Since winter break is the perfect time for reading, our Hampton Herald staff chose 12 books that they would recommend to read during the break.

Book 1: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling.

In the fourth book of Harry Potter Harry encounters a surprise ,and is forced into it by someone. People wanting a great plot twist, fantasy, and the only known survivor of You-Know-Who will enjoy it. It is available in the Baltimore County Library and most bookstores.

Book 2: A Tale Of Magic… By: Chris Colfer
When Brystal Evergreen stumbles upon a secret area in a library, she finds a book about a world beyond her imagination, and figures out that she is capable of magic! Brystal lives in a society where magic is strictly forbidden, so Brystal embarks on a quest to find other magical people like her. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy books and fiction books. You can find this book at local bookstores, bcpl, and department stores.

Book 3:  The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane  by Julia Nobel

When Emmy has to be sent away to a boarding school called Wellsworth, she finds clues leading to secret societies and mysteries hidden within the school. Later, she finds clues that lead to information about her dad who had gone to the school also. The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane is a very good story that I would recommend to people who like fiction and mystery books. You can find this book at bookstores, department stores, and Baltimore County Public Library.

Book 4:  Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories Written & Illustrated by Jeff Kinney
This book is about a boy named Rowley Jefferson and, in this book, he is telling us about all his spooky stories 
I like this book because it is funny, and Jeff Kinney and his team really put work in all the books he made 
The book is in Target, Walmart, Barnes and noble, Walmart supercenter ​

Book 5: The invention of Hugo cabret by Brian Sezlnick. It is a book about how a boy lives at a train station. Who collects parts for an invention that he is building which you will figure out later in the book. People who like mystery in books, cliff hangers, and good endings. You can find this book in the Baltimore County Public library.

There are lots of fun holiday activities to do throughout the month of December.  Two of those traditional activities are seeing light displays and visiting train gardens.  Our staff found some local Holiday Light Displays and Train Gardens for you to check out:

Light Displays:
Miracle on 34th Street, Hampden Christmas Street Holiday Show  
Open until 12/31

Light Up Frederick! Holiday Decorations Tour & Contest 
Dec 11, 2021, 5 PM – Jan 1, 2022, 9 PM 
 
Lights on the Bay
Open until 1/2/22

Train Gardens:



 
Jarrettsville VFC Train Garden

3825 Federal Hill Road

Jarettsville, MD

1 PM - 9PM
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2.

Firehouse Train Garden

2700 Glen Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21215

4PM - 8PM
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3.

Marley Station Model Train Garden

Glen Burnie, MD 21061

10AM - 9PM    Monday - Saturday
Sunday 11AM - 6PM
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    Our reporters asked members of the Hampton community what traditions they have in December.  Read below for what they had to say:

"I stay up all night until 12:00," said Gabriela C.

"I bake cookies," said Emily F.


"I spend time with her family," said Sanna.

 "Every year my family hides a pickle (a fake one) in our Christmas tree, and whoever finds it in the tree, gets to open the first gift. Also, every year I make a spice cake for my family," said Sam D.

“Every year my Elf on the Shelf comes,” said Jasen C.

“My family makes christmas cookies every year,” said Kareem K.


"I started to celebrate Christmas and my birthday," said Clara B.


"I go sledding, go on trips, and have a fire with my friends," said Claire L.


"I get presents. We do a secret Santa before and after christmas we also bake and eat cookies we have baked," said Dylan S.

"I make a gingerbread house," said Tyler R.

"I have a big dinner and say gace," said Miles W.

I Decorate the house, hang stockings, and make cookies," said Mr. Wilmore. 

 "I go to my auntie’s house and open present’s and eat food," said Ruhaan.


"I Open presents and go to my grandparents house and opens more presents and eat," said Jaylin.


"I open presents and go to my grandparents'," said Lang.


“I go to Virginia and go ice skating with my family.” said by Calvin


“I will visit my family in Canada and stay there until the end of winter break.” Said by mathew.
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I interviewed Mihalis and one of the things that he said was that he opens presents and that they eat ham and his family comes over to his house and that they also play holiday related games and that he celebrates his grandmother's birthday birthday on christmas eve and that they usually go sledding if it snows but you know climate change exists and he said that he watches christmas movies.