Always a reason to celebrate
With Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day and President's Day all happening this month, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate and expand your reading and gifting right here on our shelves.

We've got lots of events in the works, partnering with schools and authors, continuing our commitment to connect our reading community with other fellow book lovers. Read on and connect with us!
— the River Bend booksellers
Snow Time for Reading?
A fresh coat of snow means plenty of time to curl up with a good book and/or a loved one and have a great excuse (not that you need one) to read. Here are some titles you might like to share with your little snow angels.
School Partnerships
River Bend Connects Kids to Authors
More than 400 students in classrooms and homes across Connecticut interacted with author Alan Gratz — Refugee, Allies, Ban This Book and the new release Ground Zero — about his writing and more in a recent virtual visit we hosted.

River Bend is now partnering with schools and communities even more to connect kids with some of their favorite writers.

Sign up here to reach out and get your school involved!
Author Events
River Bend is also bringing events back to our readers. Here are a few upcoming virtual book launches and conversations we've got lined up!

Join us for these exciting talks and more:

• Sam Taylor: We Are The Fire Feb. 16 - 7pm
in conversation with author Joanna Ruth Meyer 

• Amanda Dennis: Her Here March 11 - 5pm
in conversation with novelist Clare Beams

with author Tananarive Due in conversation with Mary Kay Zuravleff

April 29 - 7pm

Tickets to these events are free, but registration is required, so click through to the above event pages and nab your spot today!

Stay tuned for more fun and news, including Independent Bookstore Day in April!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
EVENT REMINDER!
Don't forget River Bend is hosting local author Sam Taylor for the launch of her debut novel We Are the Fire.  

This Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7pm ET.
From Our Booksellers
River Bend bookseller Audrey Beatty has been featured twice recently in Indie Next Lists — seen in indie bookstores across the country — for her reviews of two new books she loves!
Seen in the February 2021 list, Audrey raves about Dantiel W. Moniz's debut Milk Blood Heat.

"Milk Blood Heat grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The prose blisters with a beauty so raw and intense it borders on horrifying. With widely differing characters, voices, and settings, each story makes its own unique contribution to the collection, yet each propels the reader onward in turn. Dantiel W. Moniz is a jaw-dropping new star on the literary stage."
And, if you're looking for a great new recommendation for children, look no further than the Winter 2020-2021 Kids' Next list, where Audrey praises Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho with illustrations by Dung Ho.

"Eyes That Kiss in the Corners is a stunning #OwnVoices picture book that highlights a young Asian girl's self-love and appreciation of her eye shape. It is a characteristic that binds her to women across generations in her family. The beautiful prose of Joanna Ho is richly complemented by Dung Ho's vibrant illustrations. This book is a moving tribute to the beauty of diversity both in physical appearance and heritage."
Pick up either of these lauded books in the shop or any of the titles our other booksellers are enjoying below!
What We're Currently Reading
 Libro.fm Listen:
Audiobook Pick
Katherine May delves into the literal and metaphorical winters we endure in her ripe-for-the-season health-meets-nature memoir Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.
Book2Look4:
Pre-order Pick
Poetry wunderkind Amanda Gorman struck such a chord at the inauguration with an amazing reading. The laureate has a forthcoming book of poems The Hill We Climb and Other Poems and a picture book Change Sings — both out in September. But, publishers are rushing a release of the poem itself —with a foreword by Oprah Winfrey— for March 30. Preorder your copy of Amanda Gorman's books with River Bend.
Join River Bend in celebrating the brilliant depth of
Black History Month this February
with the titles on this reading list and call the shop for plenty more!