The Bookies Monthly Newsletter

April 2015

So many books, so little time! It's no wonder that sometimes we get so caught up in a book that little things like jobs and sleep seem unimportant. We introduce you to some of our recent favorite reads below - and show you a few reading aids that make the experience even more fun. Find out more about why coloring is a stress buster and why teens should read classics. And scroll right down to the bottom of the newsletter to see this month's best new books in our April All Stars!

Book Launch of Diamonds Are for Never!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 2, 2015, when we'll be hosting author Paul Aertker at the first signing of his brand new book, Diamonds Are for Never, the follow-up to Brainwashed in the Crime Travelers series. We're looking forward to having Paul join us; he's one of the most energetic authors to have around. As well as signing, Paul will read from the book, discuss the power of imagination and the wonder of travel, plus reveal five key secrets of the art of spying. The Crime Travelers series is intended for readers from 4th to 6th grade, but we know of fans in 7th and 8th grade too! We've sold hundreds of copies of Brainwashed, and our number one Paul Aertker fan, Larry, thinks this one is even better - see his review below.

Saturday, May 2, 2015 is also the first national Independent Bookstore Day. Launched in California last year, the initiative was so successful that it's spreading across the country. This day is all about celebrating the wonder, the quirks and the power of your local bookstore. Paul will be the centerpiece of our first celebration, so please come in and support us, your local independent bookstore!

The Last Book That Kept Us Up All Night

Losing yourself in a great book - that's what we're all about. And we were delighted to discover an article that claims that reading books could save your life. Well, that's much more important than cleaning house, sleeping or turning up on time for work, right? Read on to discover a few of the books that have absorbed our time recently!

Shona

I loved Pioneer Girl, an annotated version of the autobiography Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote before her children's books. The autobiography itself is largely familiar as most of it was adapted into the books, but the introduction, photographs and notes by editor Pamela Smith Hill, are detailed and fascinating. I read this over the course of a week, instead of cleaning my house, which is now disgusting.

Robyn

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson definitely kept my attention! It's about a bookseller who starts to dream about a perfect life that seems as real as her everyday one - to the point where she is no longer sure which is which. I couldn't wait to find out which was her dream world and which was reality. This only came out at the start of March and I highly recommend it.

Tracy

I LOVE all of Philippa Gregory's books and devour each one because I am an English Royal and Tudor history buff. I recommend her newest, The King's Curse, about Katherine of Aragon's trials and tribulations during her 20-year marriage to King Henry VIII. It is told through the eyes of Margaret Pole a cousin from the Plantagenet lineage. It's just about to come out in paperback this month.

Larry

While reading The Last Days of George Armstrong Custer by Thom Hatch I rushed home two nights to finish, and delayed sleeping to read and reflect. This title is turning into one that I cannot get out of my mind, months after reading. Hatch's comprehensive look at Custer as a commander causes the reader to question the last 20 years of popular thinking that Custer died at the hands of his own ego and vainglory. Hatch's writing style has a unique balance of description based on research and the vivid narrative of a storyteller.

Ryan

Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne, is an exciting sequel to Monument 14 (YA). An explosion at a chemical weapons facility has turned the Colorado sky to permanent night. People are affected in different ways. Some hallucinate, some suffer burns and some become murderous beasts. The children trapped in a superstore from book one split up, with some attempting to drive their school bus to DIA in the hope of evacuating. I won't spoil the ending, but safety is not an option in a world with no light, and reuniting with friends may be as dangerous as leaving them behind.

Barb

Once I started reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova, I was hooked. And like a lot of people, knowing it was about Alzheimer's, I was a bit nervous about reading it. However, I was buying it for my mom for Christmas - her sister has some form of memory confusion, and I wanted to be sure it would be a pleasant gift. Wow! Written from the point of view of the person living with the disease, it gives amazing insight and hope! Read it! You'll be blessed!

Jessica

I love riding bikes, and so does Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah in his true story: Emmanuel's Dream (for 4th - 8th grade). Born in Ghana with a deformed leg, Emmanuel's determined spirit carries him from an impoverished home to the freedom found in a bicycle. His true story is inspirational, and at times so sad. His life was documented for a film and he continues to this day in his mission: to change society by empowering people with disabilities.

The Pleasure of Reading

If you're staying up all night with a good book, then you need to be comfortable! We've got the perfect accessories for your reading experience. Drop in to check out our bookmarks, mini lights, magnifying glasses, page holders, journals and more!

