Ever Tales

As a bookseller, I respect a customer's hunt for pristine, unopened, un-smudged books. As a reader and writer, I retain the right to dog-ear, highlight, and generally abuse (with affection) the books in my library. My previously-owned copy of Ida B (by Katherine Hannigan) did not survive my reading unscathed; I began folding corners almost immediately. Hannigan's masterful passages are not only honest and heartfelt, but she also pulls from the world we all know--and wraps it up in ways I could never have imagined. For example: "Here's the bad thing about being a snake in the spring: sometimes you find what you think is the best place in the world to sunbathe. It's the biggest rock ever, so long you can't see where it ends. And this perfect, so-good-you-almost-can't-believe-it's-true rock is smooth and dark and toasty warm. [. . .] But, being a snake, you're so low to the ground you can't see that this piece of rock paradise you're lying o...

Just a quick Valentine's post (two shopping days left!). Don't tell my niece, but she's getting Huggy Kissy (by Leslie Patricelli) for Valentine's Day. Patricelli's book, Potty is a favorite in our household, so her latest title was an obvious choice. All of Patricelli's titles feature an adorable illustrated baby (could be girl or boy), simple text and bright colors . Because Huggy Kissy has Mommies and Daddies, and Grandparents, and puppies, and kitties, and Uncles and AUNTIES (!!!), this is a great book for every toddler. There aren't many books about Aunties out there . . . gotta grab 'em when you find 'em! Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm the kind of reader who has bookmarks in several books at once; usually a children's book, a "grown-up" book, a travel book (I'm a sucker for those giant National Geographic coffee-table books), my e.e. cummings fix. Admittedly, the bookmark in War and Peace hasn't moved in several years. But I felt the need to write a little February love-blog for Charles Dickens. Last week I picked up A Tale of Two Cities for the very first time (much to the shame of this English major, although I have read other Dickens). Oh, what language, what beautiful grasp of words we've lost to texts and tweets. For example, Dickens writing about a seaside town: "The air among the houses was of so strong a piscatory flavour that one might have supposed sick fish went up to be dipped in it, as sick people went down to be dipped in the sea." (Chapter 4 of the Barnes & Noble Classics printing, 2004). I love this image!!! Dickens is not for the super-casual read...

If illustrators were candy, I'd fill my pantry with Oliver Jeffers. I'd drive to stores beyond the city limits, I'd stuff him in my pockets and purse, I'd give baskets of him at Christmas, and happily lose my teeth to Jeffers cavities. Hungry? Check out This Moose Belongs to Me , Stuck , or The Way Back Home . And The Incredible Book Eating Boy . Yum. When I discovered Oliver Jeffers had teamed up with John Boyne (of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas fame), I was ecstatic. Boyne's book, Noah Barleywater Runs Away (illustrated by Oliver Jeffers) took me back to a specific world of fairytales that I haven't visited this clearly since childhood. Part Pinocchio , part The Phantom Tollbooth (by Juster--another favorite), this book is not only beautifully written (with occasional illustrations), it is a uniquely-told tale that reminded me I was not too old to be surprised and delighted by a story. Perfect for ages 8-12. Or 30+. The best part? The Boyne'n'J...

Once again, crazy December days in the bookstore have me thinking books 24/7; from my customers' lists, to my own shopping lists, to the book-idea requests from friends that arrive in my inbox. I would not have it any other way. With little time to write, I wanted to drop you a quick list of new gift books for 2012. The Insomniacs (Wolf) Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (Willems) This Moose Belongs to Me (Jeffers) For adults: The Night Circus (Morgenstern) And, as I say to all my customers: happy reading!

Happy Valentine's Day! This post will be up too late for a 2012 Valentine's surprise, but it's never too late for a good book. The Kiss that Missed by David Melling is my Valentine storytime go-to title. The illustrations are fantastic and full of detail, the story is sweet (without being too heavy-handed on the moral), and there are lots of little surprises along the way--with a few giggles thrown in (drooling bears make for great join-in fun!). I've given more copies of this book than perhaps any other children's picture book (with the exception of Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney--a blog for another day). Both boys and girls will love this not-too-pink story of kings and queens and knights and one errant kiss. As a side note, I'm considering throwing the occasional big-kid (i.e. adult) novel into the review mix. I've read a few brilliantly-written books lately, and feel they deserve some time. I am constantly surprised and amazed that the world has not...

Candymakers (by Wendy Mass) was my 2011 answer to the customer question "She/he's 11, and I don't know her/him, but I want to buy a book." Two reasons I shouldn't have liked this book: 1. The plot revolves around a mystery--I generally dislike/avoid mysteries. I know, this makes me a bit of an oddball among booksellers. 2. I usually hate books where the plot gets retold from several different perspectives; they get dull, I get bored, I put book down. Four reasons I adored this book: 1. Generic enough for kids whose reading preferences you may not know 2. Wendy Mass. Has not disappointed me yet--she is brilliant and tells unique stories. 3. Chocolate. 4. In a world where many young adult authors set out to write a trilogy/series (which strikes me as overly ambitious--they often end up stretching a story just to fill three books), Wendy Mass writes a compact, self-contained book of exactly the right length, that leaves the reader happy. 5. Ok, I lied, f...