Story Books
The Learned Owl Book Shop, November 15, 2014

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Kate's Corner




It's hard to believe the snow is here and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We are busy elves at The Learned Owl stocking up on wonderful new titles to ensure you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

This year I'm especially thankful to all the people that go out of their way to shop local and ensure the interesting and unique shops around us continue to thrive. We are so fortunate to live in an area that recognizes the importance of conscious shopping. Whether you are buying books, clothes, food, wine, or toys, when you buy locally over 50% of your purchase goes right back into the community. I believe that is something we can all be thankful for.

Wishing you a relaxing Thanksgiving filled with food, family, and fun!

Happy reading,

- Kate
Coming up at
The Learned Owl

Sat., Nov. 15, Noon-2 PM (at The Owl)
Local author Allan May with The Sly-Fanner Murders.

Sat., Nov. 15, 1-3 PM
(at The Owl)
Akron author Brian Gibson with Extra Innings Book 1: The Diamond Thieves.

Sun., Nov. 16, 2 PM
(at The Owl)
Madeline storytime. Sorry, this event is FULL.

Tues., Nov. 18, 7 PM
(at Hudson High School)
Writer Brad Stone (The Everything Store) presents the keynote speech for Hudson's Global Entrepreneurship Week. For a complete list of the week's events, visit hudsonlibrary.org or explorehudson.com.

Thurs., Nov. 20, 7 PM (location TBA)
Join our Book Club in a Bar as we discuss You Cannoli Die Once with guest author Shelley Costa.

Sat., Nov. 22, 1-3 PM
(at The Owl)
Mary Ellen Bramwell with The Apple of My Eye

Sun., Nov. 23, 2 PM
(at The Owl)
Our History Book Club will be discussing President Warren G. Harding, with guest author S. Joseph Krause (Harding, His Presidency and Love Life Reappraised).

Fri., Nov. 28, 1-3 PM
(at The Owl)
Meet Nancy Christie, author of Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories. (Rescheduled from Nov. 8.)

Fri., Nov. 28, 2-6 PM
Come to Hudson for the Holidays, presented by the members of The Merchants of Hudson and Hudson League for Service.
At The Learned Owl: Sleep in and shop late! From 1-8 PM on Nov. 28, stop in for refreshments and special deals on featured titles. Enter to win your very own Leg Lamp - details at top right.

Sat., Nov. 29, 1-3 PM
(at The Owl)
Author Garnett Kilberg Cohen with Swarm to Glory, her third collection of short stories.
Quick Links
Shop Small

Come out to support your neighborhood on November 29 - Small Business Saturday�! Let us and our fellow Hudson merchants take some of the stress out of your holiday shopping.

At The Learned Owl on Nov. 29, enjoy refreshments and special deals on featured titles - AND enter to win your very own Christmas Story Leg Lamp! ("It's a major award.") Raffle will run Nov. 28 through Dec. 13. Tickets are $1 each or 7 for $5, and The Learned Owl will match your contribution dollar for dollar, with proceeds going to the Hudson Food Pantry. 

Thanks for being a big supporter of small business!
Winter is coming...

Outside Outside by Deirdre Gill
[Harcourt Brace and Company, $16.99]
In this gentle picture book fantasy, a child's world transforms through his hard work, imagination, and persistence when he opens the door and steps outside, into the brave new world of his imagination. Ages 4-8.
Buy the bookBuy the eBook

Blizzard Blizzard by John Rocco
[Disney Press, $17.99; available Nov. 25]
Blizzard is based on John Rocco's childhood experience during the now infamous Blizzard of 1978, which brought fifty-three inches of snow to his town in Rhode Island. Told with a brief text and dynamic illustrations, the book opens with a boy's excitement upon seeing the first snowflake fall outside his classroom window. It ends with the neighborhood's immense relief upon seeing the first snowplow break through on their street. In between, the boy watches his familiar landscape transform into something alien, and readers watch him transform into a hero who puts the needs of others first. John uses an increasing amount of white space in his playful images, which include a gatefold spread of the boy's expedition to the store. This book about the wonder of a winter storm is as delicious as a mug of hot cocoa by the fire on a snowy day. Ages 4-7.
Preorder book

by Rune Brandt Bennicke, illustrated by Jakob Hjort Jensen
[Sky Pony Press, $16.95]
Crow, Pig, and Beaver are taking a nice stroll in the woods when they come across a red hat sitting in a puddle. Whose hat is it? What mysterious circumstances could have brought it to this very puddle? Crow thinks that Bear lost the hat when he fell into a giant hole. Perhaps Bear is holding his breath underground, waiting to be saved! Beaver thinks he's got a better idea. Maybe Turtle, who was wearing the hat, was snatched up and made into yummy turtle soup by a crazed snowman! Can Pig come up with a logical explanation so that the friends can be rid of all these hogwash ideas? Imaginations run wild in this hilarious picture book for ages 3-6.
Buy the bookBuy the eBook

