Holiday Gift Guide for Every Book Lover on Your List

From learning how to read tea leaves to crochet projects inspired by the music and fashion of Taylor Swift, to books filled with recipes for holiday baking (and more), to a new must-have design book, to a “who done it” mystery; there’s something for everyone on your list.

Hobbies and interests

How to Read Tea Leaves: A Card Deck and Guidebook for Divination by Toronto Author Claire Goodchild, created by Harney & Sons Master Tea Blenders

Illustrations by Polly Fern. Published by Abrams Image, an imprint of ABRAMS, The Art of Books.

The art of reading tea leaves dates back many centuries but now you can learn this craft thanks to a new book called How to Read Tea Leaves, A Card Deck and Guidebook for Divination.

While learning how to perform your own tea leaf readings, readers also learn about the history of tea, types of tea, and the many benefits of drinking tea. Author Claire Goodchild describes tea leaf reading, or tasseography, as “a method of divination that involves interpreting symbols created by tea leaves in order to receive messages.”

The book also includes a deck of 66 cards illustrating the most popular tea leaf symbols. The book’s dictionary of symbols is divided into six categories, each with a specific tea pairing, for readings of Love, Clarity, Success, Change, Inspiration and Omens.

So why do people read tea leaves? “Divination is primarily done to answer a question or gain insight into something affecting us,” explains Goodchild in How to Read Tea Leaves.

The Slow Down: For the Love of Home by Leanne Ford, Photography by Amy Neunsinger

Published by ABRAMS, The Art of Books

Designer and HGTV personality Leanne Ford, along with her husband Erik and their young daughter were living in Los Angeles when they came across a real estate ad listing a large home for sale in Leanne’s hometown in Pennsylvania. “The first time I saw this house was from 3,000 miles away,” states Leanne Ford who describes the home in her book as “a big old house, dated and overwhelming, yet stunning.” With only real estate photos to go on, the house might even have turned out to be a teardown. Amy asked her mother and brother to go and look. ‘Don’t do it!’ was their reaction! Yet Erik persisted and the family purchased the house and moved to Pennsylvania. The result was a makeover that included almost every room in the house plus the gardens and greenhouse. The result is a chic, gorgeous and welcoming home that’s featured in the dazzling new coffee table book The Slow Down.

The back cover describes the book beautifully: “In a design world that’s aiming for perfection, The Slow Down’s mantra is quite the opposite—instead, it is all about finding the unique soul in our own imperfect homes. Imagination and originality (and a little advice from Elsie de Wolfe) hold sway in this very personal take on family, making a home, and the magic of good design.”

The Art of Danish Living: How the World’s Happiest People Find Joy at Work by Meik Wiking

Published by Penguin Random House

In her latest book, Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and million selling author of The Little Book of Hygge, now shares wisdom on how to find purpose and joy at work.

Danish lifestyle is world-renowned as the epitome of work/life balance—where working late is discouraged and long summer holidays are the norm. According to The Art of Danish Living, two thirds of Danes report high job satisfaction and 58 percent say that if they won the lottery, they would continue working! So what can we learn from the Danes?

This research-based book details a new study done to determine the factors to finding happiness at work. They include taking a more holistic approach to life and work. The data shows that having a sense of purpose, trust and freedom can make us happier on the job. Meik shows readers simple ways to start to achieve more joy at work which includes her “Happiness Tips”.

Book for Cooks

The Bacon, Butter, Bourbon & Chocolate Cookbook by Chef Bruno Feldeisen

photography by Henry M Wu, published by Whitecap Books

With over four decades of culinary experience and two nominations for a James Beard Award as Outstanding Pastry Chef, Bruno Feldeisen has earned widespread acclaim and top spots on the network TV cooking shows. He’s also a judge on The Great Canadian Baking Show.

Originally from France, his career has seen him cook in some of the top kitchens in the world, most recently the Pastry Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver and Executive Chef at the Semiahmoo Resort in Washington State. His first cookbook Baking with Bruno was released in 2020.

In his new book, the French chef explores the infinite possibilities of cooking with his four favourite ingredients, and thus the name The Bacon, Butter, Bourbon & Chocolate Cookbook. You better wear your loose sweatpants when you savour some of the many great recipes in this book—each one is decadent, utterly divine and totally addictive. For instance—Bacon and Stilton Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Ribeye Steak with Bearnaise Sauce, Spicy Candied Chocolate Bacon, Bourbon Maple-Glazed Sockeye Salmon, Cocoa and Molasses Baby Back Ribs and “Everything” Chocolate Brownies.

