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5 holiday books that will have you singing 'deck the halls'
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"Wicked" author Gregory Maguire tells a dark origin story of Drosselmeier, Clara's godfather from the famous "Nutcracker" ballet. - photo by Cristy Meiners
"THE NOEL DIARY," by Richard Paul Evans, Simon & Schuster, 304 pages (f) (age 16 and up)

Over 20 years have passed since Richard Paul Evans released The Christmas Box but the "King of Christmas Fiction" proves hes still got it with his latest release, The Noel Diary. Evans knows something about what life is like as a best-selling romance author, which makes the books protagonist, renowned author Jacob Churcher, believable. In the end, it is Evans masterful storytelling that captures the readers attention as Churcher returns to his hometown in the wake of his mentally ill mothers passing, 20 years after she kicked him out as a 16-year-old. In his boyhood home, Churcher discovers his past, a new love and the mystery surrounding a woman who has long haunted his dreams. While the story is, in many ways, predictable, there are surprising twists and turns throughout. And, in true Evans form, amidst an otherwise fluffy and light read, he manages to teach a powerful lesson about the importance of extending grace to others.

Content advisory: "The Noel Diary" is clean romance that contains no graphic sexuality, swearing or violence.

Morgan Jones

"CHRISTMAS: A Biography," by Judith Flanders, Thomas Dunne Books, 245 pages (nf) (age 16 and up)

For many of us, it seems Christmas wouldn't be quite the same without the decorations, movies, cards, parties, plays and parades. But where did all these Christmas traditions come from? If you want to know the back story of how these and other popular holiday celebrations came to be, "Christmas: A Biography" is the book for you. Written by historian Judith Flanders, the book expounds the origin of common holiday traditions including wrapping gifts, decorating Christmas trees and Santa Claus. Flanders provides an academic-style chronology of Christmas traditions and how they have changed over time, guided by symbols indicating the origins of things like holiday food, gift-giving, music, dancing and religious rituals. "Christmas: A Biography" is loaded with fun and interesting historical facts and makes an interesting read for history lovers and holiday lovers alike.

Content advisory: "Christmas: A Biography" deals with mature themes, but nothing of a graphic nature.

Sarah Harris

"LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS: A Novel of World War I," by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, William Morrow, 368 pages (f) (ages 16 and up)

Christmas love stories are nothing new. But Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb found a way to put an innovative spin on a classic Christmas romance with their book Last Christmas in Paris. Told in a series of letters, readers follow the feelings of Tom Harding and Evie Elliot, two once-friends who have fallen for each other, despite the distance created by World War I. It is hard not to not fall right along with them and readers will suffer their anguish, joy and heartache that they experience through the story. The books ending is as tied up as any Christmas package, neatly wrapped and pinned by a bow, but that only adds to the charm of this classic Christmas story with a new twist.

Content advisory: "Last Christmas in Paris" includes the occasional swear word, descriptions of war and mentions of alcohol and drug abuse.

Herb Scribner

MESSIAH: The Composition and Afterlife of Handels Masterpiece, by Jonathan Keates, Basic Books, 130 pages (nf) (ages 16 and up)

Handels Messiah is a Christmas favorite in many parts of the world, but it didnt start out that way. Author Jonathan Keates illuminates the biography of this famous oratorio (dramatic text set to music), and explains why he describes its composition as an act of faith. Messiahs life story is one of humble beginnings, soaring successes, controversial adaptations, and eventual redemption, not unlike the scriptures from whence it came. Composed during a time of personal turmoil for its composer and the scientific revolution that had society questioning its collective faith, Keates explores the themes in Messiah that still resonate with audiences nearly 200 years after its birth. This book is geared toward lovers of classic music, but is not beyond the reach of casual listeners who enjoy a bit of musical history. Personal touches, such as the story of the scandalous English 18th-century singer Susannah Cibber, and photos of Handels smudgy original score add interest to the narrative. Messiahs charitable beginnings and its eventual success story provide context for the music and will have readers singing Hallelujah!

Content Advisory: Messiah: The Composition and Afterlife of Handels Masterpiece contains no objectionable content.

Janica Meiners

"HIDDENSEE: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker," by Gregory Maguire, William Morrow, 304 pages (f) (ages 18 and up)

From best-selling author Gregory Maguire (Wicked") comes the new novel Hiddensee, an origin story of Clara's godfather Drosselmeier and his wooden Nutcracker from Tchaikovsky's famous ballet "The Nutcracker." More than just an origin story about a Christmas classic, however, Maguire offers a glimpse into a completely new and fantastical world where magic is real and anything is possible. Drosselmeiers story takes readers from his days as a young, impoverished boy through his struggles and pitfalls on his journey to becoming the mythic toymaker. By the end, he is something of a hero for his goddaughter creating the special nutcracker just for her and promoting a serious message of hope.

Content advisory: "Hiddensee" includes sexual content, descriptions of childbirth and death, as well as references to alcohol and drug use.

Herb Scribner
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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