Laura Jo's Book Nook
 The weeks are flying by, and Christmas
is just around the corner.
It may be too early for shopping or baking, but it's never too early to read Christmas stories.
And the library has so many Christmas books, it may take you from now until the 25th to read all the ones you want! Listed is but a small sample of our Christmas selection.
Picture Books
The Animal's Santaby Jan Brett Jan Brett's beautiful illustrations add a wintery touch to the story of Big Snowshoe and Little Snow who figure out a way for the animals to see Santa. Never again will Little Snow doubt that there is an animals' Santa. The Shy Little Angelby Ruth Brown Beloved author and illustrator Ruth Brown has created a magically surprising Christmas story where things are not quite as they appear...and the littlest angel is no angel at all! Santa's Stuckby Rhonda Gowler Greene The stockings are stuffed, and the toys are under the tree. Santa thinks it's safe to have just one more snack. Uh oh! Find out who saves Santa - and Christmas - in the nick of time. Nutcrackerby Mary Englebreit The Nutcracker is one of the world's favorite holiday stories. Mary Englebreit offers her vision of this magical night, filling it with joyful movement and rich detail. I See Santa Everywhereby Glenn McCoy Christmas is in the air, and Santa is....everywhere! He's selling hot dogs, listening in on phone calls...even riding on his motorcycle down the street! Glenn McCoy is an award winning cartoonist, and his silly drawings only add to the humor of the story. Bear's Christmas Surpriseby Elizabeth Winthrop It's a week before Christmas, and mom is going out. "Remember...No peeking at the presents!" she tells her children. Bear keeps finding wrapped gifts. But they don't seem big enough for the train set he wanted. What will he do?
Easy Reads
Nate the Great and the
Crunchy Christmasby Marjorie Weinman Sharmat Fang's Christmas mail is missing and he is unhappy. So Nate and his dog Sludge will try to solve this case in time for Sludge to have a crunchy munchy Christmas. Marvin's Best Christmas
Present Everby Katherine Paterson Marvin worries that the presents he makes are never as nice as the ones made by his sister. So this year he is determined to not only make the best present, but one that will last forever.
Chapter Books
When Santa Fell to Earthby Cornelia Funke Santa crashes down in a storm just two weeks before Christmas. And he's not safe! The ruthless Gerold Geronimus Goblynch plans to put an end to children's wishes and turn the holiday into his own personal moneymaking scheme. Only Santa stands between him and his Grinch-like tricks. Merry Fairy Holidaysby Pippa Le Quesne Celebrate the holidays with three wonderful wintry stories full of magical and festive fairy fun. Warm Holiday Wishes from the Children's Room to your family! 
Assistant Children's Librarian,
Laura Jo Tebbe.
She can be contacted at ljtebbe@greensburglibrary.org.
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New Books in the
Teen Studio
 5 to 1
by Holly Bodger
In the year 2054, after decades of gender selection, India now has a ratio of five boys for every girl, making women an incredibly valuable commodity. Tired of marrying off their daughters to the highest bidder and determined to finally make marriage fair, the women who form the country of Koyanagar have instituted a series of tests so that every boy has the chance to win a wife. Sudasa doesn't want to be a wife, and Contestant Five, a boy forced to compete in the test to become her husband, has other plans as well.
Storm of Lightning:
Michael Vey #5 by Richard Paul Evans
The resistance movement has been compromised.
The Voice is in hiding.
Their families are missing.
Can the Electroclan pull together to defeat the Elgen once and for all?
Dare You To by Katie McGarry
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her: at all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
The Winner's Curse
by Marie Rutkoski
As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin's eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him - with unexpected consequences. It's not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Do you have a book request or program suggestion for
Teen Librarian, Amy Swihart?
Email her at aswihart@greensburglibrary.org
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Vanessa's Picks
Fiction
American Blood
by Ben Sanders
Heartsong Cottage
by Emily March
November 9
by Colleen Hoover
Stars of Fortune
by Nora Roberts Wake of Vultures
by Lila Bowen
 Together forChristmas
by Katherine Spencer
Non-Fiction
Ardennes 1944: The Battle
of the Bulge
by Antony Beevor
The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels, and the History of American Comedy
by Kliph Nesteroff
The Death of Cancer:
After Fifty Years on the Front Lines of Medicine, a Pioneering Oncologist Reveals Why the War on Cancer is Winnable -- And How We Can Get There
by Vincent T. DeVita Jr., M.D.
The Lion of Sabray: The Afghani Warrior Who Defied the Taliban and Saved the Life of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell
by Patrick Robinson
Taste of Home Holidays & Celebrations: 467 Recipes for Every Occasion
by Taste of Home
Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World
by Bill Nye
Do you have a book request or suggestion for Vanessa?
Email her at vmartin@greensburglibrary.org
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Greensburg Public Library hours:
Monday - Thursday:
8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday:
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday:
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Westport Branch Library hours:
Monday - Thursday:
2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday:
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Friday and Sunday:
Closed
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Children's Room
Santa Day Family Christmas Program
Saturday, December 5
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.Bring your camera to capture those memories of your children on Santa's knee. There will be refreshments, crafts and family fun! Sign up at www.greensburglibrary.org/events.
