Titcomb's Bookshop
June 2012
sandwich boardwalk 2
In This Issue
Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Bargain Books
Upcoming Events
Summer Reading
Staff Reviews and New Releases

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The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

60 Years on the Throne 

 

her majesty Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and Her Court
by Robert Hardman
$27.95

History has known no monarch like her. She has traveled farther than all her predecessors put together and lived longer than any of them. She has known more historic figures than anyone alive from Churchill to Mandela, de Gaulle to Obama.  Now, the distinguished royal writer Robert Hardman has been granted special access to the world of Queen Elizabeth II to produce this enthralling new portrait of one of the most popular pubic figures on earth.

Elizabeth the queen Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith $30.00

In this magisterial new biography, a "New York Times"-bestselling author brings to life one of the world's most fascinating and enigmatic women: Queen Elizabeth II. Compulsively readable and scrupulously researched, "Elizabeth the Queen" illuminates the lively personality, sense of humor, and canny intelligence with which she meets the most demanding work and family obligations.


 
Bargain Books
Have you checked out our bargain books?  We are now featuring some wonderful books at very special prices.  Here are just a few:

master builder bridges
 
master builder skyscraper
Master Builder: Bridges and Skyscrapers Wow!! Here are two great books for budding engineers and architects. Each book has 4 models to punch out and put together. They even have LED lights to decorate the models! Bridges includes the Brooklyn Bridge, Tower Bridge in London, Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Skyscrapers includes the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, Sears Tower and US Bank Tower. Completed models are about 18" - 29"!  Our price $15.99 (originally $29.95)  
 
 
heat
Heat by Mike Lupica.
Mike Lupica is one of the most popular writers of children's sports novels, so we were delighted to find this bargain!
Newly orphaned after escaping from Cuba, Michael Arroyo lives with his 17 year old brother. If Social Services hears of their situation, they will be separated in the foster-care system-or worse, sent back to Cuba. Unfortunately, Michael's pitching skills bring him into the spotlight. His secret world is blown wide open and he discovers that family can come from the most unexpected sources. Our price $5.99 (originally $16.99)

soft simple knits 
Soft + Simple Knits for Little Ones by Heidi Boyd
Cute, cute, cute! There are lots of wonderful projects - hats, scarves, mittens and jumpers. I love the whimsical and clever designs, such as the giraffe sweater, baby top with matching purse, finger puppets, fairy doll, floppy cat and dog and fluffy headbands. For beginners and expert knitters. Our price $8.99 (originally $19.99)
 
statueLet the Fun Begin!

Summer is almost here!  Everyone is getting ready to enjoy long days at the beach, bonfires, cook-outs, summer camp, SandwichFest, Fourth of July celebrations and more.  We have many great author events and wonderful books to help you kick off your summer.  We hope to see you soon!
 

Upcoming Events  
Fenway Park Salute Book Signing with John Powers and Ron Driscoll
Fenway Park: A Salute to the Coolest, Cruelest, Longest Running Major League Baseball Stadium in America
Saturday, June 2nd 3-4pm
What better way to start the summer than to spend time with two wonderful and talented sports writers, John Powers from the Boston Globe and fellow Cape Codder Ron Driscoll and talk about baseball, the Red Sox and Fenway Park?  After all, it's a whole lot better that mowing in the rain this Saturday!  John and Ron have combined their considerable talents to create a beautifully illustrated coffee table book which traces the history of Fenway Park decade by decade through its fascinating 100 year history.  The book includes more than 250 classic and never-before published photographs, a removable poster featuring the rare blueprints of Fenway's historic 1934 renovation and a double gatefold of Fenway's famous Green Monster.  This is a collector's item as well as the perfect gift for any fan of baseball or Boston.  (And don't forget that Father's Day is coming!) Can't attend? Please call us to reserve a signed copy of the book. List Price:  $30.00 Our Price:  $24.00


Knitting Club
Monday, June 4th 1-3pm
Bring your favorite project and enjoy some great company while you work.  No registration. All are welcome! Knitting club takes place the first Monday each month.

a hundred flowers Book Talk and Signing
Gail Tsukiyama
Friday, June 8th 10:00am
Gail Tsukiyama is one of our most beloved authors and we are thrilled to announce that she will be coming back to Titcomb's for a special book talk and signing. Gail is the author of The Samurai's Garden, Women of the Silk and other novels.