A Bed for Bear A Bed for Bear by Clive McFarland
[HarperCollins, $17.99]
Children will fall in love with Bernard, the sleepy bear with a simple wish. It's time for Bernard to hibernate, but the bear cave is too crowded, too quiet, and too uncomfortable. So Bernard sets out to search the forest for the perfect bed for winter. But all he discovers are spots too windy, too wet, and too wild for him... until he realizes that the perfect bed for a bear was right in front of him all along. With simple text and evocative illustrations, this picture book is a perfect part of any bedtime routine. Ages 4-8.
Buy the book
More new storybooks

by LeVar Burton and Susan Schaefer Bernardo, illustrated by Courtenay Fletcher
[Reading Rainbow, $17.95]
When little Mica Mouse is scared by thunder booming outside her cozy home, Papa Mouse reaches for just the right story to comfort her: The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm. In this poetic book-within-a-book, a happy little rhinoceros is overwhelmed by a storm that sweeps away everything he loves. Swallowing the storm just makes him feel worse, so Rhino sets off on a whimsical journey toward healing. Along the way, he meets many friends, including a kind spider, a brave kangaroo, a wise tortoise, and an uplifting whale. With their help, Rhino lets go of the storm inside and learns to see the light in a world turned gray. Mica Mouse is soothed by the story and Papa's gentle reminder that even though bad things sometimes happen, the world is full of people who care. 
In his first children's book, longtime Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton gives us an engaging resource to help children express their feelings and navigate through difficult experiences. The "Take a Deeper Look" page at the end of the book provides discussion questions to facilitate a healing dialogue. For ages 4-7.
Buy the book

by Nancy Rose
[Little, Brown, $17.00]
You may think you know what squirrels do all day... but Mr. Peanuts is no ordinary squirrel. Instead of climbing trees, he plays the piano ("Moonlight Sonutta" is his favorite). Instead of scurrying through the woods, he reads books (such as "A Tail of Two Cities"). But everything is more fun with company, so Mr. Peanuts writes a letter to Cousin Squirrel and invites him for a visit!
Featuring candid photographs of wild squirrels in handcrafted, homemade miniature settings, this irresistible book is sure to surprise and delight readers and animal lovers! For ages 3-6.
Buy the bookBuy the eBook

The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie by Chris Van Allsburg
[Harcourt Brace and Company, $18.99]
From the creator of Jumanji and The Polar Express comes a poignant story of one hamster's struggle with destiny. Being a pet store hamster isn't much fun for Sweetie Pie, but life in human homes proves downright perilous. As Sweetie Pie longingly gazes out of his cage at the squirrels frolicking in the trees, he wonders if he'll ever have the chance to feel the wind in his fur. Van Allsburg's expressive, soft-hued illustrations artfully capture a hamster's-eye view of the wide and wonderful world where maybe, just maybe, Sweetie Pie could someday run free. Ages 4-8.
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A letter from a friend

A Letter for Leo A Letter for Leo by Sergio Ruzzier
[Clarion Books, $16.95]
Leo, a mailman, takes in a small bird, Cheep, who missed the autumn migration of his flock. When spring comes and Cheep moves on, Leo is sad to see him go, but he also has hope, and the letter he has been longing for finally arrives. Sergio Ruzzier's signature, slightly surreal animal characters and the setting, rendered in brilliant colors, make this simple, eloquent story a visual treat for the very young. Ages 2-5.
Buy the bookBuy the eBook

Herman's Letter Herman's Letter by Tom Percival
[Bloomsbury USA, $17.99]
Herman the bear and Henry the raccoon are best friends. But Henry's moving far, far away! So what do they do? Promise to write each other all the time and stay best friends forever, that's what. But being pen-pals is easier said than done, especially when your best friend seems to be having way more fun than you are... Filled with interactive lift-the-flaps and great read-aloud potential, this heartwarming friendship story is an ideal pick for a cold night's storytime. Ages 4-8.
Buy the bookBuy the eBook
Thanks for supporting The Learned Owl Book Shop. Happy reading!