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Who needs Candy?  I need books! Scott Magoon

Today’s blog features one of my most favorite people in Children’s Literature.  Just in time for Fall and Halloween and instead of candy you should indulge in Picture Books!

Scott Magoon’s latest collaboration I Will Not Eat You with Adam Lehrhaupt , (a Paula Wiseman Book with Simon and Schuster) is the story of Theodore who apparently likes to be left alone in his cave wondering if he’s hungry enough to eat the array of animals that we meet through Scott’s magical illustrations. Does Theodore just wish to be left alone?  He doesn’t seem to budge until a certain tempting morsel shows up to show him the way to adventure and fun or maybe just the way to dessert!  I was moved by the colors, bold strokes and composition.  Scott’s artistic style vibrates off the page and places you right in Theodore’s path.   Adam’s interpretation of Theodore’s gruff attitude is such a pleasure and reminds me of the days I just want to be left alone until the right opportunity comes along. This book will reside in all of the Doucette households for years and years to come.

You can view the book trailer here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ljqLuLhHzo

I was blessed to be introduced to Scott Magoon was back in 2007 when my love for all things Scotland lead me to the book he illustrated for Alice Weaver Flaherty, The Luck of The Loch Ness Monster (a HMH Books for Young Readers).  A great origin and friendship story of the Lock Ness Monster and a girl named Katerina-Elizabeth and their journey with oatmeal.  I fell in love immediately with the art and gave it to everyone that year as gifts. I then made it a mission to follow future collaborations with people such as, Tammi Sauer, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Michelle Knudsen, Joan Houb, Kara LaReau, Eric Litwin and many others.  

Along with his collaborations, Scott somehow found the time to launch his own titles such as I’ve Painted Everything, Mystery Ride, The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot and my favorite Massachusetts’s Center for the book 2015 Picture Book Must Read, Breathe (a Paula Wiseman Book with Simon and Schuster) which also claimed a Kirkus Review Best Read Aloud, Huffington Post Best Book 2014 and Chicago Public Library Best book of 2014 and more!

This, by all means, is not an all-inclusive list.  Please check out www.scottmagoon.com to see all the wonderful books Scott has brought to us.

Next up is the 3rd installment in the Nuts series collaboration with Eric Litwin of Pete the Cat fame!   Nuts Keep Rolling (a Little Brown Books for Young Readers) will grace my bookshelf and bookstores far and wide on April 18th, 2017.  Pre-order now through your local Indie, Barnes and Noble or Amazon!

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Who needs Candy?  I need books! Scott Magoon

Today’s blog features one of my most favorite people in Children’s Literature.  Just in time for Fall and Halloween and instead of candy you should indulge in Picture Books!

Scott Magoon’s latest collaboration I Will Not Eat You with Adam Lehrhaupt , (a Paula Wiseman Book with Simon and Schuster) is the story of Theodore who apparently likes to be left alone in his cave wondering if he’s hungry enough to eat the array of animals that we meet through Scott’s magical illustrations. Does Theodore just wish to be left alone?  He doesn’t seem to budge until a certain tempting morsel shows up to show him the way to adventure and fun or maybe just the way to dessert!  I was moved by the colors, bold strokes and composition.  Scott’s artistic style vibrates off the page and places you right in Theodore’s path.   Adam’s interpretation of Theodore’s gruff attitude is such a pleasure and reminds me of the days I just want to be left alone until the right opportunity comes along. This book will reside in all of the Doucette households for years and years to come.

You can view the book trailer here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ljqLuLhHzo

I was blessed to be introduced to Scott Magoon was back in 2007 when my love for all things Scotland lead me to the book he illustrated for Alice Weaver Flaherty, The Luck of The Loch Ness Monster (a HMH Books for Young Readers).  A great origin and friendship story of the Lock Ness Monster and a girl named Katerina-Elizabeth and their journey with oatmeal.  I fell in love immediately with the art and gave it to everyone that year as gifts. I then made it a mission to follow future collaborations with people such as, Tammi Sauer, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Michelle Knudsen, Joan Houb, Kara LaReau, Eric Litwin and many others.  

Along with his collaborations, Scott somehow found the time to launch his own titles such as I’ve Painted Everything, Mystery Ride, The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot and my favorite Massachusetts’s Center for the book 2015 Picture Book Must Read, Breathe (a Paula Wiseman Book with Simon and Schuster) which also claimed a Kirkus Review Best Read Aloud, Huffington Post Best Book 2014 and Chicago Public Library Best book of 2014 and more!