All Day Make and Take Santa Craft
Tuesday, December 8
Family Christmas Story Time
Wednesday, December 9
10 a.m. OR 5:30 p.m.
Sign up here to bring the family to hear
Christmas Stories.
All Day Make and Take Wreath Craft
Tuesday, December 15
Gingerbread House Decorating for T'weensThursday, December 175:00 p.m.Grades 3, 4 and 5 can sign up to make and decorate a gingerbread house. Sign up here.
All Day Make and Take Rudolph Craft
Tuesday, December 22
Teens
Gingerbread House Decorating and Winter Craft
Thursday, December 17
6:30 p.m.
Join us to make graham cracker gingerbread houses. Vote on best house, tallest house, and craziest house. Also paint a winter snowflake craft. All supplies provided. Please sign up here. Make and Take - 3D Paper Snowflakes
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
December 21, 22 & 23
Stop by anytime 9 - 4 to make a cool 3D snowflake. No registration required. Craft Closet Clean Out
Tuesday, December 29
1:00 p.m.
Missed one of our craft programs? Come by to make something out of our leftover supplies or create something brand new! Snacks provided. Sign up here!
Adults
Pallet Snowman Door/Wall Hanger
Thursday, December 3
6:00 p.m.
We'll craft a snowman door/wall hanging from pallets! Easy and relaxing. Will make a great Christmas gift or decoration for your home. Snacks will be served! Registration required - click here.Color Us Happy Coloring Program
Monday, December 14
6:30 p.m.
Come relax, be creative, and enjoy some snacks. Bring a friend and enjoy some quiet time before the holiday madness begins! All supplies provided.
Coffee, Books & More Book Discussion
Thursday, December 17
6:30 p.m.
December's book is the Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guinn. This discussion will be held in the Library conference room. Refreshments will be served.
Make and Take Gift Tags
Stop in December 1st - December 23 and make a gift tag or two. Supplies will be available while they last.
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The next Library Board meeting will be on
Tuesday, December 29 at 4:00 p.m. in the
conference room. The public is
welcome to attend.
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Food for Fines
The Greensburg-Decatur County Public Library
wants to offer you the chance to pay off your fines
AND help Decatur County kids by offering the
Food for Fines Program.
How does it work?
Where does this food go?
Food will be donated to the Greensburg Cheer Fund for delivery on Christmas Eve morning with the toys and other items. All items donated to the Cheer Fund go to people who live in Greensburg and Decatur County. Your donations will have a local impact. Up to 60% of local community children are on the free/reduced lunch program at school.
Many of these children will be hungry over Christmas break. The Cheer Fund is providing nutritious and kid friendly food for the holidays.
You can help Greensburg/Decatur County kids AND pay your fines, too!
Questions, concerns or comments may be addressed to Lori Durbin at 663-2826 or ldurbin@greensburglibrary.org.
We appreciate your participation!
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Meet the Staff
We're finishing up the year and the last of our staff introductions. We hope you've enjoyed getting to know us a little bit better!
Abby Land Abby is one of our Student Pages. She has been with the Library since August. Abby says she loves the Library environment..."it's so peaceful." Abby is a student at North Decatur Jr. Sr. High School. She likes to read and her favorite book is Harry Potter. Her favorite TV show is Parks and Recreation.
Linda Shanks
Linda is another new face at the Library. She was hired in August as the Outreach Story Time librarian. Linda says her favorite part of her new job is her co-workers. When she isn't working, Linda enjoys sewing, crafts, computers and reading. Linda is the mother of two grown children, a son - 24 and a daughter - 22. Linda says, "I named my daughter Meagan, so I could call her Meg after the character in Little Women. Linda graduated with a BS in School Media from Ball State University and earned her Master of Library Science from Indiana University. Linda has been a Girl Scout leader, a 4H project leader and a youth group counselor. Her favorite quote is from Groucho Marx, "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
Samantha Nobbe Samantha has been with the Library about six months and is another Student Page.
Samantha says that the best part of her job is "seeing all the people I work with and their happy smiles!"
Samantha is student at Oldenburg Academy and says that her studies take up the majority of her time. She also plays volleyball and enjoys spending time with friends. Her favorite book is Fahrenheit 450 and her favorite movie is Tombstone.
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Did You Ever Wonder...
about Christmas trees, candy canes, mistletoe and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer?
Christmas trees
Christmas trees have a long and exciting history. During the pre-Christian era, people and tribes often had holy groves and trees where they sacrificed to the gods. The trees were most often oak or ash, and they symbolized a connection between heaven and earth. Similar ideas are found in the Old Testament - trees symbolized wisdom and life.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, German tradesmen began to hold parties where a spruce was placed inside a home. Another story tells of how the German theologian and reformer, Martin Luther, put candles on the leaves as symbols of the stars twinkling among the forest's trees. In the 17th century, the tradition of decorated Christmas trees in connection with festivities spread out to the German towns, and from there, to other parts of Europe.
