christmas books | 5 great picks

December 19, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

If the cold weather hasn’t put you in a holiday mood, these books surely will.

“The Snow Globe” by Sheila Roberts; St. Martin’s (166 pages, $14.99)

Kylie, who has had a run of bad luck, is browsing in an antiques shop when she impulsively buys an old snow globe. One shake of the globe, and the toy factory scene inside it is replaced by one that shows what life has in store for you. The story is a little cloying, but the pace is brisk, and “The Snow Globe” makes for a quick holiday read.

“An Amish Christmas” by Cynthia Keller; Ballatine Books (239 pages; $16)

The best in this bunch of holiday-themed books, “An Amish Christmas” tells the story of Meg Hobart, a comfortable middle-class woman whose husband James has lost everything in a bad investment. With the loss of their home and most of their possessions, the couple, their two sullen teenagers and precocious preteen son pack up and head north to live with Meg’s parents. A car accident puts them in the care of David and Annie Lutz and their large Amish family. Meg and James immerse themselves in the Amish family, working with them, sharing meals, learning lessons they’ve forgotten they knew before the business of working and raising children took over their lives. The story in no way suggests that we should all become Amish to be happy, but the vivid images of farm life make you feel a little more peaceful inside.

“’Twas the Night Before Christmas: 21st Century Edition” by Bruce Kluger and David Slavin; Andrews McNeel Publishing (80 pages, $9.99)

This updated version of the holiday staple has more heft than its zombie counterpart and makes Santa the victim of a hostile takeover by a large corporation. The poem has been entirely rewritten and the illustrations are accompanied by Photoshopped images of magazines, newspapers and corporate memos, each fully realized. The details are genius — news articles announce the downsizing of elves and the North Pole toy factory’s move to Honduras — and are perfect for this moment in time. Who would have thought a classic holiday poem could be so relevant?

“Promise Me” by Richard Paul Evans; Simon & Schuster (334 pages, $19.99)

A single mom with a sick daughter meets a mysterious man on Christmas Eve. He immediately takes care of all of her problems and becomes what she believes to be her soulmate. Then she discovers that the mystery man’s appearance in her life involves time travel and a familial relationship.

“The Zombie Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore and H. Parker Kelley; Cider Mill (47 pages, $12.95)

The traditional Christmas Eve poem is turned on its head in this adaptation, a perfect fit in this popular year for flesh-eaters. This is a terrific novelty stocking stuffer for zombie lovers.

— Sara Frederick, The Miami Herald