{little blog of stories}

Tour de Nerdfighting Details

2012-01-11T14:32:00.007-05:00

John and Hank are coming!!!
(updated 1/12/11)

The date is getting close.
Here is most everything you need to know.

First, the event is sold out.
We have no more tickets available.

The John and Hank Green event is being held at Gaines Chapel in Presser Hall on the campus of Agnes Scott College. The college is adjacent to downtown Decatur. Presser Hall is located on South McDonough Street, and is about five blocks south of Little Shop. Here is a map of the campus. (Presser Hall is building #5.)

Parking: Presser Hall is directly across the street from West Parking (P2). This is the only visitor parking lot on the Agnes Scott Campus. This parking deck is likely to fill early, so be prepared to find alternative parking and walk. Parking is also available at Decatur High School on West Howard Avenue just west of South McDonough Street, and at the county parking deck located at the corner of West Trinity Place and Commerce Drive.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m. First come, first seated, and we expect some people to be lining up early. For those of you arriving relatively late, Presser Hall is a wonderful venue with great sight lines and good sound, even if you are seated up in the balcony.

If you have yet to pick up your pre-purchased copy of The Fault in Our Stars, we will have a copy ready for you, along with your ticket. We will also be selling paperback copies of John's other books as well as tour related t-shirts, CDs, and posters. (Please note that John will -- time permitting -- sign a reasonable number of his other books and that John and Hank will sign, but not personalize, non-book items.)

Following John and Hank's presentation, the brothers will be signing and personalizing books. This will be done in an incredibly orderly fashion, with the audience coming up by row. So the benefits of arriving early will be (1) to get a seat closer to the stage and, should you want your book personalized, (2) to be relatively early in the signing line.

If you are the designated driver, but did not purchase a book (and thus get a ticket to the event), there is plenty to do while you wait. Agnes Scott has a beautiful campus. Downtown Decatur is a short walk away, and features the most awesome children's bookstore in the entire universe, some excellent restaurants and superb pubs, pubs, and pubs. (The irony of a children's bookstore directing designated drivers to bars is not lost on me.)

Oh, Christmas Tree

2011-12-18T16:09:00.001-05:00

Dennis, over at Next Stop ... Decatur, posted this excellent art postcard of the 2011 Christmas Tree lighting celebration held on December 1st.

Thanks, Dennis!

You may have noticed that "there's a light on this tree that won't light on one side." Actually, it was a bunch of lights. We tried to fix it, but we can't tell if a bad string of lights is to blame or whether something got unplugged way up in the tree on one windy night.

Either way, I think it was probably caused by the Grinch.

NYT Notable books of 2011

2011-12-17T20:41:00.000-05:00

The next time you're in the shop, check out our display table just inside the door- it's full of titles from the New York Times' list of notable children's books for 2011. We can really get behind this list, as it has a lot of staff favorites, such as:

I Want My Hat Back, which demonstrates the foolishness of stealing anything from a bear;
I MUST Have Bobo, which proves that no matter what, your cat will triumph over you in a contest of wills;
The Scorpio Races, which is sort of like Misty of Chincoteague, but with evil carnivorous horses (it's better than it sounds);
Me, Jane, which is about (among other things) how childhood toys can influence your career;
and my personal favorite book of ANY genre this year, Okay for Now, which is just a story about a kid who moves to a small town and likes baseball... but read it. You'll agree with me.

These books are good. So, so, SO good. Come in and look at 'em!

Attention, guys who read and those who shop for them!

2011-12-16T12:51:00.000-05:00

Do you have a hard-to-shop-for fella? Or are you just a guy who likes to read? Pick up one (or all!) of our 2012 selections for the Guys Who Read! They are (drumroll please)...

January: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
February: Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
March: The Hobbit by Tolkien
April: Just Kids by Patti Smith
May: Rising Tide by John M. Barry
June: On Writing by Stephen King
July: Dune by Frank Herbert
August: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
September: City of Thieves by David Benioff
October: Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut
November: The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima
December: Guards! Guards! by Sir Terry Pratchett

If you are unfamiliar with the Guys Who Read, they are the book group here at Little Shop for, well, guys who read (more specifically, those guys who are of legal drinking age). They meet at the shop on the third Thursday of each month and head over to one of our wonderful local pubs (most recently Mac McGee's) to have a few beers and talk about books and anything else they feel like talking about.

You don't have to be a member, or shopping for one, to pick up one of these great books, but book club purchases get a 15% discount, and the set of 12 books would be an awesome holiday gift for any guy (and he can return or exchange any he already has).

On a side note, new book group members are always welcome! Let us know if you'd like to be added to the email list.

EVERYTHING You Need to Know!

2011-12-06T09:32:00.054-05:00

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
On The Same Page's
INCREDIBLY EXCITING EVENING

with

NORTON JUSTER

and special guest

LEONARD MARCUS

Friday evening

December 9th

7 p.m.

Presser Hall
Agnes Scott College

Tickets: All tickets have been distributed. If everyone who obtained a ticket shows up, every seat will be filled. If you do not have a ticket but would still like to attend, you can come and get in line but we can not guarantee you a seat. However, there is a considerable likelihood that some people with tickets will not be able to come to the event. So if you're really, really interested, come early!

Seating: This event is, for those who have a ticket, first come, first seated. Doors open at 6 p.m. You must be seated by 6:50 p.m. If you are not, we might be giving away your seat and you may not get in to the event. Good News: We will not be using the overflow room. If you have tickets for the overflow room, you will be admitted to Presser Hall. As such, we will be treating blue tickets and beige (overflow room) tickets the same. At 6:50 p.m., if there are empty seats, we will begin admitting people who do not have tickets.

The Event!!! The event will be in the format of an interview, with Mr. Marcus questioning Mr. Juster. This will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Book Signing: Mr. Juster and Mr. Marcus will sign books following their presentation. People wishing to get books signed will be called up by rows. Mr. Juster will sign one book per family. He will sign one additional book if that additional book is purchased from Little Shop of Stories for the event.

Books for Sale: We will be selling copies of the following at the event (all prices include sales tax):

The Phantom Tollbooth: the 50th Anniversary Edition, by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer ($25.68);

The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer, annotations by Leonard S. Marcus ($32.09);
The Phantom Tollbooth (paperback), by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer ($7.48);

Neville, by Norton Juster, illustrated by G. Brian Karas ($19.25);

The Dot & the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics, by Norton Juster ($10.69);

Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way, by Leonard S. Marcus ($42.80);

Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy, compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus ($23.53);

The Wand in the World: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy, compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus, paperback edition ($16.04); and
Nursery Rhyme Comics, introduction by Leonard S. Marcus ($20.32).

Please note that we will have a limited number of copies of each of these titles for sale. Also, it is our hope that there will be a limited number of pre-signed copies of the first two books listed available for sale. So buy early and buy often.

A Few Words About the 50th Anniversary Edition: First of all, it is beautifully bound. It contains a brief introduction by Norton, an appreciation by Maurice Sendak (which was written for the book's 35th anniversary), and celebrations written by, among others, Jeanne Birdsall (see below), Michael Chabon, Suzanne Collins, Phillip Pullman, and Mo Willems.

A Few Words About the Annotated Edition: This contains a 31-page history of the book, written by Mr. Marcus, and including photographs. The annotations by Leonard are engaging, informative, and often humorous. It is fantastic. I loved it!