This, by all means, is not an all-inclusive list.  Please check out www.scottmagoon.com to see all the wonderful books Scott has brought to us.

Next up is the 3rd installment in the Nuts series collaboration with Eric Litwin of Pete the Cat fame!   Nuts Keep Rolling (a Little Brown Books for Young Readers) will grace my bookshelf and bookstores far and wide on April 18th, 2017.  Pre-order now through your local Indie, Barnes and Noble or Amazon!

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Mass Book Awards

Bonus Blog

Mass Center for the Book announced the 2016 Mass Book Award and Honor winners today!

These awards recognize and celebrate amazing contributions to fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s/young adult works by residents of Massachusetts or are about Massachusetts.

The top Picture Book Winner went to the amazing book Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed published by Candlewick Press and written by Leslea Newman and illustrated by Amy June Bates.

Ali Feldman won the Young Adult/Middle Reader Award with the wonderful, thought provoking The Thing about Jellyfish published by Little Brown.

Mass Book Award Honors went to well-deserved titles including a few of my very favorites!

Holly Black’s heart stopping The Darkest Part of the Forest published by Little Brown was honored in the Young Adult/Middle Reader category.

Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple were honored for their collaboration with Melissa Sweet for the beautiful, thoughtful You Nest Here with Me published by Boyds Mill.  

Also honored was Matt Tavares for his latest piece of treasured history, Growing Up Pedro published by Candlewick Press.

For a complete list of winners and more information about the Mass Book Award please visit massbook.org.

Congratulations to all the winners!

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Banned Book Week 2016!

Yesterday marked the first day of Banned Book Week 2016.  A week dedicated to enlightening us to the books that have been banned or challenged all over the United States. For 30 years The American Library Association has been working to make sure you know that our right to read is always under fire.

We all have heard of the classics that have been challenged from Mark Twain's’ Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to my favorite book, Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond.  The one book from my classics section I actually brought all the way to VA from Boston.

For an amazing look through the years check out the timeline presentation on the website below.  I loved it.

http://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/51787/Banned-Books-Week-Celebrating-30-Years-of-Liberating-Literature/#vars!date=1982-08-04_16:23:40!

After reminding myself what classics had been challenged just during these 30 years, I ventured into the Young Adult section and was genuinely surprised by some of the titles on the list.  I had heard of Stephanie Meyers’s Twilight series being challenged as well as Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy novels but I was not expecting Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park, NYT Bestseller, and all around beloved book.  Somehow I missed this controversy. You can read about this awesome book, the author and how the whole thing went down in an interview with her here; http://the-toast.net/2013/09/17/chat-rainbow-rowell-love-censorship/.

Also on the Young Adult list was 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.  I must have hand sold dozens of this title when it was published and still more through the years.  This book touched a place in my soul and had a huge impact on me as a mom, community member and bookseller.  I remember recommending this to parents and readers as a book they should read together and actually talk about!  It was that important.   This book launched the 50 States Against Bullying Tour and a soon to be released TV Series developed for NETFLIX.   Read more about it on Jay’s website.  http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/  

Censorship of our reading material has no place in the United States especially in our countries political climate today.  When a child does not have access to a book about growing up, overcoming obstacles or just how to be their best selves. There is a problem.  How will they learn to give everyone around them a chance regardless of race or sexual preference if they are not introduced to an array of people and situations?  How will humans evolve if not for those visionaries writing for us to learn?

Our current election has brought to light that we do indeed still have a ton work to do to make our country Free for all of its citizens.   To find our best selves.

Read a banned or challenged book.  Talk about it.  Stay active, Stay informed, Stay Strong.

For further information about Banned Book Week or to find lists of banned and challenged books please visit:  http://www.ala.org/bbooks/about

Happy Reading.

PS. TIDBIT~ Did you know Douglas Adams’ book The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy was banned in Canada and challenged here in the USA due to one word?  

@penguinteen @jayasherman @stmartinspress @rainbowrowell 

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Storytime Singalong with Emily Arrow!

Last August during my last event as Manager of Blue Bunny Books in Dedham, MA., I was lucky enough to meet Emily Arrow! Emily writes and performs song adaptions of some of my favorite Picture Books of all time. LOUISE LOVES ART by Kelly Light, WOLIE by Ame Dyckman, YOUR ALIEN by Tami Saucer illustrated by Goro Fujita and BE A FRIEND by Salina Yoon, just to name a few! Another favorite of mine THE CURIOUS GARDEN by Peter Brown was adapted by Emily and won her the 2015 John Lennon Songwriters award for Children’s category.

