Titcomb's Bookshop
May 2016
    Newsletter 
                
432 Route 6A
E. Sandwich, MA 02537

Phone:
508-888-2331

Hours:
Mon-Sat 9-6
Sun 11-5


Visit us online at

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 Newsletter Editor: 
Kathy Colvin

Photographer: 
Karen Huppi Vail

Titcomb's Bookshop
 Best Sellers for April
 1. Georgia by Dawn Tripp
 2. Cocktail Hour Garden by CL Fornari
 3. Between You & Me by Mary Norris
 4. The Sparrow Sisters by Ellen Herrick
 5. Two-State Delusion by Padraic O'Malley
 6. Tin Ticket by Deborah Swiss
 7. The Lively Place by Stephen Kendrick
 8. Sandwich, a Cape Cod Town by R.A.Lovell, Jr.
 9. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
10. As Simple as That by Edie Clark


Meet our Toy Buyer, Ellen Speers!


We would like to introduce you to the newest member of our team, our Toy Buyer, Ellen Speers.  Ellen lives in Sandwich with her husband, John, their ten year old daughter, Kalyn, sixteen year old son Brennan, and an adorable dog, Emma. Ellen's oldest daughter, Tara, attends college in Colorado. 

If you have visited the shop recently, you have seen the big changes in our toy department!  Ellen has brought in some wonderful new lines of toys and her enthusiasm is contagious!  She attended the New York Toy Fair last month with Vicky and had this to say about that experience:

"I had a blast - saw thousands of toy companies and had a chance to meet with so many reps who helped me learn about their toys."

Ellen at the New York Toy Fair with the Irish Fairy Door Company rep.

Ellen's mission is to find unique, quality toys that encourage kids to have fun, learn and keep active.

She is always on the lookout for new toys! While traveling in England last week, Ellen visited the world's largest toy store, Hamley's Toy Shop in London!  Here's a photo she took of Queen Elizabeth made out of LEGOs:



Ellen's Picks: New Toys!
Two Bros Bows!
Three years ago, young brothers Duncan and Hayden started a business making kid-safe bows.  With rubber end caps, shrink-wrapped designs and safety features, these are stylish designs that children can coordinate to take on any archery adventure. Built for distance and accuracy, these bows and arrows are perfect for the aspiring archer. 

 All bows include one companion arrow. Designed for imaginative fun. $19.99 Ages 6+



Quiver bags are made from tough waterproof fabric. Each color band is designed to match the arrows and will easily hold 5 arrows during active play. The band is intentionally left open at the top to store secret correspondence or a quick snack or two for the adventurer on the go. $16.99
 Arrows sold separately. $5.99 each


Take aim with official Two Bros Bows Bullseye Targets. Printed in vibrant color on laminated card stock for hours of play. $3.99


Click here to watch a fun video showing the bows and arrows in action!



Mukikim Mini Flyers!!!



Wow! What an amazing toy! This infrared flying saucer's sensor bounces a signal, so you can juggle it without touching it.
The flyer elevates when it '"feels" a solid surface like your hand, knee, leg, etc., under it.  It's like magic! $19.99  For ages 8+ 

You HAVE to watch this video to see how cool this toy is! We guarantee this will be the most popular birthday gift ever!



Harry Potter News!!
The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

A new Harry Potter book will be released this summer, and this time, it's a little bit different. Set nineteen years after book seven, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II will be the rehearsal script for the play debuting this summer in London. The book will hit the shelves on July 31st -- the evening of the play's debut, and on Harry Potter's birthday. We'll of course (!) be celebrating with a midnight release party on the evening of July 30th.



May Events:
Book Launch Party
Tuesday, May 3 6-8pm
Author Lauren Wolk
Wolf Hollow
Cultural Center of Cape Cod
307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth

Join us at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod to celebrate the launch of Lauren Wolk's absolutely fabulous new book for young people, Wolf Hollow
There will be champagne, refreshments and piano music.  The event is free and open to the public.

Lauren's novel is getting rave reviews - including (a little bird told us...) an extended rave review in the NY Times Book Review section next Sunday!!  

Here's what Sara Pennypacker (Pax) had to say: "The honesty of Wolf Hollow will just about shred your heart, but Annabelle's courage and compassion will restore it to you, fuller than before. This book matters." 