Both of these editions are treasures.

A Few Words About Norton Juster (from a Random House web site):
Norton Juster is one of the most influential, and beloved children’s books authors of our time. Perhaps best known for his children’s classic, The Phantom Tollbooth, his writing has touched generations of young readers, sparking a love of literature in many of them. Reviews of the book have appeared in many national publications including The New Yorker, which hailed the book as “a classic”‘ and The New York Times, which said “Norton Juster’s amazing fantasy has something wonderful for anybody old enough to relish the allegorical wisdom of Alice in Wonderland and the pointed whimsy of The Wizard of Oz.” Norton has appeared at numerous schools, libraries, and conferences across the country, where he talks to students, educators, and parents about his life, his writing style, and much more. The year 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth and the media is already preparing to feature this renowned book and author in anniversary pieces. The Phantom Tollbooth has currently sold close to four million copies since its publication almost 50 years ago.

Born in June of 1929 in Brooklyn, New York, Norton Juster was an architect and planner, and is professor emeritus of design at Hampshire College. In addition to The Phantom Tollbooth, he has also penned a number of other highly acclaimed children’s books, including The Dot and the Line, which was made into an Academy Award-winning animated film, and the recent The Hello, Goodbye Window, illustrated by Chris Raschka, which was awarded a Caldecott Medal. The musical adaptation of The Phantom Tollbooth, which was first introduced 15 years ago, continues to be performed in schools and theaters nationwide, and was recently produced at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, touring the country for eight months.

A father and a grandfather, Norton Juster resides in Amherst, MA with his wife.

A Few Words About Leonard Marcus (from Leonard's web site):
Leonard is a rare bird: a renowned historian and critic and one of the children's book world's liveliest writers and speakers.

His highly acclaimed books about children's literature and the authors and artists who create them include: Funny Business; Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way; Minders of Make-Believe; Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon; Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom; A Caldecott Celebration; Side by Side; Pass It Down; Storied City; and The Wand in the Word.

Leonard was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, where he attended the public schools. He holds degrees in history from Yale and poetry from the University of Iowa Graduate Writers' Workshop. In 2007, Leonard was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Bank Street College of Education. He and his wife, the picture-book artist Amy Schwartz, live with their son Jacob in Brooklyn, New York.

I will be adding information to this blog post for the remainder of the week. Keep coming back!

The First Family is On The Same Page!

We're still holding your tickets, Mr. President.

Pick them up at your convenience.
However, please be aware that if you are not seated by 6:50 p.m.,
we may have to give away your seats.

Jeanne Birdsall is On The Same Page

NPR is On The Same Page

(well, at least we're putting them On The Same Page)

Publisher's Weekly article

about Little Shop of Stories being

On The Same Page

The Phantom Tollbooth Turns 50 Documentary

A special thanks to our partners who helped make all this happen:

Decatur Rotary Club

How On The Same Page Came Together

1. Determination - We at Little Shop of Stories had talked about doing a community-wide reading program for years. Talking about it and doing are two different things. But early this year Krista was determined that it would happen, and she made it happen. Go Krista!

2. Selecting a Book - The Little Shop staff got together and came up with a wish list for our very first book selection. Knowing that The Phantom Toolbooth would be celebrating its 50th anniversary, Diane easily convinced the rest of us to place this title at the top.

3. The Negotiations - An essential element of our program was to have the author visit us to talk about his/her book. So we had to find out if Norton Juster would come to Decatur. Krista spoke with Sarah, our Random House representative, and got her excited about the idea. Sarah talked to her bosses and got them excited. Diane and Dave went to New York to meet with very important people at Random House, the publisher of The Phantom Tollboth, and got them excited. They talked to Norton Juster and got him excited. The bottom line is that the negotiations were very exciting. Getting Leonard Marcus, the author of the Annotated Edition, to come was a very exciting bonus.

4. The Name - Lots of different possibilities were bandied about, but when Sunny came up with "On The Same Page" we all knew that she had nailed it.

5. The Logo - Rob, Little Shop bookseller extraordinaire and graphic artist with Mudhouse Design, came up with this. We love it!

6. The Tollbooth - Marcy made it. Everyone got excited! (Photo by Katie.)

7. The Boost - The Decatur Education Foundation wanted to be involved. Yes! The Decatur Rotary Club, as part of their literacy efforts, wanted to help and they really stepped up. Yes!

8. The Announcement - We talked to the very important people at The Decatur Book Festival, and they got excited. DBF agreed to co-sponsor the program, and helped us secure Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College for Norton's visit. They also allowed us to make The Announcement on September 3rd on the Children's Stage at this year's AJC Decatur Book Festival. So Krista got up on stage and made the big announcement and read from the book and kids acted out part of it and everyone got excited! (Photo by Ralph Ellis, Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch.)

8. Book Club Training - We wanted to work with existing book clubs (including several here at Little Shop), classrooms, libraries, and other groups (scouts, church groups, neighborhood groups) who might be interested in reading and discussing The Phantom Tollbooth. We put together packets with discussion questions, bookmarks, a crossword puzzle, and other good things, and conducted a training session for discussion leaders.

9. The Proclamation - We were excited when the mayor of Decatur, Bill Floyd, issued a Proclamation declaring October 25th -- the official 50th anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth -- as the On The Same Page Day of Reading!

10. Reading - People read The Phantom Tollbooth! Lots and lots of people. Hundreds upon hundreds. Maybe thousands! Even big time famous authors like Jeff Kinney (with Sunny), Rick Riordan (with Diane), Carmen Deedy (inside the phantom tollbooth), and James Dashner (inside Little Shop)!!!

11. The Movie - We screened The Phantom Tollbooth (1970) at Decatur High School on October 27th. The live action / animated film was directed by the incomparable Chuck Jones. Hundreds of people came to see the movie!

12. Halloween - Some kids couldn't resist. Only in Decatur would a kid get excited about dressing up as Milo or Tock!

13. The Phantom Tollbooth Extravaganza - Little Shop was excited to host a discussion, debate, and spelling bee on November 17th. Rhyme and Reason were there. We made people eat their own words!

14. The Visit - Norton Juster is Coming! Leonard Marcus is Coming! It's almost Friday! Can you tell we're excited?!

Think about this: according to Wikipedia, there were a total of 288,355 new titles and editions published in the United States in 2009. Logically, about the same number of books must go out of print every year. Very, very few books stand the test of time. It is a truly remarkable achievement to write a book that is on the shelves of virtually every library and most every bookstore fifty years after its initial publication.

The 2011 Decatur Christmas Tree

2011-11-30T12:39:00.012-05:00

Here are the facts:

What: The Decatur Christmas Tree Lighting

complete with: hot chocolate, carols from the Voice of 5th Avenue, sweet treats,
and maybe even a visit from a jolly man in a red suit

Where: East Court Square

right in front of Little Shop of Stories

When: Thursday December 1st 7 p.m.

Who: All of Decatur!

Why: Because we can't contain all this Christmas spirit!

How: See below.....

Here is the story:

We've found the perfect tree at Noel Forest Christmas Tree Farm, in Cartersville.

It takes a village to move a 30-foot Christmas Tree.
Thank goodness we had help from friends and the guys at
Atlanta Peach Movers!

