Planning a party to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or a reunion of family and friends? Hosting a shower for a bride or mother-to-be? The Downers Grove Public Library has books to help you plan and achieve a perfect occasion. The following is just a sampling of titles available.

Entertaining at Home
641.59 WEE
Weekends Away Without Leaving Home: The Ultimate World Party Theme Book2002

642 POS
Emily Post’s Entertaining: A Classic Guide to Adding Elegance and Ease to Any Festive Occasion by Peggy Post1998

642.4 BRO
Katie Brown Entertains: 16 Menus, 16 Occasions, 16 Tables by Katie Brown2000

642.4 COW
Dinner after Dark: Sexy, Sumptuous Supper Soirees by Colin Cowie2002

642.4 ENG
Mary Engelbreit’s Let’s Party Cookbook by Mary Engelbreit2001

642.4 GAR
Barefoot Contessa Parties!: Ideas and Recipes for Easy Parties That Are Really Fun by Ina Garten2001

642.4 KEM
R.S.V.P.: Menus for Entertaining from People Who Really Know How by Nan Kempner2000

642.4 LAG
Every Day’s a Party: Louisiana Recipes for Celebrating with Family and Friends by Emeril Lagasse1999

745.5941 FAM
FamilyFun Homemade Holidays2002

745.5941 HOL
Holiday Theme Parties: Entertaining Ideas, Decorations & Recipes for Nine Unique Parties2000

793.2 CHA
Super Party Games: Fun & Original Ideas for 10 or More by John Chaneski1999

793.2 PER
The Cheapskate’s Guide to Entertaining: How to Throw Fabulous Parties on a Modest Budget by Lori Perkins1999

793.2 SAC
Pick a Party: The Big Book of Party Themes and Occasions by Patty Sachs1997

793.21 WAR
Diane Warner’s Big Book of Parties: Creative Party Planning for Every Occasion by Diane Warner1999

793.22 SCH
Never Too Old to Have Fun: Seasonal Parties for Seasoned Citizens by Agnes P. Schaller1993

793.7 WAR
Diane Warner’s Great Parties on Small Budgets: Celebrations for Grownups and Kids of All Ages by Diane Warner2002

Special Events
• Anniversaries
793.2 SOW
An Anniversary to Remember: Years One to Seventy-Five by Cynthia Lueck Sowden1994

• Baby or Bridal Showers
793.2 CLA
Bridal Showers: Special Touches and Unique Ideas for Throwing a Fabulous Shower by Beverly Clark2000

793.2 CLA
Showers: The Complete Guide to Hosting a Perfect Bridal or Baby Shower by Beverly Clark1989

793.2 COO
The Best Baby Shower Book: A Complete Guide for Party Planners by Courtney Cooke1986

793.2 COO
The Best Wedding Shower Book: A Complete Guide for Party Planners by Courtney Cooke2001

793.2 HOS
Hosting Wedding Parties: Unique Showers & Celebrations for Toasting the Bride & Groom2001

793.2 WAR
Diane Warner’s Complete Book of Baby Showers: Hundreds of Ways to Host a Unique Celebration by Diane Warner1998

793.2 WAR
Diane Warner’s Complete Book of Wedding Showers: Hundreds of Creative Shower Ideas by Diane Warner1998

• Children’s Parties
793.21 BRO
The Penny Whistle Birthday Party Book by Meredith Brokaw 1992

793.21 DIC
The Only Kid’s Party Book You’ll Ever Need: Hundreds of Great Ideas Plus a Unique Mix-and-Match Planner by Gill Dickinson1998

793.21 IOV
The Girlfriends’ Guide to Parties and Playdates: Conquer the Chaos…and Have Some Fun While You’re at It! by Vicki Iovine2003

793.21 LAN
Birthday Parties: Best Party Tips & Ideas by Vicki Lansky1995

793.21 WAR
Diane Warner’s Complete Book of Children’s Parties: Make Birthdays and Every Other Children’s Party a Fun Occasion by Diane Warner2000

793.21 WIL
Child Magazine’s Book of Children’s Parties by Angela Wilkes1996

793.21 ZIS
Let’s Have a Party!: The Winning Entries in the Nationwide Children’s Birthday Party Contest by Honey Zisman1998

• Family Reunions
790.191 BEA
The Family Reunion Planner by Donna Beasley1997

790.191 BRO
Family Reunion Handbook: A Guide for Reunion Planners by Barbara E. Brown, Thomas Ninkovich1992

790.191 NIN
Family Reunion Handbook: A Complete Guide for Reunion Planners by Thomas Ninkovich1998

790.191 WAG
The Family Reunion Sourcebook by Edith Wagner1999


Toasts
808.85 IRV
The Everything Toasts Book: Find the Right Words for Any Occasion—from Weddings to Business Functions, Holidays, Gatherings, and More! by Dale Irvin2000