Author and Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park (A Long Walk to Water) said "With an evocative setting, memorable characters, and a searing story, Wolf Hollow has stayed with me long after I closed the book.  It has the feel of an instant classic."

Echoing the tone and themes found in To Kill a Mockingbird and Summer of My German Soldier, this WWII story traces the unlikely friendship between a country girl and a shell-shocked veteran.   

Lauren will offer a reading, and afterward will sign books.  We will supply book available to purchase at the event.  Book price $16.99

Book Talk & Signing
Book Talk & Signing
Marta McDowell

All the Presidents' Gardens
Friday, May 6 2-3pm
Sandwich Public Library




Come hear Marta McDowell (Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life) speak about White House history through the gardens, the presidents, the First Ladies, the gardeners, and the many people who influenced the changes that have occurred over the last 200-plus years. Almost all presidents or their First Ladies put their individual stamps on the grounds. 

All the Presidents' Gardens: Madison's Cabbages to Kennedy's Roses, How the White House Grounds Have Grown with America
includes photographs, line drawings, paintings, maps, and other documents to add to the interesting stories. Short biographies of the 14 head gardeners, a chart of the plants in the gardens, and two bibliographies add to this fascinating work.  $29.95

This event is free and open to the public.


 
 Book Club!
Tuesday, May 17 at 7pm
Between You & Me 

Do you start to fade when you hear about a guide to grammar and punctuation? Well, wake up! Mary Norris's book is lively, personal and laugh-out-loud funny. We're thrilled that Mary will join our discussion via phone for Book Club this month.  

Mary Norris spent more than thirty years in The New Yorker's copy department.  She brings her vast experience and good cheer to help the rest of us in a boisterous language book as full of life as it is of practical advice.
$15.95, book club price $12.76

 SAVE THE DATE: Here is a list of the events we have scheduled so far for this summer! Click on "Save the Date" to print this section out to save. (always check our website or give us a call before you come in case of any changes)
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JUNE:

Wednesday, June 8 at 2pm
Jacqueline Mitchard - Two If By Sea

Sunday, June 12 at 2pm
Cynthia Riggs - 
Bloodroot

Saturday, June 18 at 2pm
Randall Peffer -
Where Divers Dare: The Hunt for the Last U-Boat

Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm
Book Club:
Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo

Wednesday, June 29 at 2pm
Kristen Harnisch - The California Wife

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JULY:

Month of July
Where's Waldo Search Through the Town of Sandwich

Saturday, July 2 at 1pm 
Susan Branch - Martha's Vineyard, Land of Dreams

Tuesday, July 5 at 3pm
Amy Dykens - My Heart Rocks

Thursday, July 7 at 2pm
Cara Black - Murder on the Quai

Sunday, July 10 4pm
Neil Hayward - Lost Among the Birds

Thursday, July 14 at 4pm
Francine Matthews - Death in Rough Waters, Death in the Off-Season (Nantucket mysteries)

Wednesday, July 20 at 2pm 
Nancy Thayer - The Island House

Wednesday, July 27
Richard Russo - Everybody's Fool

Saturday, July 30 at midnight: 
Release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
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AUGUST:

Wednesday, August 3 at 2pm: Christopher Setterlund - In My Footsteps, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket

Thursday, August 4 at 4pm:
Joe Flanagan - Lesser Evils




Emma Ball!!
Do you watch Doc Martin on PBS? If so, don't you love the village where it's filmed? We do, too - and we're so excited to tell you that we now carry charming Emma Ball designs straight from her shop in Cornwall! We are all in love with everything in this lovely line, from cards to gift wrap to magnets, bags, tea cosies, just to name a few, and we know you will be, too - and great for Mother's Day! 


