***Note the special time!*** 
Let's all hold out hope that the COVID numbers will be low enough that we can safely and happily celebrate Rebecca's new book in-person together, outside, at the store! If conditions should change, we'll move this online.

We love Rebecca Caprara so much! She runs our middle-grade book club and is generally the best person! We're so proud to launch her newest title into the world, a novel in verse, Worst-Case Collin! Join us as we celebrate our dear friend Rebecca in person at the store!

More about Worst-Case Collin: 

Twelve-year-old Collin has a plan to survive any worst-case scenario. Avalanche? No problem. Riptide? Stay calm. He’s 100% prepared for every disaster…except maybe his home life.

Collin is always prepared for something to go wrong. Ever since he lost his mom in a car accident, he’s been journaling about how to overcome things like avalanches, riptides, or even a bad case of halitosis. Meanwhile, Collin’s father grows more distant by the day, and has started hoarding things throughout their house. Determined to hide his home life from his friends, Collin navigates middle school alongside the hilarious and clueless Liam, and Georgia, who Collin may have feelings for. Can Collin learn to be vulnerable around those he loves, even when he can’t control every possible scenario?



This is such a big deal and we're so excited to share it with you. Fans of the store know how much we love middle-grade. It's only fitting that our first middle-grade event of the season be a launch for our middle-grade book club reader and awesome friend! Come safely party and celebrate us! 

Don't forget to preorder! Preorder today to received a SIGNED copy from Rebecca! 

Note the special time! Perfect for your early Fall visit for West Acton Village! Get some lunch (and ice cream!), then come see us for this great with event with local authors Betsy Uhrig and Sarah S. Brannen! *We're monitoring COVID-19 conditions and will move this online if we feel it's not safe to gather in person.   


We were delighted to launch Betsy's debut novel, Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini last winter and now she's back with her latest middle-grade offering, Welcome to the Dweeb Club! We can't wait to host her and her friend, local author &  Sarah S. Brannen, illustrator of Summertime Sleepers, which came out in April. 

More about Welcome to the Dweeb Club: 

What if a school club changed your life forever?

In the second week of seventh grade, Jason Sloan signs up for the brand-new HAIR Club. He and his friends have no idea what it’s about, but since they’re the first to sign up they figure they’ll be in charge in no time. The club turns out to be super weird: using fancy new equipment donated by a mysterious benefactor, the members are supposed to monitor school security footage. Their first assignment: find out what is stealing the cafeteria’s croutons.

Instead of the expected dark cafeteria, the computers show the club members something else entirely: actual footage of themselves as high school seniors, five years in the future! What on earth could be happening? Is it some kind of time warp, or alternate reality? Or is it just an un-funny prank? As they scramble to solve the mystery, they can’t help but notice something else—none of them like what they see five years from now. Is there any way to change the future—and their fates?

Figuring out who you are and who you want to become has never been funnier in this laugh-out-loud romp through the perils of middle school—and beyond.

More about Summertime Sleepers: 

All science classrooms discuss animals that hibernate during winter months, but few know about animals that estivate—a prolonged sleep during hot or dry periods. Dual layers of text awaken readers to the reasons estivating animals become dormant—whether it’s because warm weather threatens food supply or to avoid increased body temperatures. From the ladybug to the salamander, from the lungfish to the desert hedgehog, twelve estivating animals and their habits—both when sleeping and awake—are explained through clear text and elegant watercolor illustrations that create a scrapbook feel.


We're delighted to welcome back both of these wonderful authors and neighbors to our store, and we hope you'll come out to see them! The event will be outside and we ask that you bring your mask and practice proper distancing. 

 

It's a Middle-Grade, yes, but it's a READ ALOUD. A Cozy, wonderful, warm, gooey read aloud! Egg Marks the Spot is the PERFECT book for your Fall reading pile. For you, for your kids, for your classroom!


