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April 19, 2013
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Staff Pick: In The Shadow of Blackbirds

In The Shadow of Blackbirds 

Cat Winters
97814197053041
Abrams/ Amulet, $16.95
No one expects the Spanish Influenza, and the residents of 1918 San Diego are paralyzed by their fear of contracting the disease. Among them is 16 year old Mary, mourning the sweetheart that she’s just lost in the war and grappling with her recently-discovered ability to communicate with the dead, a power that emerged in perfect synchronicity with the early days of American Spiritualism, which has got to be confusing for a wee teenager. The book is incredibly atmospheric and bananas creepy. Come for the spooky descriptions of coffin-lined streets and disease-ridden sick wards and stay for the remarkable writing. 
~Cristin

Tags: Young Adult 2013 Debuts Staff Pick

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December 18, 2012
20 notes
Staff Pick Notable Mustaches $5.99 Once I cut a lot of my hair off and taped it to my face because I wanted to see what it would be like to have a mustache. I was in my apartment, alone.  My apartment had horribly, horribly textured walls. In a broader sense, it was a very stressful time. The mustache did not look very good, and fell off sort of right away. But it made me briefly, wildly happy. The next day I told one of my coworkers about it and he said this was something I should never openly admit. But I have a big mouth. My old landlord used to call me Big Mouth, Little Head. Anyway, let’s say that you are less committed than I am. Let’s say you do not want to cut a bunch of hair off, or apply duct tape to your face, or achieve the world’s briefest, ugliest mustache, but you do want to achieve a wild happiness. This product is your solution. I know it’s not a book and, Matthew, you do not have to give me a voucher. But let’s be honest, these classic mustaches are the perfect ornament for your face. - By Beth 

Staff Pick

Notable Mustaches

$5.99
Once I cut a lot of my hair off and taped it to my face because I wanted to see what it would be like to have a mustache. I was in my apartment, alone.  My apartment had horribly, horribly textured walls. In a broader sense, it was a very stressful time. The mustache did not look very good, and fell off sort of right away. But it made me briefly, wildly happy. The next day I told one of my coworkers about it and he said this was something I should never openly admit. But I have a big mouth. My old landlord used to call me Big Mouth, Little Head. Anyway, let’s say that you are less committed than I am. Let’s say you do not want to cut a bunch of hair off, or apply duct tape to your face, or achieve the world’s briefest, ugliest mustache, but you do want to achieve a wild happiness. This product is your solution. I know it’s not a book and, Matthew, you do not have to give me a voucher. But let’s be honest, these classic mustaches are the perfect ornament for your face.
- By Beth 

Tags: call to order notable mustaches beth staff pick book machine manager

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December 14, 2012
1 note
Staff Pick Otter and Odder James Howe, Chris Raschka Candlewick, $14.00 A gut-wrenching love story for the ages, and a valuable message for people young and old. With illustrations by Caldecott winner Chris Raschka. - Sarah G.

Staff Pick

Otter and Odder

James Howe, Chris Raschka

Candlewick, $14.00

A gut-wrenching love story for the ages, and a valuable message for people young and old. With illustrations by Caldecott winner Chris Raschka.

- Sarah G.

Tags: staff pick picture book chris raschka james howe otter and odder

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November 27, 2012
2 notes
Staff Pick The Insomniacs By Karina Wolf We’ve all been there:  “Need to sleep; can’t sleep; must sleep.”  Tick, tock.  Rise and shine.  When the Insomniac family can’t sleep, their quest for rest leaves sympathetic readers laughing in recognition and surprise.  Author Karina Wolf, a lifelong insomniac, creates quirky and appealing characters astutely rendered by Sean and Ben Hilts, aka The Brothers Hilts.  The Hilts invent a layered world of darkness and light perfectly attuned to the imperfect world of this sleep-deprived clan.  You’ll discover something new every time you read TheInsomniacs—especially if you’re reading by flashlight in the dark. - By Yvonne

Staff Pick

The Insomniacs

By Karina Wolf

We’ve all been there:  “Need to sleep; can’t sleep; must sleep.”  Tick, tock.  Rise and shine.  When the Insomniac family can’t sleep, their quest for rest leaves sympathetic readers laughing in recognition and surprise.  Author Karina Wolf, a lifelong insomniac, creates quirky and appealing characters astutely rendered by Sean and Ben Hilts, aka The Brothers Hilts.  The Hilts invent a layered world of darkness and light perfectly attuned to the imperfect world of this sleep-deprived clan.  You’ll discover something new every time you read TheInsomniacs—especially if you’re reading by flashlight in the dark.