Christmas trees did not become popular in the USA until the middle of the 18th century. An image of the English royal family standing in front of a Christmas tree was copied and brought to the USA in 1850. This resulted in the American upper classes embracing the Christmas tree. In the following decades, the tradition of Christmas trees in living rooms became popular among the rest of the population
Candy Canes
It was not long after Europeans began using Christmas trees that special decorations were used to adorn them. Food items, such as candies and cookies, were used predominately and straight white candy sticks were one of the confections used as ornamentation. Legend has it that during the 17th century, craftsmen created the white sticks of candy in the shape of shepherds' crooks at the suggestion of the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.
The candy treats were given to children to keep them quiet during ceremonies at the living creche, or Nativity scene, and the custom of passing out the candy crooks at such ceremonies soon spread throughout Europe.
According to the National Confectioner's Association, in 1847 German immigrant August Imgard used the candy cane to decorate a Christmas tree in Wooster, Ohio. More than 50 years later, Bob McCormack of Albany, Georgia supposedly made candy canes as treats for family, friends and local shopkeepers. McCormack's brother-in-law, Catholic priest Gregory Keller, invented a machine in the 1950s that automated the production of candy canes, thus eliminating the usual laborious process of creating the treats and the popularity of the candy cane grew.
More recent explanations of the candy cane's symbolism hold that the color white represents Christ's purity, the red the blood he shed, and the presence of three red stripes the Holy Trinity. While factual evidence for these notions does not exist, they have become increasingly common and at times are even represented as fact. Regardless, the candy cane remains a favorite holiday treat and decoration.
Mistletoe was used by Druid priests 200 years before the
birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They revered the plant since it had no roots yet remained green during the
cold months of winter.
The ancient Celtics believed mistletoe to have magical healing powers and used it as an antidote for poison, infertility, and to ward off evil spirits. The plant was also seen as a symbol of peace, and it is said that among Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace.
Scandinavians associated the plant with Frigga, their goddess of love, and it may be from this that we derive the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Those who kissed under the mistletoe had the promise of happiness and good luck in the following year. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer  Department store operators at the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward company had been purchasing and distributing children's coloring books as Christmas gifts for their customers for several years.
In 1939, Montgomery Ward tapped one of their own employees to create a book for them, thus saving money. 34-year old copywriter Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer in 1939, and 2.4 million copies were handed out that year. Despite the wartime paper shortage, over 6 million copies had been distributed by 1946.
May drew in part on the story "The Ugly Duckling" and
in part from his own experiences as an often taunted, small, frail youth to create the story of the misfit reindeer. Though Rollo and Reginald were considered, May settled on Rudolph as his reindeer's name.
Writing in verse as a series of rhyming couplets, May tested the story as he went along on his 4-year old daughter Barbara, who loved the story
Sadly, Robert Mays wife died around the time he was creating Rudolph, leaving Mays deeply in debt due to medical bills. However, he was able to persuade Sewell Avery, Montgomery Ward's corporate president, to turn the copyright over to him in January 1947, thus ensuring May's financial security.
May's story "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was printed commercially in 1947 and in 1948 a nine-minute cartoon of the story was shown in theaters. When May's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, wrote the lyrics and melody for the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", the Rudolph phenomenon was born. Turned down by many musical artists afraid to contend with the legend of Santa Claus, the song was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 at the urging of Autry's wife. The song sold two million copies that year, going on to become one of the best-selling songs of all time, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". The 1964 television special about Rudolph, narrated by Burl Ives, remains a holiday favorite to this day and Rudolph himself has become a much-loved Christmas icon.
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CORNER
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Each month the newsletter highlights
events in our community that might
be of interest to you.
These are not Library events.
Please contact the appropriate people for more information."Christmas in Tree City"
Open House and Silent Auction
Sunday, December 13
1p.m. - 4 p.m.
Decatur County Historical Museum
812.663.2764
Open house in the Museum. Decorated trees will be displayed in the Museum Gallery for bidding beginning Nov. 30. Highlight will be the conclusion of the bidding at 3 pm for the Christmas Tree Silent Auction in the Gallery. Money raised from the Christmas Tree Silent Auction will benefit programming thru 2016.
Mainstreet Greensburg December Events
Friday, December 4
Family Holiday Pictures
Bring the family or your significant other to 120 E. Washington Street for a free Holiday Picture in front of our decorated backdrop. Pictures will be taken from 5-7 p.m. or until the line ends. Free trolley rides will also be available for the community. Enjoy a ride, dinner, and shopping in historic downtown.
Friday, December 11
Pictures with Santa
Bring the kiddos to 120 E. Washington Street for a free picture with Santa in front of our decorated backdrop. Pictures will be taken from 4-7 p.m. or until the line ends. The train display at the Presbyterian Church will also be on display this weekend. Free trolley rides will again be available for the community. Enjoy a ride, dinner, and shopping in historic downtown.
Friday, December 18
Parents Night Out
Bring the kiddos ages 1-10 to City Hall while you enjoy a night out. Our Safe Sitters will entertain the kids while you dine & shop downtown. The trolley will make loops from City Hall to downtown all night. A $10 charge per child
is due at drop off to cover activities, snacks,
and Safe Sitters.
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