 

 



New Recommended Fiction: 
Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo
From Vicky:  Richard Russo's newest novel, Everybody's Fool, is brilliantly written, so insightful about people in small towns - and laugh out loud funny!!  Read it now and then come to the Sandwich Town Hall on Wednesday, July 27 to meet Richard in person!
Everybody's Fool is a follow up on Russo's third novel, Nobody's Fool.  10 years later, the characters are still the hapless, ne'er-do- wells who bumble through life in the forsaken town of North Bath in upstate New York.  The lovable Doug Raymer takes center stage as the bumbling, well-meaning chief of police, grief-stricken and forlorn since the death of his wife, who was about to leave him for another man when she accidentally died.   Sully is back, too, older but no wiser and hiding his ill health.
One thing makes this novel such a pleasure to read is the absolutely brilliant dialogue and the very human relationships among the characters who inhabit North Bath.
$27.95, our price $22.36

The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church 
From Elizabeth M:  A gripping debut novel about a very bright young woman who follows her dream for an education, but faces challenges when she marries her professor.  His career path takes them to Los Alamos and spans the years before WWII to the present day.  The reader is caught up in the life of Meridian Wallace as she goes to graduate school but creates her own study of birds and continues to dream of becoming an ornithologist.  This will be a sure fire hit with book clubs. $25.95, our price $20.76


The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedre Patrick
From Fran: As many of you may know, we are privileged to receive Advanced Reader's Copies of soon to be released titles. The "ARCs" allow us to read ahead so that we may review and recommend books for you. When I read an ARC I am mentally making a list of customers that I think will enjoy a particular book. I have a fairly long list dancing in my head for The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by "across the pond" author Phaedra Patrick. Arthur, a widower, in the midst of gathering up his late wife's wardrobe for a local charity discovers a gold charm bracelet squirreled away in the toe of a boot. He is puzzled by this and never recalls seeing this bracelet before. Lo and behold he discovers a phone number engraved on one of the charms, a bejeweled elephant. Arthur's quest about Miriam's life pre-Arthur begins long ago in India, and leads him across many countries before arriving back in England. At times he is a bit rattled that perhaps he didn't really know who he was married to for all those years. It is an entertaining and heartwarming journey that Arthur embarks on. Lover's of A Man Called Ove and The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will delight in this widower's adventure. AND about that list in my head........Carol, Lee, Kathy, Alice, Kristen, Mary and Joy you are on it, just to name a few!  $24.99, our price $19.99

Redemption Road by John Hart
From Kathy:
John Hart is one of my favorite authors (Down River, The King of Lies, The Last Child).  It's been five years since his last novel, and Redemption Road was worth the wait! Hart's writing will make you think of Pat Conroy or James Lee Burke.  Redemption Road involves an ex-con Adrian Wall, a man who has suffered in prison and is now a free man, Det. Elizabeth Black, a police officer who has just encountered a terrible trauma and is struggling to cope, fourteen year old Gideon Strange  who wants revenge and answers from the past, and Crybaby Jones, an ancient lawyer with a heart of gold. Hart takes us into a thriller of a mystery through his beautiful and intense writing.  When you finish, you will immediately want to read Hart's earlier books if you haven't already.  I loved it!  $27.99, our price $22.39

Father's Day by Simon Van Booy
From Vicky: I adored this beautifully written, tender story of a young girl named Harvey who is orphaned at age 6. When a dedicated and insightful social worker decides that the best home for Harvey is with her troubled ex-con uncle, the two eventually find healing and love in each other's lives. This is such an incredibly moving story!

$24.99, our price $19.99


La Rose by Louise Erdich - limited number of signed copies!
In this literary masterwork, Louise Erdrich, the bestselling author of the National Book Award-winning The Round House and the Pulitzer Prize nominee The Plague of Doves wields her breathtaking narrative magic in an emotionally haunting contemporary tale of a tragic accident, a demand for justice, and a profound act of atonement with ancient roots in Native American culture.
After Landreaux Iron accidentally shoots and kills his neighbor's 5 year old son, he follows an ancient means of retribution, and gives his own son, LaRose, to the grieving parents.  As the years pass, LaRose becomes the linchpin linking the families, and eventually their mutual pain begins to heal. But when a vengeful man with a long-standing grudge against Landreaux begins raising trouble, hurling accusations of a cover-up the day the boy died, he threatens the tenuous peace that has kept these two fragile families whole.
Inspiring and affecting, LaRose is an unforgettable, dazzling tour de force from one of America s most distinguished literary masters."
From Vicky:  Stunning writing and the amazing story make this a fabulous choice!
Available May 10 $27.99, our price $22.39


