I don’t know if you’ve had this problem, but, personally, I have a hard time buying gifts for the men in my life. (Perhaps if you’re a man, it’s the women you have trouble with.) When it comes to clothes, they all wear XL tall, which can be hard to find unless I order early on the internet, which isn’t likely.  My brother, father, stepfather and partner are all pretty picky about their music.  They make fun of my musical taste, which they call “sad-girl indie.”  Usually, they want stuff like rare LPs, nice cameras, electric guitars, violent games for their X-boxes, survival manuals and other stuff I’ve never heard of in my life.

Bookmans Phoenix spread some holiday cheer this weekend starting on Friday with a guest appearance by the Peak 98.7’s new morning talk show host, Amy Van Dyke and her street team. Amy took over the Bookmans intercom and read overhead, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” for all of our shoppers to enjoy! Saturday, we celebrated the season with a creative gingerbread craft that engaged the entire family. Shoppers enjoyed gingerbread cookies while making their very own gingerbread ornaments and gingerbread friends to take home. Bookmans followed the craft with a musical performance by the Raintree Recording Group based right here in Phoenix.

Being a native Arizonan and having grown up in Phoenix for most of my life, I've always known that the Phoenix Metro area was massive. Until I was dropping off materials this past week for the upcoming Bookmans Reading Challenge, I honestly had not driven to a lot of these places. I've truly learned how large our city is. And I'm aware that I've only conquered a portion of it both personally and professionally. I was curious about how big the city really is, so what did I do? I googled it!

All aboard the Polar Express! Mike, a real life conductor from the Grand Canyon Railway delighted children at Bookmans Phoenix with a live reading of "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg. The conductor knew the story all too well as he also is the conductor for the Polar Express train in Flagstaff which takes you to the North Pole in Arizona and even picks up Santa Claus on the way!

"On Christmas eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets, I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound-a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear- the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh" - Chris Van Allsburg. Bookmans Mesa was delighted to present a reading of the classic children's book "The Polar Express" read by the Grand Canyon Railway's Polar express conductor himself!

Do you have a favorite Christmas tradition you refuse to vary?  When I was a kid, and even after we’d left home, my brother and I insisted that our family be very ritualistic about Christmas.  We had to eat dinner as a family on Christmas Eve, and then we turned-out all the lights but the tree, and sat listening to Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” on the record player while drinking eggnog with nutmeg.  We would open one present apiece, unless, of course, there were an uneven number of presents, in which case the person with the most presents would open more until we had an even number for Christmas morning!

This Saturday, Bookmans Mesa welcomed BookPALS' Toni Jourdan for Holiday Storytime. Toni showed us the true meaning of the holidays in such a fun and interactive way. Little ones giggled with glee, as she rang bells, played games and made the stories she read truly come to life.

In conjunction with Local First member, SpazDog Comics, the Arizona Ghostbusters will be collecting new unwrapped toys for the Children's Cancer Network. Often times cancer treatments place an incredible financial burden on families. This toy drive will bring joy to those families. If the spirit of giving isn't enough to get you out to this event perhaps the 28-foot-tall inflatable Stay Puft Marshmallow Man or a replica of the Ecto-1 Ghostbuster vehicle will grab your attention. Don't have a toy? SpazDog comics will match your donation if you a buy a figure from their store.