Written By: Tiffany at Millbrae Library
As the weather gets colder and the daylight hours get shorter, staying warm and cozy inside becomes even more enjoyable with the right activities and resources! Listed below are some ideas of cozy things to do at home and items you can check out at the library to enhance those experiences.
Cook & Create
Make the most of your time indoors by picking up some new skills! Check out a cookbook to get some new recipes or a crafting book to learn quilting, knitting or sewing. Books like A Winter Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom contain collections of traditional and creative winter recipes, craft ideas and eco-friendly projects that you can complete with children. If video learning is more your speed, sign into Creativebug, opens a new window. With Creativebug, you can choose from thousands of online classes, including tons of winter crafts like making winter garlands and hand warmers to cookie decorating and sweater mending.
Enjoy Movies or Music
What better way to get into the winter spirit than with movies and music! As the seasons change from fall to winter, The Nightmare Before Christmas serves as the perfect transition into December and the holiday season. Or, you can watch a holiday classic like Home Alone or listen to a holiday album like Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey. If you're looking for a more tranquil winter season, listen to Winter Songs or pick out a documentary on Kanopy, opens a new window or Hoopla.
Play Games
Borrow some board games, video games or a Nintendo Switch console for a fun-filled game night in the warmth of your cozy space and the company of friends and family! You can find games and Nintendo Switch consoles at all San Mateo County Libraries locations. Check out classic board games like Catan and The Game of Life, or popular switch games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus or Animal Crossing New Horizons. Like most of our Library of Things collection, games and consoles are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but board games are available for hold. If you don’t see a game you like at your local library, browse our catalog to see what’s available.
Read a Cozy Book
Browse our libraries and catalog for great winter reads! From new releases to books celebrating the season, there's something for everyone. Don’t forget to check out our digital offerings on Hoopla, opens a new window, Libby and Boundless, opens a new window. Here are some of our book recommendations on our Winter Comforts list:
The poems and pictures in this book capture the essence of winter by highlighting the season’s feelings, textures and experiences through the perspective of a child.
This thriller is set in a remote mansion where a group of strangers gather for a retreat, but are trapped inside by a fierce snowstorm. As they are trapped, eerie and chilling events test the characters’ survival skills and sanity.
In this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance, a golden boy and an introverted aspiring artist work together to save a small business while navigating themes of fidelity, self-esteem and community.
This sci-fi novel is set in a dystopian world of constant winter and follows the main character, Chobahm, who is given a chance to escape the freezing cold by becoming a stand-in for a dead reality TV star in the Snowglobe. As she experiences the warmth and luxury of Snowglobe, she uncovers its sinister truths
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