If you like to keep your books pristine, you'll find some great tips in this article.

Color, Craft, Quizzes and More!

Children love to color, but did you know that it's good for adults too? Coloring focuses a part of the brain that helps to reduce stress, and it can also remind us of childhood - a more relaxed time for most people. Thankfully, you don't need to snatch a coloring book out of a child's hands - there are many beautiful coloring books around that are designed for adults. One of the most popular artists for adult coloring is Joanna Basford, and we constantly sell out of her Secret Garden, so we were delighted to see her new book, Enchanted Forest, which came out in February. Beginning at the entrance to the forest, your coloring journey progresses through woodland, rocky caves and tree-lined mazes, over streams and a waterfall, across the trees tops, to finally reach the castle.

If you like variety, then check out Outside the Lines: An Artists' Coloring Book for Giant Imaginations. This is an amazing collection of illustrations from more than 100 creative masterminds, like Keith Haring, AIKO, Shepard Fairey, Exene Cervenka, Keita Takahashi, Jen Corace, Ryan McGinness, and more. Their edgy and imaginative pieces are ready for you to add your own special touch. No two completed pictures will ever be the same!

Our activity section includes plenty of other other coloring books for both adults and children, and lots of other ways to entertain you. We've got puzzles, brain games, dot-to-dot, mazes, origami, word searches, crosswords, stickers, Sudoku, quizzes, tracing, journaling, doodling and so much more! Here are a few of our favorites.

Doodling is addictive for both adults and children! Doodle Your Day by Anita Wood is full of fun doodling and journaling prompts to keep your brain and pencil busy for an entire year!

Mazes and coloring combine in the ingenious Sneaky Picture Mazes. If you follow the right path through the maze, you will have created a picture. Color in your path to see what you have drawn!

Crosswords are always popular and are a great way to keep your brain active. The New York Times Curious Crosswords by Will Shortz contains puzzles at different levels of difficulty - perfect to suit your mood.

Sticker Dolly Dressing is one of our most popular series for young fashionistas. Every title contains several dolls and hundreds of stickers to combine for unique looks. With Sticker Dolly Dressing Action, you take the dolls out on a fashion adventures!

Classics for Teenagers

The beating heart of any good novel written hundreds of years ago is still the same as today - strong plot and vivid characters. This article from The Guardian explores one teenager's discovery of Jane Eyre and other Victorian literature. Behind the old-fashioned language and social customs that may seem irrelevant to today, lies a world of adventure, populated by fascinating characters that can still grip any reader - even a skeptical teen.

Bring Us Your Books!

They're not for us, though - we've got plenty already! We're supporting EPIC (Executives Partnering to Invest in Children) with a book drive for children across Colorado, from toddlers to teens. Gently used and new books can be put in the box near the entrance of the store.

What We Were Up To in March...

Spending time with authors!

We had the pleasure of spending time with lots of different authors. Polly Holyoke brought her scuba gear to the store for a signing of her middle grade sci-fi fantasy, The Neptune Project. Her new book, The Neptune Challenge, will be out soon! And our picture shows fantasy middle grade author Brandon Mull in action, when we took him on a tour of three Denver schools in one day!

Behind the counter...
This little book intrigues us and we're constantly flicking through the store copy for advice! Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizational consultant with a three-month waiting list, but she shares her wisdom with the rest of us in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. If it her advice can all fit into this tiny book, it must be easy, right? Why not try it and see?

We've been poring over this fascinating poster which has just arrived in the store. It's the first ever map to show where all the Native American nations were located, before contact with outsiders. The map uses the original names that the tribes themselves used. Not only a great educational tool, but an intriguing map for anyone to study.

Safety for Children

Did you know that child abuse is 90% preventable with early education? The Bookies is committed to protecting children and has a section for parents and educators on body safety. We met with author Julie Federico in March to talk about her new book, Some Parts are NOT for Sharing, which helps children to understand what is and is not appropriate. We will be adding this book to our parenting section in time for April, which is Child Abuse Awareness Month. The book is available in English and Spanish - find out more at Julie's website, or pop into the store to take a look.

Coming soon...

On Thursday, April 30th, you'll find us in the library! Sam Gary Branch Library in Stapleton, to be precise. We're teaming up with Denver Public Libraries, local police officers and Platypus Police Squad author Jarrett J. Krosoczka for a community read-aloud program. With readings and activities, this is going to be a huge, fun event for kids aged around 8-12. We're so excited to be taking part, and we're even more excited that publisher, Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins, has given us advance copies of the third book in the series to sell at the event - so if you want to be one of the first to read Last Panda Standing, join us at the Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn Street in Stapleton, between 4:30-5:30p.m. on Thursday, April 30th.

