Posts Tagged Random House
October 5, 2012 at 2:18 pm · Filed under Ages 3 - 6 ·Tagged Alfred A. Knopf, hand-me-downs, Hooray for Books, I like old clothes, Mary Ann Hoberman, Patrice Barton, Picture Book, Random House
Are you the youngest? The youngest sibling, cousin, friend? Well then you know very well that hand-me-downs have a story, a history, some carry a novel within them. You didn’t know that? Well then maybe this book will change your mind. All old clothes have been somewhere else before and withstood many adventures. In Mary Ann Hoberman‘s story, a brother and sister have fun imagining the adventures these clothes have been on, imagining adventures for them to have, and also imagining who will have the clothes next. Do you still think that your hand-me-downs are boring?
Not only do the clothes in this book have a story, but so does the story itself. Mary Ann Hoberman originally published I Like Old Clothes in 1976 with different artwork. Now, Patrice Barton‘s illustrations bring a new life to the story, showing different styles and fun in the clothes.
I Like Old Clothes by Mary Ann Hoberman; illustrated by Patrice Barton; Alfred A. Knopf; hardcover;$16.99; ages 3-6
Happy Reading,
Maryam
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September 19, 2012 at 6:10 am · Filed under Ages 10 - 12 ·Tagged 5th grade and up, ages 10-12, chapter books, Hooray for Books, Liar & Spy, middle school, Newberry, Random House, Rebecca Stead, When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead might just be gearing up to win yet another Newbery Award. Her new story follows seventh grader Georges, named after Georges Seurat (or as he pronounces it: Sir Ott). When his father loses his job, the whole family has to move from their house into an apartment down the street. Georges quickly meets Safer, a 12-year-old with an eccentric view of life, who enjoys all things spy-related and being quite mysterious himself. The boys have met at the right time, for Georges, a friend is greatly needed among the bullying at school and his mom working extra shifts at work, and for Safer, he could really use another spy to help him track the mysterious Mr. X who always wears black and carries suitcases in and out of the building at odd hours.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Rebecca Stead has created a middle schooler than most can relate to. He’s living for Fridays when he’s at school, like most kids (and adults!) I love Safer’s family, from the kids having named themselves (in a way) to each of their different personalities. Safer’s little sister Candy especially had me laughing; I loved her extensive knowledge of when and where to buy different types of candy in New York City. And I couldn’t help but think that she would love The Sugar Cube here in Old Town. I would recommend this book to anyone 5th grade and up; I even handed it to my 13-year-old brother when I was done reading it.
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead; hardcover; Random House; $15.99; ages 10+
Happy reading,
Maryam
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September 7, 2012 at 6:32 am · Filed under Adult fiction and non-fiction ·Tagged adult fiction, grownup books, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Rachel Joyce, Random House, the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry
Harold Fr
y and his wife Maureen live in a quaint English village. Harold is recently retired and not quite sure what to do with himself, but appears to be somewhat content with his life. Maureen, on the other hand, is a cold woman, easily irritated with her husband and quite obsessed with cleaning the house. You can instantly tell they do not have a typical marriage (and the house cleaning is a bit comical, tinged with a more than a bit of sadness).
When the mail arrives one afternoon, Harold receives a letter from his former coworker, Queenie, stating that she is dying of cancer. Not quite sure what to say to Queenie, a woman he hasn’t heard from in years, he manages to write out a quick note and plans to walk down to the post office box and deliver it. Instead, Harold keeps walking. He decides to walk all the way to her hospice facility, hundreds of miles away, in a pair of boating shoes, and without any supplies. This is the story of Harold’s walk to Queenie.
I loved the entire idea of the novel and the description reminded me a bit of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, a book several of us here at the store were totally charmed by last year. Harold is an incredibly likeable character and you want him to make it to Queenie, so badly, even though you aren’t quite sure why. You only slowly learn Queenie’s part of the story as Harold walks.
Harold becomes a media sensation — walking across the English countryside as he is — never knowing if Queenie is still waiting for him to arrive or if she has passed away. He meets incredible characters along the way, each interesting and inspiring in their own way. Every time it seems like he should just give up, the right person comes along to convince him otherwise.
Maureen was the most complex of the characters and I found her journey my favorite part of the book. Her husband just walks out of the house one day and decides to walk to another woman, making Maureen’s life instantly more complicated, as well. She is a hard woman, but you can slowly see her interior emotions breaking through as the story progresses, and it’s her breakthroughs that I kept looking forward to the most.
