Here are some local and global recommendations for children and adults as you top off your holiday shopping.
By Alice Elliott Dark
This is my favorite fiction of the season. Several Quaker Philadelphia families have maintained the homes and wilderness of an idyllic Maine peninsula over hundreds of years, but times and pressures are changing fast. Relatable and fascinating characters, focusing on the lifelong friendship of two women now in their eighties. Beautifully written, chock full of honesty, humor and wisdom.
By Gabor Maté, MD, Daniel Maté
This best-selling author on childhood development, addictions, and stress takes on the big picture of what we have come to view as “normal” in a fundamentally sick society. Increasing illness, both physical and mental, can be traced to personal trauma but also more deeply to the toxic nature of our materialistic, isolating, patriarchal, and racist culture. He stresses the need to return to a compassionate and whole-person-based healthcare system, to break down the myths that keep making us sicker and further isolated from each other.
By Suzy Karadsheh
This wonderful new cookbook offers recipes that are clear and accessible, to help us create the wonderfully healthy meals from the Mediterranean regions. Stock up on vegetables, olive oil and garlic!
Randall de Sève, Carson Ellis (Illustrator)
I just love everything about this picture book, from the illustrations from award-winning artist Carson Ellis, to the uplifting story of a community coming together for a kitten…with the punchline, of course, being that this story IS about caring for each other.
By Jackie Morris (Illustrator)
This lovely book satisfies my Jackie Morris obsession with her incredible illustrations. If you are looking for that longterm “keeper” for that special child in your life this holiday season, you will find her scrumptious art work coupled with these beloved nursery rhymes to fit the bill.
By Matt Forrest Esenwine,
André Ceolin (Illustrator)
What greater work do we have ahead of us but to learn what it means to be human, and to help others along the way. There are wonderful examples throughout the book of compassion, kindness and thoughtfulness, and above all forgiveness of others and ourselves. Matt is one of our illustrious authors from Warner, with this his newest picture book for children about important concepts.
By David Elliott, Amy Schimler-Safford (Illustrator)
Warner is also the hometown for David Elliott, best-selling children’s author of picture books and young adult fiction, mostly all told in verse. This is the latest nature-poetry picture book from David, with gorgeous illustrations, about a world that is right within walking distance for the little ones to explore. Beautiful images and lyrical words to remember and to be part of a child’s library.
By Lynn Lyons, LICSW
One of our very own psychotherapists with a practice here in Concord, Lynn has been highly sought after over the years as an expert on breaking the anxiety cycles within families. This follows her first, Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents, and identifies the many forms anxiety can take in our day-to-day lives; worrying, isolating, disconnecting from others, creating chaos, irritability , and self-medicating. Here she provides steps to reverse the anxiety cycle.