christmas wishlist | Cafe Book Bean

The 12 Book-Days of Christmas – Mini Beans to Fill you with Cheer!

DAY 5 of 12
“Real isn’t how you are made… It’s a thing that happens to you.”

The Velveteen Rabbit
Margery Williams

This 1922 classic is getting a makeover for the holiday season with a beautiful new festive cover for Christmastime. This edition illustrated by picture book great Don Daily still tells the precious story of the little rabbit stuffed in a stocking as a present and his love for a boy.

Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

the_velveteen_rabbit_shared_piece_1 I adore this book! The quality of storytelling and charming characters captivate and move my spirit. The best part of the books is the parallel meaning in-between the lines. If you’ve read it, really read it, you know and appreciate what it is. This is a book everyone should have a chance to enjoy, both as a child and as an adult.

“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept…”

Book Bean: Velvety Eggnog Mocha
Your basic mocha but made with 1/3 parts eggnog 2/3 part milk (or to taste if like it extra sweet.) I also only use about half the amount of normal chocolate. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

“…Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off,
and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby.
But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
~Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

With Thanksgiving just around the corner I am beginning to think of what books I would like to read for the Christmas and winter season. Now I am a firm believer in one Holiday at a time. So I will not begin my Christmas reading until after Thanksgiving, at the stroke of midnight. However, I do need to be prepared.

So here are the books on my wishlist.
(Click pictures or links for more info.)

This seems like a typical cheesy but delightful Christmas story, something just right to relax with. I believe it might be a bit romancy, which is not usually my strong cup of tea, but now and then it is nice.
Starry Night: A Christmas Novel Rate 4.5 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Gingerbread Mocha
The bitter sweetness of gingerbread
melts so well with the milk chocolate goodness.

Agatha Christie is such a great author so I have no doubt that I am going to be thrilled with this book.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas Rate 4.5 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Peppermint Latte or if your daring try a Peppermint Chai, it’s goodness is a mystery 😉

Sometimes I like to mix it up and replace Christmas music with an old fashion Christmas story via audible. This year I think I’d like to try this out.
The Christmas List: A Novel 4.4 on amazon.com
Book Bean: For something easy while on the go brew up some black tea and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg

I’d like to keep the warm and fuzzy Holiday spirit burning beyond Christmas. So, I think I’ll be reading this book for New Years. It seems like just the right kind of quaint story I adore.
Winter Solstice Rate 4.5 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Spiced Eggnog Steamer
Eggnog and milk steamed or heated and frothed. Sprinkle with cocoa and add a cinnamon stick.
Nothing keeps up the Holiday cheer like this sweet treat!

The best I save for last!
I am really excited for this book. I don’t know why I had never heard of it before, but if J.R.R. Tolkien wrote it I’m sure it is a worthy tale.
Letters From Father Christmas Rate 4.5 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Candy Cane Cocoa
Homemade cocoa in mugs with whip cream and candy canes for stir sticks (this is a tradition my family.) Make up a batch and share this experience with some kiddos.