Thad and Jugs trim down the base of the tree so that it will fit into the tree stand. (Last year we forgot to measure the tree stand and had to do this back at the shop. This year we learned our lesson.)

Transporting the tree to the truck.

Krista LOVES Atlanta Peach Movers. Check out this awesome jump shot. (This is what she was doing while the men figured out how to get the tree into the truck.)

Now we just have to get it into the truck.

Yes, we know. It's huge. Maybe we went overboard.

Here is the crew from Atlanta Peach Movers.
These guys were awesome.
Use them if you need to move something!
Efficient, hardworking, and friendly, too!

Here's the whole team who went to get the tree, happy that it's finally in the truck. But the work is just beginning...

Here we are on Tuesday morning, trying to figure out how to get the tree lifted and leaned against the building. We literally recruited people off the street to help lift it while six men on the roof pulled and grunted with all their might. When it was in place, Krista shouted, "It's a Christmas miracle!" Rob looked at her and said, "If it magically appeared up here it would be a Christmas miracle. This was just Christmas hard work."

Krista and Terra are ready to decorate!

Sunny was fearless on the 20-foot scissor lifts. Once we got into the tree, we forgot how high up we were, but at first most of us were pretty nervous. By the end of the day we were decorating like pros, though. It took six hours, 100 strands of lights, dozens of ornaments, and then we were ready for King Tree Experts to bring their crane and lift it onto the roof.
We really couldn't do this without King Tree Experts!
Those guys are fantastic!

The tree is decorated and ready to go on the roof!
If you want to see it lit, come to the tree lighting event on
Thursday night at 7 pm.
See you then, and Happy Holidays!

Also, we want to add that while the pictures shown are of the physical work it took to get the tree on the roof, this wouldn't be possible without the sponsorships of local businesses. So many businesses contributed to make the tree a reality, and we are so appreciative! So thanks to the following for their support in getting this tree up on the roof! Apolinsky & Associates, Atlanta Peach Movers, The Bakery at Cakes & Ale, Cafe Alsace, The Cookie Studio, The Cook's Warehouse, Decatur Downtown Development Authority, Erbert and Gerbert's Sandwich Shop, Fidelity Bank, Greene's Fine Foods, Harry Norman Realtors, Homegrown, King Tree Experts, Leon's Full Service, McCurdy & Candler, LLC, Mingei World Arts, Mudhouse Design, My Own Bookkeeper, Joan Rau, LMT, Sherlock's Wine Merchant, Squash Blossom, Starbucks Coffee, Townsend Concrete Services, Veritas Planning Group, and Wild Oats & Billy Goats.

I still don't know what "plotz" means.

2011-11-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

First of all, let me admit: I do not celebrate Hannukah. So in that way, I am not at all qualified to make this blog post, seeing as it's all about Hannukah gift giving. However, I AM an avid gift-giver, and with some friends who celebrate Hannukah, I had to do some research, and those of you in my same situation may benefit from it.

First of all, do not be intimidated by Little Shop's Giant Wall of Christmas (check out the picture). If you're looking for books that are actually about Hannukah, they are all the way on the right- very easy to find.

I have three books that I enjoy giving as sort of accompaniments to the holiday books- not actually about Hannukah, but very funny and appropriate. The first one is Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher, by Laurel Snyder. If not already stashed with the Hannukah books, it will be found in the picture book section.

The other two are board books, so they are located in the purple house at the back of the store, with the other board books. There are BabYiddish, also by Laurel Snyder, and Let's Nosh!, which is part of a series about different kinds of food. They are both fantastic, and small enough to pair with another gift.

Happy shopping!

President Obama Is On The Same Page!

2011-11-28T09:14:00.006-05:00

On Small Business Saturday, President Obama went shopping with his two daughters, Malia and Sasha. "Where did they go?" you might ask.

To a bookstore! The president and his kids made purchases at Kramerbooks & Afterwards Café in Dupont Circle, not far from the White House. "And what did they buy?" you might ask.

Among their purchases was Norton Juster's, The Phantom Tollbooth, the first selection in Little Shop of Stories' community-wide reading program!

They're now On The Same Page!

President Barack Obama is On The Same Page

How cool is that!

Little Shop of Stories is now holding FOUR tickets to the Norton Juster event on December 9th for the First Family. The limit is normally two tickets, but what the heck.

You can pick them up at the will-call table, Mr. President.

Besides The Phantom Tollbooth, they also purchased the following books: Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz; Tails, by Matthew Van Fleet; Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, by Jeff Kinney; Zen Shorts, by Jon Muth; The Tiger's Wife, by Tea Obreht; Descent into Chaos, by Ahmed Rashid; and The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. (An excellent mix of great books.)

Here's the AP video!

2011-11-25T17:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I am loving this picture book. My Bear Griz, by Suzanne McGinness, is about a boy named Billy who loves bears. As you might infer from the picture, I can totally relate. However, while I have to settle for a hat, Billy has a grizzly bear friend named Griz, and they do all kinds of fun stuff. I would normally contend that gold-sequined bears are far superior to other, non-sequined bears, but Griz kind of takes the cake for awesomeness. I particularly enjoy the scribbled notes on the margins of the illustrations. Come in and read it today!

Norton Juster is Coming Soon!

2011-11-23T10:36:00.013-05:00

AN INCREDIBLY SPECIAL EVENING

with

NORTON JUSTER

and special guest

LEONARD MARCUS

Friday evening

December 9th

7 p.m.

Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College

No, he's not Santa Claus. It just kind of feels that way.

We couldn't think of a better present that a visit by Norton Juster, the author of The Phantom Tollbooth. As an incredibly special extra gift, Norton will be joined on stage by Leonard Marcus, perhaps the most knowledgeable person alive on the subject of children's literature and editor of The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth.

This is the culmination of our On The Same Page community-wide reading program that was originally designed to be a Decatur thing, but has caught the imagination of schools and libraries around DeKalb County as well as in Gwinnett County, Atlanta, and Cobb County. We couldn't be more thrilled.

This is a ticketed event. Tickets -- limit two per person and absolutely free -- can be obtained in person at Little Shop of Stories. Tickets are now also available over the phone. We'll hold them at will-call until the event.

Jeff Kinney is Coming, and He's Bringing Snow!!!!!!

2011-11-15T18:51:00.014-05:00

This is the truth. Honest. We couldn't make this kind of stuff up.

Jeff Kinney

author of the outrageously popular

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

series, is coming to the Decatur Square this Saturday, November 19th.

This is guaranteed to be one bizarre event.

First, Jeff is bringing snow. More accurately, he's bringing a truck of ice and another truck with a snow making machine. He'll be turning part of the Square into a blizzard aftermath. The snow area is free and open to the public starting at 11 a.m.

Pretty cool, eh?

Actually, the forecast calls for partly cloudy and 62 degrees.

Jeff will be speaking at the gazebo at noon. After that, he'll start signing books.

You will need a ticket to get in the book signing line. There are a limited number of tickets, but that number happens to be 1,000. (Jeff is a very generous guy.) One ticket is good for one family.

To get a ticket, go to Little Shop of Stories and purchase a copy of Jeff's newest book, Cabin Fever. It just came out today! Then you'll get a free ticket.

On Saturday Jeff will sign every book that you purchase from Little Shop of Stories for this event. He'll also sign up to two books brought from home. In the interest of keeping the line moving, Jeff will be signing only -- no personalization.

