On Friday, December 5, from 4:30 to 6:30 in the evening, Linden Tree will host Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley's School for a magical holiday event.

Come listen to Nutcracker stories, pose for holiday photos with a gorgeous ballerina and a live (not wooden!) Nutcracker, and shop for holiday gifts while listening to one of the most fantastic musical scores ever written. You can even buy tickets for this year's show!

This FREE event is a fundraiser for Ballet San Jose's Nutcracker. Just mention Ballet San Jose when checking out and 10% of your purchase will go directly to the organization.

Downtown First Friday will continue from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. so it's a great afternoon to come to Los Altos! 

It all started at the carnival...That's where Joey makes a new friend: a bright yellow balloon. Joey and his beloved balloon do everything together, until the balloon accidentally slips off Joey's wrist and flies far, far away. What will Joey do without his special friend?

Tiffany Papageorge has crafted a poignant tale of love, loss, and letting go that will serve as a comforting guide to children who are navigating the complicated emotions of grief. Rich, luminous illustrations by Erwin Madrid perfectly capture these timeless themes, making them accessible to even the youngest reader. 

Honest, unflinching, and ultimately reassuring, My Yellow Balloon will resonate with anyone who has endured the darkness of grief, while offering hope for brighter days ahead. 

RSVP for all events in-store or by calling 650-949-3390. Best for ages 7 and up.

Author Tim Myers returns to Linden Tree with The Christmas Stick, a wonderful story for children that is about taking, but also giving-about stubbornness, but also a change of heart. 

In the book, a spoiled prince learns well from his wise grandmother who knew that all he really needed was a stick. It was sturdy, and as long as he was tall. But it was just a stick. 

This simple gift opens the prince to the power of imagination, the pleasure of doing, and eventually, the heart-soothing warmth of not only being loved-but loving. 

 With his gift of storytelling, Tim Myers' Christmas story for kids can teach hearts of all ages. Tim J. Myers is a writer, songwriter, storyteller, and university lecturer. He's been nominated for two Pushcarts, won a poetry contest judged by John Updike, and is the author of a dozen children's books. 

This book will be appreciated by ages 5 and up.

Literacy is one of the most powerful indicators of a child's future success, yet less than half of California third grade students read at grade level and one third of young children aren't read to every day. Having direct access to books can help reverse these trends, developing confident readers prepared for success in school. Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) and the San Jose Mercury News are partnering again to put thousands of books in the hands of children who may not have books of their own.

The Gift of Reading drive began on November 18 and runs through December 15, with a goal of collecting 45,000 new or like-new children's books. During the first two weeks donors gave 5,000 books, making remaining days critical for the drive's success. Community members can get involved by donating books at 18 Bay Area bookstores, libraries, and offices. For the first time, donors can also participate virtually through an online book drive powered by two Los Altos-based businesses, Roonga and Linden Tree Books.

"Linden Tree Books is excited to take on an expanded role in this year's Gift of Reading Book drive," explained Dianne Edmonds, co-owner of the Los Altos store. "We pride ourselves on matching books to readers every day, so this book drive, with both on line and in-store donation options, will allow the larger community to help put books in the hands of children who need them most and to share our common goal of literacy for all."