Her new novel, A Hundred Flowers, is set in China, 1957. Chairman Mao has declared a new openness in society: "Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend." Many intellectuals fear it is only a trick, and Kai Ying's husband, Sheng, a teacher, has promised not to jeopardize their safety or that of their young son, Tao. But one July morning, just before his sixth birthday, Tao watches helplessly as Sheng is dragged away for writing a letter criticizing the Communist Party and sent to a labor camp for "reeducation."  Kai Ying struggles to hold her small family together, other members of the household must face their own guilty secrets and strive to find peace in a world where the old sense of order is falling.

 

Once again, Tsukiyama brings us a powerfully moving story of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with grace and courage.

A Hundred Flowers will be on sale on August 7, 2012. We will be pre-selling with signed book plates along with many of Gail's other novels. Can't attend? Please call us to reserve a signed copy of the book. List Price: $24.99 Our Price: $19.99

American Icon Men's Book Club
Thursday, June 14th 9:30am
American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company by Bryce G. Hoffman No registration.
A riveting, behind-the-scenes account of the near collapse of the Ford Motor Company, which in 2008 was close to bankruptcy, and CEO Alan Mulally's hard-fought effort and bold plan--including his decision not to take federal bailout money--to bring Ford back from the brink.  $26.00 (our price $20.80)

Book Talk and Signing with Deborah Hill
This is the House
Saturday, June 16th 3-4 pm
Drawing on the memoir of an 18th century mariner, Deborah Hill has spun a wonderful tale of life on Cape Cod after the Revolutionary War.  The story is set in a seafaring town on the north shore of the Cape.  Molly and Elijah Merrick face many obstacles when they set up housekeeping in the village of Rockford.  The challenges of several generations living together, the danger of life at sea and romantic entanglements will hold your attention to the very last page. $17.95 

Butterfly's child Book Club
Tuesday, June 19th 7:00pm
Butterfly's Child by Angela Davis- Gardner  No registration.  All are welcome.
Angela Davis-Gardner will call to discuss this beautiful novel.  When three-year-old Benji is plucked from the security of his home in Nagasaki to live with his American father and stepmother  on their farm in Illinois, the family conceals Benji's true identity as a child born from a liaison between an officer and a geisha--and instead tells everyone that he is an orphan. When the truth surfaces, it will splinter this family's fragile dynamic and send Benji on the journey of a lifetime from Illinois to the Japanese settlements in Denver and San Francisco, then across the ocean to Nagasaki, where he will uncover the truth about his mother's tragic death.  $15.00 

Elizabeth D. Book Signing with Nichole Bernier, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.
Saturday, June 23rd 3-4:00pm
Summer island vacation with her family was supposed to be a restorative time for Kate, who'd lost her close friend Elizabeth in a plane crash. But when she inherits a trunk of Elizabeth's journals, they reveal a woman far different from the cheerful wife and mother Kate thought she knew. The complicated portrait of Elizabeth - her upbringing, her marriage, and journey to motherhood - makes Kate question not just their friendship, but her own deepest beliefs about loyalty and honesty at a moment of uncertainty in her own marriage. When an unfamiliar man's name appears in the pages, Kate realizes the extent of what she didn't know about her friend - including where she was really going when she died.  Available June 5th. List Price: $24.00 (Our Price: $19.20)

Four seas Book Signing and Free Ice Cream Samples with Heather Wysocki
Sunday, June 24th 3-4:00pm
Four Seas Ice Cream: Sailing Through the Sweet History of Cape Cod's Favorite Ice Cream Parlor by Heather Wysocki
For over 75 years, Four Seas Ice Cream, located in Centerville, Massachusetts, has not only been Cape Cod's favorite ice cream shop, it has also been a destination for people from across the nation and the world. Wysocki's book includes the history of Four Seas as well as tidbits about what makes it special from its famous fans to its local high-school employees who come back year after year to work at the tiny, seven-table shop which attracts tens of thousands of customers each summer. Heather and owner of Four Seas, Douglas Warren, will be there with free samples of ice cream too!  Available $19.99