The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley
From Karen: For those of us who appreciate a gothic-tinged novel, this one's for you. The author deftly handles the characters and story, slowly draws back the curtain to slowly reveal what happened 40 years previously, when the narrator was a young man who took it upon himself to protect his older mute brother. Their mother is a religious zealot, who is disdainful of the new parish priest, the replacement for a priest who was more in line with her fire and brimstone style of religion, and who died under mysterious circumstances. Their traditional Easter pilgrimage to the bleak Lancashire coastline 40 years ago is when all comes to a head. And the memories of what happened haunts the narrator, while the others move on, because he alone knows the full story. I couldn't put it down.
Available May 10 $25.00, our price $20.00

Bloodroot by Cynthia Riggs
Just in time for that summer trip, Cynthia Riggs and her 92-year-old poet/sleuth Victoria Trumbull will transport readers to beautiful Martha's Vineyard in her latest mystery.
It's just another day at the dentist's office for sympathetic, strong-willed Victoria Trumbull when fellow patient, wealthy Mrs. Wilmington, dies. It's an unfortunate, though seemingly not murderous incident, but the receptionist is hysterical, so one of the dental assistants offers to drive her home. But after making a quick pit stop, he finds her body floating in the harbor. With the police shorthanded due to an upcoming presidential visit, it's up to Victoria to take on
the case. As she wrestles with her ex-son-in-law, a $3 million will, and a deadly dental clinic, Mrs. Trumbull discovers that nothing in the case is quite what it seems.
Bloodroot is the latest in Cynthia Riggs' longstanding Martha's Vineyard mystery series, filled with delightful characters and charming descriptions of the beautiful island.  $25.99, our price $20.79
New Nonfiction:

Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch
Oh my gosh we are IN LOVE with Susan's newest book!!! We know you will devour Susan's story of settling into Martha's Vineyard after the collapse of her marriage (Fairy Tale Girl).  The adorable little house she found and decorated, the neighbors straight out of central casting, and most of all the story of how she came to write The Heart of the Home cookbook is absolutely enchanting. Filled with Susan's wonderful drawings and artwork, Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams is a treasure! (Susan will be joining us at the end of her whirl-wind book tour on July 2 - mark your calendars and come help us welcome her home!) $28.95

Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution
 by Nathaniel Philbrick

No one can tell you about the history you thought you knew quite like Nathaniel Philbrick. (The Heart of the Sea, Bunker Hill, Mayflower) In Valiant Ambition he describes the middle years of the American Revolution, and the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold.  In particular, Philbrick presents a more complete view of Benedict Arnold and his true place in our history. Fascinating!  Available May 10 $30.00


The Matthews Men; Seven Brothers and the War Against Hitler's U-Boats by William Geroux
Daniel James Brown, the author of The Boys in the Boat writes: "Vividly drawn and emotionally gripping, The Matthews Men shines a light on the mostly forgotten but astonishing role the U.S. Merchant Marine played in winning World War II.  It brings back to life a breed of men who repeatedly risk all for their country.  It chronicles the sagas of families that stoically endured heartrending losses.  It honors a community that pulled together to support its sons as they set out again and again on deadly seas.  And it reminds us how much we owe to the leions of ordinary Americans who quite literally saved the civilized world in the 1940s."  $28.00 


The Naturalist by Darrin Lunde
A biography of Theodore Roosevelt focusing on his career as a naturalist, his role as a pioneer for wilderness engagement, and an early advocate for museum building. A wonderful addition to the centennial celebration of our National Parks.  $28.00






A Self-Made Man by Sidney Blumenthal
In the first of a two volume series, author Blumenthal's particular emphasis is on Lincoln's path as a politician. Blumenthal calls Lincoln a professional politician. He was extremely ambitious, and every step he took, particularly his marriage to the politically savvy Mary Todd, was undertaken to satisfy his sense of destiny. His early background of poverty and abuse at the hands of his dictatorial father was at the root of his fierce desire to rise. Blumenthal observes that Lincoln's words, as poetic as they may have been, were chosen for their political impact. In essence, Lincoln always wanted to win. A fascinating perspective during a presidential election cycle. $35.00

American Amnesia by Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson
Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century has this to say about American Amnesia:
"This is a fascinating and much needed book. America once invented universal public education and sharply progressive taxation of income and inherited wealth, and has shown to the world that strong government and efficient markets are complementary, not substitutes. But since 1980, a new wave of anti-government ideology has prospered, and is about to make America more unequal and plutocratic than Europe on the eve of World War I. If you want to understand why this great amnesia occurred, and how it can be reversed, read this book!"  $28.00
New Regional Books:
On Cape Cod by Don Krohn, foreword by Geraldine Brooks
Photographer Don Krohn turns his attention to the place he loves best and calls home. Representing all fifteen of the Cape's towns, this sequence of over 100 color photographs captures the diversity, the range, the landscape, the inhabitant, and the waters of Cape Cod. Even locals will discover something new, while strangers will be seduced into yearning for a visit to our beautiful peninsula. Loosely chronicling the arc of a summer day, and ranging from formal nature studies to breezy journalistic images, these photographs offer a rich visual immersion into a Cape Cod idyll.

