Hannah is Avid's manager of children's books--she gets to buy all of the kids' books for both shops, do storytimes, and bring books and authors into local schools. A librarian at heart (and in training), she loves magical, immersive stories for all ages and from all corners of the world!
Let this book transport you to a beautiful, strange, magical world--I guarantee you won't ever want to leave!
A book full of kindness and heart and humor. It is the perfect antidote to the darkness and turmoil of our times. I wish I could fold the book up and stick it in my pocket and carry it with me always--alas, I'll have to settle for many, many re-readings
“There are many Pablos in the world, yet they are all one. Inside each of them is a heart that beats to the same rhythm as the ocean’s waves and the rotations of the planet.”
I wish that line from Seven Pablos could be written everywhere and understood by those at the highest levels of power. This is a book that meditates on the universal human experiences of children around the world, touching on issues like migration, poverty, and bullying. It is a necessary book for the time we live in–one of those Pablos could very well be one of the 12,800 detained children at the United States border.
This is the first in a series that is dear to my heart. Though technically it is the second book--the first, The Moomins and the Great Flood, was intially only published in the UK--it is still a wonderful introduction to the myriad inhabitants of Moominvalley. On the surface, this is an apocalyptic adventure, but at its heart it's a celebration of community and friendship. The entire Moomintroll series is something to be savored--I come back to it time and time again to find the whimsy, inclusiveness, and magic that the real world lacks.
Aru Shah is a pitch-perfect, rip-roaring adventure from start to finish. Full of snarky gods and sneaky demons and amazing mythical creatures, this novel envelops readers in the rich world of Hindu mythology and mixes in a whole lot of girl power. Our heroines are flawed and relatable, despite being reincarnations of divine heroes--every reader will be rooting for Aru and Mini!
I want to give all mothers and mothers-to-be (and all people, honestly) Like A Mother. It's witty, incisive, and enlightening on all things pregnancy and postpartum. Garbes tangles with hard scientific data and her own experiences and those of mothers she knows to give readers a straight-talking, woman-centric guide that doesn’t pull any punches and empowers readers with knowledge both personal and political.
I have a hard time calling Fred Rogers anything but Mister Rogers, and that speaks to how much of a cultural symbol he has become for anyone who grew up watching his show--it’s difficult to believe that beyond the Neighborhood, there was a real man who had worries and troubles of his own. King’s loving portrait shines a light on the complexity of Rogers’s life while also revealing that off-camera there was a man just as kind and tender as he appeared on screen. The Good Neighbor is a biography that is as inspiring as it is fascinating--reading it is like taking a trip back to the Neighborhood, full of make-believe and kindness and gentleness and love.
This grand, sweeping tale of life in 14th-century Norway will immerse you in a stark yet rich world of romance, betrayal, and familial love that spans generations. Kristen is a facintating character; a passionate, stubborn woman who will become as beloved to readers as Jane Eyre and Dorothea Brooke.
Never have I wanted to hug a book so much. This is a delicious and delightful ride of a book--one of those you want to step right inside and live within, featuring two adorable girls who ride their bikes through a magical world where friendly animals serve them jam sandwiches and clover blossom tea and other delicious treats. Though this book was published in 2016, it feels like a homey, bygone classic in the best way possible.