Snowed in after sharing Christmas with Grandma, a houseful of relatives settles in for the night.

A vivid and charming account of Christmas in an Edwardian country house. Phyllis Sandeman, who was brought up at Lyme Park in Cheshire, recalls the celebrations, the theatricals, the relationships between family and servants, and her own childhood hopes and fears. Lyme Park is now in the care of the National Trust.

Everyone knows the story of Christmas. Decking the halls with boughs of holly. Hanging stockings by the chimney with care. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Then there's the true story of Christmas. And Ralph Mountfield is smack in the middle of it. Great Granny's crustier than ever. Grandpa's singing to the dog. Great Aunt Ida is completely crackers. Uncle Tristam's giving out bricks. The cousins are whining and throwing tantrums. Mum's looking for Dad. Dad's looking for aspirin. And Ralph is looking to stay out of trouble. But when a Christmas Quiz brings out some hidden truths, trouble is exactly what Ralph finds. It's anything but a silent, holy night for the Mountfield family! "From the Hardcover edition.

Three delightful tales of hope, comfort, and stolen kisses under the mistletoe . . . Scarlet Ribbons by Lyn Stone Captain Alexander Napier is battle scarred—from war and from life. For him, yuletide is just a reminder of all that he's lost. Can enchanting Amalie Harlowe restore light into the festive season . . . and reignite the passion in his heart? “Stone has an apt hand with dialogue.”—Publishers Weekly Christmas Promise by RITA Award-winning author Carla Kelly Now that peace has broken out, Captain Jeremiah Faulk is at odds over what to do this Christmas, let alone with his life. Until a simple act of charity reunites him with his lost love—Ianthe Mears. “A powerful and wonderfully perceptive author.” —Mary Jo Putney A Little Christmas by Gail Ranstrom Tending to a houseful of grieving relatives isn't Viscount Selwick's idea of a merry Christmas. But one stolen kiss under the mistletoe with spirited Sophia Pettibone is about to change everything! “Ranstrom . . . has both writing talent and original ideas.” —The Romance Reader

A new family shows the neighborhood what Christmas is all about In this small New England village, no one makes much of a fuss about Christmas—until a new family moves in, that is. The family works tirelessly to prepare for the holiday: decorating the house, hand-dipping candles, baking mounds of delicious cookies, and carving nativity pieces. In the end, these new neighbors show their small village how to celebrate the holiday in a very special way. This fixed-layout ebook, which preserves the design and layout of the original print book, features read-along narration.

Bo just wants to fall asleep before Santa comes, but when the sheep he's counting rebel and wreak havoc around the house, Christmas Eve starts to go baa-dly wrong. It's Christmas Eve and Bo can't sleep, so he starts counting sheep. But when the sheep get bored, they scatter, wreaking holiday mayhem all over the house. "Sheep 4 gnaws the stockings--leaves holes in the toes; 5 swallows some garland, and tinsel, and bows!" Children can count along with Bo as he finds the 10 mischievous sheep misbehaving throughout the house. With a house full of sheep and a mess to clean, will Bo get to sleep before Santa comes? Find out in this hilarious story of a night before Christmas gone wrong. With exuberant verse and comical illustrations, this book will have children begging for repeat readings.

Whether used for thematic story times, program and curriculum planning, readers' advisory, or collection development, this updated edition of the well-known companion makes finding the right picture books for your library a breeze. Generations of savvy librarians and educators have relied on this detailed subject guide to children's picture books for all aspects of children's services, and this new edition does not disappoint. Covering more than 18,000 books published through 2017, it empowers users to identify current and classic titles on topics ranging from apples to zebras. Organized simply, with a subject guide that categorizes subjects by theme and topic and subject headings arranged alphabetically, this reference applies more than 1,200 intuitive (as opposed to formal catalog) subject terms to children's picture books, making it both a comprehensive and user-friendly resource that is accessible to parents and teachers as well as librarians. It can be used to identify titles to fill in gaps in library collections, to find books on particular topics for young readers, to help teachers locate titles to support lessons, or to design thematic programs and story times. Title and illustrator indexes, in addition to a bibliographic guide arranged alphabetically by author name, further extend access to titles.

