Archive for March, 2012
March 30, 2012 at 6:06 am · Filed under Adult fiction and non-fiction, Ages 14 and Up, Booksellers Diary, Uncategorized ·Tagged Jesse Andrews, john green, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, new teen fiction, teen/adult crossover books, The Fault in Our Stars, The Probability of Miracles, Wendy Wunder, Young Adult
You know we’re big fans of adults who love well crafted young adult novels. We have a book club just for you guys, that’s how great we think you are. So take notice, teens and grownups alike: you’ll want to read this one. Immediately.
When Greg’s (sort of) ex-girlfriend is diagnosed with leukemia, he finds himself prodded into a half-hearted friendship. Enter Earl, Greg’s only other friend, a pseudo-thug with a Napoleon complex who curses like a sailor. Of course, friendship blossoms between all three. This novel of unlikely friendship is a wry, self-effacing, sarcastic read that is impossible to put down. It’s the gems of discovery made by each character that make this book so memorable, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s told with a hilarious, cinematic tone. This is an honest, smart, belly laugh-inducing, tearjerker of a novel.
We’ve seen several teen reads with themes of cancer and illness this year, titles like The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder, and, most notably, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. What makes these books fantastic is their unwavering honesty. Jesse Andrews achieves this brilliantly. His characters feel like real people–flawed, confused, emotional, and hilarious.
I read Me and Earl and the Dying Girl while commuting, and I had such a visceral response to the story that I found myself laughing out loud one moment and crying the next, all to the great confusion of my fellow passengers. Sorry, DC metro riders, but when you’ve got a book this good to read, it’s inevitably going to turn into a shared experience for all of us.
Read on, lovers of YA. Read on.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews; Abrams Publishing; 16.95; Ages 14+
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March 28, 2012 at 8:40 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Booksellers Diary ·Tagged bedtime stories, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Itsy Bitsy Baby Mouse, Matthew Cordell, Michelle Meadows, new books, read alouds, Simon & Schuster
The cover of this new picture book is eye catching all on its own: an itsy, bitsy baby mouse (as promised) stares up at the giant words of the title. This dash of whimsy is continued throughout the book with bright pastel graphics that mimic the wild race of our rodent protagonist. Hilarious rhyming text is laced seamlessly into the adventure, making this a near perfect read aloud.
Did you hear that? A near perfect read aloud!
Itsy, bitsy baby mouse is lost. He scurries across the vast wasteland of the living room (narrowly escaping the dangerous claws of a monstrous house cat!), desperately searching for his own little door. At the very last moment, when all seems to be lost, two friendly faces appear, ready to calm his frazzled nerves. Mama and Papa Mouse gently soothe their little one and put him to bed.
It’s a simple enough story, and Silver Spring-based author Michelle Meadows (Pilot Pups, Hibernation Station) doesn’t muddle things with over-embellishment. Her rhyming text propels the story forward with charm and humor. Illustrator Matthew Cordell (Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie) develops a similar aesthetic in his artwork, striking just the right balance between silliness and restraint.
I can’t imagine a child (or grownup!) who could resist this delightful little story! Stop by the store today and share it with your little one!
Itsy-Bitsy Baby Mouse by Michelle Meadows, illus. by Matthew Cordell; Simon & Schuster; 15.99; Ages 2-6
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March 26, 2012 at 8:05 am · Filed under Ages 14 and Up ·Tagged Anne C. Voorhoeve, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Independent Bookstores, Old Town Alexandria, teen book, ya book club, YA Book Club for Adults, YA fiction, Young Adult
Don’t be shy, it’s ok to love YA! All of us here are adults (well, at least by number), and we love to read Young Adult books and recommend them to both teens AND adults. We even have a book club, especially for those like us!
Each month, Amanda, our YA book club moderator, is joined by a variety of members ranging in age from early 20′s to those well into their golden years. The range makes for incredibly interesting conversations! Past books have included The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, and Finnikin of the Rock by Marlina Marchetta.
This month, the club is reading My Family for the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve, one of Ellen’s favorite books of the year. Here’s how she described it:
If there’s a superlative for outstanding, apply it to this novel to the nth degree. Franziska Mangold, a young girl growing up in Berlin in the 1930s, is only half Jewish, but that’s enough for her family to be persecuted by Nazis. She is lucky enough to get a spot on the kindertransport, the train that secretly conveyed nearly 10,000 children out of Nazi territory to England. But being German in England isn’t easy, and it becomes even more difficult when Frances (as she becomes known) is evacuated from London. This middle-grade novel follows Frances as she courageously makes a new life for herself in a world filled with uncertainty.
