From Kathleen: It's A Book by Lane Smith ($12.99) Well, you can imagine in this climate of exploding e-reader sales that maybe a title would come along to remind us and the children we are raising that there is an object that exists called a book. With simple text a Mouse, a Jackass, and a Monkey remind adults about this foreign object that doesn't allow you to scroll down, blog with it, text, tweet, wi-fi etc. And for as much fun as this book is, we would warn people that it might not be suitable for all because of the very last sentence - "it's a book, Jackass."

 

From Kathleen: The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds ($15.00) Insanity, madness and melancholy weave through the rich tapestry of The Quickening Maze. Though the book purports to be a fictional account about the decline of nature poet John Clare, he is only one of many characters in this novel. Doctor Matthew Allen operates this crumbling institution and slowly succumbs to mental illness himself. Alfred Tennyson, who with his brother Septimus are guests at this institution, is unsuccessfully wooed by the doctor's daughter Hannah. And there is Margaret with her divine messages that must be told in order to bring others into the light. Based on true events, the reader is brought into moments of these character's lives at High Beach mental institution in the English countryside. A fascinating and thoughtful portrayal.

From Elizabeth: The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise by Julia Stuart ($24.95, our price $19.96) This absolutely charming novel is set in the Tower of London and is full of eccentric characters, both human and animal! Beefeater Balthazar Jones and his wife, Hebe live in the Tower with their 181 year old tortoise, Mrs. Cook. Jones is selected to be the Keeper of the Royal Menagerie and Hebe works in the Lost Property Office of the London Underground. The addition of so many animals wrecks havoc with the famous ravens at the Tower. I promise the reader a smile on every page and in many cases a chuckle if not out right laughter.  Fans of The Uncommon Reader and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will love this book. You are in for a real treat.

From Elizabeth: The Lonely Phone Booth by Peter Ackerman ($16.95)  It wasn't so long ago that phone booths stood on every corner. This is the story of a phone booth in New York City. It was a busy spot frequented by businessmen, girl scouts, zookeepers, and ballerinas among others. Then one day a phone booth user was seen talking into a "shiny silver object" close to his ear. Slowly but surely the phone booth became a sad and lonely place. After a storm knocked out electrical wires and the cell phone tower it was discovered that the abandoned phone booth still had a working phone and people once again formed a line with coins in their hands. It still stands and you can still see it on the corner of West End Ave. and 100th St. I think it would be worth the trip. Share this delightful picture book with a young reader and talk about the good old days.

From Vicky: The Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus ($15.95)This is a remarkable true story, based, in part, in Massachusetts. In 1841, 14 year old Manjiro and 4 other Japanese fishermen are marooned while fishing off Japan. They are rescued by the crew of an American whaler. Manjiro is curious about his rescuers, learning their language and becoming a valued member of the crew. He also becomes a favorite of the ship's captain.The captain realizes that the 5 fishermen could be killed if they return to Japan, which at that time was a closed society. When he offers to leave them in Hawaii, he also offers Manjiro the opportunity to continue on with the ship and then to live with him in Fairhaven.This is a wonderful adventure and a great true story of how one boy faced living in two cultures. The book even includes copies of Manjiro's own drawings. (For ages 10-14)