On Peace and Good Will to All

As the holiday season is well under way, we could always use a couple of literary distractions that reorient ourselves to slow down and enjoy what we have and where we are. As this is the season for giving, may I suggest a couple of books that may help you make your way through this most cheerful time of the year? Two books that continue to stand out for their quality of work is The Bad Seed, by Jory John and Pete Oswald and What if this Were Enough? by Heather Havrilesky.  

In the picture book The Bad Seed, written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald, we encounter the story of a seed, a "bad seed," who, prior to becoming the seed they are now, undergoes their own challenges. We follow our "bad seed" from "an insignificant field" but surrounded by a loving family through the pain of separation. Wandering the city as a lone and salty seed, the seed lives their way through hardship and eventually happiness. Illustrations by Pete Oswald bring to life the joys, annoyances and difficulties the seed experiences. The artwork on its own is worth lingering over this story and sharing with anyone who enjoys a good picture book.

Heather Havrilesky has written for various publications in the past as a television critic and as an advice columnist. In her latest collection of essays, What If This Were Enough?, Heather Havrilesky’s astute observations takes on modern society’s never-ending cycle of not having or being enough. With such precision, charm and wit, Havrilesky makes the case for stepping back from the drive for more, to one of declaring that this is enough. 

As this is the season of giving, I hope these recommendations give you some joy in the coming new year. Happy Holidays!