This was an utterly charming story and perfect to gift to those hard-to-buy-for friends and family. There is so much to like about Harold’s story that everyone could learn a thing or two from him. It’s quirky, inspirational, and a wonderful read.
-Amanda
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce; $25.00; Random House.
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August 27, 2012 at 7:29 am · Filed under Booksellers Diary ·Tagged Crockett Johnson, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Landmark biographies, library, new reader, Random House
When I asked everyone to remember their learning-to-read experience, staffer Leah said, “there was a time I didn’t know how to read?,” and it sure is hard to believe, when you’ve pored through thousands of books, that there was a time when you had to sound out “b-o-o-k.” Yet there was a time when all of us had to learn to read, or when someone had to read books to us, and we book-lovers look to those memories fondly.
Hooray for Books! owners Ellen and Trish have spent a lot of time around books: reading books, reviewing books, and handing their favorites to young readers here at the store. When asked to share their favorite beginning reading story, it was tough to pick out just one especially with all their favorite books and book memories. They were eventually able to narrow it down and share a story for all new and old readers.
Ellen remembers being read to in her kindergarten class. Everyone probably remembers their teacher asking the class to gather around for the daily picture book reading. Her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Galbraith, used to read Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson to the class. Ellen one day realized that, even though Harold was a made-up character, he was creating a marvelous and amazing world and adventure. Ellen says this was “the moment when the book literally came alive for me.” I’m sure she didn’t mean the pun when describing the book, but if any picture book were to “come alive”, Harold is perfect.
Trish remembers moving to the D.C. area from Tennessee in the 2nd grade and discovering Landmark Biographies. She would go to pick out a new biography every week at her school library. Like many of us, Trish swears that even though she must have learned how to read, it’s more likely that she had just always known how, because she does not remember where or when she started to read! While most of the Landmark Biographies have gone out of print, we still have some of them (as well as other biographies from other series) here in the store.
Whether it’s being read to you or you’re reading it on your own for the first (or 100th) time: happy reading,
Maryam
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August 17, 2012 at 7:10 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6 ·Tagged children's books, dog books, Hooray for Books, How Rocket Learned to Read, kindergarten, Random House, rocket writes a story, Tad Hills, zorro gets an outfit
Rocket is using his knowledge from when he learned to read to piece together his very own story. Rocket finds words everywhere, from the world around him, and from his teacher, the yellow bird. When Rocket gathers together enough words, he tries to to write down his story, yet nothing is inspiring him like the books he reads. When his walks keep taking him to a tall pine tree with an empty nest on its tallest branch, Rocket finds the inspiration he was looking for, as well as an unlikely new friend and reader.
This book is great for kindergartners or 1st graders who are beginning to write stories of their own, especially if they’re having trouble finding their inspiration! Rocket teaches that inspiration can come from anywhere when you least expect it.
Happy Reading!
-Maryam
Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills; Random House; hardcover
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August 1, 2012 at 5:15 am · Filed under Ages 10 and up ·Tagged 10 and up, book review, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, R.J. Palacio, Random House, Random House Children's Books, Wonder
Auggie Pullman was born with a severe facial deformity and has always been homeschooled, because of all the surgeries and medical problems that have come along. This year, Auggie and his parents have decided it’s time to give school, with actual teachers and students, a try. Despite Auggie’s fear of how people will see him, he heads into school and succeeds in the most 
Wonder chronicles Auggie’s entire first year at school, from the point of view of several different characters. The reader is able to hear from several of Auggie’s classmates, his sister, his sister’s boyfriend, and others, including Auggie himself. The chapters are short and the writing is both uplifting and totally inspiring.
Friends, this book is amazing. One that every single one of you reading this blog must get a copy of right away. It’s one of the most honest, powerful books I’ve ever read, while still being completely enjoyable. I laughed, cried, and got angry…all of the emotions I believe the author wanted us to feel.
Auggie is a character that will stick with you for a long time. I know I’m still thinking about him.
-Amanda
Wonder by R.J. Palacio; $15.99; Random House Children’s Books; Ages 10+
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April 18, 2012 at 11:18 am · Filed under Ages 10 - 12 ·Tagged 10 and up, book review, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Italian-American families, Jennifer Holm, newbery, Random House
Jennifer Holm is the author of several award winning books, but Penny from Heaven is my favorite. It’s lovely book about a boisterous Italian family, an overprotective mother, and a girl longing to stay young for a little longer.
