Micah's Favorite Books About the Natural World (according to Jen, his mom)

About Birds: A Guide for Children by Cathryn Sill, illustrated by John Sill (Peachtree Press, $7.95)
Brief narrative phrases (with more details at the end) illuminated with gorgeous wildlife paintings.
Also in Micah's collection: About Insects and About Mammals.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley, photographs by Nic Bishop (Scholastic, $6.99)
The story of a night in the life of a red-eyed tree frog, accompanied by Nic Bishop's amazing photographs.
Also in Micah's collection: Chameleon, Chameleon.

Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope, pictures by Sue Riddle (Square Fish, $7.99)
A brand new monarch caterpillar doesn't know much about her world yet, but she knows she's gotta go, gotta go to Mexico!

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant (Dawn Publications, $7.95 board book, $8.95 paperback)
Just in time for spring! Accompanied by a familiar tune, Jo and her friend plant and tend a garden while her grandfather looks on.
(See Cordelia's interview with Mary Quattlebaum elsewhere on the blog.)
Also in Micah's collection: Jo MacDonald Hiked in the Woods

Yes, Let's! by Galen Goodwin Longstreth & Maris Wicks (Tanglewood Press, $15.95)
More hiking! A family of seven (including the dog) get up early to head out to the woods.
(See Jen's interview with Galen Longstreth elsewhere on the blog.)

Also, a classic:
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (Puffin, $7.99)
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk.

Jennifer Sheffield, March 2015

Micah's Favorite Books That Break the 4th Wall (according to Nif, his mum)

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak (Penguin Random House, $17.99)
You might think that a book with no pictures is going to be serious and boring. Instead, this is a book that makes grownups say silly things, like "BLORK" and "BLUEBERRY PIZZA," whether or not they want to. Gales of laughter ensue. Micah has memorized both the silly things and the muttered asides.

Press Here by Hervé Tullet (Chronicle Books $15.99)
It begins with a lone yellow dot. We are invited to "Press here," and hey! there are more dots when you turn the page. Follow the instructions, and on the next page the dots will multiply, change color, move, grow, and more. Magical.

We Are In a Book! by Mo Willems (Disney Press $8.99)
Elephant and Piggie notice that someone is looking at them and hatch a plan to make the reader say something silly. Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie books are generally brillant read-alouds, but this is one of the best.

Speaking of Mo Willems, check out the Pigeon books!
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Disney Press, $15.99)
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy (Disney Press, $15.99)
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late (Disney Press, $15.99)
The Pigeon Needs a Bath (Disney Press, $16.99)
The Pigeon directly exhorts the reader via charm, trickery, begging, or just plain pitching a fit in an attempt to drive the bus, get a puppy, stay up late, or avoid a bath. I rather enjoy acting out the wiles and temper tantrums. My son knows to duck when I start flailing!

The Monster at the End of This Book (Golden Books, $3.99)
Our loveable, furry old pal Grover begs the reader to stop turning pages because there is A MONSTER at the end of the book. Oh, no! You turned the page!

Jennifer Woodfin, March 2015

HERE is here!

Here is the stunning, new graphic novel from author Richard McGuire. It is the story of the corner of one room in one house, illustrated in overlapping pictures and prose. A masterwork that is difficult to describe, it is not told in linear fashion but through a collage of different eras and dialogue, revealing the passage of time moving both backward and forward. Thought provoking and ingenious, Here is a masterpiece of art and storytelling.

Take Away the A

Looking for an unusual alphabet book? Tired of "a is for apple"? Then Take Away the A is the fun, refreshing alphabet book you're looking for!

At once playful and thought provoking, this picture book teaches the alphabet while at the same time demonstrating how one small alteration elicits a big change.

Almost existential in scope and gorgeously illustrated, Take Away the A is one of those picture books that captivate children and adults alike. Come in to Big Blue Marble Bookstore and purchase your copy today!

"Without the I, stairs lead to the stars..."

The Irish are coming!

What do Colm Toibin, Tana French, and Eoin Colfer all have in common? They're Irish! The month of March is upon us and St. Patrick's Day is imminent. In honor of the upcoming holiday, come on in to Big Blue Marble Bookstore and browse our display of marvelous Irish authors.

In the mood for a ghost story? Then John Boyne's This House is Haunted is the novel for you. Want a good read about the Irish immigrant experience? Pick up a copy of On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry.

And there's lots more! Stop by the Marble today where our staff will be happy to discuss our selection with you.

The Antidote to Downton Abbey Withdrawal

The Downton Abbey season finale is upon us! What will we do? How shall we spend our Sunday nights without the Crawleys? Never fear! Big Blue Marble Bookstore has the antidote to Downton Abbey withdrawal. Stop by the store for your copy of Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey, the biography of a former Countess of Carnavon.

Wait! There's more! Big Blue Marble also carries Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey, the biography of a mid-twentieth century Countess of Carnavon.

Almina and Catherine were both Americans who married into the aristocratic Herbert family. While navigating their way through the labyrinthine customs of the British upper class and enjoying the wealth and privileges it brought them, both women also weathered the wrenching changes of two world wars.