Don Krohn and his wife Janis Brennan are co-owners of Main Street Books and the Orleans Whole Food Store.  Available May 12 $29.95


The Natural History of Eastern Massachusetts by Stan Freeman
First published in 1998, The Natural History of Eastern Massachusetts is a comprehensive guide to the nature of the state east of Quabbin Reservoir. This second edition brings all the original material up to date. It contains more than 400 full-color photographs, maps and illustrations. Everything from bears and beavers to snakes and spiders is covered. Learn about the region's geology, its rivers and mountains. Find out how it was formed by the ice age and volcanic activity. Learn about the first human residents. There are charts showing when wildflowers bloom and when butterflies are on the wing. There are checklists of common birds, trees, wildflowers and butterflies. There is also a calendar showing when events in nature happen through the months in the region. $21.95


Wildflowers of New England by Ted Elliman

Wildflowers of New England is for anyone wishing to know the answer to "What's that plant?" Ted Elliman, a plant ecologist for the New England Wild Flower Society, describes and illustrates more than 1,000 species commonly found in all six New England states, including annuals, perennials, and biennials, both native and naturalized. This helpful field guide uses a logical and convenient identification key based on flower color, petal arrangement, and leaf characteristics. One thousand color photographs help to confirm that you've got the right plant. 

$27.95
New in Paperback:

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
If you missed this when it first came out, you will want to pick up the paperback edition. Set two decades after To Kill a Mockingbird,
twenty-six- year-old Jean Louise Finch (Scout) returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town, and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman captures a young woman, and a world, in painful transition out of the illusions of the past.  $15.99

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
How many planes have to crash before people take notice? How often can an unlikely event occur before you have to stop calling it that? How horrible do things have to get before the adults are willing to talk to the children about their fears, their theories, their understanding of it all, rather than just glossing over the details? The legendary Judy Blume sets this adult novel in the 1950s of her youth, when three planes really did crash. The trauma of the multiple plane crashes looms large over the town of Elizabeth, New Jersey and they affect some residents more than others.  In the Unlikely Event is filled with tension and drama, and is a wonderful look at love, at how we respond to trauma, at becoming a grown up, and at living life to the fullest. Available May 3 $15.95


Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
From Elizabeth S:
I love having a series of books to read. Each new installment is like a family reunion with characters you only see once in a while.

After having read all the Mitford books and even plenty of Jan Karon's other books, I was so excited to pick up Come Rain or Come Shine. I felt as if I had watched Dooley and Lace grow up through the series, so it was fantastic to read about how they finally start their new life together as husband and wife. Another great story by Jan Karon!!
 $16.00

Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer
Does anything say "summer" more than a Nancy Thayer novel? Nancy writes so evocatively about Nantucket that we always feel as if we're right there! In this novel, two single parents mistakenly rent the same beach cottage at the same time. Determined to make a great summer for their children, they all decide to share the cottage.  Of course lessons are learned, hearts are broken, and romance blossoms all in the beautiful setting of Nantucket.  Sigh!

Available May 10 $16.00


The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
We can honestly say that we will happily read anything David McCullough writes! His style is so accessible, his subjects become so fascinating with his hand.  The Wright Brothers is no exception!  The setbacks, the hardships, the secrecy when fame was dangling in front of them, the danger, the crashes, the occasional family drama but unwavering devotion - the story never sags. The competition with others trying to get the title of first to truly fly was always part of the story. The initial reluctance of the U.S. to show interest while France was ready to embrace them is interestingly portrayed. You will admire the brilliance of these amateur mechanics as you read and be amazed at the mathematical and scientific ground they covered in their relentless research.  $17.00