CliffordClifford will be at SandwichFest
Sandwich Fest
Main Street/Jarvis Street Sandwich, MA
Saturday, June 30th 10am - 4pm
SandwichFest is a hometown street fair celebration featuring "The Best Sandwich in Sandwich" contest, live entertainment, a pet contest and parade, numerous vendors, street fair exhibitors, fun and games and much more.  Titcomb's Bookshop is happy to host Clifford, the Big Red Dog at SandwichFest too!  See everyone there! Click here for a schedule of events:  SandwichFest

Long Taters Book Talk and Signing with Ron Anderson Long Taters: A Baseball Biography of George "Boomer" Scott
Saturday, June 30th 3-4:00pm 

When African American first baseman George "Boomer" Scott made his debut in the major leagues in 1966, he took the field for the Boston Red Sox--the last major league team to field a black ballplayer, only seven years before. An eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, a three-time All-Star, and an important member of the Red Sox 1967 Impossible Dream American League Champions, Scott stroked 271 "taters"--a term he coined for home runs that has been memorialized in baseball lexicon. Yet throughout his career, the outspoken player faced an ongoing struggle to gain racial acceptance. This detailed biography chronicles Scott's youth in violently racist Mississippi, his impressive 14-year professional career, and the challenges he faced off the field.  Available now. $29.95 

Summer Reading Is FUN!!!

Summer Bridge
We all know summer is for fun...long days at the beach, fishing, bike riding and camp!  And time, too, to read some good books!
It is also important - and fun! -  to keep young brains active during the summer. We have loads of great books for your child's summer reading needs - mysteries, adventures, fantasy, classics and comedy. Our staff is ready to recommend the right book for your child's reading level.  As usual, if we don't have a book in stock, we can usually have it for you within a few days.
 
Summer Bridge Activities is a great way to reinforce essential skills across the curriculum and help prepare children for the coming school year.  The three sections in this workbook correspond to the three months of traditional summer vacation. Each section begins with a goal-setting activity, a word list, and information for parents about fitness and character development activities located throughout the section. $14.95   

Titcomb's Recommends:  Staff Reviews and New Releases

 

Adult Fiction

Beautiful ruin From Karen:  Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter  This novel is a brilliant story of love which spans over 50 years from Italy to Hollywood. Most of the Italian portion takes place in a tiny village on the coast where young Pasquale dreams of turning his late father's small hotel "The Hotel Adequate View" into a tourist draw that will finally put their tiny village on the map.  One day a beautiful American actress arrives. She has gotten ill during the filming of "Cleopatra" (Richard Burton plays a key role in this novel!)  What happens to these diverse characters as they collide and converge over the course of their lives will keep you reading long into the night.  A brilliantly written novel that is as entertaining as it is unexpectedly literary.  June 12th release date.  $25.95 (our price $20.76)

 

The Chaperone From Elizabeth M.:  The Chaperone by Laura Moriarity

The reader is immediately drawn into this story of Louise Brooks, a feisty, beautiful and haughty silent movie star bound for New York City, and her chaperone, Cora Carlisle.  In 1922 Louise is 15 and has been accepted at the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing.  Her parents are unable to accompany her, so they hire Cora to be her chaperone.  Cora quickly becomes the main character in the book as we learn more of her life growing up on a farm in Kansas.  Cora has her own reasons for wanting to go to New York, but she takes her role as Louise's chaperone very seriously.  Needless to say this is not appreciated by Louise, who is very independent and sure of herself. The five weeks they spend together will transform their lives forever. $26.95 (our price $21.56)

