The Bookies Monthly Newsletter

August 2015

Keep Summer Rolling!

It's students' last chance to get to the end of those school book lists! Or to relax with a new read for the end of summer. And we can't forget the teachers, many of whom are already back at work. Teachers, we have lots of new books and educational aids for you - as well as old favorites. For anyone who is super organized, we already have a couple of book suggestions for Christmas. And scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter, where you'll find our pick of the new August publications!

Last of the Summer Reading

We know that some kids love to leave their summer reading until the very last minute. Our kids certainly seem to! If your student needs to catch up, we have plenty of copies of the most popular books from school reading lists this summer. The display tables at the front of the store are packed with ideas for warm weather entertainment!

Looking further ahead to the end of summer (ssshhh, don't tell the kids), check out our great back-to-school supplies, including colored pencils, markers, diaries, craft sets and a range of super-cute lunch bags and backpacks for younger children.

New for Teachers

Going back to school isn't just for students - it's for teachers too. And we're introducing some great new books and classroom items, in time for the beginning of the school year. The books shown above are brand new publications from teaching's most admired writers.

Doing Language Arts in Morning Meeting: 150 Quick Activities That Connect to Your Curriculum by Jodie Luongo, Joan Riordan and Kate Umstatter was published in February of this year and is a welcome addition to the series, which also includes Doing Science in Morning Meeting by Lara Webb and Margaret Wilson and Doing Math in Morning Meeting by Andy Dousis. All these books feature, you guessed it, 150 quick activities, suitable not only for morning meetings, but any time you need a fast and engaging activity for your students. The activities need no, or very few, materials, can be adapted for all grades, and are Common Core linked.

The Nonfiction Now Lesson Bank, Grades 4-8: Strategies and Routines for Higher-Level Comprehension in the Content Areas by Nancy L. Akhavan, is a practical text that shows how to teach content-area reading and includes 50 lessons, a bank of informational texts and practice activities for students in grades 4-8.

The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers by Jennifer Serravallo came out in June of this year and includes 300 strategies for developing great readers. Each strategy is cross-linked to skills, genres, and Fountas & Pinnell reading levels to give you just-right teaching. This book promises to help your readers in grades K-8 progress every day!

Let's Talk by local teacher/writer Mark Overmeyer also came out in February of this year. Designed for teachers of elementary and middle school students, this book shows how classroom talk benefits literacy students, whether it be one to one with teachers or another student, in groups or as a whole class.

Inside Information: Developing Powerful Readers and Writers of Informational Text Through Project-Based Instruction by Nell Duke has newly arrived on our shelves. This book draws on the latest research on how to use project-based instruction to develop skills in reading and writing informational text. Using effective and engaging topics can make all the difference to elementary students, and this book shows the stages you can guide them through to help them succeed. Clearly aligned to Common Core standards.

All these are on our shelves now. If you find they are out of stock when you want them, we will gladly reorder.

We also offer many items to help you make your classroom a bright and cheerful place for your students. Of course, we have the traditional items like times tables posters, calendars and maps. But new in this year are these wonderful 'blackboard' style posters, featuring inspirational and practical messages. Perfect for a new classroom!

Welcome to The Bookies' New Author Showcase!

We love to support local authors, like Paul Aertker (pictured) and we've cheered many of them on to ever greater success. This has inspired us to help out more. Starting in September, we are launching a series of New Author Showcases, designed specifically for local authors who are finding their audience.

Our first showcase is set for Saturday, September 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It's your chance to meet new authors and talk to them about their writing and their lives. We will have signed copies of their books for sale (with our usual Bookies discounts, of course).

We're planning to hold these showcases quarterly, so please keep an eye out on Facebook, our website and this newsletter for future dates!

Amazing Illustrated Books For Christmas!

Recently, we were lucky enough to see a partial preview edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition from Scholastic Press. This stunning book is packed with full-color illustrations by Jim Kay, a Kate Greenaway-award-winning artist, who was chosen by J. K. Rowling herself to illustrate her work. This book is a must-have for dedicated fans, and a wonderful way to introduce children to the series. After seeing the preview, one of our Bookies commented, "Christmas sorted", thinking of her many nieces and nephews! The book will not be on shelves until the first week of October and demand for this beautiful production is anticipated to be very high - so if you would like to secure one, or more, in advance (and sort out your Christmas) please order now on (303) 759-1117 or at our website.

Another upcoming Scholastic title that we're very excited about is Brian Selznick's The Marvels. Selznick's intricately planned books consist of separate sections that tell a story in illustration and words. The Bookies who have been lucky enough to read a preview copy of The Marvels refuse to give us many details, other that in this case the two stories initially seem disconnected, until Selznick brings them together in the most brilliant way that you will never see coming! This is a wonderful book, filled with mystery, vibrant characters, surprise twists and heartrending beauty, as well as Selznick's most arresting art to date. This beautiful book would also make a wonderful Christmas present and it will be on our shelves in mid-September.