Meanwhile, more authors will be visiting us at the store over the next few months, including local author Nancy Oswald who will be with us on Saturday, April 18th, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nancy is the author of Edward Wynkoop: Soldier and Indian Agent, which recently won a Spur award for Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction.

We'll also be hosting lots of school fundraisers - call us if you would like to find out how The Bookies can help your school!

Storytime!

Join us each Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. for Preschool Storytime. We choose awesome picture books to share with our young readers!

Coming Out This Month - Our April All Stars!

Turtle and Me

by Robie H. Harris, Tor Freeman
$16.99, little bee books
Picture book, ages 4 to 8

This charming picture book details the beautiful friendship between a boy and his plush toy turtle. Over the years, Turtle gets covered in spaghetti, splattered by mud and chewed by a puppy - but the little boy still loves him. Turtle is his security blanket as well as his best friend. A wonderful book about reassurance.

Rook

by Sharon Cameron

$17.99 Scholastic

Young adult - 12 and up

In a post-apocalyptic world, London is the new coastline of the UK and most of Paris has sunk into a crater, splitting into two social stratas in the process. Rebellious Parisians are sentenced to death, but the lucky ones are saved by the mysterious Red Rook - actually Sophia, a young Englishwoman. The hunt to unmask the Red Rook closes in just as Sophia must become engaged to an obnoxious rich young Frenchman, to save her family from penury. But, like her, the Frenchman is not what he seems. This book is packed with swashbuckling excitement and romance!

Review by Shona

The Skunk

by Mac Barnett, Patrick McDonnell
$17.99, Roaring Brook Press

Picture book, ages 4 to 8

It's man vs. skunk in this deadpan picture book from master of the droll story Mac Barnett and Caldecott Honor-winning comic artist Patrick McDonnell. When a man finds a skunk following him the unlikely pair embark on an increasingly frantic chase through the city, from the streets to the opera house to the fairground. What does the skunk want?

None of the Above

by I. W. Gregorio
$17.99, Balzer + Bray
Young adult, ages 14 and up

Kristen Lattimer is a star athlete and Homecoming Queen, with the perfect boyfriend. But when she goes all the way with that perfect boyfriend - she can't. It's the most shocking way to discover that she's intersex . And it gets even worse when the whole school finds out. Everything Kristen was sure about falls apart in this challenging and compelling story which explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

Review by Shona

Wild About Us!

by Karen Beaumont, Janet Stevens

$16.99, HMH Books for Young Readers
Picture book, ages 4 to 8

Warty Warthog may have warts and tusks, but he likes himself that way! Join him as he celebrates all of his animal friends and the attributes that make each one unique. Whether it's Crocodile's toothy grin or Kangaroo's huge feet or Leopard's spottiness, each animal is different. Wouldn't it be dull if all the animals at the zoo-and all the people in the world-looked alike? A joyful picture-book celebration of everything that makes us individuals!

Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination

J. K. Rowling, Joel Holland
$15.00, Little, Brown and Company Self-Help / Personal Growth / Happiness

Very Good Lives presents J.K. Rowling's wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life. How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others? Drawing from her own post-graduate years, Rowling addresses some of life's most important questions with acuity and emotional force. Sales will benefit Lumos, Rowling's charity that works with disadvantaged children, and financial aid at Harvard University.

Diamonds Are for Never

Paul Aertker

Flying Solo Press LLC

Lucas Benes and the teen agents of the New Renaissance are back, thwarting the evil efforts of the so-called Good Company. In this fast-paced action adventure, a container shipment of blood diamonds and elephant tusks must not fall into the wrong hands. The reader will dive into Lucas' past, discover his brilliant birth mother, travel across the world and learn about deeply coded messages.

As with the extremely popular Brainwashed, this book combines excitement, learning, and nonstop action for readers of 11 and up. I am so often asked for a book for a boy who is tired of reading school assignments, who has stopped reading, or who only wants to play computer games. My answer has been Brainwashed, and to that reader I now also wholeheartedly offer, Diamonds Are For Never.

Review by Larry

*Diamonds Are for Never is not yet on our shelves - first copies will be available for sale at its world launch in the store on Saturday, May 2!*

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