A World of Wonder
News & Reviews for Kids, Teens, and Families
March 2018
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A Letter from Bethany
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Ongoing Events
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This is my first newsletter as the brand new Children's Book Buyer for the Tattered Cover! Being the Children's Book Buyer means I choose which children's and YA books will be on the Tattered Cover's shelves. It's a lot of fun--and a lot of reading. Luckily, I've never grown too old for kids' books. If you see me in the store, ask for recommendations--and if you have any feedback about the kids' section--you can email me at
Bethany.Strout@TatteredCover.com
. I appreciate each and every one of you for making our children's section a place for sharing books and exploring new ideas. Is there anything better?
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This month, I'm particularly excited about
A Couch for Llama
by Denver's own Leah Gilbert (my review is below), and the adorable picture book
Petra
by Marianna Coppo. Petra thinks she's a mountain...but when the illustration zooms out, she realizes she's a pebble! Or is she an egg? Or...? Pair with Brendan Wenzel's incredible Caldecott Honor-winning
They All Saw a Cat
to show that everyone has their own point of view. And don't miss Brendan at Tattered Cover Aspen Grove on March 26!
Thanks for reading and coming to Tattered Cover,
Bethany
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See below for March's VIB giveaway! You won't want to miss this new book by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
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Tattered Tales Storytimes
Young children are invited for a half hour of stories and fun. Everyone is welcome!
Colfax Avenue
:
Tuesdays at 10:30 am
Aspen Grove
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Mondays at 10:30 am
Historic LoDo
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Saturdays at 10:30 am
Friday, March 2,
6:00 pm, Aspen Grove
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Meet Bethany!
Children's Book Buyer
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I moved to Colorado two and a half years ago from New York City (before that Chicago, before that France, before that a village near the Adirondack Mountains). My brother-in-law grew up in Denver, and I'd been visiting for years. I wanted to spend more time with my niece and nephew, soak in the outdoors, and pick cross country skiing back up.
Before I came to work at the Tattered Cover, I was a book editor who worked on picture books, middle grade, and YA.
Some of the authors and artists I've worked with include Chris Colfer, Ame Dyckman, Wendy Mass, Blake Nelson, Zachariah OHora, Keith and Theodora Richards, Dan Santat, and Trenton Lee Stewart.
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Local Author Spotlight!
Meet Leah Gilbert
1. What inspired you to write A Couch for Llama?
I commute to Boulder for work, and occasionally I used to see some llamas grazing in a field as I drove by. Often there were cattle grazing, but I would always look to see if I could find any llamas. One day, I didn't see the llamas but I did see a couch sitting off the side of the highway and began wondering what would happen if the llamas found it!
2. Why did you choose a llama?
It's fun and cute and fluffy!
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3. Was it more difficult to design/illustrate an entire book compared to greeting cards?
I think they each have their own unique challenges. Books are difficult in that they have 32+ pages of continuous art that have to go together and flow naturally to tell a story, whereas I can make art for many cards that go together visually but don't necessarily have to directly tie into each other from one to the next. There's a lot more planning overall that I have to put into a book up front to get it all working right... Pacing, page turns, and the narrative take it to a whole different level, in my opinion.
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4. How did designing greeting cards prepare you for illustrating a book?
I think designing and illustrating greeting cards has definitely helped prepare me and influenced me, though! I have been able to use my artistic skills every day in a practical environment. I also do calligraphy and handlettering and lots of landscapes on the cards, which has influenced my work.
5. What are you reading now?
I love mysteries! I recently finished Vanishing Point by Lisa Harris. I am also always reading picture books...
Lola Dutch
by Kenneth Wright and Sarah Jane Wright, and
Read the Book, Lemmings
by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora are some recent favorites.
6. What is your favorite word?
I'm terrible at picking favorites! Maybe Sheboygan? That's the name of the city I'm originally from, and I guess it's a pretty fun word!
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TODAY: Thursday, March 1, 7:00 pm, Colfax Avenue
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Friday, March 2, 6:00 pm, Aspen Grove
Join the Aspen Grove staff for a themed night of stories, snacks, and activities!
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Wednesday, March 7, 7:00 pm, Historic LoDo
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Thursday, March 8, 7:00 pm, Colfax Avenue
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Wednesday, March 14, 7:00 pm, Aspen Grove
Rachel Hartman, author of the award-winning and
New York Times
bestselling novel
Seraphina
, will discuss and sign
Tess of the Road
($18.99 Random House Books for Young Readers), in which Hartman explores self-reliance and redemption in this wholly original fantasy. Hartman will be joined by YA authors Colleen Oakes and N.K. Traver.
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Sunday, March 18, 2:00 pm, Colfax Avenue
Author Kim Constantinesco will read from and sign her new picture book
Solar the Polar
($17.99 MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing), a fun winter romp about a snowboarding polar bear and a skier girl who is missing her legs below the knee. This tale gives a gentle nod to Arctic warming, snow safety, and enjoying life with a disability.
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Saturday, March 24, 1:00 pm, Colfax Avenue
Local author Kim Tomsic will host "So You Want to be a Writer: 11 Magical Tips to Make Your Writing Come Alive" workshop for ages 8-18. Tomsic is the author of the upcoming middle grade novel
The 11:11 Wish
($16.99
Katherine Tegen Books), about a middle schooler named Megan who wishes for "some magic" as her classroom's cat clock chimes 11:11. But Megan begins to wonder if wishing was ever a
purrfect
idea.