If available, remaining tickets for the signing line will be given out the morning of the event, while supplies last.

This should be a blast. Everyone at Little Shop had a great time with Jeff when he was here a couple of years ago. (He only brought a pen.) Jeff didn't come last year, but he did send a ~~Popsicle~~ frozen sugared confection truck to Decatur to give out free purple frozen sugared confections to promote Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, and we gave out a lot of those free purple frozen sugared confections. This year, it's both Jeff and a winter wonderland.

Wahooooooo!!! We look forward to seeing you all!

Chickens!

2011-11-03T20:11:00.001-04:00

Dear Little Shop of Stories blog readers,

You may or may not know that I (Marcy) am a big fan of chickens. Right now I am particularly chicken-obsessed because I have some brand-new baby chicks at home. In my defense, my chickens are SO cute that there would have to be something wrong with me if I didn't have chickens on my mind. Look at the picture- I took that in my dining room. I mean, really. Irresistible. BUT my job is telling you about awesome books, not my pets. However, I can multitask.

So without further ado, I present to you my favorite chicken books.

1. Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golson. Mr. Golson is a real keeper of chickens, and is goofy enough to have written a book documenting the crazy places (like laundry baskets and the driver's seat of a truck) his hen Tillie lays her eggs. It's full of fantastic pictures (not illustrations) of his house and farmyard, and he even provides a page with picures of all the hens in his flock, and their names.

2. Coop by Michael Perry is a sequel to Truck: A Love Story and is a wonderful book to read if you like your philosophical ponderings couched in terms of funny country living misadventures. This is a man who turns his endeavors at building a chicken coop and pigpen and garden into an epic journey of the mind and spirit. If I didn't already want to live on a farm, I would have begun to want to by the time I was halfway through this book- plus, he doesn't hold back on the gritty (and often hilarious) workings of the reality of life on a small farm.

3. Extraordinary Chickens is, well, extraordinary. Just as a hypotehtical, let's say that you want to keep chickens- maybe you're even a little obsessed, not that we know anybody like that, of course- but people look at you funny when you say so. I suggest that you leave this gorgeous, gorgeous book on your coffee table. It's a collection of photos (with handy-dandy information included) of all the fun and crazy breeds of chickens you can keep. It's also a fantastic gift for anyone who is already a fan of chickens, even if they don't keep them.

4. Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, by Gail Damerowe, is the quintessential book for anyone actually wanting to keep chickens. I could go on and on about it, but if you're into chickens it would be super boring, and if you ARE into chickens, you just need to get a copy, right now, and read it immediately. It's not something we typically keep in stock, but if you call ahead we can order it for you.

5. The Chicken Thief by Beatrice Rodriguez is the first in a trilogy of gloriously quirkly picture books documenting the complex relationship between a fox and a chicken. Theer are no words, so you are left to interpret the story based solely on the drawings. The bookstore staff has had many lively discussions- is it true love? Stockholm sydrome? What's the significance of the frying pan? Join us in loving this goofy book!

6. Busy Chickens is a great way to start off your little people on the route to chicken-craziness. It's sort of the board book version of Extraordinary Chickens, with rhymingly-captioned photos of chickens doing silly things. There's a whole series, with Busy Doggies, Busy Piggies, et cetera, and they are all delightful.

Some Newish Picture Books to Love

2011-10-24T14:42:00.000-04:00

Fall is our favorite season for new books. With the approaching gift buying season, the quality of stuff arriving each day is outstanding. It especially feels like Christmas in October when we get to open the boxes filled with new picture books!

Here are some of Diane's newish favorites:

Peter Brown is #1 on my list of Authors and Illustrators Who Have Not Visited Little Shop Yet But Need to As Soon As Possible. So, if he's reading this, he needs to know this: Peter Brown, You Will Be My Friend!

In a sort of sequel to last year's absolutely adorable, Children Make Terrible Pets, our exuberant bear friend, Lucy, decides that she will make a new friend. Today. Like. Right. Now. She learns the hard way that sometimes being especially eager might not work, but really, there is a friend for everyone, if you just be yourself. She's a bear after my own heart.

Illustrator Bob Staake is a not so distant second on my list. Okay, maybe he and Peter Brown are actually tied for first.

Past favorites that Bob has either authored and/or illustrated include The Donut Chef, Cars Galore, and Look! A Book! He has a wonderfully engaging and unique style, and we just GUSH over his books at the shop. Written by first time picture book author, Jack Lechner, Mary Had a Little Lamp, is an irreverent retelling of a song from childhood with which you might be familiar.

Dear Emma Dodd,

We love you, especially now that we have your delicious little book, I Am Small.

Will you marry us, or atleast come visit?

Love,
Little Shop of Stories

I think that I write about Susan Jeffers every year when I talk about some of my favorite picture books. Some of you might be familiar with her version of The Nutcracker, which is our favorite of all the versions. She also illustrated the lovely edition of Robert Frost's Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening that we always sell out of at Christmas time. Her latest is a yummy-to-look at retelling of Hansel & Gretel. And yes, I am waiting for her to come visit.

It has occurred to me that all of the books on this list fall under the category of Authors and Illustrators Who Have Not Visited Little Shop Yet But Need to As Soon As Possible. And that all of the above mentioned authors and illustrators are #1 on my list!

The Picture Book Proclamation

2011-10-21T14:22:00.000-04:00

There seem to be a lot of proclamations flying around these days. Here is one that we can stand behind. A group of picture book writers and illustrators have banded together to write a proclamation in support of picture books. It begins "Proclamation: We are tired of hearing the picture book is in trouble, and tired of pretending it is not." What follows are a list of beliefs, comdemnations and declarations about the current state of picture bookdom. There are some great insights here, put forth by some big names, including Lemony Snicket, Jon Scieszka, Adam Rex, Carson Ellis and others. Click the image for a better look at what they are proclaiming, or go here to see a big version. What do you think?

New life to old rhymes

2011-10-18T09:45:00.000-04:00

I picked up a book over the weekend for my son, as a reward for helping serve root beer for two hours (thanks to everyone who drank with us) and wanted to let others know what an incredibly great book it is. Nursery Rhyme Comics is a collection of 50 nursery rhymes illustrated by some of the best and brightest in the cartooning world today. Its a brilliant concept, and the results are often inspired and surprising. One of my son's favorites was Dave Roman's take on "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe", which involves a wizard/inventor, clones, sticks of butter, and of course, a big fat hen. It was a fine example of what is great about this book. The old worn-out rhymes are often re-interpreted in a way that gives them new life and relevance to an audience beyond drooling, book-gnawing toddlers.

Each rhyme is presented in simple panel format, making it a great book for beginning readers like my son, who was able to sit down and read through most of it on his own. And if you are a connoisseur of cartooning and illustration, you will love the incredible work in this collection. My favorite was Craig Thompson's "The Owl and The Pussycat". Thompson is the mind and pen behind Blankets, considered one of the finest graphic novels out there. His drawings of the Owl and Pussycat tale are truly beautiful.

Next time you are in the shop, be sure to take a moment and page through this collection.

Root Root Root for your Favorite Root Beer

2011-10-17T10:31:00.003-04:00

The results are in, and they prove that while kids really are different than adults, they're not all that different.

