On each of the twelve days of Christmas, unusual and fanciful gifts arrive to celebrate the season.

"Celebrate the magic of Christmas time with this well-loved traditional poem, The Twelve Days of Christmas, beautifully illustrated by Laura Hawthorne."--Provided by publisher.

The first day of Christmas can be a magical time, filled with anticipation and the sweet scent of gingerbread. But for eleven-year-old twins, Mia and Jack, this Christmas Eve was about to become anything but ordinary. An extraordinary letter, addressed to them in elegant script, arrived on their doorstep, bearing the unmistakable seal of Santa Claus himself. It was a letter that would forever change their lives, setting them on a thrilling quest to save Christmas from an ancient curse. Prepare to be swept away by this heartwarming story of adventure, friendship, and the enduring spirit of Christmas. Join Mia and Jack as they unravel clues, face challenges, and uncover the true meaning of Christmas. Discover a world filled with talking snowmen, mischievous elves, and enchanted items, all while experiencing the joy and wonder that only the magic of Christmas can bring. So, grab a cozy blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and settle in for a journey that will warm your heart and fill you with Christmas cheer.

Welcome to Hollybrooke, a charming little town where the Christmas spirit is as strong as the winter wind – and just as unpredictable. Here, the streets are lined with twinkling lights, the air is thick with the scent of gingerbread cookies, and the residents are a delightful mix of quirky characters, each with their own unique take on the holiday season. But let's be real, folks. The holidays are a rollercoaster ride of emotions. There's the joy of gift-giving, the warmth of family gatherings, and the magic of caroling under a starry sky. But there's also the stress of finding the perfect present, the awkwardness of navigating family dynamics, and the potential for things to go hilariously wrong. This book is a collection of 24 stories, each one a delightful peek into the lives of the residents of Hollybrooke as they navigate the joys and stresses of the festive season. So, buckle up, grab a cozy blanket, and prepare to laugh, cry, and maybe even feel a little bit of holiday magic yourself. And remember, even the most chaotic Christmas can be a wonderful one, as long as you have the right people, a good dose of laughter, and a whole lot of holiday cheer.

Jane Austen turns sleuth in this delightful murder mystery set over the twelve days of a Regency-Era Christmas party. Christmas Eve, 1814: Jane Austen has been invited to spend the holiday with family and friends at The Vyne, the gorgeous ancestral home of the wealthy and politically prominent Chute family. As the year fades and friends begin to gather beneath the mistletoe for the twelve days of Christmas festivities, Jane and her circle are in a celebratory mood: Mansfield Park is selling nicely; Napoleon has been banished to Elba; British forces have seized Washington, DC; and on Christmas Eve, John Quincy Adams signs the Treaty of Ghent, which will end a war nobody in England really wanted. Jane, however, discovers holiday cheer is fleeting. One of the Yuletide revelers dies in a tragic accident, which Jane immediately views with suspicion. If the accident was in fact murder, the killer is one of Jane’s fellow snow-bound guests. With clues scattered amidst cleverly crafted charades, dark secrets coming to light during parlor games, and old friendships returning to haunt the Christmas parties, whom can Jane trust to help her discover the truth and stop the killer from striking again?

The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays. "The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike." —Publisher's Weekly “Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with Precious Moments as they bring classic holiday melodies to your house The Precious Moments characters you know and love are paired with two of the world's most treasured Christmas carols, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Away in a Manger." The beautiful illustrations and classic lyrics come together to create a cherished book that families can read aloud--or even sing --together each Christmas for a new holiday treat. Create precious moments of your own as you share a heartwarming and special storytime with your little one