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Mo Willems' Thank-O-Rama-Join the Fun with Books Inc!

Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie Thank-O-Rama

 

The Thank-o-Rama! Tour is pulling up to Books Inc. in Campbell! From 4:30 to 6:30 PM, join us for a fun-filled afternoon featuring photo ops with Elephant & Piggie, a cozy Reading Corner perfect for perusing the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series, including the latest installment Harold & Hog Pretend For Real!, and a Craft Station supplied with spectacular themed activities. Plus, don't forget to spin the Thank-o-Rama Prize Wheel for a chance to win a premium prize! (Ages 5+)

Avenge the Fallen —The Fallen would’ve loved these YA books

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- Written by By Ava and Amanda


 

**SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS INFINITY WAR by MARVEL**

so unless you're like Cap below, continue at your own risk...

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We threw our popcorn at Thanos in outrage when he snapped his fingers and killed half of our beloved Avengers. (Don’t worry, the popcorn was stale. We would never waste good popcorn.) In memorial of the Fallen, we’ve compiled a list of the YA books they would’ve loved, had they still been alive. Please offer your sincere condolences by cracking open a spine. (Not literally, as that would worsen the situation.)

 

1. Black Panther would’ve loved BEASTS MADE OF NIGHT

Beasts Made of Night By Tochi Onyebuchi

In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts – lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt.

Taj is the most talented of the aki, young sin-eaters indentured by the mages to slay the sin-beasts. But Taj’s livelihood comes at a terrible cost. When he kills a sin-beast, a tattoo of the beast appears on his skin while the guilt of committing the sin appears on his mind. Most aki are driven mad by the process, but 17-year-old Taj is cocky and desperate to provide for his family.

When Taj is called to eat a sin of a royal, he’s suddenly thrust into the center of a dark conspiracy to destroy Kos. Now Taj must fight to save the princess that he loves – and his own life.

By Tochi Onyebuchi

 

2. Spiderman would’ve loved THE INFINITE NOISE

 The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen

(Available in stores September 24th!)

Caleb Michaels is a sixteen-year-old champion running back. Other than that his life is pretty normal. But when Caleb starts experiencing mood swings that are out of the ordinary for even a teenager, his life moves beyond “typical.”

Caleb is an Atypical, an individual with enhanced abilities. Which sounds pretty cool except Caleb's ability is extreme empathy—he feels the emotions of everyone around him. Being an empath in high school would be hard enough, but Caleb's life becomes even more complicated when he keeps getting pulled into the emotional orbit of one of his classmates, Adam. Adam's feelings are big and all-consuming, but they fit together with Caleb's feelings in a way that he can't quite understand.

Caleb's therapist, Dr. Bright, encourages Caleb to explore this connection by befriending Adam. As he and Adam grow closer, Caleb learns more about his ability, himself, his therapist—who seems to know a lot more than she lets on—and just how dangerous being an Atypical can be.

By Lauren Shippen

 

3. Loki would’ve loved CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us. Now we rise. Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

By Tomi Adeyemi

 

4. Dr. Strange would’ve loved THE LAST MAGICIAN

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

In modern-day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she's been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

 

5. Shuri would’ve loved THIS MORTAL COIL

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that’s not what makes her special. In Cat’s world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius.

That’s no surprise, since Cat’s father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own.

When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat’s instincts tell her it’s just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat’s help to release it and save the human race.

Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself?

By Emily Suvada

 

6. The Star-Lord would’ve loved AN EMBER IN THE ASHES

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

By Sabaa Tahir

 

7. Gamora would’ve loved THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

Esha is a legend, but no one knows. It’s only in the shadows that she moonlights as the Viper, the rebels’ highly skilled assassin. She’s devoted her life to avenging what she lost in the royal coup, and now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha.

Kunal has been a soldier since childhood, training morning and night to uphold the power of King Vardaan. His uncle, the general, has ensured that Kunal never strays from the path—even as a part of Kunal longs to join the outside world, which has been growing only more volatile.

Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross—and an unimaginable chain of events unfolds. Both the Viper and the soldier think they’re calling the shots, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces. As the bonds that hold their land in order break down and the sins of the past meet the promise of a new future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.

By Swati Teerdhala

 

8. The Scarlet Witch would’ve loved WICKED SAINTS

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light.

By Emily A. Duncan

 

9. Mantis would’ve loved STRANGE THE DREAMER

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep.