Readers have enjoyed Melody Carlson's Christmas novels for years. Now six of these beloved stories are available in two handsome value-priced 3-in-1 editions. The Joy of Christmas includes An Irish Christmas, The Christmas Dog, and All I Have to Give. The Treasure of Christmas includes The Christmas Bus, Angels in the Snow, and The Gift of Christmas Present. Perfect as gifts, these volumes will be cherished parts of the holiday season for years to come.

November 13th, 2021 will be forever burned into my memory. That day, my sister passed away via medical assistance in dying, after an 18 month battle with metastatic breast cancer. Medical assistance in dying became legal in Canada in 2016. Since then, thousands of terminally ill patients have taken advantage of their right to die. I never dreamed that my own sister would be one of them. Early in the pandemic of 2020, my youngest sister Jennifer received the diagnosis of Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer at the age of 49. Her family and friends were witness to the depth of her inner strength and determination as she faced a barrage of cancer treatments. There was chemotherapy, surgeries and radiation; each one bringing with it the hopeful goal of helping to beat the cancer into remission. In the summer of 2021, about 15 months into her cancer journey, it became evident that Jennifer was facing a losing battle. If all that medical science could offer her were treatments that diminished the quality of her life ,while doing little to beat back the cancer, she really saw no point in continuing them. She opted for palliative care only, knowing that the cancer would now run its course, unimpeded. Being fiercely independent, Jennifer despised the very real prospect of soon becoming an invalid who could no longer care for herself. She faced the likelihood of a awful death in hospice as the cancer wreaked havoc in her body. She chose medical assistance in dying, taking back a modicum of control in a situation where she otherwise had none. Jennifer's Choice is the poignant story of the final year and a half of Jennifer's life, and chronicles not only her experiences, but also those of her family as we supported her to the best of our abilities under the circumstances. Consider the philosophical and ethical questions raised by her choice, and how we navigated the unknown waters of medically assisted suicide.

'Rediscover Your Holiday Sparkle: 400+ Christmas Novels, Stories, Poems, Carols & Legends' stands as an unprecedented anthology that elegantly weaves together the diverse tapestries of holiday literature. Spanning centuries and embracing a multitude of literary styles – from the transformative social narratives of Charles Dickens to the intimate poetic reflections of Emily Dickinson – this collection encompasses the profound, the heartwarming, and the magical realms of Christmas. Each piece has been meticulously selected to highlight the myriad ways in which the holiday season has inspired some of the most eminent writers in history, making this compilation a treasure trove of cultural and literary significance. The anthology's vast range of offerings ensures that every reader can find a piece that resonates, be it a story that kindles warmth or a poem that reflects on the deeper meanings of the season. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from varied times and lands, bring their unique voices to a common theme – the celebration of Christmas. Their backgrounds span the gamut of the literary spectrum, from iconic figures like Shakespeare and Tolstoy, who need no introduction, to those like Beatrix Potter and Selma Lagerlöf, whose works have touched hearts in more specific but no less significant ways. This collection aligns with various historical, cultural, and literary movements, illustrating how the holiday season has been a perennial source of inspiration across ages and cultures. The anthology thereby serves as a microcosm of global literary heritage, offering insights into the universal human condition through the lens of Christmas celebrations. Scholars and casual readers alike are invited to delve into 'Rediscover Your Holiday Sparkle' for an unparalleled exploration of Christmas as depicted in literature. This anthology not only promises to rekindle the joy and wonder of the holiday season but also offers a unique educational journey through the evolution of Christmas-themed writing. It is an essential addition to the libraries of those who appreciate the richness of holiday traditions and the powerful narratives that have shaped them over centuries. Within its pages lies the opportunity to engage with the works of legendary authors in a new light and to foster a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling around the theme of Christmas.