Is your mouth watering yet? Pick up a copy of The Bacon, Butter, Bourbon & Chocolate Cookbook and these ingredients and this cookbook will soon become your favourite things as well.

Delicious Tonight: Foolproof Recipes for 150+ Easy Dinners by Nagi Maehashi

cover photography by Robert Palmer/Pan Macmillian, other photography by Nagi Maehashi, published by Countryman Press, An Imprint of W.W. Norton & Company

Nagi Maehashi is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of RecipeTin Eats. Her website is viewed half a billion times annually! She has a social media following of more than 5 million people, employs a team of 10 and even has a foodbank—RecipeTin Meals in Australia—where she and her team make and donate more than 130,000 meals each year to the vulnerable in her community. Her first book Dinner was named Australian Book of the Year in 2023 which was the first time a cookbook won the award. It also made the New York Times bestseller list.

This hefty coffee-table worthy book is packed with delicious, flavourful recipes within the chapters entitled What I Crave, The Fastest Recipes, My Favourites Made Easier, What You’ve Got on Hand, Salads I Love, I Love Roasted Veggies, Sunday Suppers, Sweets and Sides.

The mouthwatering photos will have you wanting to make the recipes immediately. This includes Creamy Sausage Pasta, Honey Sesame Ginger Beef, Creamy Mushroom Wild Rice Soup, Indian Coconut Shrimp Curry, Black Bean Chili, Lemon Salmon with Potato Gratin, Kale & Apple Salad with Maple Bacon Pecan Crumble, Cauliflower Rice and more. Maehashi is certainly destined to win more culinary awards for her latest work.

Holiday Baking

The Krause Berry Farms Cookbook: Sweet and Savoury Recipes from the Fraser Valley’s Famous Farm and Bakery by Sandee Krause

photography by Heather Cameron. Published by Appetite® by Random House, Penguin Random House Canada

Krause Berry Farm and Winery has been a favourite destination for fresh berries for over 50 years, located in the Fraser Valley in B.C. Owned by Alf and Sandee Krause, what started with a single acre of strawberries has blossomed into a 200-acre mixed-produce farm, a market, bakery, waffle bar, ice cream shop and an award-winning winery. In her new book, Sandee Krause shares her favourite farm recipes with readers in chapters for Breakfast and Brunch, Soups, Main Meals, Breads and Muffins, Drinks and Snacks and many more.

Featuring gorgeous photos and easy-to-follow recipes, this book is the ideal addition to your collection to try some traditional and new recipes this holiday season.

Nature’s Candy: Timeless and Inventive Recipes for Creating and Baking with Candied Fruit by Camilla Wynne

photography by Mickael A. Bandassak, published by Appetite ® by Random House, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited.

Nature’s Candy opens a whole new world of culinary possibilities as you learn how to create, bake and decorate with candied fruit while taking your baking to the next level. It’s written by Toronto’s Camilla Wynne, the award-winning author of Jam Bake and one of Canada’s only Master Food Preservers. Soon you will be turning seasonal fruits and vegetables into glistening works of art!

Creating candied fruit may seem intimidating, but Camilla walks readers through each step, including providing the science behind the technique. The book includes information on the Foundational Candying Methods, candying methods for each type of fruit, followed by recipes for bakers of all levels on how to use candied fruit and its syrup in cakes, cookies, pies and fruit desserts.

With this book in hand you can make Almost All-Purpose Candied Fruit, Candied Fruit Chips, Fruitcake Cookies, Ginger Cashew Caramel Corn and more. Chapters include Candy It, Bake It, Cakes of All Persuasions, Cookie Jar, Candy Box, Puddings and Pies, Fruity-Forward Desserts and Pantry Stash and Base Recipes.

This one-of-a-kind book will help you become a candied fruit expert and impress your family and friends with some of the showiest desserts imaginable.

For Kids

The Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet: 20+ Projects Inspired by the Music and Style Icon, by Lee Sartori

photography by Nicole Lapierre Photography, Cover illustration by Yann Legendre, published by Quarry Books, an imprint of The Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

Calling all Swifties! After the enormously popular Taylor Swift Eras Tour in Toronto and elsewhere, Swifties take note: there’s a new book called The Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet book which features over 20 projects that are inspired by the music and style icon.

