Christmas Holiday Reading 2018

If you would like to help PVAS while completing your Christmas shopping, consider picking up these great titles from The Book Depository. If you shop using the store links in the right sidebar a small percentage of your sale total will go towards helping care for the over 160 birds and animals at the Sanctuary. 

1. Vegan Christmas : Over 70 amazing vegan recipes for the festive season and holidays, by Gaz Oakley. 2018.

'Vegans everywhere will have the best holiday period ever with Gaz Oakley's fantastic alternatives to the trad turkey and trimmings. Gaz talks you through the menus and the planning, from Christmas morning breakfast like Sweet Potato Waffles and Tofu Benedict, through to a show-stopping lunch with the likes of Ultimate Christmas Wellington, "Turkey" Roast and Festive Nut Roast Wreath served with all the trimmings: "No Pigs" in Blankets, Hasselback Potatoes and Fluffy Yorkshire Puddings - all rounded off with spectacular dairy-free puds including Boozy Tiramisu and Creme Brulee Tarts. There are vegan versions of mince pies, Pavlova and the traditional Christmas Pudding with Custard, and even a "cheese" board for afters! And it's not just about the big day: Gaz offers a supreme spread of party food for when you're celebrating with guests - Mini Sausage Rolls, Sticky BBQ "Ribs" and Arancini, among many others, plus ideas for Boxing Day leftovers including Bubble & Squeak, Christmas Curry and Gyros'. 

2. Santa’s first vegan Christmas, by Robin Raven. 2017.

'This year, experience the holidays with a story of love, peace, and compassion! Meet Dana, a forthright and fun-loving reindeer who lives in the Arctic. On Christmas Eve, she meets Santa Claus, who has come looking for reindeer to pull his sleigh. Dana gently opens Santa's eyes to how we can be more kind to animals. Together they take off on a journey around the world, spreading far more than holiday cheer and giving far more than presents. By the time the sun rises on Christmas Day, things will never be the same!'.

3. Paper Christmas, by Emily Dawe. 2018.

'These fun papercraft projects range from simple yet effective bunting to intricate tree decorations, bell jar Christmas trees, and an advent calendar village. Give your holiday season the homemade touch, from wrapping paper to tree decorations, using very few materials and innovative techniques, such as printing with shaving foam and creating stunning greeting cards using gold embossing ink. Includes 64 traceable templates'.
 

4. A friend for Christmas, by Gloria Stewart. 2018.

'The true-story of one woman's inspiring journey from post-war poverty, to becoming a modern-day 'Mrs Christmas', all with a little help from her friends. Gloria Stewart and her family were used to cold and hungry Decembers - a family of seven living in a two-bedroomed house, without central heating. Then one day, a knock on the door brought a scruffy pup into her life - and Gloria discovered the loyal and unwavering friendship of a four-legged companion. But how could the family afford to feed another mouth when they could barely feed themselves? Over the years, Gloria's love for her furry friends intensified, and as she grew up and had her own family, they helped her to carry on her mother's loving legacy of making sure that those who are alone at Christmas always have a friend!'.

5. The vegan holiday cookbook, by Marie Laforet. 2017.

'These festive and impressive recipes will be a bona fide hit with vegan and non-vegan guests alike. You'll discover delicious substitutes for not only meat dishes, but new versions of glazed logs, chocolates, puffed pastry, cakes, pavlova, Creme Brulee and even Stollen. And because if you are also gluten-free and vegan, things can get really complicated, the author has listed recipes in different categories from entirely gluten-free, recipes that are easy to adapt and recipes are a little more challenging to adapt. From elegant appetizers and hors d'oeuvres like Cream of Leek Turnovers and Quick Foie Gras-Style Mousse to stunning festive main courses such as Roast Vegetable Wellington with Sweet Potato Mousseline, Seitan Pot Pie and Sweet Potato Stuffed with Chestnuts and Smoked Tempeh. A feast of sweets await your guests - from Mince Pies and Cardamon Almond Kringle, to Coconut Truffles and Tiramisu-Style Glazed Log. If you're looking for ideas for your holiday feast, Marie has come up with themed menus that will help you put together a dinner that sets the mood perfectly'.

 6. Easy as vegan pie, by Hannah Kaminsky. 2018.

'Featuring more than one hundred simple but scrumptious pies, the recipes in this book take some unexpected twists, offering vegan bakers a whole new pie experience. The gorgeous photography will lure bakers to try chocolate chipotle sweet potato pie, skinny mint tart, caramel macadamia crumb pie, and pomegranate pecan pie. Savory treats are well-represented as well, with Thanksgiving quiche, primavera pot pies, and wasabi pea pie, among others. Kaminsky offers an unprecedented treat for vegan bakers, providing a unique and inspiring mix of culinary adventure and down-home comfort food'.

7. If animals celebrated Christmas, by Anne Whitford Paul. 2018.

'If animals said 'Merry Christmas', how would they say it? Beaver would gnaw down trees with his teeth, Koala would decorate with Mama and Papa, and of course Polar Bear Santa would fly through the night! Following the success of If Animals Kissed Good Night this new instalment is a celebration of the Christmas season, complete with the series' signature adorable animals'.

 8. Christmas cookie day!, by Tara Knudson. 2018. Board Book.

'Christmas Cookie Day! celebrates the beloved tradition of making Christmas treats and even features a special Christmas cookie recipe for you and your child to create. The bright illustrations by Pauline Siewert and sweet, rhyming text by Tara Knudson are sure to capture the wonder of young readers and parents alike. Perfect for building new memories, this board book has a beautiful, glittery cover'.

9. A Guinea Pig Christmas carol, by Charles Dickens and Tess Newall. 2018.

'The ultimate and timeless Christmas story, with cuddly guinea pigs in the starring roles! Miserable to the core and wholly unwilling to extend a paw to help those in desperate need, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge says "bah, Humbug!" to the festive season. But one night he is visited by three Christmas Spirits who take him on a journey through time, so he can see the error of his ways and learn the true meaning of Christmas. This is Charles Dickens' joyful Christmas tale, retold in an entirely new way'.

 

10. 20 to knit, by Sachiyo Ishii. 2018.

'This gorgeous little knitting book contains irresistibly cute knitted Christmas toys for knitters of all abilities. All the projects are accompanied by a clear, easy-to-follow pattern and fun photography. There is a useful page of basic techniques at the start of the book, including making up, stuffing and simple, decorative surface stitching. These lovely mini knits range from a polar bear, angel, penguin and robin to a Christmas pudding, bauble, snowman and Santa with his sack - and many more cute and quirky Christmas ideas, all bursting with character.'