 

bridge of scarlet leaves From Rita:  Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves is a beautifully written World War II love story with plenty of history.  Maddie Kern, an American, elopes with Lane Moritomo, a Japanese-American man and the son of Japanese immigrants.  Days after they elope, Pearl Harbor is bombed and their lives will never the same.  Lane, along with most Japanese people, are seen as the enemy. and are shunned and driven from their homes to relocation camps.  Maddie also faces difficulties as she struggles to live between two cultures.  She is disliked by her own people and not easily accepted by the Japanese, including her in-laws.  This is a great read both for romantics and those who enjoy historical fiction, a book hard to put down, but easy to pick up again.  $15.00

 

wallflower in bloom From Karen:  Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook  "Once you get past the rocky parts, midlife really can rock."  Once again readers have the delicious opportunity to dive into a Claire Cook novel, with her signature laugh out loud perspective of women in midlife. Deirdre Griffin is the personal assistant to her guru star brother, Tag. His aphorisms are famous (see above for a 'Deidre' example). Her life has turned into a 24/7 job promoting her brother's speaking engagements, travel accommodations and facebook and twitter updates. She finally realizes she is not living her own life at all. Drowning her sorrows one night, she uses her brother's huge online following to vote herself onto the TV show  "Dancing with the Stars". Hilarity ensues, as does a realistic view of a woman in mid-life who decides it's time to finally 'get a life'.  Claire Cook manages as always to keep the reader laughing, even as she inspires us to reach higher and live the life we've only imagined!  Available June 5th.  List Price:  $24.99 (Our Price:  19.99)
Body in the boudoir From Elizabeth S.:  The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page
Katherine Hall Page is my favorite mystery author. If you enjoy a cookbook with a little mystery, this is the perfect book to begin Page's "Body in the ..." series. She has written over 15 mysteries in this series. The book takes you back to the 80's and to a fabulous wedding, great menus and of course...a body in the boudoir!  List Price:  $23.99 (Our Price: $19.19)


wife 22 From Elizabeth S.:  Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

After almost 20 years of marriage, Alice takes part in an anonymous online marriage study and gets more than she bargained for. In this Facebook and Google age, Wife 22 is a hit and will have you laughing out loud (LOL!). Gideon writes a love story and family drama that shows us how in our over connected world it is sometimes better to unplug and really connect!  List Price:  $26.00 (Our Price: $20.80)


Maine Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan 
For the Kellehers, Maine is a place where children run in packs, showers are taken outdoors, and old Irish songs are sung around a piano. As three generations of women arrive at the family's beach house, each brings her own hopes and fears. Maggie is thirty-two and pregnant, waiting for the perfect moment to tell her imperfect boyfriend the news; Ann Marie, a Kelleher by marriage, is channeling her domestic frustration into a dollhouse obsession and an ill-advised crush; Kathleen, the black sheep, never wanted to set foot in the cottage again; and Alice, the matriarch at the center of it all, would trade every floorboard for a chance to undo the events of one night, long ago.  $15.95

 

canada Canada by Richard Ford (signed copies available) 

The distinguished modern American master and Pulitzer Prize-winning author returns with this haunting and elemental novel about a 15 year old boy, Dell, who is taken to Canada following the calamity of his parents' robbery and arrest.  Dell struggles under the vast prairie sky to remake himself and define the adults he thought he knew. But his search for grace and peace only moves him nearer to a harrowing collision with an enigmatic and charismatic American whose cool reserve masks a dark and violent nature. List Price:  $27.99  (Our Price:  $22.39)

 

nightwoods pb Nightwoods by Charles Frazier

This is a poignant, gripping story with beautifully drawn characters by Charles Frazier, the acclaimed author of Cold Mountain and Thirteen Moons! Set in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina in the early 1960s, it is the portrait of Luce, a young woman who finds herself taking custody of her murdered sister's troubled young twins. The coming of the children changes everything, cracking open Luce's her solitary life in difficult, hopeful and dangerous ways.  Available June 12th.  $16.00

