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Get Lost in 5 Worlds! - Graphic Novel Adventure for Young Readers

 

For fans of Amulet and Nimona, pick up 5 Worlds

Get lost in 5 Worlds.

Bonus! Boya Sun is local to the Bay Area! 

5 Worlds Book 1: The Sand Warrior: (A Graphic Novel) By Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel, Xanthe Bouma (Illustrator), Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator), Boya Sun (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel, Xanthe Bouma (Illustrator), Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator), Boya Sun (Illustrator)
$12.99
ISBN: 9781101935880
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Random House Graphic - May 2nd, 2017

5 Worlds Book 2: The Cobalt Prince: (A Graphic Novel) By Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel, Xanthe Bouma (Illustrator), Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator), Boya Sun (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel, Xanthe Bouma (Illustrator), Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator), Boya Sun (Illustrator)
$13.99
ISBN: 9781101935910
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Random House Graphic - May 8th, 2018

5 Worlds Book 3: The Red Maze: (A Graphic Novel) By Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel, Xanthe Bouma (Illustrator), Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator), Boya Sun (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Mark Siegel, Alexis Siegel, Xanthe Bouma (Illustrator), Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator), Boya Sun (Illustrator)
$13.99
ISBN: 9781101935941
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Random House Graphic - May 7th, 2019

New Review! - There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

 

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Teen Advisory Board Member Evgenia Reviews There's Something About Sweetie

There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

by Sandhya Menon

Ashish Patel is grappling with his emotions after a messy breakup. He can’t stop thinking about her and even his performance as his school’s star basketball player is suffering. When he finally agrees to letting his parents choose a girl for him, he isn’t expecting the girl’s parents to forbid her from dating him, the son of wealthy parents and the basketball star at his high school. Sweetie Nair is ready to start a project, where she challenges herself to be confident and push back against all of the people who think that she is less just because she is fat. However, this may be harder than she thought considering that even her mother doesn’t want her to date Ashish Patel until she loses weight and becomes “good enough for him.” Ashish and Sweetie begin to date in secret, however some complications pose threats to their burgeoning love.

This book shows the complications of well-meaning parents, first love, and forgiveness through the lens of a young Indian girl struggling with accepting her body. Sweetie gains confidence and learns over the course of the book. Amusing banter is peppered throughout the pages, and the minor characters really do shine as distinct people in it. The supporting characters have lives and personalities and complement the main plot, adding more depth. Not only are there romantic relationships, but there are realistic, relatable platonic relationships that develop.

There’s Something About Sweetie would be the perfect book for someone struggling with self confidence. Sweetie proves that just because someone looks a certain way, they can do whatever they want and be confident. A lighthearted, romantic book with some vital messages at the center, about acceptance, self-worth, and family, that would be great for teens struggling with finding confidence.

 

There's Something About Sweetie is in stores now! 

New Review! - The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

 

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Teen Advisory Board Member Evgenia Reviews The Gilded Wolves

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

In Paris of the late 1880s, the city is full of power, wealth, and magic. At the forefront of everything is the Order of Babel, an elite group that holds control over many magical artifacts. Severin is a young hotel owner whose claim to the bloodline of House Vanth, one of the four houses belonging to the order, was denied years ago. When a nobleman offers him a chance to take back his title and in return, find an ancient artifact, Severin accepts and enlists the help of his mismatched group of friends. Among them is Layla, a performer with a painful past, Tristan, Severin’s closest childhood friend, Enrique, a knowledgeable historian, and Zofia, a gifted engineer.

This novel is richly descriptive, dropping the reader into the center of “la belle epoque” (the beautiful era) Paris, a city full of nightclubs, exhibitions, and lavish parties. The writing creates beautiful imagery and builds a world of intrigue and surprises. Additionally, Chokshi does not shy away from the dark side of the city, expressing the horrors of human zoos and sideshow attractions. The unpleasant aspects are put on display, revealing that the golden age may not have been as beautiful as it may have seemed.

The characters were easily one of the best aspects of The Gilded Wolves. They had complex relationships with each other and they all had their own defined traits and well-developed pasts. Layla especially had a compelling past that was revealed over the course of the book. Her relationship with Severin was intriguing and intensified as the novel continued.

This book is perfect for readers who love a little bit of magic, mystery, and wonder. Expect plenty of excitement and unexpected twists and turns in this fascinating, compelling book.

 

Gilded Wolves is in stores now! 

The Crazy Rich Asians are crazy for these YA books

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- Written by By Ava and Amanda


 

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’ve compiled a list of which YA books the Crazy Rich Asian characters are crazy for.