We are so excited to welcome back Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake, author of the Skunk and Badger series, who returns to us with the second book in the series, Egg Marks the Spot. Amy's books are middle-grades, but they are read-alouds and it matters! Believe us! We've read this one out loud to our kids and really enjoyed ourselves. Be sure to check out the first book, Skunk and Badger while you pick up this one, too, which is available on September 14th! 

Amy will be in conversation with fellow author Lisa Yee, author DC Super Hero Girls series, as well as American Girl books, and the upcoming Maizy Chen's Last Chance, due out in February! We're really looking forward to hosting them both to celebrate this new book and hear more about the young readers landscape! 

More about Egg Marks the Spot: 
 

Buried in the heart of every animal is a secret treasure. For rock scientist Badger, it’s the Spider Eye Agate he found as a cub, stolen years ago by his crafty cousin, Fisher. For Badger’s roommate, Skunk, the treasure is Sundays with the New Yak Times Book Review. When an old acquaintance, Mr. G. Hedgehog, announces his plan to come for the Book Review as soon as it thumps on the doorstep, Skunk decides an adventure will solve Badger’s problems as well as his own. Surprisingly, Badger agrees. Together
they set off on an agate-finding expedition at Badger’s favorite spot on Endless Lake.

But all is not as it seems at Campsite #5. Fisher appears unexpectedly. Then a chicken arrives who seems intent on staying. Something is up!

Indeed!

Secrets, betrayals, lies

. . . and a luminous, late-Jurassic prize.
 

This book also features full-color plates and additional black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott medalist Jon Klassen!


You don't want to miss this talk! You don't want to miss this book!

This event is a Zoom webinar for the safety of our guests and audience. You can register to receive the Zoom link by clicking here. Don't forget to mark your calendar!  

  

Two of our favorite children's book authors are wrote a book TOGETHER and we are so excited to host them! And this Saturday Morning Story Time is a Double Feature! 

We're delighted to welcome back Debbie Michiko Florence, author of many of the beloved middle-grade works in our store (like Keep it together, Keiko Carter! and Just be Cool, Jenna Sakai!) and Jamie Michalak, author of such favorites as the Joe and Sparky series and Frank and Bean! It's awesome to see them again after this long pandemic and especially to celebrate the release of their new collaboration, Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites! Jamie will also be reading her new, gorgeous picture book, Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter. It's been a while since we've had a Story Time Double Feature! Come and enjoy it! 

More about Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites: 

This picture book biography tells the story of Niki Nakayama, a powerhouse Japanese-American chef, and her rise to fame.

As a child and adult, Niki faced many naysayers in her pursuit of haute cuisine. Using the structure of a traditional kaiseki meal, the book playfully details Niki's hunger for success in thirteen "bites" — from wonton wrappers she used to make pizza as a kid to yuzu-tomatillo sauce in her own upscale Los Angeles Michelin-starred restaurant, n/naka.

To anyone who tells her a woman can't be a master chef, Niki lets her food do the talking. And oh, does it talk. Niki was featured on the first season of Netflix's culinary documentary series Chef's Table!

A smart, strong woman with starpower, Niki is only just getting started -- like the young readers who will devour this book!


More about Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter:

Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter is both a rollicking story with a dash of danger and, in its final eye-popping spreads, a seek-and-find challenge. As the clock in the great museum tick-tocks past midnight, a little mouse with a sack and a treasure map scurries past the guards. Plucky and intrepid Dakota Crumb scours the museum for artifacts, including the famous Purple Jewel of Cairo (a gumdrop stashed in an exhibit). By day, the little mouse shares her carefully curated finds with fellow tiny creatures that flock to Miss Crumb’s tiny Mousehole Museum. A feast for sharp-eyed readers—who’ll delight in circling back after the story to pore over the illustrations in search of treasure—this gently suspenseful tale, splashed with soft, dusky hues, evokes a world of wonders after dark.



