Paging all book lovers for biscotti and book fair at Leatherby Libraries Dec. 8

Holiday shoppers looking for beautiful gift books with uniquely Chapman University themes will want to stop by a festive mini book fair planned at the Joyce Marion Chapman Rotunda in Leatherby Libraries from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8.

Copies of the award-winning 2011 Chapman University Press book The Chapman University Collections, the newly-released commemorative book Chapman University: Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future, and President Jim Doti’s holiday children’s book A Christmas Adventure in Little Italy will all be available for purchase at the fair.

The art and commemorative books may be bought together for $50, or $30 each. President Doti’s book is $10, with proceeds going to the Kathleen Muth Reading Center at Chapman University. Proceeds from the two anniversary books go to the Chapman University General Fund, which supports all university programs and academics. Cash, check or credit cards will be accepted.

Produced for the university’s 150^th Anniversary, Chapman University Collections is a beautiful 200-page coffee-table volume detailing Chapman’s art and artifact collections with hundreds of photos. The book, edited by Mary Platt, director of communications and media relations, was honored last month with a Platinum MARCOM Awards in the category of “Marketing & Promotional Materials: Book.”

Its companion title, Chapman University: Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future, was released this fall and documents in photos and stories the university’s 150-year history, from its beginnings as Hesperian College to its rise as a prestigious top-ranked university.

A Christmas Adventure in Little Italy debuted last year and is based on a memory from President Doti’s childhood in Chicago and richly illustrated by Lisa Mertins. The book chronicles the tale of little Jimmy, his beloved dog Blackie, his Nonna (grandmother) and a holiday adventure that features family warmth, a bit of suspense, a nun, a Radio Flyer red wagon, an angel, a snowstorm, and — of course! — fresh-baked biscotti.  In fact, there’s a recipe for Jimmy’s Nonna’s Biscotti included in the back of the book. President Doti will be available to sign books from 3 to 4 p.m. during the fair.

Naturally, there will complimentary biscotti at the book sale, along with free cider and coffee.