By Laini Taylor

 

10. The Winter Soldier would’ve loved MARKSWOMAN

Markswoman by Rati Mehrotra

Kyra is the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, one of a handful of sisterhoods of highly trained elite warriors. Armed with blades whose metal is imbued with magic and guided by a strict code of conduct, the Orders are sworn to keep the peace and protect the people of Asiana. Kyra has pledged to do so—yet she secretly harbors a fierce desire to avenge her murdered family.

When Tamsyn, the powerful and dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control of the Order, Kyra is forced on the run. She is certain that Tamsyn committed murder in a twisted bid for power, but she has no proof.

Kyra escapes through one of the strange Transport Hubs that are the remnants of Asiana’s long-lost past and finds herself in the unforgiving wilderness of a desert that is home to the Order of Khur, the only Order composed of men. Among them is Rustan, a disillusioned Marksman whose skill with a blade is unmatched. He understands the desperation of Kyra’s quest to prove Tamsyn’s guilt, and as the two grow closer, training daily on the windswept dunes of Khur, both begin to question their commitment to their Orders. But what they don’t yet realize is that the line between justice and vengeance is thin . . . as thin as the blade of a knife.

By Rati Mehrotra

 11. Groot would’ve loved... 

Admittedly, this is where we start to run out of ideas. Groot is a tree...

Do you have any ideas for what Groot would like?!

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Happy Poetry Month!

It's Poetry Month! Poetry is a beautiful form of creativity and expression. It tells stories in a succinct format that allows for both urgency and pause. In honor of Poetry Month, here's a short list of some of our favorite YA books written in verse. Pick one up, grab a good seat, and settle in for a couple hours. 

 

1. Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo 

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about.

With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But she still can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

Note: As you can see from the medals on this cover, Poet X is the winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award! Even more exciting, you can meet Elizabeth Acevedo at Books Inc. Opera Plaza on May 13th. It is a ticketed event, so purchase your ticket (which includes a copy of her newest novel With the Fire on High) here.

 

2. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds 

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds’s fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother.

A cannon. A strap.
A piece. A biscuit.
A burner. A heater.
A chopper. A gat.
A hammer
A tool
for RULE

Or, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he’s after. Or does he? As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that’s when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn’s gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck’s in the elevator? Just as Will’s trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. A teenage girl gets on, waves away the smoke from Dead Buck’s cigarette. Will doesn’t know her, but she knew him. Knew. When they were eight. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES.

And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.

Told in short, fierce staccato narrative verse, Long Way Down is a fast and furious, dazzlingly brilliant look at teenage gun violence, as could only be told by Jason Reynolds.

Note: If you're looking for a book you can't put down until the very end, this is for you. This book will pull you along through heart-pounding verse, one floor at a time. 

 

3. Solo by Kwame Alexander 

Solo by Kwame Alexander

Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he'd give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including the loss of his mother. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will become just like his father.

In reality, the only thing Blade and Rutherford have in common is the music that lives inside them. And songwriting is all Blade has left after Rutherford, while drunk, crashes his high school graduation speech and effectively rips Chapel away forever. But when a long-held family secret comes to light, the music disappears. In its place is a letter, one that could bring Blade the freedom and love he's been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.

Note: Music and poetry aren't too different so Solo weaves them together to bring you a lyrical story that navigates, death, family, and love. 

 

4. White Rose by Kip Wilson 

White Rose by Kip Wilson

A gorgeous and timely novel based on the incredible story of Sophie Scholl, a young German college student who challenged the Nazi regime during World War II as part of The White Rose, a non-violent resistance group.

Disillusioned by the propaganda of Nazi Germany, Sophie Scholl, her brother, and his fellow soldiers formed the White Rose, a group that wrote and distributed anonymous letters criticizing the Nazi regime and calling for action from their fellow German citizens. The following year, Sophie and her brother were arrested for treason and interrogated for information about their collaborators. This debut novel recounts the lives of Sophie and her friends and highlights their brave stand against fascism in Nazi Germany.

Note: This book is perfect for those looking for a different way to learn about history. Its a beatiful, heart-breaking window into a young woman's life and death during one of the world's darkest times.

 

5. Voices: the Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott

Bestselling author David Elliott explores how Joan of Arc changed the course of history and remains a figure of fascination centuries after her extraordinary life and death. Joan of Arc gets the Hamilton treatment in this evocative novel. 

Told through medieval poetic forms and in the voices of the people and objects in Joan of Arc’s life, (including her family and even the trees, clothes, cows, and candles of her childhood), Voices offers an unforgettable perspective on an extraordinary young woman. Along the way it explores timely issues such as gender, misogyny, and the peril of speaking truth to power. Before Joan of Arc became a saint, she was a girl inspired. It is that girl we come to know in Voices.