What We Were Up To in July...
Postcard Craft

Preston Driggers from the Denver Postcard Club dropped into the store and chatted with some of our staff about postcard collecting and craft. Postcard craft is a growing field, with crafters using older postcards not just in collages and scrapbooking, but also to create place mats, ornaments and even new postcards. The Club is interested in hearing from anybody who is using postcards in craft - especially anyone who might be interested in talking at a panel on crafts and the use of older postcards. You can contact Preston at prestonfd@msn.com

Thank You

We were delighted to be featured on the about travel website as one of Denver's Top 5 Bookstores! We've had a number of visitors from out of state over the summer, including one family who told us that they stop off every year on their long vacation car ride from California and stock up on goodies to keep the kids entertained!

Coming Up in August!
Yogi and Author Visit

Drop in on Saturday, August 15 between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to meet local author, Don Morreale. Don is the author of three books, the latest of which is the intriguingly titled Cowboys, Yogis, and One-Legged Ski Bums: The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Coloradans. Find out more about Don at his web site, or come in for a chat on the day.

Overcoming Childhood Fears

We're looking forward to Saturday, August 22 at 10:30 a.m. when we will host a very special book event for local authors Josh Nathan and Linda Nathan. Josh is a professor of Speech and Critical Thinking at The Art Institute of Colorado and Linda, his mother, is a recently retired Speech-Language Pathologist. The Nathans have combined their expertise to write Too Mad to Trust, a picture book to help parents and children understand trust, friendship and how to face fears. Illustrated with beautiful water color paintings by Robin Mosler, the book is suitable for ages 5-9.

Special Musical Storytime!

Looking ahead to September, on Tuesday, September 8th, we'll be hosting a special musical storytime, presented by Danny Tieger, currently appearing as Michael Wormwood in the nationwide tour of Matilda the Musical. Danny is an actor, songwriter, improvisor, teacher, and writer - find out more about Danny and his new book, I Am Your Songwriting Journal, at his website.

***And keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for news about the songwriting workshops Danny will be running for us in September! More details in our next newsletter!***

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 August Aces!

Goodbye Stranger

by Rebecca Stead

$16.99, Wendy Lamb Books

Fiction, ages 10 and up

Friendships stretch and fracture in this beautiful book, centered on a close group of seventh graders in New York. Bridge and her friends discover the strength of friendship and knowing when to fight to maintain it, and when to accept that it's irreparably broken and gracefully let it go. A perfect book for middle grades, particularly for girls.

Review by Shona

The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street

By Susan Jane Gilman

$15.00, Grand Central Publishing

Fiction, Adult

Just out in paperback, this Jewish immigrant story covers American culture from around 1913 to 1957. It charts the rise and fall of a Leona Heimsley-like character who goes from a tough beginning to become the celebrity queen of the ice cream industry - until she falls, with a huge bang. The writing is totally engaging, visual, well-paced and full of unforgettable characters. This is a good lighter read that also had me thinking about about celebrity, and the America I recall from younger years. A great summer read. On our shelves now.

Review by Larry

A Night Divided

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

$16.99, Scholastic Press

Fiction, ages 8-12

In one word, terrific! This is a great historical fiction for readers of age 12 to about 100. An excellent description of Communist East Germany and in particular East Berlin as the Wall goes up dividing a family. A young girl, brother and mother tunnel their way out to the West. Great picture of living with the fear and distrust that was part of East Berlin.One of the best books I've read so far this year. Teachers, if you want a book on the Cold War period, do not overlook this title. Coming out in late August.

Review by Larry

Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories

By RJ Palacio

Knopf Books for Young Readers, $16.99

Fiction, ages 8-12

Over two million people have read the #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. E-book readers have able to enjoy three additional stories offering a special look at Auggie's world through new points of view. Now these stories have been brought together, complete with an introduction from the author. These stories offer an extra peek at Auggie before he started at Beecher Prep and during his first year there. Readers get to see him through the eyes of Julian, the bully; Christopher, Auggie's oldest friend; and Charlotte, Auggie's new friend at school. Together, these three stories are a treasure for readers who don't want to leave Auggie behind when they finish Wonder. Available mid-August.

The Accident Season
By Moira Fowley-Doyle
$17.99, Kathy Dawson Books
Fiction, YA

A haunting story of fear and curses, wrapped in mystery and romance. Every year, Cara and her family dread October, because in that month they suddenly become accident-prone. It's not just bumps and bruises - the worst was the year her father died. Every year danger lurks throughout October and Cara's ex-stepbrother Sam and her best friend Bea can't protect her. But there's more to the accident season that Cara knows. And this year she'll find out what lies behind the cuts and shattered bones. Suggested for fans of We Were Liars and How I Live Now, as well as anyone who enjoys dark dramas. Out in mid August.

Review by Shona

Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes
By Rick Riordan, John Rocco
$24.99, Disney-Hyperion
Myths, Ages 8-12

Who cut off Medusa's head? Who was raised by a she-bear? Who tamed Pegasus? It takes a demigod to know, and Percy Jackson can fill you in on the all the daring deeds of Perseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, and the rest of the major Greek heroes. Told in the funny, irreverent style readers have come to expect from Percy, and enhanced with vibrant artwork by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco, this story collection will become the new must-have classic for Rick Riordan's legions of devoted fans--and for anyone who needs a hero. Companion to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods. Available mid August.

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The Bookies, A bookstore like no other

4315 E. Mississippi Ave. | Denver, CO 80246

(303) 759-1117 | www.thebookies.com