A total of 87 people rated the root beers and other beverages at the First Annual Decatur Root Beer Festival held at Little Shop of Stories on Saturday.

In the root beer category, Abita was the clear favorite for kids, followed by Sprecher. Jones was a distant third, and Blue Sky was fourth.

Adults had a strong preference for Sprecher, followed by Abita, Virgil's, and Blue Sky.

In the non-root beer category, Sprecher Orange Dream soda was ranked first by both kids and adults.

Kids put Dr. Brown's Cream Soda and Reed's Spiced Apple Brew in a virtual tie for second place.

Regatta Ginger Beer came in second among adults -- kids ranked it dead last -- followed by Reed's Spiced Apple Brew. Adults appear not to have liked the selection of creme sodas.

Thanks to everyone who came! We received several suggestions about next year's festival. Moxie ("Make Mine A Moxie!") from Maine was the most requested beverage.

Two words for next year: burping contest.

"Wait," I hear you saying, "where am I going to get my root beer fix between now and next year???" I have some suggestions.

Brick Store Pub - Not only do they have great beer, they have great root beers available as well. They typically have interesting sodas, such as Virgil's, available, along with all the other typical soft drinks. Brick Store also helped us bring in many of the beverages we featured at the Root Beer Festival.

The Beer Growler in Avondale Estates has Abita Root Beer on tap.

Your DeKalb Farmers Market has some interesting sodas. The downside is that you have to buy it by the case.

David's Produce Market on LaVista Road has a very unique selection of sodas that can be purchased individually.

The Fresh Market - there are several in the Atlanta area - has a wide selection sold both individually and by the six-pack. Most of their root beers are well known but not widely available.

We'll see you next year!!! (Actually, we hope to see you many, many times in between.)

It's a Beautiful Day for a Root Beer

2011-10-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

It's a beautiful day for a root beer

At the Root Beer Festival today

The fans are out to get a ticket or two

From Warrenton in Warren County up to Calhoun

It's a beautiful day for a root beer

But even a cream soda's okay

We're gonna say "cheers"

And groove

And raise a hallabaloo

At the Root Beer Festival today!

Some Tickets Remain for the Decatur Root Beer Festival

2011-10-13T09:06:00.005-04:00

The first ever Decatur Root Beer Festival is
THIS SATURDAY
at Little Shop!!!

There are still tickets, and they're only $5!!!

This is a ticketed event because we want to make sure that everyone who attends has a good experience ... and plenty of root beer. As of right now it appears that tickets will not sell out, so you can come the day of the event.

There are two time options: 2 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. To see a complete list of the thirteen available beverages to sample, click here.

Abita! Mmmmm. Jones! Mmmmm. Sprecher! Mmmmm.

We're really excited!

Diane Has Actually Read Two Books in One Week!

2011-10-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

This doesn't happen often, folks- so please take note. With too much time on my hands, I have resorted to reading books in their entirety- in just a matter of days. It makes Marcy look like a lazy reader.*

Here's what's grabbed my attention this past week:

OMG! I'm a sucker for a great cover and title, and this one just sucked me in. Both the cover and title are brooding and mysterious, just like the novel's main character.

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel is a haunting and beautifully written prequel of sorts to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. A young and conflicted Victor struggles with the darker side of human nature as he attempts to save his beloved twin brother's life. It's a brilliant story, and readers of Frankenstein will have no trouble seeing how Victor the boy became Victor the man, determined to disregard the bounds of science and mortality. Teens who have enjoyed Rick Yancey's Monstrumologist series will really enjoy this one. It's a perfect book to curl up in bed with on a rainy, cool, kind of creepy fall night...much like tonight!

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy is a wonderful, new book for readers of middle grade. Part historical fiction, part fantasy, part coming of age with a sweet, sweet young romance, it's the story of 14 year old American Janie, forced to move to London with her parents after they are suspected of being Communists during the Second Red Scare in the early 1950s. She quickly becomes friends with Benjamin, a wannabee spy, when Benjamin's father, a mysterious apothecary, goes missing. Espionage, nuclear weapons, magical elixirs, and young love- I love this book!!

*This is a test.

First Annual Decatur Root Beer Festival Details

2011-10-03T10:52:00.005-04:00

We're really excited about the upcoming Decatur Root Beer Festival.

Tickets are still available. Amazingly, they did not sell out in the first hour, the first day, or the first weekend!

However, we did sell a substantial number, so don't miss out. Come in and get your tickets soon.

Not only will you get a chance to taste each of these drinks, you will also receive a commemorative plastic cup!

Little Shop sends out a huge 'thank you' to the Brick Store Pub for helping us get in a lot of these great beverages! Remember them the next time you are thirsty.

Here's a final list of beverages to be presented at the First Annual Decatur Root Beer Festival:

Root Beers

1. Abita Root Beer - Abita Springs, Louisiana

2. Blue Sky Root Beer - Hansen Beverage Company, Corona, California

3. Dr. Brown’s Root Beer - made by Canada Dry, part of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Plano, Texas

4. Jones Root Beer - Seattle, Washington

5. Sprecher Root Beer - Glendale, Wisconsin

6. Stewart’s Root Beer - made by Canada Dry, part of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Rye Brook, New York (limited supply)

7. Virgil’s Root Beer - Los Angeles, California

8. A (hopefully) special surprise root beer

Not Root Beers

9. Dr. Brown's Cream Soda - made by Canada Dry, part of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Plano, Texas

10. Jones Cream Soda - Seattle, Washington

11. Reed’s Spiced Apple Brew (ginger beer) - Los Angeles, California

12. Regatta Ginger Beer - Westport, Connecticut

13. Sprecher Orange Dream - Glendale, Wisconsin

I was also going to bring in some standard fare, such as A&W Root Beer. However, we'll have a sufficient supply of the really good stuff. We've got enough for each person to drink the equivalent of three 12 oz. bottles of soda. You may not get caffeinated, but you will get sugared!

Cheers!!!

Updated: October 7, 2011

First Annual Decatur Root Beer Festival!!!

2011-09-29T00:21:00.017-04:00

graphic by Mudhouse Design

October 15, 2011

______

2 to 3 p.m.

______

3 to 4 p.m.

Little Shop of Stories

133 East Court Square

Decatur, Georgia 30030

cheap!!!

If you didn't get tickets to the Decatur Craft Beer Festival, there's still an opportunity to enjoy frothy suds on October 15th. Come to Little Shop and purchase a ticket for the

First Annual Decatur Root Beer Festival

Tickets go on sale October 1st at 10 a.m. at
Little Shop of Stories.

In order to avoid total chaos, there are a limited

number of tickets available for two separate times.

Tickets will be valid from 2 to 3 p.m. or from 3 to 4 p.m.

______

We'll be updating this blog as root beers, as well as other root and bark flavored drinks are received.

We anticipate a total of about fifteen different beverages

(if we don't drink them all first).

We've started to order, but we're open to recommendations.

______

Warning: tickets for the Decatur Craft Beer Festival sold out in one hour, 18 minutes.

Don't delay ... get your FADRBF tickets SOON!!!

Warning: the First Annual Decatur Root Beer Festival is being held on the same day as the Decatur Craft Beer Festival.
Expect crowds in downtown Decatur.

Carmen Agra Deedy Book Relase Party!

2011-09-28T10:09:00.004-04:00

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale

Book Release Party

Saturday

October 1st

1 p.m.