Note: Another unique way of looking at a historical figure through her eyes, as well as people, creatures, and objects she comes in contact with. 

New Review! - Sky in the Deep

 

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Teen Advisory Board Member Evgenia Reviews Sky in the Deep

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

 

Eelyn, a young warrior, has been raised to value her clan, the Aska, above all else, but when she sees her dead brother fighting on the other side of a battle she is thrust into unfamiliar territory. Stolen away to live alongside her enemies, the Riki, Eelyn must form alliances and fight to survive the winter. Even further complicating things is Fiske, her brother’s new friend, who she must trust in order to win the coming battle. Eelyn is forced to confront her old beliefs, and to unite with her enemies in order to stop an even greater enemy that threatens both the Riki and the Aska.

 

Sky in the Deep has such originality, thrusting the reader into the brutal lives of viking clans. Adrienne Young  delved deep into a portion of history seldom seen in young adult novels, and created a vivid, harsh backdrop for her story. The characters were compelling, revealing more and more secrets, connections, and traits as the book proceeded. With every page, the characters felt more and more real, as if they were flesh and blood.

 

Eelyn is an interesting protagonist to read about. She is characterized, largely, by her beliefs and values and her status as Aska. As all of those are threatened and challenged, the reader is able to see all of the ways that she develops and changes.

 

Clans, battles, and friendships abound in this interesting viking novel. Young’s writing emphasizes the connections between characters and raises questions about loyalty and family. Sky in the Deep would be perfect for people fascinated with vikings, history, or just those looking for an exciting, unusual read.

 

The Sky in the Deep is available in stores now! 

New Review! - Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

 

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Teen Advisory Board Member Ava Reviews Seafire.

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

 

After her family is killed by corrupt warlord Aric Athair and his bloodthirsty army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx must captain her ship, the Mors Navis, with a crew of girls and women just like her. The crew has one mission: stay alive, and take down Aric's armed and armored fleet.

But when Caledonia's best friend and second-in-command barely survives an attack thanks to help from a Bullet looking to defect, Caledonia finds herself questioning whether to let him join their crew. Is this boy the key to taking down Aric Athair once and for all . . . or will he threaten everything the women of the Mors Navis have worked for?

I absolutely adore this badass feminist pirate story! The contrast between Caledonia, the headstrong Captain of the Mors Navis, and Pisces, her compassionate first mate, is the sort of female friendship I absolutely adore. Their solutions to escape are so cleverly planned out by the author, easy to comprehend and a joy to read. Adding to the amazingness of this book, Seafire is abundant with diversity. Not only are many characters described as having various skin tones, one crucial character is deaf and others are involved in LGBTQ+ relationships (as expected in an all-female environment).

If Seafire by Natalie C. Parker is missing from your shelf, then make a note to read it! You will have no regrets.

 

Seafire is available in stores now! 

 

It's Poetry Month!

Happy National Poetry Month!

Looking for books to read along with your kiddos in celebration? Check out these new and recommended titles:

 

1. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers and Luke Flowers

For the first time ever, the beloved songs from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood are collected here in a charmingly-illustrated treasury.
Mister Rogers instilled the values of kindness, patience, and self-esteem in his viewers, and most of all, taught children how loved they were, just by being themselves. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhoodreimagines the songs from the show as poetry, ranging from the iconic ("Won't You Be My Neighbor?") to the forgotten gems. 

Perfect for Ages 6+

 

2. We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

 We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices Edited by Wade and Cheryl Willis Hudson

Fifty of the foremost diverse children's authors and illustrators--including Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, and Kwame Alexander--share answers to the question, "In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?" in this beautiful, full-color keepsake collection, published in partnership with Just Us Books.

Perfect for Ages 8+

 

3. Sakura's Cherry Blossoms

Sakura's Cherry Blossoms by Robert Paul Weston and Misa Saburi

A warm, gorgeous exploration of a little girl's experience immigrating to a new country and missing her home and her grandmother, who still lives far away. Sakura's Cherry Blossoms captures the beauty of the healing power of friendship through Weston's Japanese poetry-inspired text and Saburi's breathtaking illustrations.

Perfect for Ages 3+

 

4. Poetree 

Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds

A girl writes a poem to a tree, but then is surprised when the tree writes back in this wondrous and warm picture book about friendship, nature, and the power of poetry.