 

heat wave Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer
After her husband's sudden death, Carley Winsted is determined to keep her two daughters in their beloved home on Nantucket. To ease the family's financial strain, she decides to transform their grand, historic house into a bed-and-breakfast. Not everyone, however, thinks this plan prudent or quite respectable--especially not Carley's mother-in-law. Further complicating a myriad of challenges, a friend forces Carley to keep a secret that, if revealed, will undo families and friendships. And her late husband's former law partner is making Carley confront an array of mixed feelings. Then, during a late-summer heat wave, the lives of Carley and her friends and family will be forever changed in entirely unexpected ways. $15.00

the sense of ending The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes 
This intense novel follows Tony Webster, a middle-aged man, as he contends with a past he never thought much about--until his closest childhood friends return with a vengeance: one of them from the grave, another maddeningly present. Tony thought he left this all behind as he built a life for himself, and his career has provided him with a secure retirement and an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, who now has a family of her own. But when he is presented with a mysterious legacy, he is forced to revise his estimation of his own nature and place in the world.  $14.95

bring up the bodies Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Hilary Mantel's brilliant sequel to the award-winning Wolf Hall tells the story of Anne Boleyn and her trial.  Cromwell, older, tired, with more titles and power, has to get Henry out of another heirless marriage.  Henry is disenchanted with Anne Boleyn. She has failed to give him a son and her sharp intelligence and audacious will alienate his old friends and the noble families of England. When the discarded Katherine dies in exile from the court, Anne stands starkly exposed, the focus of gossip and malice.
At a word from Henry, Thomas Cromwell is ready to bring her down. Over three terrifying weeks, Anne is ensnared in a web of conspiracy, while the demure Jane Seymour stands waiting her turn for the poisoned wedding ring. But Anne and her powerful family will not yield without a ferocious struggle. To defeat the Boleyns, Cromwell must ally with his natural enemies, the papist aristocracy. What price will he pay for Anne's head?  List Price: $28.00  (Our Price:  $22.40)


Non-Fiction

Wild From Molly:  Wild by by Cheryl Strayed  Cheryl Strayed, as she appropriately renames herself, shares her three month long solo trek along the Pacific Crest Trail in this powerful memoir illustrating her self-recovery in the aftermath of her mother's death. Cheryl could have easily told her story focusing on the challenges of living practically broke as she divorces her husband and becomes involved with a drug addict. Instead, Wild is a story of a young women's growth as she struggles to regain normalcy in her turbulent life. An amateur hiker at best, Cheryl's pursuits are humorous, yet poignant, as she navigates the trail feeling immensely alone and unprepared, but oddly comfortable in her isolation. Cheryl's hike is a testimony to what we can accomplish when we have the strength of mind.  She shows us that not all aspects of our lives need to be (or should be) planned.  $25.95

catherine the great From Vicky:  Catherine the Great:  Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie  Robert Massie, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Peter the Great, has written another masterpiece in this biography of Catherine the Great.  I spent a wonderful week totally immersed in her fascinating life story.  This is an extraordinary book - beautifully written, compelling and rich in history and drama.  Honestly, I knew almost nothing about Catherine and 18th century Russian history.  The book was so very readable, however, it drew me in immediately.  An obscure German princess born in 1729, she moved to Russia at the age of 14 to become the future wife of the very troubled 15 year old Grand Duke Peter and went on to become an extraordinary and intelligent leader.  Every character in this book comes vividly to life - the Empress Elizabeth, Voltaire, Potemkin and so many more.  I saw much of the history of the 18th century through Catherine's eyes, including the Enlightenment,  the American Revolution, the French Revolution and so much more.  A fascinating read!
$35.00 (our price $28.00)

eighty dollar Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation by Elizabeth Letts
Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. The recent Dutch immigrant recognized the spark in the eye of the beaten-up nag and bought him for eighty dollars. On Harry's modest farm on Long Island, he ultimately taught Snowman how to fly. Here is the dramatic and inspiring rise to stardom of an unlikely duo. One show at a time, against extraordinary odds and some of the most expensive thoroughbreds alive, the pair climbed to the very top of the sport of show jumping. Their story captured the heart of Cold War-era America--a story of unstoppable hope, inconceivable dreams, and the chance to have it all. They were the longest of all longshots--and their win was the stuff of legend.  $16.00