You may know Carmen as a phenomenal storyteller.

You may know Carmen as a New York Times Bestselling author of picture books, including 14 Cows for America, Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach, and The Library Dragon.

Now you can know Carmen as an outstanding chapter book author as well!

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale has been released to superb reviews.

Diane read it, and loved this story of a cheese-loving cat who meets up with a mouse in need of help and become best friends. The characters also include a famous author with a serious case of writer’s block. This sweet story is one of our favorite new fall reads!

We're thrilled to have Carmen back at Little Shop. She's always great, even when she doesn't have a new book to present. However, it's even better when it's a special occasion like this!

To celebrate, we're bringing in fall weather.

Refreshments will be served, including … well, go ahead and take a guess.

Bigger Than A Bread Box Book Release Party!!!

2011-09-26T16:28:00.003-04:00

Little Shop is honored and really excited -- how could we not be? -- to be hosting the International Book Release Party for Laurel Snyder's newest novel, Bigger Than A Bread Box, this Friday, September 30th, at 7 p.m. Bread Box takes place in Baltimore and Atlanta, so we'll try to have regional treats from both places on hand. (Tastykakes, anyone?)

Laurel is (almost) a Decatur resident. (She lives in East Atlanta. That's close!) When it comes to writing books for kids, she's a triple-threat. Her 2010 middle-grade novel, Penny Dreadful, was an E.B. White Read-aloud Honor book. Nosh, Schlep, Schluff: Babyiddish, a board book, came out earlier this year. Laurel also has written a couple of picture books, including Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher.

As good as her previous books have been, Bread Box (Random House) is truly a notch above. This is perhaps the best kids' book I have read this year.

Bigger Than A Bread Box goes on sale Tuesday, September 27th, at 10 a.m.

Buy the book, read the book, and come to the party on Friday. We'll have a great time!!!

Praise for Bigger Than A Bread Box!

Rebecca’s mother uproots her away from father, friends, Baltimore, and everything she knows and transplants her in Atlanta. At twelve years of age and living at her grandmother’s house, Rebecca tries to cope with the help of a magical bread box which produces anything she wishes — as long as it fits inside. Laurel Snyder’s fourth middle-grade novel is, despite the fantasy aspects, an oftentimes achingly sad coming of age story in which Rebecca has to come to terms with the limits and consequences of her wishes, and with life’s circumstances beyond her control. This is balanced by the great sensitivity Laurel has for the protagonist and a wonderfully written sense of place. Bigger Than A Bread Box is a superb book that has continued to resonate long after the last page was read. - Dave Shallenberger, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur

Like Penny Dreadful before it, Bigger Than A Breadbox has the charming old-fashioned feeling of middle-grade stories from the 60s, but with a contemporary bent. Rebecca’s parents’ sudden separation forces her to move to Gran’s house, where she discovers a magical breadbox that seems to produce anything she wishes for from thin air. But as is always with wishes, something is amiss. This simple magic-realist story is really about a girl trying her best to deal with some of the toughest parts of growing up, and grappling with some important ethical questions in the process. - Hannah Manshel, 57th Street Books, Chicago

The voices are clear and believable, and the characters complicated and real. It is such a pleasure to have real literature for children ... books like this are the reason I am a passionate bookseller. I can't wait to recommend it to middle-grade readers and librarians. - Carol Moyer, Quail Ridge Books & Music, Raleigh

Laurel Snyder's books always feel so cozy to me, fun and sweet and relatable. Her newest ... is a must-read for middle grade readers. - Lauren Peugh, Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop, La Verne, California

"Everything felt wrong, lopsided. I knew from the weird fuzzy humming inside my head," thinks 12-year-old Rebecca Shapiro as her family ruptures before her eyes. Rebecca's father has been out of work, and her mother is fed up; after a big fight with her husband, she packs up the children and drives from Baltimore to Atlanta to visit Rebecca and Lew's grandmother. When Rebecca discovers this isn't just a quick visit (her mother has a temp job for herself lined up and a new school picked out for Rebecca), she's furious. One day while exploring her grandmother's attic, Rebecca finds a magic breadbox that will grant any wish that fits inside it: a cookie, money, pens, lip-gloss, candy, or a diamond. But Rebecca comes to understand that the box won't solve her problems (conversely, it creates some enormous ones); she has to do that on her own. Introspective and rich with delicate imagery, this coming-of-age tale shares themes with Snyder's Penny Dreadful (2010). The insightful, memorable, and complex characters that Snyder creates result in a story with the same qualities. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

By the time I picked up the galley for Bigger than a Breadbox, I had heard from no fewer than five colleagues that I had to read it. I’ve long been a fan of Laurel Snyder, and I truly believe this is her best book yet. It’s funny, it’s sad, and even though there are hints of magic, it gives a very realistic depiction of a tween girl struggling to fit in at school, find herself, and deal with her parents’ separation. I think young girls and their moms would benefit from reading and discussing this together.” – Erin Zlotnik, Random House

Wal Mart vs. Amazon

2011-09-20T10:40:00.004-04:00

For those of you who limit your Wal Mart shopping because of the way they treat their employees but continue to make purchases with Amazon, here's an eye-opening account from The Morning Call, the daily paper of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The article details working conditions inside the local Amazon warehouse, focusing on employees forced to work in incredibly hot temperatures and the use of temporary workers.

Writing Classes are Back at Little Shop!

2011-09-11T18:07:00.001-04:00

Creative Writing Classes are Back!

This time, for kids AND adults! Both of these classes will meet at Little Shop and will be taught by Terra Elan McVoy, author of Pure, After the Kiss, and The Summer of Firsts and Lasts. Terra is a former manager at Little Shop, and also is Program Director of the Decatur Book Festival. We have two options of classes to choose from. To sign up, just call the shop (404) 373-6300 or come in and pay the tuition, and we'll get you signed up.

Writing Like a Grown-Up, But Thinking Like a Kid
Wednesdays, Oct 5-November 16 (skipping 11/2); 6:00-7:30 P.M. Cost: $250
Hey, grownups! Still haunted by scenes from Charlotte’s Web or James and the Giant Peach, and think you could write a great kids’ book? During this once-a-week-for-six-weeks class, we will be looking at and learning from some of the masters of children’s literature (both classic and new) —plus exploring our own imaginations and histories— to create what may or may not become the next Pippi Longstocking. We’ll cover plot and character development, (not) writing-as-exposition, writing for your audience, and other sharpening techniques. By the end of the class you should have pages and pages of raw material, a lot of good notes, plus several well-developed ideas and one or two outlines to get you on your novel-writing way. Materials you’ll need (yes, on the first day!) are a writing notebook and pen (plus backup pen), a friendly disposition and a willingness to share, discuss and learn with the group.

Writing for Young People
Mondays, Oct 3-November 14 (skipping 10/31); 4:30-5:45 P.M. Cost: $200

Hey, middle school writers! Have a lot of story ideas, but not the time to work on them in school? Got started on a story but now you're stuck? Or just love writing and want to do more of it, and better? Then this creative writing class is for you! We'll work on character development, getting your characters into trouble, why revision is important, how to make your writing really pop with description, and other great writing tips! You'll need to bring with you, always, a writing notebook and pens (or your laptop if that works better), an eagerness to learn, and a willingness to share your work!