Perfect for Ages 4+

 

5. Song for a Whale

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

Poems can appear in surprising forms – Iris uses the shape of her hands to create visual poems with her grandparents in his modern day classic about the connection between a girl and a whale who both want to be heard.

Perfect for Ages 8+

 

OR

Teach the kids more about the world's greatest poets with the Who Was Series:

Who Was Maya Angelou? by Ellen Labrecque Who Was Edgar Allan Poe? by Jim Gigliotti Who Was William Shakespeare? by Celeste Mannis

 

And then of course, there's always the classic favorites:

The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein, Shel Silverstein (Illustrator) Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780060256654
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: HarperCollins - February 18th, 2014

Falling Up By Shel Silverstein, Shel Silverstein (Illustrator) Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780060248024
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: HarperCollins - January 24th, 2006

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings By Shel Silverstein, Shel Silverstein (Illustrator) Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780060256678
Availability: Backordered-Could Take 2-4Weeks
Published: HarperCollins - February 18th, 2014

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys By Bob Raczka, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Bob Raczka, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)
$6.99
Unavailable, Out of Stock, or Out of Print
ISBN: 9781328869302
Published: Clarion Books - March 27th, 2018

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan By Ashley Bryan, Ashley Bryan (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Ashley Bryan, Ashley Bryan (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781481456906
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books - September 13th, 2016

The Real Mother Goose By Blanche Fisher Wright (Illustrator), Grace Maccarone (Editor) Cover Image
By Blanche Fisher Wright (Illustrator), Grace Maccarone (Editor)
$12.99
ISBN: 9780590225175
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Cartwheel Books - September 1st, 1994

Green Eggs and Ham (Beginner Books(R)) By Dr. Seuss Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780394800165
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 Books for Young Readers -

Happy National Unicorn Day! - April 9th!

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Let's be honest, every day should be Unicorn Day, but this Tuesday, April 9th, is the actual EXTRA SPECIAL SPARKLY NATIONAL UNICORN DAY!! 

Publishers, authors, and booksellers all over the country will be celebrating and we'd like YOU to join US! 

Unicorn Kate

Stop by Books Inc. Campbell on Tuesday for  ALL DAY readings of Unicorn-centric stories, an in-store scavenger hunt (Ages 2+), and a special gift to anyone (of all ages) who swings by the store dressed up like a Unicorn! 

If you'd like continue the celebration into the month, stop by Books Inc. Palo Alto on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30pm and meet Dana Simpson, creator of the Pheobe and Her Unicorn Graphic Novel series! 

Dana Simpson

Dana will be celebrating the newest book in the series: Unicorn Bowling! 

Fun Unicorn Facts!:  

1. The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland.

2.  Unicorn hunters may obtain a Unicorn Questing Licence from Lake Superior University, Michigan.

3. According to Pliny (a Roman author way way back in the day), a unicorn had the body of a horse, the head of a deer, the feet of an elephant, and the tail of a lion, with a black horn projecting ‘two cubits’ from the middle of its forehead. 

(I'm glad we let that one go. Hey, here's an activity idea: Have your kid draw that... see how long you can keep it up on the fridge...)

Or you can always stop by your local Books Inc. and grab a copy of any of these wonderfully beautiful and fun Unicorn books. 

Laurel Village Unicorn Display

Phoebe and Her Unicorn By Dana Simpson Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781449446208
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Andrews McMeel Publishing - September 2nd, 2014

Bad Unicorn (The Bad Unicorn Trilogy #1) By Platte F. Clark Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9781442450134
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Aladdin - March 11th, 2014

I'm a Unicorn (Little Golden Book) By Mallory Loehr, Joey Chou (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Mallory Loehr, Joey Chou (Illustrator)
$5.99
ISBN: 9781524715120
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Golden Books - January 9th, 2018

Uni the Unicorn By Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Brigette Barrager (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780385375559
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 Studio - August 26th, 2014

Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True By Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Brigette Barrager (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781101936597
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers - August 29th, 2017

The Unicorn Quest By Kamilla Benko Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781681192451
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Bloomsbury USA Childrens - January 30th, 2018

Bella's Birthday Unicorn (Unicorn Magic #1) By Jessica Burkhart, Victoria Ying (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jessica Burkhart, Victoria Ying (Illustrator)
$6.99
Unavailable, Out of Stock, or Out of Print
ISBN: 9781442498228
Published: Aladdin - August 5th, 2014