808.85 ISA
Here’s to You! Creating Your Own Meaningful Toast or Tribute for Any Occasion by Florence Isaacs2002

808.85 WAR
Diane Warner’s Complete Book of Wedding Toasts: Hundreds of Ways to Say “Congratulations!” by Diane Warner1997

808.85 YOU
The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Wedding Toasts by Katherine Young2000

A Personal Touch
642.6 GIL
The New Book of Table Settings: Creative Ideas for the Way We Gather Today by Paige Gilchrist2000

642.7 HEL
The Simple Art of Napkin Folding: 94 Fancy Folds for Every Tabletop Occasion by Linda Hetzer2001, c1980

642.7 STA
Napkins: 60 Easy Folds: Simple, Fun & Fancy All-American Ideas to Decorate Your Table by Norma Starts1999

642.7 VON
The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners and Tableware by Suzanne von Drachenfels2000

642.8 BAI
Preston Bailey’s Design for Entertaining: Inspiration for Creating the Party of Your Dreams by Preston Bailey2002

745.5941 CLA
Favorable Occasions: Favors for Parties, Weddings, and Holidays by Beverly Clark2001

745.92 HIL
Flowers by Malcom Hillier2000

745.92 PAC
Fast Flower Arranging by Jane Packer1998

745.92 SPO
The Ultimate Flower Arranging Book by Judy Spours2001

Scrapbook Ideas
Compile a book of special memories and include information about the people, music, and happenings on the day you are commemorating.

• People
*R 920.02 ALM ref desk
Almanac of Famous People2001
Contains a chronological index to famous people born on each day of the calendar year.

Ref 927 CEL
Celebrity Birthday Directory1997
Includes film stars, athletes, TV personalities, authors, politicians and other famous people.

• Events
REF 909.82 CHR
Chronicle of the 20th Century1995
Short articles on events in newspaper format.

REF 909.82 PAG
Page One: Major Events, 1900-1998, as Presented in the New York Times1998

Ref 909.824 through Ref 909.828
Day by Day
A series of volumes listing world events classified by subject. The library holds the 1940s through the 1980s.

Ref 332.41 VAL
The Value of a Dollar: Prices and Incomes in the United States, 1860-19991999
A listing of earnings and costs for selected food and other consumer items.

• Social History
Ref 973.91 GOR
American Chronicle: Year by Year through the Twentieth Century by Lois G. Gordon1999
Offers information on popular culture during a given year. It includes movies, theater, sports, bestsellers and top hits. There is also a copy of this book in the circulating collection.

REF 973.92 MAR
Follies and Foibles: A View of 20th Century Fads by Andrew Marum and Frank Parise1984
Betty Boop, goldfish swallowing, the Frug, Puka Shell necklaces and more. There is also a copy of this book in the circulating collection.

Music
REF 781.6 BRO
I’ve Heard Those Songs Before, Volume II: The Weekly Top Ten Hits of the Last Six Decades by Elston Brooks1991

REF 781.66 NIT
Rock On Almanac: The First Four Decades of Rock ‘N’ Roll: A Chronology by Norm N. Nite1992

REF 784.5 LAX
The Great Song Thesaurus by Roger Lax1989
Lists popular songs from the year 1558 to the 1980s.

REF 784.5 TYL
Hit Parade: An Encyclopedia of the Top Songs of the Jazz, Depression, Swing, and Sing Eras by Don Tyler1985
Very complete entries for each song listed.

Songbooks
Do you want to add music to your special event? Try these songbooks. Are you looking for the score to a favorite song? The library has developed a Song Index that can help you in your search.

782.14 CAB
Cabaret Songbook1991
Songs are broken down into categories such as openers, grabbers, and closers, giving suggestions for a twenty to thirty minute act.

782.42 BRI
The Bride’s Guide to Wedding Music: A Complete Resource Including 65 Musical Selections in All Styles Plus an Article on Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony2000

782.42 COM
The Complete Wedding Music Collection2000
Includes classical music, traditional songs and dances, and popular and standard love songs.

782.42 CON
Contemporary Wedding & Love Songs1997

782.42 FES
Festival of Popular Songs1977
Includes songs such as “It had to be you,” “My Buddy,” and “Till we meet again.”

782.42 REA
Reader’s Digest Family Songbook1969

The Audio Department has compact discs and cassette tapes for music to fit any occasion.

Prepared by Lisa Bobis, March 2003