What A Book Festival!!!

2011-09-05T13:44:00.001-04:00

Thanks to everyone -- authors and fans -- who came out to the 6th Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival! It's truly the highlight of our year.

We have signed copies of books of many of the featured authors. While we are out of signed Wildwood (Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis), we do have SkippyJon Jones (Judy Schachner), Pete the Cat (Eric Litwin and James Dean), A Tale of Dark and Grimm (Adam Gidwitz), Spiderwick Chronicles (Tony DiTerlizzi), and much more.

No Mas

2011-08-30T15:05:00.001-04:00

All the remaining tickets to the Colin Meloy / Carson Ellis keynote address at the AJC Decatur Book Festival have been snatched up.

We have a sufficient supply of Wildwood for sale.

We hope that we will have signed copies of Wildwood available for sale on Saturday morning at Little Shop of Stories.

Physically, it a beautiful book. The paper quality is superb, with the color illustrations on special paper.

I'm sooooooooo excited!!!

Dave

We Have More Keynote Tickets!

2011-08-29T12:23:00.001-04:00

This just in: we've scored some more tickets to this Friday's Decatur Book Festival keynote address with Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. Come in after 2pm to pick up yours! They will go fast.

What's That Cat Got in Those Shoes???

2011-08-26T20:52:00.017-04:00

Congratulations to

Eric Litwin

and
James Dean,

author and illustrator of

Pete the Cat:
Rocking in My School Shoes

#1 on the
New York Times Best Sellers List!!!

and

Pete the Cat:
I Love My White Shoes

#2 on the
New York Times Best Sellers List!!!

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes has climbed to #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list to be published this Sunday.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes has climbed to #2!

Eric and James will be Grand Marshals at the AJC Decatur Book Festival parade to be held on Sunday, September 4th. Line up starts at 11:30 a.m. Come wearing the shoes you love! The rocking parade then starts at 11:45. James and Eric will then be presenting on the Children's Stage at 12 noon.

The children's picture book that got knocked off the top of the list (where it had spent five weeks) is SkippyJon Jones, Class Action by Judy Schachner. It's now #3.

Judy will be Grand Marshal at the AJC Decatur Book Festival parade to be held on Saturday, September 3rd. Line up starts at 9:30 a.m. with the parade starting at 9:45. She will then be presenting on the Children's Stage at 10 a.m.

Pete and Skippy.

Two cool cats on top of the world!

While we are thrilled for Eric and James, you may be asking yourself why their books have been so phenomenally successful. I wrote this appreciation last year just after HarperCollins published their first book. I still think it's a pretty good piece.

Dave

Last Day to Book the Brick!

2011-08-23T12:16:00.000-04:00

From the Decatur Book Festival website:

Best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Joshilyn Jackson and Clyde Edgerton are among a half- dozen writers being “auctioned” off for charity next month in Decatur, Ga.

The authors – all of whom are appearing at the Decatur Book Festival Sept. 2-4 – agreed to spend 1 hour with the highest bidder, enjoying drinks and conversation at Decatur’s famous Brick Store Pub. Fans can place their bids on eBay until Aug. 24 (search term: “Book the Brick”).

Sponsored by the festival and the Decatur Education Foundation, the “Book the Brick” auction was designed to raise money for youth literacy programs in the community. Winning bidders also receive a signed copy of the author’s latest book.

Other authors participating include Hollywood stuntman Hal Needham, director of “Smokey and the Bandit” and now author of “Stuntman!”; teen / tween author Lauren Myracle, whose latest book is “Shine”; Susan Rebecca White, author of “A Soft Place to Land” and “Bound South”; and Atlanta writer and satirist Andisheh Nouraee, co-author of “Americapedia.”
Winning bidders may bring a guest.

It's a great cause and could be great fun. To place a bid on ebay, click here. Time is running out!

The Long and the Short of It

2011-08-13T11:59:00.000-04:00

Little Shop is partnering with the American Cancer Society for a very special storytime this Monday, August 15th at 4pm. Join us as the authors of The Long and Short of It share their book about the brave boys and girls living with cancer and the amazing children who help them. This book follows the stories of two young girls: one who wantes her hair to be longer, the other has lost her hair to cancer treatment. Come and show your support and learn how a simple act of giving can change lives.

AJC Decatur Book Festival Keynote Tickets

2011-08-08T15:36:00.001-04:00

PLEASE NOTE: LITTLE SHOP HAS DISTRIBUTED ITS ALLOTMENT OF TICKETS TO THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS. SORRY, BUT WE HAVE NO MORE.

Little Shop of Stories has received its allotment of tickets to the Keynote Address for the Sixth Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival. Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, author and illustrator of Wildwood, are the Keynote speakers.

Information about Colin, Carson, and Wildwood can be found here.

Tickets will be distributed at Little Shop on a first come / first served basis, with a maximum of two tickets per person. There is no charge for a ticket. Due to the high level of interest, we expect to give out all our tickets quickly.

You may pre-order your copy of Wildwood at Little Shop of Stories. The book comes out on Tuesday, August 30th. Little Shop will also be selling Wildwood at the Keynote Address.

The Keynote Address will be held on Friday evening at 8 p.m. at Gaines Auditorium at Presser Hall on the Agnes Scott campus. Seating will be on a first come / first served basis. A ticket does not guarantee you a seat inside Gaines Auditorium; additional seating will be available in an overflow room with a video feed.

Go, Pete, Go!!!

2011-08-06T00:41:00.014-04:00

Congratulations to

Eric Litwin

and
James Dean,

New York Times Best Selling

author and illustrator of

Pete the Cat:
Rocking in My School Shoes!!!

You may recall that their first book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, made the New York Times Best Sellers list last year.

Well, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes has debuted at #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers list to be published on Sunday.

And, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is back on the list at #6. Amazing!

Book two is #2,
and those two are
two for two!!

Eric and James will be Grand Marshals at the AJC Decatur Book Festival parade to be held on Sunday, September 4th. Line up starts at 11:30 a.m. with the parade starting at 11:45. They will then be presenting on the Children's Stage at 12 noon.

The children's picture book that is listed #1 on the new New York Times Best Sellers list (for the third consecutive week) is SkippyJon Jones, Class Action by Judy Schachner. (Please note that Skippy is also a cat, albeit one who thinks he is a Chihuahua.)

Pete and Skippy. Two cool cats!

Vicky Shecter Book Release Party on Friday!!!

2011-08-04T21:21:00.004-04:00

Little Shop of Stories is really, really excited to be hosting the book release party for Decatur area resident Vicky Alvear Shecter on Friday, August 5th, at 7 p.m.

Her first young adult novel, Cleopatra's Moon, was just released by Arthur Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic (those folks who bring you Harry Potter and the Hunger Games series). The book follows Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, from childhood into her teen years.

Many of you already know Vicky. She helps run our classics-themed summer camps: Camp Half-Blood and Camp Kane. She has written two nonfiction books about the ancient world: Alexander the Great Rocks the World and Cleopatra Rules! In addition, Vicky is a docent at Emory's Carlos Museum. All of which is to say that Vicky knows her stuff.

Vicky can also write! Cleopatra's Moon received a great review in the L.A. Times and a very nice mention in the Wall Street Journal: "In life, Cleopatra Selene survived the machinations around her and became queen to King Juba of Numidia, in North Africa; in this absorbing historical novel, she becomes a woman with a tenacity and heart that would have made her famous mother proud."