 

1. Rachel Chu is crazy for OUTRUN THE MOON

Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

San Francisco, 1906: Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty in Chinatown, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes.

On April 18, a historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. With martial law in effect, she is forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Though fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, Mercy can’t sit by while they wait for the army to bring help—she still has the “bossy” cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenage girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?

By Stacey Lee

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2. Nick Young is crazy for YOU'D BE MINE

 You'd Be Mine by Erin Hann

Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things.

But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen.

Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship. She had a front row seat to her parents’ volatile marriage and isn’t interested in repeating history. If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.

By Lauren Shippen

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3. Eleanor Young is crazy for IF I'M BEING HONEST

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

High school senior Cameron Bright’s reputation can be summed up in one word: bitch. It’s no surprise she’s queen bee at her private L.A. high school—she’s beautiful, talented, and notorious for her cutting and brutal honesty. So when she puts her foot in her mouth in front of her crush, Andrew, she fears she may have lost him for good. In an attempt to win him over, Cameron resolves to “tame” herself, much like Katherine in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. First, she’ll have to make amends with those she’s wronged, which leads her to Brendan, the guy she labelled with an unfortunate nickname back in the sixth grade. At first, Brendan isn’t all that receptive to Cameron’s ploy. But slowly, he warms up to her when they connect over the computer game he’s developing. Now if only Andrew would notice… But the closer Cameron gets to Brendan, the more she sees he appreciates her personality—honesty and all—and wonders if she’s compromising who she is for the guy she doesn’t even want.

By Emily Wibberley

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4. Oliver T’sien is crazy for EARTH TO CHARLIE

Earth to Charlie by Justin Olson

A high school outcast spends his life hoping to be abducted by aliens in this funny, quirky novel about finding your footing in a world that sometimes feels like Mars.

Convinced his mother has been abducted by aliens, Charlie Dickens spends his nights with an eye out for UFOs, hoping to join her. After all, she said the aliens would come back for him. Charlie will admit that he doesn’t have many reasons to stick around; he doesn’t get along well with his father, he’s constantly bullied at school and at work, and the only friend he has is his 600-pound neighbor Geoffrey, and Geoffrey’s three-legged dog, Tickles.

Then Charlie meets popular, easy-going Seth, who shows him what real friendship is all about. For once, he finds himself looking around at the life he’s built, rather than looking up. But sooner than he expected, Charlie has to make a decision: should he stay or should he go?

By Justin Olson

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6. Peik Lin Goh loves THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT

This Time Will Be Different by Misa Sugiura

Katsuyamas never quit—but seventeen-year-old CJ doesn’t even know where to start. She’s never lived up to her mom’s type A ambition, and she’s perfectly happy just helping her aunt, Hannah, at their family’s flower shop.

She doesn’t buy into Hannah’s romantic ideas about flowers and their hidden meanings, but when it comes to arranging the perfect bouquet, CJ discovers a knack she never knew she had. A skill she might even be proud of.

Then her mom decides to sell the shop—to the family who swindled CJ’s grandparents when thousands of Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during WWII. Soon a rift threatens to splinter CJ’s family, friends, and their entire Northern California community; and for the first time, CJ has found something she wants to fight for.

By Misa Sugiura

 

7. Astrid Leong-Teo is crazy for GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

By Natasha Ngan

 

Books Inc. Beach Blanket Book Bingo!

Summer Book Bingo poster

Books Inc. Beach Blanket Book Bingo!
For Grades K - 8

What better way to pass the summer days than with great books?! Pick up a Beach Blanket Book Bingo card for your grade level at your local Books Inc. and join the fun!

Simply fill 5 spaces in a row (horizontally, diagonally, or vertically) with the title of the books you’ve read, visit your local Books Inc. to get your bingo card spaces stamped, and earn a $5 Books Inc. Gift Card.

Or . . . Are you feeling ambitious? Go for a blackout and get EVERY square on your bingo card stamped to earn a $10 Books Inc. Gift Card + a swag bag filled with Advanced Reader Copies of books that haven’t hit the shelves yet!

More ways to earn a stamp: If any of the suggested titles on the front of this book bingo card are a part of a series, ANY of the titles from the series also count for a spot on your bingo card!

Beach Blanket Book Bingo runs May 15 to July 31 and is for grades K through 8. Stop by your local Books Inc. to pick up your Beach Blanket Book Bingo Card. Or Download your grade level here!