 

end this depression now End This Depression Now by Paul Krugman 

The Great Recession is more than four years old and counting. Yet, as Paul Krugman points out in this powerful volley, "Nations rich in resources, talent, and knowledge all the ingredients for prosperity and a decent standard of living for all remain in a state of intense pain." How bad have things gotten? How did we get stuck in what now can only be called a depression? And above all, how do we free ourselves? Krugman pursues these questions with his characteristic lucidity and insight. He has a powerful message for anyone who has suffered over these past four years a quick, strong recovery is just one step away, if our leaders can find the "intellectual clarity and political will" to end this depression now. $24.95


Prague Winter Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948 by Madeleine Albright 
Before Madeleine Albright turned twelve, her life was shaken by the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia--the country where she was born--the Battle of Britain, the near total destruction of European Jewry, the Allied victory in World War II, the rise of communism, and the onset of the Cold War.
Albright's experiences, and those of her family, provide a lens through which to view the most tumultuous dozen years in modern history. Drawing on her memory, her parents' written reflections, interviews with contemporaries, and newly available documents, Albright recounts a tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring. Prague Winter is an exploration of the past with timeless dilemmas in mind and, simultaneously, a journey with universal lessons that is intensely personal.  More will be available Tuesday, June 5th.  $29.99

midnight in peking Midnight in Peking by Paul French 

In the last days of old Peking, where anything goes, can a murderer escape justice?  Peking in 1937 is a heady mix of privilege and scandal, opulence and opium dens, rumors and superstition. The Japanese are encircling the city, and the discovery of Pamela Werner's body sends a shiver through already nervous Peking. Is it the work of a madman? One of the ruthless Japanese soldiers now surrounding the city? Or perhaps the dreaded fox spirits? With the suspect list growing and clues sparse, two detectives--one British and one Chinese--race against the clock to solve the crime before the Japanese invade and Peking as they know it is gone forever. Can they find the killer in time, before the Japanese invade?  Historian and China expert Paul French at last uncovers the truth behind this notorious murder, and offers a rare glimpse of the last days of colonial Peking.  $26.00 

 

The ocean of life The Ocean of Life by Callum Roberts

In this vibrant hymn to the sea, Callum Roberts--one of the world's foremost conservation biologists--leads readers on a fascinating tour of mankind's relationship to the sea, from the earliest traces of water on earth to the oceans as we know them today. In the process, Roberts looks at how the taming of the oceans has shaped human civilization and affected marine life.  We have always been fish eaters, from the dawn of civilization, but in the last twenty years we have transformed the oceans beyond recognition. Putting our exploitation of the seas into historical context, Roberts offers a devastating account of the impact of modern fishing techniques, pollution, and climate change, and reveals what it would take to steer the right course while there is still time. $30.00

 

one shot at forever One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard 

In 1971, a small-town high school baseball team from rural Illinois playing with hand-me-down uniforms and peace signs on their hats defied convention and the odds. Led by an English teacher with no coaching experience, the Macon Ironmen emerged from a field of 370 teams to represent the smallest school in Illinois history to make the state final, a distinction that still stands. There, sporting long hair and warming up to Jesus Christ Superstar, the Ironmen would play a dramatic game against a Chicago powerhouse that would change their lives forever.
In this gripping, cinematic narrative, Sports Illustrated writer Chris Ballard tells the story of the team and its coach, Lynn Sweet, a hippie, dreamer, and intellectual who arrived in Macon in 1966, bringing progressive ideas to a town stuck in the Eisenhower era. $24.95  

 

Young Adult

 

Beauty Queens Beauty Queens by Libba Bray 

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner. What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?  $9.99

 

code name varity Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun. When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare.  $16.99 (Ages 14-17) 

 

 

 

Children's Fiction

touch blue Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord

 An exquisite second novel from the Newbery Honor author of RULES! TOUCH BLUE, sure as certain, will touch your heart.
The state of Maine plans to shut down her island's schoolhouse, which would force Tess's family to move to the mainland--and Tess to leave the only home she has ever known. Fortunately, the islanders have a plan too: increase the numbers of students by having several families take in foster children. So now Tess and her family are taking a chance on Aaron, a thirteen-year-old trumpet player who has been bounced from home to home. And Tess needs a plan of her own--and all the luck she can muster. Will Tess's wish come true or will her luck run out?  $6.99 (Ages 9-12) 