Come for the fun, stay for the stories, go home with two fantastic picture books that will be sure to liven up your book corner this year. And don't forget that these books make wonderful gifts for the young reader in your life and the teacher's library in any classroom! 

*We are watching the COVID-19 numbers and carry the same concerns as you do. Should the numbers become too high or the Department of Public Health tells us to do so, we will move this event online. Stay tuned to our website to any changes regarding this or our other in-person events. 

 

This event is so big, we can't contain it in a title and we can't contain it in our store. We've gotta take it to The Bull Run in Shirley and we gotta break it down in this text. Read this. Get your tickets. Get pumped. 


We couldn't contain it all in the title, so let's try again here: 

ESPN journalist and author Seth Wickersham, who broke major Patriots stories like Spygate and Deflategate, oracle of the great Brady-Belichick Breakup, has written the book on the 20-year Kraft/Belichick/Brady Dynasty. It's Better to be Feared is the book Patriots fans are going to be reading and talking about and arguing over. We can't believe our good fortune that we get the opportunity to host Seth the night before the book launches. You know what that means? 

This is what it means: It means if you come to this event, you get to experience Seth talk about his book, get an autographed copy of it, and then go home to start reading it before anyone else has a chance to. For $40. That's it. Everything about this screams buy your tickets now.

 
Did we mention that Seth will be in conversation with Globe journalist Chad Finn, another Patriots authority who we can't wait to hear from? 


This is probably our biggest event ever. We're so excited to partner with The Bull Run in Shirley, host Seth and Chad, and see all of you in person for what's going to be an incredible event. We're going to say it one more time. Get your tickets now.

Your $40 ticket includes an autographed copy of the book! 
Doors open at 5pm for dinner and drinks. 
The event starts at 7pm and full bar service will continue. 
Proof of vaccination (or negative COVID test taken within 72 hours) is required.

Can't make it to the event? No problem! Still be sure to preorder this book today! 

More about It's Better to be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness: 
 

Over two unbelievable decades, the New England Patriots were not only the NFL’s most dominant team, but also—and by far—the most secretive. How did they achieve and sustain greatness—and what were the costs?
 

In It's Better to Be Feared, Seth Wickersham, one of the country’s finest long form and investigative sportswriters, tells the full, behind-the-scenes story of the Patriots, capturing the brilliance, ambition, and vanity that powered and ultimately unraveled them. Based on hundreds of interviews conducted since 2001, Wickersham’s chronicle is packed with revelations, taking us deep into Bill Belichick’s tactical ingenuity and Tom Brady’s unique mentality while also reporting on their divergent paths in 2020, including Brady’s run to the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Raucous, unvarnished, and definitive, It’s Better to Be Feared is an instant classic of American sportswriting in the tradition of Michael Lewis, David Maraniss, and David Halberstam.
 

 

Friends, Family, and Neighbors make independent bookstores what they are, and that's why this event is extra special! 


We love the graphic novel, Witches of Brooklyn, and if you haven't picked it up yet, you really need to come to the store and do so! Imagine our delight and surprise when we learned that author/illustrator Sophie Escabasse has a special connection with author Nicole Lesperance's! Whaaaat (the hex)!? You'll remember that we had the good fortune of launching both of Nicole's debut novels this year, The Nightmare Thief and The Wide Starlight!

 
This is going to be such a fun, cool event. We're looking forward to the laughter, insights, and extra tidbits that happen when two authors who know each other and respect their craft come together to talk about a great book. 

More about Witches of Brooklyn: What the Hex?!: 


Could there be even MORE witches in Brooklyn?!
 
Effie is EXCITED to meet so many witches, but what is going on with her friends? Suddenly Effie is no longer the newest kid in school, and it seems like her friends are happy to grow their little group, but Effie isn’t so sure. On top of that, learning magic is HARD WORK!
 
Effie just wants to have fun being a witch, but her life in Brooklyn is about to get weird(er).
 
The bewitching second book in the Witches of Brooklyn series captures what it means to be a friend, and how growing up can be a little less scary if you throw some magic in the mix.