A Unicorn Named Sparkle By Amy Young (Illustrator), Amy Young Cover Image
By Amy Young (Illustrator), Amy Young
$9.99
Unavailable, Out of Stock, or Out of Print
ISBN: 9780374308728
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) - September 11th, 2018

Unicorn Day By Diana Murray, Luke Flowers (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Diana Murray, Luke Flowers (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781492667223
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky - June 4th, 2019

Not Quite Narwhal (Not Quite Narwhal and Friends) By Jessie Sima, Jessie Sima (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jessie Sima, Jessie Sima (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781481469098
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - February 14th, 2017

Books Inc.'s Best Selling YA Novels for March 2019

On the Come Up By Angie Thomas Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780062498564
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Balzer + Bray - February 5th, 2019

The Hate U Give: A Printz Honor Winner By Angie Thomas, Amandla Stenberg (Foreword by) Cover Image
By Angie Thomas, Amandla Stenberg (Foreword by)
$18.99
ISBN: 9780062498533
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Balzer + Bray - February 28th, 2017

Five Feet Apart By Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry (With), Tobias Iaconis (With) Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781534437333
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - November 20th, 2018

The Sun Is Also a Star By Nicola Yoon Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9780553496710
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Ember - March 5th, 2019

To All the Boys I've Loved Before By Jenny Han Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781534438378
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - July 10th, 2018

P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2) By Jenny Han Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781442426740
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - January 31st, 2017

Dear Evan Hansen: THE NOVEL By Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780316420235
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Poppy - October 9th, 2018

Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Gold) By Pam Muñoz Ryan Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780439120425
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Scholastic Paperbacks - May 1st, 2002

Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) By Neal Shusterman Cover Image
$13.99
ISBN: 9781442472433
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - November 28th, 2017

Dry By Neal Shusterman, Jarrod Shusterman Cover Image
$21.99
ISBN: 9781481481960
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - October 2nd, 2018

Field Notes on Love By Jennifer E. Smith Cover Image
$18.99
Unavailable, Out of Stock, or Out of Print
ISBN: 9780399559419
Published: Delacorte Press - March 5th, 2019

We Are Okay By Nina LaCour Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9780142422939
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 Books - February 26th, 2019

Two Can Keep a Secret By Karen M. McManus Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781524714727
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Delacorte Press - January 8th, 2019

Picture Us In The Light By Kelly Loy Gilbert Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781484726020
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - April 10th, 2018

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3) By Jenny Han Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9781481430494
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - April 10th, 2018

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter By Erika L. Sánchez Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781524700515
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: Ember - March 5th, 2019

It's Not Like It's a Secret By Misa Sugiura Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9780062473424
Availability: In Stock Now - Click Title to See Store Inventory. Please allow up to 48-hours for Curbside Pickup orders to be processed.
Published: HarperTeen - November 13th, 2018

One of Us Is Lying By Karen M. McManus Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781524714680
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Delacorte Press - May 30th, 2017

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) By Tomi Adeyemi Cover Image
$21.99
ISBN: 9781250170972
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) - March 6th, 2018

Staff Pick Badge
The Poet X By Elizabeth Acevedo Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780062662804
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 - March 6th, 2018

Monthly Bookseller Feature: In April, Rachel Loves....

The Moon Within by Aida Salazar

I love The Moon Within by Aida Salazar! It focuses on Celi, an 11 year old mixed girl living in Oakland, as she struggles with her changing body and balancing friends, family and crushes. It’s written in verse, and you really get a sense of Celi’s emotions with Sala­zar’s beautiful poetry describing her thoughts! I also really enjoyed how The Moon Within tackles the topic of menstruation and how it impacts girls hitting puberty, which I don’t think an author has done for this age since Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., which was almost 50 years ago! I’m so excited for mothers and daughters together to discover this book, as well as kids to find it themselves in book­stores and libraries across the country.

The Moon Within feels like it’s written for a kid of now. There’s sec­tions about rediscovering lost heritage, exploring alternative gender and gender norms, and talking to crushes through texting. Despite being writ­ten in poetry, it’s super easy to get yourself into Celi’s world, particularly the sections where she talks about her love of dance. Honestly, this book feels like it’s going to stick around for years to come!


About Rachel: Before becoming a bookseller, I worked in libraries and was a teacher, so you could probably say I’ve been working with books for a while. I’ve been working at Books Inc. as a chil­dren’s specialist for about 3 years and run the Flashlight Readers Book Club (Ages 8-12) at Books Inc. Berkeley. When I’m not read­ing, I love playing board games!

 

Bookseller Rachel

 

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