 

libby of high hopes Libby of High Hopes by Elise Primavera

Ten-year-old Libby Thump loves two things: her dog Margaret and horses. She dreams about them, draws them all the time, and more than anything she wants to take lessons and learn to ride like a real horsewoman. But when her mother decides to give the lessons to her older sister instead, Libby is beside herself. Libby's mom says Brittany needs the lessons more, to cure her "boy crazy phase"--and she also wants Libby to be "more girly," like Brittany. But Libby just wants to be herself.  With charismatic optimism and determination, Libby hopes she can talk her parents into seeing her perspective. And in the meantime, at least she can visit the stables and see her favorite horse, Princess....   Available June 12th.  $14.99 (Ages 9-12) 

 

dork diaries 

Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess by Rachel Renee Russell

Nikki Maxwell isn't at all surprised to find out that her crush Brandon volunteers at a local animal shelter. He's such a sweet guy--of course he wants to help those adorable puppies! Then Brandon tells her that the shelter is in danger of closing, and Nikki knows she can't let that happen. Especially when she discovers a shocking secret about Brandon that makes keeping that shelter open more important than ever. So Nikki and her friends Chloe and Zoey enter an ice skating competition to help raise money for the shelter, but (big surprise) Mackenzie has to stick her nose in and cause trouble so that she can be the one to swoop in and save the day. No way will Nikki let that happen: She'll just have to come up with some extra creative ideas this time! Available June 5th.  $13.99 (Ages 9-12) 

 

Children's Non-Fiction

 

National Geographic 2013 

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2012 

In true National Geographic style, this book excites young people about their world and everything in it. The "2013 Almanac" is packed with fun information, browsable features, and helpful reference on subjects including animals, technology, countries, presidents, animals, and weather, just for starters. Full color.  $13.99  (Ages 8-13; available June 5) 

 

 

 

Children's Picture Books

 

Homer de groat Homer Cooper Homer

This month, we are featuring two really, really wonderful picture books about dogs published at the same time with the same title: Homer! And we absolutely love them both! Have you ever loved a good, old dog? Then Homer by Elisha Cooper might be the one for you. ($16.99) It is a perfect, sweet story of a day in the life of a much loved and loving old dog, content with his life and his family. Honestly, this book is as good for adults and as it is for children. If you love to laugh out loud - and especially if you are a baseball fan - you'll Homer by Diane DeGroat and Shelly Rotner might be the one for you ($15.99). One night, Homer dreams he is playing baseball with his team, The Doggers.   The book feature a very clever mix of real photographs of dogs, background illustrations and very funny cartoon bubbles for dialogue. Ages 4 and up. 

 

Outer most house childrens

Fo'c'sle:  Henry Beston's "Outermost House" by Nan Parson Rossiter 

Nan Rossiter has created a beautifully illustrated tribute to Henry Beston in this lovely picture book.  In 1928, Beston wrote his Cape Cod nature classic, The Outermost House, after spending a year in his little cottage, the Fo'c'sle, on the dunes of Eastham's Coast Guard Beach. The book became an inspiration for the establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore by John F. Kennedy.  Rossiter tells the story of Beston's year on the beach and his beloved house, the Fo'c'sle.   Excerpts from Beston's writing are included in the book.  This book is perfect for anyone who loves nature and Cape Cod, both children and adults. (Nan will be visiting our bookshop on August 8 from 4-5pm!)  $17.95


squid and octopus Squid and Octopus Friends for Always by Tao Nyeu

A loyal friend makes every day a happy one.  The four tales in this charming picture book show funny moments in the life of best friends Squid and Octopus. Yes, they argue sometimes (about things as silly as whether they should wear mittens or socks to keep their tentacles warm!), but they are always able to cheer each other up in glum times (such as when Squid wakes from the dream of being a superhero and feels disappointed to be plain old Squid again). They are a very lucky duo. As the fortune cookie in the final story says, they will always have a true friend to count on. $16.99 (Available June 5)