My current favorite novel begins in a bistro in the middle of a Sunday afternoon snowstorm. Still in PJs and slippers, the local patrons glide through the Sunday paper’s advertisements for holidays, the perfect fantasy vacation. How about a world cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II? Or a Caribbean getaway?

Given the political hustle and bustle of the last year, perhaps a bit of fantasy travel is in order, unless one wants to continue in serious political thought, in which case I recommend Alexander Hamilton’s The Federalist Papers.

But then there’s always playtime! The two libraries have nabbed three sets of construction and robot kits from the NH State Library for the month of January, which they’ll share for maximum patron use. “Ozobots” are gateways to coding and engineering, little round programmable balls of fun and excitement. “Megablocks” and “Magformers” are building kits, the latter with magnetized pieces, which provide fun for the whole family. Call or stop by the libraries to find out when the kits are available. And enjoy the holidays with friends and family!