The 38 best books for Christmas 2024

ARTCats of the WorldHannah Shaw and Andrew Marttila (Plume), $45Marttila’s “Shop Cats of New York” showed off Gotham’s cutest cats.Now he and his wife Shaw — known as The Kitten Lady on social media — have turned their lens on kitties around the globe, from Turkey to South Africa.Cone of ShameWinnie Au (Union Square & Co), $25Dogs of all shapes and sizes don highly unique, high-fashion cone collars in this gorgeous, charming book from NYC photographer Au.

A portion of proceeds benefit Animal Haven’s Recovery Road Fund.Disco: Music, Movies, and Mania under the Mirror BallFrank DeCaro (Rizzoli), $55Decaro traces the rise of disco from a New York City loft party to global phenomenon with spellbinding photos and interviews with the likes of Grace Jones and Donna Summer.Farm LifeRandal Ford (Rizzoli), $40A blacknose sheep, dappled Texas longhorn, Arabian horses, longcrower rooster and many more are captured in stunning repose by an award-winning animal portrait photographer.The Arctic: A Darker Shade of WhiteSebastian Copeland (Rizzoli), $85Copeland nabbed Photographer of the Year honors at the International Photography Awards for this stunning look at rugged northern landscapes.

The esteemed Jane Goodall provides the foreword.Inside the Homes of Artists Tiqui Atencio Demirdjian and Jean-François Jaussaud (Rizzoli), $95Photographer Jaussaud and interviewer Demirdjian provide peeks into the striking residences of well-known creatives, from painter Julie Mehretu’s Harlem home in a former rectory to French conceptual artist Not Vital’s castle in the Swiss alps.

Peter Moore: Sneaker LegendJason Coles (Rizzoli), $75Sneakerheads will thrill at this behind-the-scenes look — including Peter Moore’s early concept sketches — at the creation of Nike’s Air Jordan I and several other iconic kicks.The Tennis Court: A Journey to Discover the World’s Greatest Tennis CourtsNick Pachelli (Artisan), $40Two hundred courts — from Arthur Ashe Stadium i...