmas jelly cake


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!)

  • 500g frozen spinach
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 large red onion
  • 1 cup crumpled hard feta
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • 4-5 Sheets puff pastry
  • 1 egg for glazing (optional, can use milk or dairy-free milk substitute)
 
  1. Grease two large oven trays with preferred oil.
  2. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
  3. Thinly slice onion and grate carrot.
  4. In a medium sized frying pan, add a little oil and fry onion and carrot. When both have begun to cook add spinach. Stir with heat on until most moisture has evaporated. Then turn off and leave to cool down.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine both cheeses with wooden spoon. Mix cooled vegetables into bowl until well coated by cheese. Stir in pinch of salt and pepper if desired.
  6. On a large chopping board, lay out first sheet of puff pastry. With a sharp knife, cut sheet down the centre into two equal, long rectangles.
  7. Spoon cheese and vegetable mix onto one end of pastry rectangle. Fold other end of pastry over the top of mixture and then press down edges with fingers to seal mix inside. Repeat to make 8 or 10 pastries depending on much filling you use in each.
  8. Once all pastries are filled and folded poke each with a fork once to create air holes.
  9. Place each pastry on the greased oven trays. Each tray should be able to hold 4 – 6 pastries.
  10. Glaze tops of pastries with whisked egg or milk using pastry brush or fork.
  11. Place trays in oven for 20-30 minutes.
  12. Serve immediately with tomato sauce or store in fridge for reheating or eating cold. Pastries should last at least three days.
 



Christmas 2021

One of our eNews readers recommended a few online Christmas recipes:

I'd like to share a favourite of mine from my grandmother which I have adapted over the years (and make most Christmases). She originally called it Chocolate Rough, but I've played with the recipe so much I'm not sure it still deserves the name. Measurements are approximate.

The base mix

  • 250g packet Arnotts Choc Ripple biscuits 
  • 1 cup desiccated coconut + plus extra 
  • 395g can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tablespoon of sherry
  1. Throw the biscuits into a food processor and process until crumbs (my grandmother used to roll them with a rolling pin).
  2. Mix the biscuit crumbs and all the dry ingredients together.
  3. Add the flavour ingredients (see below). Mix well.
  4. Add sherry and enough of the condensed milk to bring the mixture together to make a firm dough.
  5. Either roll the dough into a sausage log or into small balls, coat in extra coconut. If creating a log, wrap in baking paper/greaseproof paper, then aluminium foil to keep the shape.
  6. Place in refrigerator. It will be ready to eat when cold and set. Slice the log and serve.


Flavour variations

My grandmother used to make two varieties. One had 1/2 cup of dried mixed fruit in it (I always add more because I love dense fruit). The other was peppermint-flavoured - crush/food process a roll of peppermint lifesavers lollies (warning, it is loud in the mini-food processor I use). you can also add a dash of peppermint essence to the mix for more flavour if you like.

One variation of my own making involved crushing up choc-orange jaffas and throwing them into the base mix. I would also add a little orange essence as well.

Basically take the base and make what you would like with it. it is a great recipe to take on picnics and is a great day-before recipe that can last quite some time.

During a conversation with a New Zealand friend of mine a while back, I discovered that this recipe bears a lot of similarity to the New Zealand Lolly Cake, so there is a more structured recipe to follow.

- Ruth, The City of Unley Libraries


Caitlin also has a recipe to share from her grandmother.

Elsie's Ginger Kisses

Biscuits

  • 115g butter
  • 85g caster sugar
  • 30g brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp golden syrup
  • 225g self raising flour
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • Half tsp ground nutmeg
  1. Melt butter, stir in sugars, then flour and spices.
  2. Roll in to balls and then press down with a fork. 
  3. Cook in 180 degree oven for about 12 minutes. They can burn easily so watch them!

Filling

  • 125g butter
  • 1.5 cups icing sugar
  • 2 tsp golden syrup
  1. Beat butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar gradually and beat until combined. Add syrup and beat
  2. Spread onto cooled biscuits and stick together. 



 


 

A few years ago, Jake and I had a chat about Christmas traditions. It was a good chat and still relevant today.