I chat with four awesome booksellers about their top children's and YA book picks for holiday gift giving (and my own picks, too!) -- some you've probably heard of, but others likely be new to you, and all are well worth checking out. Of course, there's no way that we could get ALL our faves in one little podcast.... but hey, it's a start. :-)
Meet the Booksellers:
Stephanie Appell, Parnassus Books, Nashville TN
* Find Stephanie on Twitter
* Find Parnassus on Twitter
* Parnassus has awesome book subscriptions for both YA and grownup books! These first edition, signed hardcovers come straight to your door every month -- a subscription would make an AWESOME gift for a true booklover.
* Parnassus has amazing dogs, for real. Mary Todd Lincoln is my best friend!
* Stephanie is obsessed with this Etsy shop...
* Find Stephanie on Twitter
* Find Parnassus on Twitter
* Parnassus has awesome book subscriptions for both YA and grownup books! These first edition, signed hardcovers come straight to your door every month -- a subscription would make an AWESOME gift for a true booklover.
* Parnassus has amazing dogs, for real. Mary Todd Lincoln is my best friend!
* Stephanie is obsessed with this Etsy shop...
Rebecca Wells, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA
* Find Rebecca on Twitter
* Find Porter Square on twitter
* Porter Square does a ton of events - including a Debut Authors event series starting in 2019!
* Rebecca is also an author! Find out more about her debut, SHATTER THE SKY, out in July 2019.
* Rebecca is obsessed with the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
* Find Rebecca on Twitter
* Find Porter Square on twitter
* Porter Square does a ton of events - including a Debut Authors event series starting in 2019!
* Rebecca is also an author! Find out more about her debut, SHATTER THE SKY, out in July 2019.
* Rebecca is obsessed with the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Abby Rice, The Briar Patch, Bangor, ME
* Find Abby on Twitter
* Find the Briar Patch on Twitter
* The Briar Patch has been a children's-only bookstore for 35 years.
* They do a Harry Potter Festival every summer -- I NEED TO GO TO MAINE FOR THIS!
* Abby is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons!
* Find Abby on Twitter
* Find the Briar Patch on Twitter
* The Briar Patch has been a children's-only bookstore for 35 years.
* They do a Harry Potter Festival every summer -- I NEED TO GO TO MAINE FOR THIS!
* Abby is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons!
Nichole Cousins, White Birch Books, North Conway, NH
* Find Nichole on Insta
* Find White Birch Books on Insta
* White Birch has been open for 25 years -- and they have some long running book clubs that are almost as old as the store!
* Nichole is obsessed with Litograph Temporary Tattoos - they make great stocking stuffers, too!
* Find Nichole on Insta
* Find White Birch Books on Insta
* White Birch has been open for 25 years -- and they have some long running book clubs that are almost as old as the store!
* Nichole is obsessed with Litograph Temporary Tattoos - they make great stocking stuffers, too!
Picture Books
About gratitude, in all its permutations, for all ages
Offers a way to talk about race and privilege with kids
A fun read-aloud that will make the whole family laugh - punny hilarity at its best!
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Gorgeous illustrations, fun to read aloud, all about our fave pollinator!
About creative exploration and celebrating individuality
In picture book and board book form -- who can't relate to a little penguin who has LOTS of problems? (Cold... Dark...Not being able to find your mom when everyone looks like a Penguin!)
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An activity book full of surprises, to keep the littlest kiddos busy!
For kids age 3+ who have been nervous about school... or just really love funny dino stories!
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Chapter Books
A perfect story -- quiet and wonderful, for younger MG readers.
Loved PRINCESS IN BLACK? This might be your next read!
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8 year old Cilla needs to become a bestselling author, ASAP!
Delightful adventures in Magical Brooklyn!
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The further adventures of young author Cilla Lee-Jenkins
Chaos, kerfuffles, catastrophes, and friendship - for inventive, curious kids.
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Graphic Novels
Harriet the Spy meets Amelie! For mystery lovers.
Perfect for cool teens and kids over 10, who want to be delighted AND smash the patriarchy!
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Not out until next year (sorry!) but this is a MUST READ! graphic novel about the space race. Keep your eyes peeled for this start of a new series in Spring 2019.
Knights, robots, monsters, rogues! For gamers, and anyone who loves Raina and All's Faire in Middle School.
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Hilarious, for fans of El Deafo and Smile
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Middle Grade
Enter the magical world of Victorian London with a chimney sweep girl and her best friend, a soot golem.
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For anyone who loves animals, science and adveture!
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A lovely book about family, friendship and problem-solving, for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Kate Messner
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The book we wish we had when we were 10-12 -- heartwarming middle school crushes, LGBTQ rep, and friendship drama at band camp.
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Reissues of the classics in lovely hardbacks - for any kid who is interested in the performing arts. BALLET SHOES is about three orphan girls who support their family during the depression by going on stage.
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The Noel Streatfeild classic about skating and DRAMA.
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Scouting + Magic - if you love PERCY JACKSON but want something new...
For adventure-lovers with a funnybone! A Monty-Pythonesque buddy comedy and so much more.
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Nostalgic fun for fantasy lovers -- if you like strong heroines, snark and DRAGONS, get to know this classic!
For kids 8-12 who are FUTURE Stephen King fans - spooky, with tiny robot assassins!
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A curious ink creature helps a whole family in this very imaginative middle grade tale!
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YA & Adult/Crossover Fiction
Deb Caletti is a master of Contemporary YA, and this is a masterpiece.
About two sisters whose family is cursed. A lyrical, Latinx, queer fairy tale mashup.
For anyone who has ever felt like they don't quite fit in...
IF I STAY meets WHEN YOU REACH ME in this narratively adventurous YA that will make you cry your face off.
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For those seeking an immersive and satisfying fantasy
For people who inhaled Jenny Han's TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE and need to know what to read next!
For fans of true crime podcasts such as Serial, My Favorite Murder, - teens or adults!
A bookseller's all-time favorite - this mythological celebration of female strength in a male-dominated world - perfect for adults AND YA readers.
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For those who love YA and don't take themselves too seriously: Jane Eyre meets Ghostbusters!
Technically for grownup SF/F-lovers - but great for older teens as well. Think THE GODFATHER + MAGIC.
A powderkeg of adventure, sisterhood and resistance - a crew of fierce lady pirates fight the patriarchy!
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Nonfiction For All Ages
The story of the journey to the moon, told in blank verse with breathtaking illustrations.
A collection of untranslatable words from around the world - charming, for word-lovers (and trivia-lovers) of all ages
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For kid and teen chefs (current or aspiring!)
Literally... life size animal tracks! So cool!
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A gorgeous coffee-table book filled with poems and art based on nature words that had been eliminated from a modern children's dictionary.
Gorgeous, a poem for every day of the year, this could be a family heirloom.
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