Click here for Grades K-2

Click here for for Grades 3-4

Click here for Grades 5-6

Click here for Grades 7-8

Happy Reading!

The Un-Friendship Bracelet (Craftily Ever After #1) By Martha Maker, Xindi Yan (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Martha Maker, Xindi Yan (Illustrator)
$6.99
ISBN: 9781534409071
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Little Simon - March 27th, 2018

What Is Inside THIS Box? (Monkey & Cake) (Monkey and Cake #1) By Drew Daywalt, Olivier Tallec (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Drew Daywalt, Olivier Tallec (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9781338143867
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Orchard Books - February 26th, 2019

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich By Julia Sarcone-Roach Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9781984852090
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Dragonfly Books - December 11th, 2018

Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero! By Kara West, Leeza Hernandez (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kara West, Leeza Hernandez (Illustrator)
$6.99
ISBN: 9781534432697
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Little Simon - December 18th, 2018

Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Wolf (I Can Read Level 1) By Jennifer Bové Cover Image
$4.99
ISBN: 9780062432193
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: HarperCollins - December 31st, 2018

What Is NASA? (What Was?) By Sarah Fabiny, Who HQ, Ted Hammond (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Sarah Fabiny, Who HQ, Ted Hammond (Illustrator)
$5.99
ISBN: 9781524786038
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Penguin Workshop - May 7th, 2019

Escape This Book! Titanic By Bill Doyle, Sarah Sax (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Bill Doyle, Sarah Sax (Illustrator)
$10.99
Unavailable, Out of Stock, or Out of Print
ISBN: 9780525644200
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers - March 19th, 2019

It's Me. A Graphic Novel (Catwad #1) By Jim Benton, Jim Benton (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jim Benton, Jim Benton (Illustrator)
$8.99
ISBN: 9781338326024
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Scholastic Inc. - March 26th, 2019

Bethany Hamilton (She Dared) By Jenni L. Walsh Cover Image
$6.99
Unavailable, Out of Stock, or Out of Print
ISBN: 9781338149029
Published: Scholastic Nonfiction - January 1st, 2019

Me and Marvin Gardens (Scholastic Gold) By Amy Sarig King Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780545870764
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Scholastic Inc. - March 26th, 2019

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New Kid: A Newbery Award Winner By Jerry Craft, Jerry Craft (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jerry Craft, Jerry Craft (Illustrator)
$12.99
ISBN: 9780062691194
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Quill Tree Books - February 5th, 2019

The Alcatraz Escape (The Book Scavenger series #3) By Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, Sarah Watts (Illustrator) Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9781250308702
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Square Fish - May 7th, 2019

You Go First By Erin Entrada Kelly Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780062414199
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Greenwillow Books - April 9th, 2019

The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) By Sayantani DasGupta Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9781338185713
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Scholastic Press - January 29th, 2019

Dumpling Days (A Pacy Lin Novel #3) By Grace Lin Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780316531337
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - March 19th, 2019

Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons Series) By Leigh Bardugo Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9780399549762
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Ember - March 5th, 2019

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes By Atia Abawi Cover Image
$11.99
Unavailable, Out of Stock, or Out of Print
ISBN: 9780399546853
Published: Penguin Books - January 22nd, 2019

You Bring the Distant Near By Mitali Perkins Cover Image
This Book Is Not Sold Online - Inquire In Store
ISBN: 9780374304904
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) - September 12th, 2017

The Crossover: A Newbery Award Winner (The Crossover Series) By Kwame Alexander, Dawud Anyabwile (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kwame Alexander, Dawud Anyabwile (Illustrator)
$10.99
ISBN: 9780544935204
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Clarion Books - March 5th, 2019

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Movie Tie-in Edition): Young Readers Edition By William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer, Anna Hymas (Illustrator) Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9781984816122
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Rocky Pond Books - March 26th, 2019

Romper Announces New Wonder Woman Graphic Novel for Tweens by Shannon and Dean Hale!

Shannon and Dean Hale, beloved authors of Princess in Black, Real Friends, Princess Academy, Spirit Animals, and many many more, announced on Romper that they've been working on a graphic novel series for a new imprint of DC comics: DC Zoom, featuring the adventures of 11 year-old Diana, before she becomes Wonder Woman! Take a look at this beautiful cover!

Diana Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by Victoria Ying

The art is done by the magnificent Victoria Ying, who's most known for her work on the Unicorn Magic series. 

Read the Romper article for an interview with Shannon and for a look inside the book. 

Diana Princess of the Amazons hits shelves January 7th. Preorder your copy today! 