Please join us on Friday evening. We'll get Vicky to do a reading and take some questions. Refreshments will be served. It should be a great time.

And congratulations to Vicky!!!

Maggie Stiefvater will be here on Monday!

2011-07-29T18:43:00.000-04:00

On Monday, August 1st, at 7pm, Maggie Stiefvater will be at Little Shop of Stories! And she'll talk! And sign books! And we're really REALLY excited! And we're over-using exclamation points! Seriously, though, Maggie's books are amazing, particularly her Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. If you haven't read Shiver yet, hustle on over here and grab a copy before we sell out. Be sure to come out and meet Maggie on Monday, too!

I'm Rocking ... In My School Shoes

2011-07-19T16:46:00.001-04:00

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes!!!

Friday

July 22nd

7 p.m.

Because it's all good.

Borders (1971-2011)

2011-07-19T00:56:00.003-04:00

Borders, the second largest bricks and mortar bookstore chain in the country, announced yesterday that it will go before a bankruptcy judge tomorrow and request approval to turn their business over to liquidators. It is expected that all of Borders' remaining stores will begin going-out-of-business sales on Friday.

We feel very, very sorry for the 10,700 remaining employees (and the more than 7,000 who were terminated earlier this year) who will soon be out of work, thousands of whom have spent a decade or more of their lives as dedicated booksellers. Through no fault of their own, these folks will be joining the 9.2% of Americans who are currently unemployed and seeking jobs. Our hearts go out to each of you.

Pete the Cat Book Launch Party!!!

2011-07-18T10:13:00.009-04:00

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY!!!

Pete the Cat:
Rocking in My School Shoes

with
New York Times Best Selling Author Eric Litwin
and

New York Times Best Selling Illustrator James Dean

We're superexcited to be hosting the launch of

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes!!!

Pete's first book,
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes,
was incredibly well received.

Besides making the
New York Times Best Sellers List,
it won
James Patterson's Read Kiddo Read Award,
Georgia Center for the Book's list of
"25 Books All Young Georgians Should Read",
and an
E.B. White Read-Along Honor Award.

So come on out and help us celebrate the newest Pete!

Music

Art

Catnip

Friday

July 22nd

7 p.m.

Harry and the Potters Today at Noon!!!

2011-07-10T08:33:00.002-04:00

The best of wizard rock invades
Little Shop of Stories

for one show only!

Appearing on our main stage will be
none other than the mythical,
the magical, the sometimes maniacal

HARRY AND THE POTTERS!!!

Come rock out with us.

After all, if we don't

save Ginny Weasley from the baskilisk,

who will?

Sunday, July 10th at high noon.

Tickets: $10 ages 13+; $5 ages 12-

Wildwood Is Coming to the AJC DBF!

2011-06-23T13:55:00.002-04:00

I've blogged for the past several days about Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis coming to the AJC Decatur Book Festival. Now it's time to talk about their book.

Wildwood is primarily set in the ominously titled Impassible Wilderness, a wooded area just across the river from Prue McKeel's neighborhood in Portland. When her infant brother, Mac, is taken by crows to the IW, twelve-year-old Prue is determined to get him back -- even thought no one who has entered the IW has returned to talk about it. Joined by casual acquaintance and nerdy classmate Curtis Mehlberg, Prue finds the IW to be populated by humans (including bandits and mystics) and talking animals (such as coyote soldiers, an avian army, and a friendly rat), politically subdivided, and in danger of being destroyed by one very, very nasty woman. Prue and Curtis are soon separated and go on parallel adventures inside the IW, and both have to figure out who is friend, who is foe, and with whom they can forge alliances in their efforts to find Mac and bring him safely home.

The most obvious comparison is to C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, though Wildwood feels contemporary and is certainly a lot more fun.

Written as the first book of a trilogy, Wildwood is targeted toward children ages 9 and up. Those on the younger end should be forewarned that Wildwood is 560 pages in length, uses a substantial vocabulary, and generally gets off to a slow start.

For those who forge ahead, the trip is extremely worthwhile. The pace quickens, the fantasy/adventure kicks into gear, the characters develop, and the story's finale is climactic and clever. Prue and Curtis develop into fascinating protagonists with secrets not fully revealed; the book works equally well for girls and boys.

Wildwood will also have considerable crossover appeal; adults will enjoy the political satire and an eco-friendly, Pacific Northwest vibe.

Carson Ellis' ink and watercolor illustrations are elegant and fit well into the classic tenor of the book. Besides contributing artwork to album covers and posters for The Decemberists among other things, Carson has illustrated a number of chapter books.

Though this is his first novel, Colin Meloy is no stranger to writing. He has a degree in creative writing from the University of Montana and his songwriting for The Decemberists is oftentimes described as "literary." To the extent that such things are genetic, Colin's sister, Maile Meloy, is an award-winning author whose first children's novel, The Apothecary, comes out this November.

Wildwood goes on sale August 30th.

Carson Ellis and Colin Meloy appear together as the keynote speakers at the 2011 AJC Decatur Book Festival on Friday, September 2nd.

Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis Are Coming to the AJC DBF!

2011-06-22T08:44:00.001-04:00

Here is a video of Colin and Carson discussing their book, Wildwood. It's pretty cool!

If you double click on this video it will appear on full screen mode.

Double click again to reduce it.

Carson Ellis Is Coming to the AJC DBF!

2011-06-21T10:48:00.002-04:00

Carson Ellis, illustrator of Wildwood, will be joining author Colin Meloy as keynote speaker at the 2011 AJC Decatur Book Festival. (She even blogged about coming here already!)

Carson has illustrated a number of books, including those by Trenton Lee Stewart and Lemony Snicket, as well as numerous album covers for The Decemberists.

Wildwood contains an ambitious number of black and white illustrations (the artwork was only about half completed when the advance copies were printed) and a handful in color. Her ink and watercolor style is detailed and distinctive, evocative of woodcut printing. This illustration is of Septimus the rat, and was her final completed drawing for the novel.

If there weren't enough reasons to appreciate Portland, Oregon's Carson Ellis, here's one more: go to her website and click on one of the covers from her "books" section. It provides a link to purchase the book from her great hometown independent bookstore, Powell's Books!

Colin Meloy Is Coming to the AJC DBF!

2011-06-20T10:58:00.003-04:00

Colin Meloy, frontman for The Decemberists, is one of the keynote speakers for the 2011 AJC Decatur Book Festival.

His first novel, Wildwood, is being published by Balzer + Bray (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) on August 30th.

After Colin Meloy was confirmed for the DBF, I went down the street to Decatur CD. Not terribly familiar with The Decemberists, I asked Warren for some recommendations. He very enthusiastically recommended their newest recording, The King is Dead (which debuted at #1 on the charts earlier this year), and two other CDs (Her Majesty and Picaresque). Warren spoke of fond memories seeing the band in concert at Chastain several years ago, appearing with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

In describing Colin Meloy's music, Warren used the word "literary" about seven times.

It is of little surprise to fans that Colin became a novelist, though I'm not sure anyone would have expected his debut work to be a children's book.

(Wildwood is for adults as well. A book review will follow this week.)

We're very excited to be welcoming Colin Meloy to the AJC Decatur Book Festival!!!

- Dave