- By Yvonne

Tags: yvonne staff pick the insomniacs karina wolf

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November 26, 2012
2 notes
Staff Pick A Tale Dark and Grimm By Adam Gidwitz “Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.” And gory, and irreverent, andhilarious, and completely original in the hands of debut author AdamGidwitz. Great as a solo read or read-aloud for ages 10 and up, or foranyone who likes their fairy tales with an abundance of death anddismemberment. - By Cristin

Staff Pick

A Tale Dark and Grimm

By Adam Gidwitz

“Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.” And gory, and irreverent, andhilarious, and completely original in the hands of debut author Adam
Gidwitz. Great as a solo read or read-aloud for ages 10 and up, or for
anyone who likes their fairy tales with an abundance of death and
dismemberment.

- By Cristin

Tags: a tale dark and grimm adam gidwitz middle grade staff pick cristin

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November 26, 2012
7 notes
Staff Pick Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective By Donald J. Sobol Despite competition from shady neighborhood thug Wikipedia Brown, our boy EB is still exactly as awesome as he was when you were in elementary school. Anyone who makes it a decade on this earth without knowing this series should be held back from turning 11 until the situation is remedied - By Cristin

Staff Pick

Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective

By Donald J. Sobol

Despite competition from shady neighborhood thug Wikipedia Brown, our boy EB is still exactly as awesome as he was when you were in elementary school. Anyone who makes it a decade on this earth without knowing this series should be held back from turning 11 until the situation is remedied

- By Cristin

Tags: staff pick cristin encyclopedia brown

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November 25, 2012
5 notes
Staff Pick Moomin’s Winter Follies By Tove Jansson Heartbreak, hurt pride — winter. The Moomins decide to break from the traditions of their ancestors and venture out onto the icy tundra. A complex love triangle brings everyone to valiance and some to tears. A failed suicide attempt causes an avalanche of snow and disillusionment. Don’t be deceived by its appearance; this is a timeless drama. - By Sarah G.

Staff Pick

Moomin’s Winter Follies

By Tove Jansson

Heartbreak, hurt pride — winter. The Moomins decide to break from the traditions of their ancestors and venture out onto the icy tundra. A complex love triangle brings everyone to valiance and some to tears. A failed suicide attempt causes an avalanche of snow and disillusionment. Don’t be deceived by its appearance; this is a timeless drama.

- By Sarah G.

Tags: moomin's winter follies tove jansson staff pick sarah g

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November 24, 2012
122 notes
Staff Pick The Monster at the End of This Book Fear and loathing on Sesame Street: Your child’s introduction to philosophy starring Grover as existential archetype. Are we not all monsters at the end of our own books?  - By Cristin

Staff Pick

The Monster at the End of This Book

Fear and loathing on Sesame Street: Your child’s introduction to philosophy starring Grover as existential archetype. Are we not all monsters at the end of our own books? 

- By Cristin

Tags: sesame street staff pick monster at the end of this book

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August 18, 2012
2 notes
Staff Pick The Island Marije Tolman A beautiful follow up to Tolman’s first wordless picture book, Tree House, with an equally lovable and cleverly illustrated cast of characters. Tolman’s hand is disciplined but playful, her colors vivid but balanced. Give this to anyone from birth to old age, and they will be instantly entranced.  - Sarah G.

Staff Pick

The Island

Marije Tolman

A beautiful follow up to Tolman’s first wordless picture book, Tree House, with an equally lovable and cleverly illustrated cast of characters. Tolman’s hand is disciplined but playful, her colors vivid but balanced. Give this to anyone from birth to old age, and they will be instantly entranced. 

- Sarah G.

Tags: island marije tolman staff pick picture book tree house

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July 31, 2012
2 notes
Staff Pick The Obstinate Pen insists on being read out loud. Whether the audience is packed with grade school skeptics or restless preschoolers, kids chuckle and chortle at each rebellious revision and hilarious encounter. (Try saying “Mrs. Norkham Pigeon-Smythe of Farflungdom” with a straight face.) The eponymous protagonist is cheeky, subversive, and astute; literary cousin of the iconoclastic Cat in the Hat, swashbuckling D’Artagnan, and the truth-telling child in The Emperor’s New Clothes. You’ll love this book. - Yvonne

Staff Pick

The Obstinate Pen insists on being read out loud. Whether the audience is packed with grade school skeptics or restless preschoolers, kids chuckle and chortle at each rebellious revision and hilarious encounter. (Try saying “Mrs. Norkham Pigeon-Smythe of Farflungdom” with a straight face.) The eponymous protagonist is cheeky, subversive, and astute; literary cousin of the iconoclastic Cat in the Hat, swashbuckling D’Artagnan, and the truth-telling child in The Emperor’s New Clothes. You’ll love this book.

- Yvonne

Tags: the obstinate pen yvonne staff pick frank dormer frank w dormer picture books picture book