Daughters of the Samurai; a Journey from East to West and Back by Janice P. Nimura
Janice P. Nimura tells the story of three young girls, ages 11, 10 and six, whom the Japanese government sent to the United States in 1871, as part of the Westernizing reforms of the Meiji Restoration that transformed Japan in the mid-19th century. The idea was that when they returned to Japan they could teach a generation of Japanese women how to raise enlightened sons.The experiment was set in motion with remarkably little planning.  Nimura brings skillful storytelling and a high degree of cross-cultural awareness to her account of the girls' successful (and often joyous) adaptation to a new culture, their difficulties re-adapting to their own culture when they returned 10 years later, and how the long-term relationships they formed in the United States shaped women's education in Japan.   Available May 17 $16.95

 Children's Picture Books:

All We Know by Linda Ashman and Jane Dyer 
From Vicky:
  Just in time for Mother's Day, this sweet book shows a mother's unconditional love for her child - a love as natural as a seed sprouting, a lamb bleating and a bee making honey.  Absolutely beautifully illustrated by Jane Dyer, whose books are all time Titcomb favorites, such as
Time for Bed, Move Over Rover and Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons.  $17.99




The Sleepy Songbird by Suzanne Barton
Peep awakes one morning to the sound of beautiful birdsong--but where is it coming from?
It's the Dawn Chorus! And Peep wants to sing with them. But despite trying his hardest, Peep realizes he doesn't quite fit in with the other birds in the chorus. Little does Peep know, he's about to meet someone who will show him how special being a nightingale can be . . .
A heartfelt story about finding the beauty in what makes us different, this debut picture book is exceptionally illustrated by exciting new author-illustrator Suzanne Barton.


Old MacDonald Had a Truck
Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a...TRUCK?! With a DIG DIG here and a SCOOP SCOOP there, this classic folk song just got revved up! Beloved machines the excavator, dump truck, bulldozer, and more will have the vehicle-obsessed of all ages reading and singing along.  $16.99
Nonfiction Books for Children:
The Big Book of Bugs

 In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer's colorful illustrations. "  $19.95


Nature's Day: Discover the World of Wonder on Your Doorstep  by Kay Maguire and Danielle Kroll
This first book of nature helps young readers to discover the world of wildlife on their doorstep. Beginning in spring, the book revisits nine different places, including the farm, the back yard, and the woods, during each of the four seasons through the year and explores the changing scenery and animal life found there. Informative and fun text teamed with gorgeous, decorative illustrations make this the perfect book to celebrate each season with.  $24.99


National Geographic Almanac 2017
Packed with incredible photos, tons of fun facts, crafts, activities, and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, and more. New features include highlights on National Geographic Explorers and their amazing projects (plus, ways you can get involved!); a tour of history's most famous sites; an updated "Fun and Games" chapter filled with all-new games, jokes, and comics; an exclusive sneak peek from a National Geographic Kids Chapters book; all new weird-but-true facts, crafts, and activities; a new special "17 Facts for 2017" feature in every chapter; updated reference material, and much more. Available May 10  $14.99


Time for Kids Almanac 2017
The TIME For Kids Almanac 2017 presents current news, notable events and fascinating facts curated from TIME For Kids popular magazine in a fun, interactive and relevant way for today's savvy kids. Organized thematically, the TIME For Kids Almanac 2017 covers Animals and the Environment, Arts and Entertainment, History, Sports, Health and Body, and Science and Technology. This must-have resource for everything kids want to know is packed with over 600 photos, maps, and timelines that will keep readers engaged and learning for hours at a time.  Available May 17    $14.99

Chapter Books:

What Elephants Know by Eric Dinerstein
From Vicky: "My mother is an elephant and my father is an old man with one arm." So begins this absolute gem of a book set in Nepal. It is a masterfully written, poignant story of an orphan boy, Nandu, who finds home and family with the head of an elephant stable. When the king orders the stable to be closed, Nandu must find a want to save it. 
Solidly set in Nepal by an author with a deep knowledge and love of the country, the book reveals much about the country's people, culture and nature. This is a brilliant and unforgettable story filled with action and universal truths about people no matter where they live.  I loved everything about this book - it has all the markings of a classic children's book.
Available May 17   $16.99  (Ages 9-13)