Registration available NOW!
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Saturday, March 24, 2:00 pm, Aspen Grove
Colorado artist and author Donna L. Cook will discuss and sign
The Tara Tree
($10.00), a timely tale of adventure, imagination, and friendship that puts the plight of our planet at the top of the list. It is the first in the Earth-friendly series called
Tales of the West Wind
.
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Tattered Cover's
Picture Book
Bestseller List
Based on February 2018
1.
Love
by Matt De La Pena, Loren Long (Illustrator)
2.
Lola Dutch
by Kenneth Wright, Sarah Jane Wright (Illustrator)
Barack Obama, Loren Long (Illustrator)
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Tattered Cover's
Picture Book
Bestseller List
Based on February 2018
Madeleine L'Engle
Todd Fahnestock
by Katherine Applegate
Kate Milford
W. Bruce Cameron
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Join us for a special Saturday Storytime as we welcome back our good friend, the Cat in the Hat! We'll read
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back!, play a game of Pin the Hat on the Cat, and have a themed snack! Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras.
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30th Annual Bookmark Contest!
Our annual bookmark contest asks children to create a colorful bookmark on the theme of reading. The winning entries are printed and distributed to customers during the course of the year.
Submit your entry by Friday, April 6, 2018.
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Do you believe four leaf clovers are good luck?
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Results from February's poll:
What is your favorite thing about Valentine's Day?
Valentine's-themed books
40%
The boxes of chocolate
20%
Giving and receiving Valentine's cards
20%
Pink and red decorations
20%
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The Tattered Cover
Kids' V.I.B.
highlights real stand-outs among new children's books or series because every now and then we’re so excited about a book we want to broadcast it from the rooftop!
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On shelves now...
by Kim Tomsic
“This charmingly delightful and magical story introduces us to Megan, the new kid in 7th grade. She accidentally stumbles upon the magic contained in an old cat-shaped clock in one of her classrooms…when the magic becomes real at exactly 11:11 am as she silently chants an old saying of her grandmother’s. Wild occurrences and antics ensue and Megan must find a way out of them all. A perfect kids’ book club or classroom pick—or just to read alone,
The 11:11 Wish
has themes of being the new kid, social acceptance and fitting in, and being true to who you are; issues that many kids struggle with. The book would be a great tool to tackle them. And it’s such a fun book at the same time! I thoroughly enjoyed it!” --
Kristen Gilligan, co-owner
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On shelves now...
by Leah Gilbert
"Do you want to be the first to know about an amazing new talent from right here in Denver? Pick up
A Couch for Llama
by Leah Gilbert! This delightful picture book features one of the cutest and most expressive animals I've ever seen, talks about dealing with change, highlights a truly relatable family (no perfectly clean living rooms in this book)--and shows a llama bouncing joyfully on a sofa! What more could you want? Kids will laugh, and adults will enjoy." --
Bethany Strout, Children's Book Buyer
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On shelves 3/6...
by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sara Palacios
"Aida de Acosta saw a man flying a motorized aircraft and decided she could do it, too. Regardless of what people said, she was determined to be the first woman to fly, and she was! Beautifully illustrated, this book shows that true determination will help you fulfill your dreams and possibly inspire others along the way." --
Suzanne, Kyffin Elementary Librarian
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On shelves now...
by Bob Staake
"Young Isaac is never interested in books, until he hears a legend about one that turns to gold when it is opened; but once he starts opening books, he realizes that each one is a treasure of its own. Every parent should read this children's book--even more than the children -- about how developing curiosity is the key to true riches." --
Becca Hennessy, Colfax Avenue retail manager
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On shelves now...
by Antonio Frasconi
"This might have been the best story I’ve ever read! A very magical story about friendship and care. This fantastic book taught me that everyone’s unique and special in their own ways, and that a true friend cares and believes in you." --
Haley F., Eldorado Elementary
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ARC Giveaway: March 2018
HOW TO ENTER
Email
Kristen
with "ARC Giveaway" in the subject line expressing your interest in being entered into the random drawing to win an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC).
THE RULES
You agree not to sell the ARC. You agree not to quote from the ARC. You must be able to pick up the book at one of our
Denver Metro locations
(Colfax, LoDo, Aspen Grove)
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Ghost Boys
by
Jewell Parker Rhodes (on shelves 4/17)
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that's been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing.
Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who grapples with her father's actions. Once again Jewell Parker Rhodes deftly weaves historical and socio-political layers into a gripping and poignant story about how children and families face the complexities of today's world, and how one boy grows to understand American blackness in the aftermath of his own death.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jewell Parker Rhodes is the author of
Ninth Ward
, a Coretta Scott King honor book,
Sugar
, winner of the Jane Adams Peace Association book award,
Bayou Magic
, and
Towers Falling
. She has also written many award-winning books for adults.
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Pop Culture Classroom has created a
FREE, bi-weekly comic strip
called Colorful History, with the goal of educating students about significant and diverse characters and events from Colorado’s history.
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~ Bringing People & Books Together Since 1971 ~
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Historic LoDo, 303-436-1070
Aspen Grove, 303-470-7050
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