Books to Inspire: December 2023
A YEAR FULL OF CELEBRATIONS AND FESTIVALS: OVER 90 FUN AND FABULOUS FESTIVALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!
by Claire Grace & Christopher Corr
One of the many joys of expat life is the celebration of holidays from around the world. This is especially true in our vibrant metropolis of Bangkok with a population of around 11 million. Whether it’s with colleagues, neighbors, or school mates, families are exposed to local and international festivities as well as the opportunity to share our own customs.
“A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals” is the perfect book for families curious to learn more. Organized by season, the book includes big celebrations like International Women’s Day in spring, Ramadan in summer, Diwali in fall, and Hanukkah in winter. Also included are less well-known festivities like Japanese Hanami, Swiss Désalpe, Spanish La Tomatina, and Thai Monkey Buffet Festival. The illustrations are fun and bright, and each page includes historical facts and current diasporic traditions.
Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books in 2021. “A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals” is suitable for ages 3–10. A hardcover copy can be found in the Children’s Corner of the Neilson Hays Library.
BAAN: RECIPES AND STORIES FROM MY THAI HOME
by Kay Plunkett-Hogge
Aptly titled “Baan”, the Thai word for “home”, food writer Kay Plunkett-Hogge’s 12th book is a cozy collection of over 100 recipes and stories. “Baan” is inspired by Plunkett-Hogge’s real life experiences as a British expat born and raised in Bangkok in the 1960s and 70s. The book is meant for homecooks who aim to entertain, each recipe clearly written with amusing storytelling woven throughout. The author honors Thai cuisine with honesty, advising readers not to compromise flavor if certain ingredients are unavailable. After all, pad kra pao would not be complete without the kra pao!
Plunkett-Hogge’s other titles include “Siam”, “The Art of the Party”, and “Make Mine a Martini”. She also collaborated with actor Stanley Tucci on his bestselling cookbook “The Tucci Table”.
Published by Pavilion Books in 2019. A hardcover copy and more of Kay Plunkett-Hogge’s books can be found in the non-fiction section of the Neilson Hays Library.