Penny, a half-Italian girl living with her mother and grandparents in New Jersey, longs to know more about what happened to her father. Her died when she was very young and her mother never speaks of him. The only time Penny is able to hear his name mentioned is when she is over at her Italian grandparents house, where her myriad of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins never fail to talk about her dad. Penny loves spending time in this boisterous household where food is always delicious and life is never dull!
Set in the 1950′s, this book is about so much more than just the problems a family goes through. It has exciting baseball games, friendships, and a mystery of buried treasure. The characters are incredibly real and lovable (my favorite was Uncle Dominic). A true gem!
Find it in our Newbery section!
Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Holm; $6.99; Random House Books for Children; Ages 10+
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January 25, 2012 at 8:41 pm · Filed under Ages 12 and up ·Tagged Ages 12 and up, book review, Finding Somewhere, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, horse story, Joseph Monninger, Random House, Random House Books for Young Readers, teen book, Young Adult
Hattie loves horses. She’s grown up around them and now works at a stable in her free time and feels completely alive while she’s there, especially when spending time with her favorite horse, Speed. When the owners of the stable decide that the elderly horse needs to be put down, Hattie knows she can’t allow that to happen.
Hattie and her best friend Delores, set off on one unique road trip. Mission? Set Speed free and allow him to be a real horse for whatever time he has left. They meet several different people along the way, horse lovers themselves, each taking a place in Speed’s ultimate story and in the girl’s lives.
Not simply a horse story, each of these girls are dealing with some serious personal demons, adding to the reasons that neither were sad to leave home. Those “issues” are blended seamlessly into the road trip/horse plot and leaves the reader loving both girls and wanting to see them both succeed in what they set out for.
This is a great book to hand to horse lovers that have outgrown some of the books written for younger readers. Also a great choice for a reader that loves a good character-driven novel.
Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger; $17.99; Random House Books for Young Readers; Ages 12+
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January 1, 2012 at 4:58 pm · Filed under Adult fiction and non-fiction, Ages 10 and up, Ages 3 - 6, Booksellers Diary ·Tagged 10 and up, adult fiction, Ages 3 - 6, ages 8-10, Bigger Than a Bread Box, Conference of Birds, Erin Morgenstern, Helen Oxenbury, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, King Jack and the Dragon, Knopf, Laurel Snyder, Night Circus, Penguin Pubishing Group, Peter Bently, Peter Sis, picture books, Random House
Trish read tons of books this year (as every great bookstore owner should), but a few are new favorites! These are her top picks for 2011:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern; $26.95; Knopf; Adult Fiction
The Conference of the Birds by Peter Sis; $27.95; Penguin Publishing Group; Adult Fiction
Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder; $16.99; Random House Children’s Publishing; ages 8+
King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently; $17.99; Penguin Publishing Group; ages 3+
Trish has a lot more titles that she loves, so be sure to ask her about them the next time you’re in the store. She’ll be happy to help you find the perfect gift or a great read for yourself!
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December 30, 2011 at 8:43 am · Filed under Ages 10 and up, Ages 3 - 6, Booksellers Diary ·Tagged 10 and up, Ages 3 - 6, Chronicle Books, Dead End in Norvelt, Farrar Straus Giroux, Herve Tullet, Hooray For Books Children's Bookstore, Jack Gantos, Julia Sarcone-Roach, picture books, Press Here, Random House, Subway Story
More favorites from our booksellers! Megan N. loved lots of books this year, but these three stood out to her:
Press Here by Herve Tullet; Chronicle Books; $14.99; ages 3+
Subway Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach; Random House Publishing; $16.99; ages 3+
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos; Farrar, Straus, & Giroux; $15.99; ages 10+
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Are you the youngest? The youngest sibling, cousin, friend? Well then you know very well that hand-me-downs have a story, a history, some carry a novel within them. You didn’t know that? Well then maybe this book will change your mind. All old clothes have been somewhere else before and withstood many adventures. In Mary Ann Hoberman‘s story, a brother and sister have fun imagining the adventures these clothes have been on, imagining adventures for them to have, and also imagining who will have the clothes next. Do you still think that your hand-me-downs are boring?
