Ornaments, edibles, and gifts fill the pages of Family Circle Big Book of Christmas, some in fairly traditional style with Victorian flavor, others with a bit more of a country orientation. Projects include a mantel full of elegant stockings, a wreath heavily encrusted with buttons, folk-art treasure boxes adorned with felt hearts, and a pair of host and hostess vests boasting sporty red and gold stripes. Directions are somewhat brief but generally adequate; the materials sections, however, are hard to decipher at a glance because all the items are run together in a paragraph instead of separated into a list. Although not terribly inspired, the photos are reasonably clear, and most projects are relatively easy. The bulk of the book is devoted to recipes, such as a full brunch, a complete Christmas dinner, a round-robin dinner party, and lots and lots of desserts. --Amy Handy