Lee Sartori is the crochet designer behind CoCo Crochet Lee. From Halifax, Sartori is the author of four crochet books and the former guest host of the popular PBS/CreateTV show Knit & Crochet Now.

The book covers basic crochet techniques and stitches and features projects geared to both the beginner and experienced crafters with projects designed by Sartori and other crochet artists. Beginners may wish to start with the All Too Well Scarf, the Style Newsboy Cap or the Bejewelled Headband. Easy crafts include the Reputation Taylor Doll, the You Belong to Me Friendship Bracelet Pillow and other projects. More experienced crochet lovers may be inspired to make the Cardigan Sweater or the Love Story Wedding Shawl.

Says Sartori in the book introduction: “With these patterns, I hope we were able to capture some of the nostalgia and joy of Taylor’s musical journey for you…I hope you see something that sparks joy in you.”

Little People, BIG DREAMS ™ Leonard Cohen, written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Agathe Bray-Bourret

published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

This book is part of an amazing Little People, BIG DREAMS TM series of children’s books written about famous people. In this series you will discover the lives of outstanding people from scientists, musicians and artists to royalty. People like Albert Einstein, Charles Dickens, Queen Elizabeth, Terry Fox, Mozart, Taylor Swift and others. Each book offers a peek into the person’s background, passions and their life’s journey.

As a child growing up in Montreal, Leonard Cohen loved to listen to songs and poems at his synagogue. At age 15 he discovered the work of a famous Spanish poet and began writing poetry of his own, and later moved to New York to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter. There’s even a fact and photo section at the back of the book.

Geared to children, this is the inspiring tale which follows the life and career of the iconic Canadian musician and writer. Adults will also be enthralled as they learn about Cohen’s life—playing his song Suzanne for Judy Collins which she recorded, and it became one of her biggest hits (as well as a huge hit later for Cohen) and how his most famous work Hallelujah made him a global star.

For both the youth and adult reader, it’s a story that will inspire you to follow your passion and to never give up on your dream.

For Parents

Homecoming by Kate Morton

published by Simon & Schuster

The biggest challenge with Homecoming is putting it down!

Kate Morton is an award-winning New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author. Homecoming is a suspenseful mystery centres around three women. It focuses on three generations of a family and how far they’re willing to go to both preserve, and at the same time unravel, a life that’s not quite the way it appears. It’s also a story about how the past can have a huge impact on one’s present state of mind. The intricate tale begins in Southern Australia with a heinous crime that years later remains unsolved. Readers are treated to more twists than a Chubby Checker song. But each morsel that Morton drops make sense. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it’s twistin’ time again.

Morton takes special care in developing credible characters – they may be flawed, but they’re real people and you feel for them. This is not her first rodeo, and it shows. Compelling details in the Auzzie landscape too – you can almost smell the eucalyptus trees.

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt

Published by Penguin Random House

The Anxious Generation became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

If you’re a parent with kids in the 5- to 12-year-old age bracket, this is an important, but likely an uncomfortable read. Jonathan Haidt’s “Anxious Generation” holds that too much time on social media platforms on your child’s iPhone can lead to social deprivation, sleep deprivation, addiction and ultimately the possibility of mental illness. Worse yet, he builds a credible case with exhaustive research to support his narrative.

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and a professor at New York University.He writes in clear, understandable language. He calls it the “rewiring of childhood” whereby kids have moved from the playground to the Smartphone – from “play based” activity to “phone based” activity. Helicopter parenting is part of the problem. The prime culprit is the rise of social media sites after 2010, states Haidt.

Haidt goes into detail explaining how and why social media outlets are so interested in getting kids to spend more time on their sites. He also investigates the nature of childhood including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into thriving adults.

What’s the solution? Haidt suggests things that governments, tech companies and parents can do to bring kids back to the nineties. While Haidt’s is convincing in his “rewiring” argument and offers some proposed remedies as Band-Aids to help overcome some of the problems facing “the Anxious Generation”.

Here are some famous quotes on reading. We hope you find and share some magic this holiday season.

“When you lose yourself in a book, the hours grow wings and fly.”—Chloe Thurlow

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”—Stephen King

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.”—Garrison Keillor

“Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.”—Lloyd Alexander

by Laurie Wallace-Lynch

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