December 2025 Staff PicksLike this list

19 items

• The Cottagecore Baking Book

  60 Sweet and Savory Bakes for Simple, Cozy Living

  Lobermeier, Kayla,

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  This cookbook features a variety of delicious bakes for both beginner and more seasoned bakers that can help you (and those you share them with) feel a little cozier as the weather gets colder. I highly recommend the orange cardamom bread! -Haliegh…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Tourist Season

  Weaver, Brynne,

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  I was far too squeamish for 'Butcher & Blackbird', but I was pulled in by Weaver's gift for banter and humor. 'Tourist Season' was still delightfully gruesome but easier for us squeamish readers. But warning! It ends on a cliffhanger! -Sarah S.

• The Games Gods Play

  Owen, Abigail (Paranormal fiction writer),

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  I can't and won't stop talking about 'The Games Gods Play' by Abigail Owens. I finished this audiobook in 3 days: it's such a fun thrill. A fun spin on a survival game due to Olympian Gods being selfish, power-hungry creatures. This is the first in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Automatic Noodle

  Newitz, Annalee, 1969-

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  A futuristic cozy tale about robots fighting for their equal rights with humans. Strong on character development and all the feels. I tend to go for more plot and pace, but I enjoyed this. -Beth M.

• Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme

  Bird, Betsy,

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  Nursery rhymes are so much fun to say! But what happens when the weasel from 'Pop Goes the Weasel' breaks out of their own rhyme and wreaks havoc in the other rhymes? Visual jokes abound, like the weight-lifting sheep (Little Miss Muffet) eating her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Sonic Origins Plus

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  Check out Sonic Origins. Sonic 1 for the Sega Genesis was my very first game and I still enjoy it today. This package includes the first 4 Sonic the Hedgehog titles (1, CD, 2, 3+Nuckles) with some new features and display options for modern TVs.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Good Neighbors

  a Novel

  Langan, Sarah,

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  A disturbing suspense novel about the ways in which we can never truly know our neighbors. I loved the exploration of mob mentality and the ways in which domestic disagreements can quickly turn into small acts of war with devastating consequences.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mechanize My Hands to War

  Wagner, Erin K.,

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  Strange and haunting, this Appalachia-based sci-fi weaves an incredibly compelling story about the rural impacts of climate change in a near-future where factions have split over whether or not androids belong in human society. -Kate S.

• Our Frozen Planet

  Stewart-Sharpe, Leisa,

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  Discover the creatures that survive in the coldest areas of the world, including snowstorms, icebergs, and then diving under the ice, sea pups and the 250-year-old Greenland Shark. This fun companion picture to the BBC Earth series Frozen Planet,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Way Too Many Latkes

  a Hanukkah in Chelm

  Glaser, Linda,

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  Latkes for you, latkes for me, latkes for everyone—delicious latkes we all agree! A joyful Hannukah story. -Carina O.Q.

• The Donkey's Song

  a Christmas Nativity Story

  Kellum, Jacki,

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  All safe and warm in that ancient barn, the Saint Child was born. A sweet Christmas Nativity story. -Carina O.Q.

• The Night Before Kwanzaa

  Wing, Natasha,

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  Nuts and pears in baskets to represent harvest fruits, the cup of unity and books about their roots. Habari gani? A perfect find for Kwanzaa celebrations. -Carina O.Q.

• Busted

  Gemeinhart, Dan

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  This book has everything! I was laughing, crying and on the edge of my seat. I fell in love with these characters and their adventure! -Tanya P.

• To Die for

  Baldacci, David,

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  One of Baldacci’s novels from 2024, 'To Die For' takes us on a journey with Tavis Devine, an agent with HMS. Travis is tasked with aiding the FBI in escorting an orphaned 12-year-old girl to meet with her uncle, who’s under federal investigation.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mysterium

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  'Mysterium' is an excellent board game choice for families with tweens and teens. It’s a cooperative mystery-solving game that blends creativity, communication and critical thinking in a fun, immersive way. Players work together to interpret…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Kids Run the Show

  Vigan, Delphine de,

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  Ever wondered what happens when every moment of family life is shared online? This gripping story shows how fame, obsession and carefully crafted perfection can hide real dangers. Perfect for anyone curious about the price of being “always on.”…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Inmate

  McFadden, Freida,

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  If you’re in the mood for a tense, twisty thriller, give 'The Inmate' / 'El Recluso' a try. Brooke’s return to a prison tied to her past quickly spirals into suspicion and danger. It keeps you turning pages, and it’s available in Spanish too.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisted

  Live at Lockn'

  Tedeschi Trucks Band,

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  A great rendition of Joe Cocker's old hits, and they are the perfect group to do it. Susan Tedeschi is like the female counterpart to Joe. She may even do "Darlin Be Home Soon" a little better. -Beth M.

• Lei and the Fire Goddess

  Maunakea, Malia,

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  Lei and the Fire Goddess is a fantastic middle grade fantasy perfect for readers who love to learn about mythology and the natural world. (Plus, it has a talking bat sidekick!) -Dorian R.