New Review! - Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

 

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Teen Advisory Board Member Ava Reviews Wild Beauty

Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

“For nearly a century, the Nomeolvides women have tended the grounds of La Pradera, the lush estate gardens that enchant guests from around the world. They’ve also hidden a tragic legacy: if they fall in love too deeply, their lovers vanish. But then, after generations of vanishings, a strange boy appears in the gardens.

The boy is a mystery to Estrella, the Nomeolvides girl who finds him, and to her family, but he’s even more a mystery to himself; he knows nothing more about who he is or where he came from than his first name. As Estrella tries to help Fel piece together his unknown past, La Pradera leads them to secrets as dangerous as they are magical in this stunning exploration of love, loss, and family.”

With elegant, stylized prose, Wild Beauty is a rare magical realism read featuring diverse characters. McLemore is renowned for her ability to paint a scene so vividly that it almost feels tangible, and this book proves why. We expect no less from her! The cast is implied to be Latinx, a refreshing sip of water from your typical straight white cast. Also, the LGBT+ representation is worth raving about. The five sisters are bisexual, and the woman they love is revealed to be genderqueer.

Also, it is worth mentioning that this book does not shy away from talking about periods, as most do. McLemore definitely puts the “real” in “magical realism!”
Wild Beauty is perfect for lovers of lush, flowery prose and those longing for diversity (basically, everyone)!

Wild Beauty is in stores now! 

It's Children's Book Week!

Children's Book Week 100th Anniversary

What is Children’s Book Week and how can you join in the celebrations?

Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.
Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes — wherever young readers and books connect!

The 100th anniversary of Children’s Book Week will take place all year long with a dedicated week of celebrations, April 29 – May 5, 2019, and another week this fall, November 4-10!

Books Inc. is proud to celebrate Children's Book Week with local and visiting authors! See our schedule below:

 

Tuesday, April 30th 

Judd Winick at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Children's Book Week with the hilarious and talented New York Times-bestselling author & illustrator Judd Winick sharing his latest action-packed book, HiLo Book 5: Then Everything Went Wrong. (Ages 7+)

Books Inc. Palo Alto at 6:30PM

 

Wednesday, May 1st

Gareth Hinds at Books Inc. Mountain View

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Children's Book Week with acclaimed and award-winning graphic novelist Gareth Hinds sharing his masterful new adaptation, The Iliad.

Books Inc. Mountain View at 7 PM  

 

Storytime with K-Fai Steele & Andrea Tsurumi at Books Inc. Alameda

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Children's Book Week with a Storytime featuring not just one, but two critically-acclaimed special guests! Illustrator K-Fai Steele reads from her hilarious & delectable new book, Noodlephant; and Andrea Tsurumi shares her playful under-the-sea romp, Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together. (Ages 4+)

Books Inc. Mountain View at 6 PM 

 

Saturday, May 4th 

Storytime with Christie Matheson at Books Inc. Laurel Village

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Children's Book Week with critically-acclaimed author & illustrator Christie Matheson sharing her engaging and educational new book, Bird Watch. There are treasures hiding in the trees! Can you find them? From the author of the acclaimed and bestselling Tap the Magic Tree, this stunning picture book merges basic math concepts with elements of a treasure hunt. (Ages 4+)

Books Inc. Laurel Village at 11AM

 

Storytime with Mariam Gates at Books Inc. Campbell

elebrate the 100th Anniversary of Children's Book Week with Mariam Gates, director and founder of KidPower Yoga, for a storytime reading of her fantastic & fun new book, Breathe with Me: Using Breath to Feel Strong, Calm, and Happy. In additon to a read-aloud, Mariam will be leading a fun Yoga session! (Ages 4+)

Books Inc. Campbell at 11AM

For the Little Fans of The Avengers!

The world has been gripped by Avenger's Fever! The final installment of the Avengers' story arc, Avengers Endgame, hits theaters today, Friday April 26th! If you have little ones that love The Avengers then Random House and The Little Golden Books have you covered:

The Mighty Avengers The Might Avengers: Lights Out!
The Big Freeze by Billy Wrecks Marvel Avengers: The Threat of Thanos
Avengers Adventures 3 Books in 1! Marvel Spiderman: Night of the Vulture!
Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket to the Rescue! Marvel Thor: Thunder Strike!
The Amazing Spider Man:Trapped by the Green Goblin! Marvel Black Panther: Warriors of Wakanda

And this is just a small sample! Stop by your local Books Inc. to see what they have available for you and your little Avenger! 

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