If you’re interested in joining the YA Book Club for Adults, please send Amanda an email! We would love to have you! amanda@hooray4books.com
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March 23, 2012 at 10:27 am · Filed under Holiday books, Uncategorized ·Tagged Ages 3 - 6, ages 4-8, book review, Brian Wildsmith, Concordia Publishing, Easter stories, Eerdman's Books for Young Children, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Independent Bookstores, Paul Maier, religious Easter stories, Sterling, traditional Easter books, Troy Howell
If you can’t tell by the absolutely gorgeous weather we’ve been experiencing, both Spring and Easter are definitely on the way! Here are a few books that center around traditional Easter themes:
Very First Easter by Paul Maier; $7.99; Concordia Publishing; Ages 7+
Focusing on Christ’s death and resurrection, this one is great for explaining the true meaning of Easter to school-age children. Scripture verses are used, which are helpful for memorization and helping children to remember the story throughout the year. The illustrations are beautiful and the content is simple enough for your kids to understand, yet complex enough for them to believe in the tragedy and miracle of Christ’s death and rebirth.
The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith;$20.00; Eerdmans Books for Young Readers; Ages 5+
A very simple telling of the Easter story, through the eyes of a donkey. This would make a lovely selection as a gift book or for a child to treasure in his collection forever! The paintings are gorgeous and the traditional nature of the story is perfect for this time of year.
First Prayers, A Celebration of Faith and Love by Troy Howell; $12.95; Sterling; Ages 4+
Such a lovely book, perfect for an Easter basket! Included are all sorts of traditional prayers and Psalms, intermixed with beautiful poetry. The illustrations are soft and light, perfect for Springtime, and the simple nature of the text is wonderful, even for your little ones.
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March 19, 2012 at 7:08 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged Ages 3 - 6, Balzer + Bray, book review, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Indie Next, Jon Klassen, Mac Barnett, Marie Lu, Penguin Group USA, Picture Book, read aloud, teen book, Young Adult
In the independent bookstore world, we have something called the Indie Next List, in which booksellers from all over the country submit reviews of the books they’ve been enjoying, which are then published into a newsletter and sent to all the indie bookstores across the country. It’s great word of mouth for both the books and for the store, if someone from your store happens to have one of their reviews featured.
Our staff spends a lot of time submitting reviews for books, because we love to spread the word on ones we loved reading. Here are a couple of our recent reviews that were chosen to be published in the Indie Next Newsletter:
Legend, by Marie Lu; $17.99; Penguin Group USA; Ages 14+
“Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, 15-year-old June is a military prodigy committed to her country. Her complete antithesis is a 15-year-old Day, the country’s most wanted criminal and the prime suspect in the murder of June’s brother. June sets out to capture Day, but, in a shocking turn of events, the teens discover a sinister conspiracy that pits both o them against the government. Filled with action and suspense!”
Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen; $16.99; Balzer + Bray; Ages 3+
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The town where Annabelle lives is a very boring place–a dull gray city where nobody wheres anything colorful at all. One day Annabelle finds a box full of yarn, so she knits herself a sweater. But she finds that she has extra yarn left over. Soon, she is knitting sweaters for everyone and everything (even a pickup truck!) and her town is becoming brighter by the stitch. Somehow, she always has extra yarn!”
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March 12, 2012 at 7:41 am · Filed under Ages 12 - 14, Ages 12 and up, Ages 14 and Up, Booksellers Diary, Events ·Tagged author event, Born Wicked, Cahill Witch Chronicles, Caitlin Kittredge, Iron Codex series, Iron Thorn, Jessica Spotswood, Teen Book Panel, The Unnaturalists, Tiffany Trent
We’re excited to welcome three talented young adult authors to the store as they discuss their own work and the current trends in the teen book world! On Saturday, March 24th, from 3:30-5:30 pm, Caitlin Kittredge, Jessica Spotswood, and Tiffany Trent will be here to answer your most burning questions.
Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge; Ages 14+; Ember (Random House); 17.99 (hardcover)/10.99 (paperback)
At the opening of Caitlin Kittredge’s novel Iron Thorn, the necrovirus is blamed for an epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets of Lovecraft after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical–born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. For Aoife Grayson, time is growing shorter and shorter by the day. Can she prevent fate from catching her in its curse? A fantastic fantasy thriller you won’t want to put down!
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood; Ages 14+; Putnam Publishing Group (Penguin); 17.99 (hardback)
In Jessica Spotswood’s Born Wicked, everyone knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse–they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship, or an early grave. We’re thrilled to welcome DC-gal Jessica back to the store!
The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent; Ages 14+; Simon & Schuster; $16.99 (hardback)
Tiffany Trent’s The Unnaturalists chronicles the story of Vespa Nyx, who wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum. As she gets older, though, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband looms over her. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s–and with the Unnaturals. Pre-order this spine-tingling read (out August 14, 2012) now!
Contact us to reserve your copies of any of these titles! 703.548.4092 or info@hooray4books.com.