I am writing today because Emily not only has her own CD out and ready for you to purchase but she is also hosting FB LIVE concerts on Sunday and Wednesday nights!  What better way to get your week off to a great start than the lovely, amazing Emily singing songs and talking to all of us!  Feeling blah mid week?  Tune and and get a shot of inspiration!  I know it works for me! 

Emily’s CD titled: STORYTIME SINGALONG is a arrangement of Emily’s unique talents and my favorite stories.  I listen to her over and over again!  

You can purchase her music via her website or on itunes!  To learn more about this amazing, wonderful, caring, inspirational human being, please follow her on FB, Twitter or just check out her website @www.emilyarrow.com

 Trust me, you need to!

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Wish, Barbara O’Connor

The Book Wrangler

Welcome to my new site! The Book Wrangler is a year in the making and I’m going to start off with my favorite new section, The Book Review! I will also be sharing a great deal of book related information and doing a lot of book giveaways too, so I hope to see lots of activity from all of you!

This week I am reviewing Barbara O’Connor’s new Middle Grade Novel WISH.  The latest in my devoured pile!  Seriously, I could not put it down and cried a bit when I had to.

Family, Friendship, Peach Cobbler, Blue Ridge Mountains, Stray Dogs, Ratty Couches, Orange Jell-O, Love and most of all Wishes can be found in Barbara O’Connor’s book Wish.  Charlie is a nine year old girl trying her best to understand her current circumstances in Colby, North Carolina.  While learning to live with an estranged Aunt and Uncle she learns the meaning of all those wonderful things some of us take for granted.

It filled me with hope during a trying time.  I can just imagine the hope it will bring thousands of Middle Grade readers everywhere. Don’t Walk, Run to your nearest Indie and buy this book. Now. Or order from your online retailer.  I truly cannot recommend this book enough.  Wait, it’s 11:11 time for a wish. :)

Until next time, Happy Reading.

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This is a must for your Home or School Library!!

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4 days until A Torch Against the Night. Preorder your copy now!

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OUT NOW!! Great Read for October!  

As dark descends on us this week with Daylight Savings time I find I must tell you about Marin!  

Night comes to Marin’s island home not every 24 hours but every 28 years and brings with it a terrifying cold and creatures that we have nightmares about.   Left behind by her people along with her blind brother Kana they search for their best friend Line who has disappeared.  Filled with overwhelming darkness and a creepiness that I adored this book is a true hit!  Give it a shot and you might just find your October bestseller! 

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The very last Elephant & Piggie book! Tears will be shed by children & parents & booksellers & librarians & elephants & piggies. Thank You! Mo Willems & Thank You! Hyperion Books.

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Must have bunny pillows!!!

We have all those little somethings you might need.

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OUT NOW!! Great Read for October!  

As dark descends on us this week with Daylight Savings time I find I must tell you about Marin!  

Night comes to Marin’s island home not every 24 hours but every 28 years and brings with it a terrifying cold and creatures that we have nightmares about.   Left behind by her people along with her blind brother Kana they search for their best friend Line who has disappeared.  Filled with overwhelming darkness and a creepiness that I adored this book is a true hit!  Give it a shot and you might just find your October bestseller! 

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The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman is such an amazing, magical, exciting read.  I wanted to be Lady Helen every step of the way and experience her London in 1812.  With every breath she took I was rooting for her to embrace her true self.  Between juggling the search for her missing maid, her growing power, overbearing uncle and messages from her lost, traitorous mother Helen must follow her heart and help save the souls of London.  I wasn't sure if I wanted her to kill Lord Carlston or love him but I wanted so very much to have the choice to be alongside him.  I cannot wait until Goodman revisits Lady Helen Wrexhall and The Dark Days Club.

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Love

When my parents complain about the amount of money I spend on books

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You must accept the fact that others don’t see what you do.

Louise Bourgeois (via quotemadness)

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Welcome!

Happy Fall!  I am creating this blog to stay in touch with all my book friends and customers as I move on from The Blue Bunny!  Following weekly will be a blog about my favorite reads from first chapter, middle grade, young adult and adult books!    This way you can still have my recommendations!