The Trials of Apollo; Book One: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
 The arrival of a new Rick Riordan book is HUGE news!  We're so happy to report that this newest book releases today!!  
How do you punish an immortal? By making him human. 
After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favor. 
But Apollo has many enemies-gods, monsters, and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.  
$19.99  (Ages 9-13)

Brightest Stars of Summer by Leila Howland
The Silver sisters return to Cape Cod in this sequel to The Forget-Me-Not Summer.  Wedding bells are ringing on the Cape! It's summer again, and Marigold, Zinnia, and Lily are heading back to their beloved Pruet to help bride-to-be Aunt Sunny plan her big day. But cake and decorations aren't the only items on the girls' agenda this summer. Marigold can't wait to escape the embarrassment of being cut from one of Hollywood s biggest blockbusters especially after she bragged to all her friends that she was in it. And Zinnie is trying her hardest to write a story good enough to gain her admittance into an elite writing program. She finds unexpected inspiration in Marigold s heartbreak over last summer s crush, Peter Pasque. Zinnie also meets her first boy-who-is-a-friend, a cute kid named Max.
But when it becomes clear that Max has eyes for Marigold, Zinnie can t contain her hurt, and it leads her to betray Marigold in an unthinkable sister crime. Will the Silver sisters be able to overcome their hurt in time to give Sunny what she s already given them: a summer to remember?"   Available May 17 $16.99

Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland 
From Vicky: This is a delightful book about three sisters, ages 12, 11 and 5, who come to Cape Cod to stay with their Great Aunt Sunny while their parents are away on work projects.  I loved the image of Cape Cod as seen through the California girls' eyes.  It's a heartwarming story that shows with warmth and insight the bonds and issues among sisters and family members, and it has a perfect "let's put on a show" ending.  A great summer read especially for any girl who lives on Cape Cod or has visited here. 
paperback available May 17 $6.99  (Ages 9 - 13)

Listen Slowly by Thanhha Lai(pb)
From Vicky: This is a beautifully written story of a 12 year old California girl, Mai, who travels with her father and grandmother back to their family home in Vietnam so that her grandmother can try to find out what happened to her husband who disappeared during the Vietnam War.  Mai finds herself suddenly immersed in a culture she knows only a little about and a language she can hardly speak.  The book is so moving and the people so real and the story both humorous and truly poignant.  A wonderful and very readable look at Vietnamese culture and people and history.
paperback available May 17 $6.99

Waiting for Augusta by Jessica Lawson
From Gail: It's 1972 in Alabama and Ben is an 11 year old who has recently lost his dad. His dad loved golf so much he named Benjamin Hogan Putter after the famous golfer.  But Ben has never taken to golf.  So, while he and his dad didn't quite enjoy the same physical activities, they managed to have the same compassion for life. Ben feels he has to get away from his home town right now, and decides to take his dad (well his ashes anyway) to the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, where he always wanted to go. Ben is joined by a rather mysterious girl on his trip to Georgia and she irritatingly leads him down the wrong track.....many times. But Ben finds he is able to speak with his dad, and finds out what his true right path is, as well as so much they never spoke about when he was alive. There is a good ending you won't be expecting! I didn't, and it's a humdinger! available May 10 $16.99


Teens:  
 
The Crown by Kiera Cass
Prepare to be swept off your feet by The Crown, the eagerly awaited, wonderfully romantic fifth and final book in the Selection series.   Twenty years have passed since America Singer and Prince Maxon fell in love, and their daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own.
Eadlyn didn t think she would find a real partner among the Selection's s thirty-five suitors, let alone true love. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you and now Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more difficult and more important than she ever expected.   Available May 3 $19.99  (Ages 13-17)

The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight
When her best friend Cassie sends her a cryptic note asking for help, Wylie sets out to find her with Jasper, the guy who set Cassie off the rails. As Wylie and Jasper head farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine, Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is really wrong.  Available May 3 $18.99  (Ages 13-17)


In Store Pick-Up!

Don't forget! If you want to be extra sure that a copy of a book mentioned in the newsletter is available when you come to the store, please call us or simply click on the book photo. Use that link to order a copy of the book for "In Store Pick Up". No credit card needed! We will then hold a copy of the book for you. If it's not in the store we can usually have it here in 2-4 days.


Titcomb's Bookshop | 432 Route 6A | PO Box 1045 | East Sandwich | MA | 02537