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March 9, 2012 at 8:06 am · Filed under Ages 6 - 8, Uncategorized ·Tagged book-to-movie, David A. Carter, Dr. Seuss, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, picture books, pop-up book, Random House Children's Books, The Lorax
Most of us know that the original book was written and published a loooong time ago (1971), but actors Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, and Danny DeVito are breathing new life into the incredibly timely environmental tale. The movie was #1 at the box office last weekend! We hope that most of you have followed the unwritten law of “read the book before you see the movie,” but, if not, we have Lorax books for you!
We have the new, beautiful pop-up book available, featuring 8 full-spread page pops, paired with the Dr. Seuss story and classic illustrations, designed by David Carter. This would not only be a fantastic gift for a fan of Dr. Seuss or a child that loved the movie, but also those that collect pop-up books. It’s a lot of fun!
And, of course, we have plenty of copies of the original story. Be sure to check out our orange spinner for lots of Dr. Seuss books, including The Lorax!
If you’ve seen the movie, let us know what you think…none of us have seen it yet!
The Lorax Pop-Up by Dr. Seuss and David Carter; $29.99; Random House Children’s Books; Ages
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March 7, 2012 at 9:02 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Events, Uncategorized ·Tagged Picture Book, read aloud, Rob Scotton, Secret Agent Splat, Splat the Cat
If you haven’t read the hilarious Splat the Cat series, now’s your chance! We love this mischievous, clumsy black cat and his various adventures, so we’re pretty excited that Splat’s creator, the one and only Rob Scotton, will be at the store on March 20th!
In Splat’s latest installment, Secret Agent Splat (out March 13th), our favorite furry friend sets out to solve the mysterious disappearances of several ducks. Spoiler: hilarity ensues! Little ones will love this delightful new story with all of Splat’s signature verve and energy!
Don’t miss your chance to meet Rob Scotton on Tuesday, March 20th, from 6-8 pm! Call us now to reserve your copy of Secret Agent Splat (or any of Scotton’s other titles)! 703.548.4092
Secret Agent Splat by Rob Scotton; Ages 3-6; HarperCollins; 16.99
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March 5, 2012 at 4:06 pm · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Events, Uncategorized ·Tagged autographed copies, Isabella Girl on the Go, Jennifer Fosberry, My Name is Not Alexander, My Name is Not Isabella, read aloud
Author Jennifer Fosberry is stopping by this week, so we thought we’d give you the heads up! Her newest book, Isabella: Girl on the Go will be on our autograph shelf in honor of the event. Jennifer’s spunky character Isabella has previously starred in My Name is Not Isabella, a companion to Fosberry’s first book, My Name is Not Alexander.
In the first two books, the children imagine themselves as all kinds of famous inventors, artists, and activists, with loving parents to support their desire to make a difference. In Girl on the Go, Isabella imagines herself making a difference all over the world, from defending the Great Wall of China from invaders to lighting the way to America as the Statue of Liberty! Like Fosberry’s other books, Girl on the Go has a glossary at the end with information about and pictures of every place Isabella has “traveled” – making your journey with the spunky adventuress educational AND fun.
Call the store now to reserve a copy of this delightful new picture book!
Isabella: Girl on the Go by Jennifer Fosberry, illus. by Mike Litwin; Ages 3-6; Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; 16.99
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March 2, 2012 at 6:12 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Booksellers Diary, Events, Uncategorized ·Tagged author events, ice skating, It's a Big World, Kristi Yamaguchi, Little Pig!, picture books, read aloud, Tim Bowers
We’re more than a little excited to welcome Olympian and author Kristi Yamaguchi (yes, that Kristi Yamaguchi) to the store on March 10th! She’ll be presenting It’s a Big World, Little Pig!, her second book about Poppy, a little pig with big plans! (The first Poppy book, Dream Big, Little Pig! is on our shelves now.)
Poppy is excited and a little nervous when she is invited to participate in the World Games! Athletes from all over the world will be there to compete. Will she make any friends? Before she leaves, her faithful buddy Emma reminds her that “everyone smiles in the same language!” When Poppy arrives at the World Athlete Village, she quickly learns that Emma is right! A Chinese snowboarder helps her find her way, an Italian skier offers her a spot in the dining hall, and a Japanese figure skater trades valuable fashion know-how with our eager little pig. So when Poppy meets Zoe, a speed skater from Australia who’s nervous and frightened, she’s ready to return the favor. Poppy shares the encouragement she has received from her family and friends: “dream big” and “you go, girl!”
Poppy’s discoveries are great lessons to share with small children about the value of friendship and sportsmanship on and off the rink! And don’t miss your chance to meet Kristi Yamaguchi at Hooray for Books! on Saturday, March 10th at 10:30 am. It’s a Big World, Little Pig! will be released on March 6th, so give us a call to pre-order this delightful story (703-548-4092).
It’s a Big World, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi, illus. by Tim Bowers; Sourcebooks; Ages 3-6; 16.99
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You know we’re big fans of adults who love well crafted young adult novels. We have a book club just for you guys, that’s how great we think you are. So take notice, teens and grownups alike: you’ll want to read this one. Immediately.