Mark your calendar and register for this event! We're sure it's going to be magical! 

This event is a Zoom webinar for the safety of our guests and audience. You can register for the link by clicking here.  


 

Victorian English setting. An Intrepid, fearless, science-obsessed 12 year-old girl for a protagonist. Characters diverse and whole and intriguing. A dash of murder to keep it interesting? Get into this Cozy Mystery series for young readers! Read on! Read on! 


It is too awesome to host Elizabeth Bunce for the second year in a row as she celebrates the release of the third book in her Myrtle Hardscastle mystery series! Myrtle is back for her third adventure, a Christmas-tale for anyone looking for something that speaks to the season to add to the reading pile! There isn't a lot of good cozy mystery out there for young readers and that's why we're big fans of this series! 

What's "cozy" mystery, you ask? Think your favorite sleuths on PBS on Sunday night. Small, intimate communities, tea, fireside chats... the murder happens "off stage" so as to not disturb the reader. The story is about the amateur detective and the how of solving the mystery. 

If you've got a young reader who hasn't quite found their genre yet, try out the Myrtle series. It's got a little bit of everything, it's different than a lot of the other young reader books out there, and it really is a series to snuggle up to! 


Ok, we'll stop gushing. Here's more about Cold-Blooded Myrtle: 
 

Myrtle Hardcastle—twelve-year-old Young Lady of Quality and Victorian amateur detective—is back on the case, solving a string of bizarre murders in her hometown of Swinburne. 
 

When the proprietor of Leighton’s Mercantile is found dead on the morning his annual Christmas shop display is to be unveiled, it’s clear a killer had revenge in mind. But who would want to kill the local dry-goods merchant? Perhaps someone who remembers the mysterious scandal that destroyed his career as a professor and archaeologist. When the killer strikes again, each time manipulating the figures in the display to foretell the crime, Myrtle finds herself racing to uncover the long-buried facts of a cold case—and the motivations of a modern murderer. 

Want to learn more about Myrtle? She's got two books before this one! Award-winning Premeditated Myrtle and How to Get Away with Myrtle. We're telling you, these are quality reads, like the Young Lady of Quality herself! Mark your calendar, register for this event, get yourself some tea and biscuits, and join us for this event! 

 
This event is a Zoom Webinar for the safety of our guest and audience. You can receive the link by preregistering here. 

We’re delighted to welcome Cambridge author Adria Karlsson as she celebrates the release of her debut picture book, My Sister, Daisy. Based on a true story, My Sister, Daisy is a warm and wonderful book about a boy’s experience with his younger sibling’s gender transition. You won’t want to miss this story of family acceptance, growth, and love. We hope you will join us!   

 

More about My Sister, Daisy: 

 

Daisy’s older brother is thrilled when he gets a new sibling. They are best buddies who do everything together. But in kindergarten, things change. His sibling tells him she is a girl and wants to be called Daisy. Daisy’s brother must adjust to the change—including what it means for him and their relationship. A powerful, moving picture book based on a true story, My Sister, Daisy handles a sensitive subject with warmth and love.

 

Books like My Sister, Daisy make wonderful gifts for the teacher's library in any classroom! 

 

*This event will be outside for the safety of our guest and audience. Please be sure to bring your mask and practice distancing. We are watching the COVID numbers and hold the same concerns that you do. Please stay tuned to our website in case we have to change plans and move this event online. 
 

If you saw Kirsti Call's incredible event for Cow Says Meow earlier this year, then you know you're in for a real treat! We're so excited to welcome her as she LAUNCHES her new book with Corey Rosen Schwartz, Cold Turkey! 


Hey! It's our third book launch of the season and we're all in for something special! Kirsti Call doesn't just bring the book--she brings a whole show and we can't wait! We're delighted and honored to celebrate the launch of Kirsti's new beautiful book, co-written with Corey Rosen Schwartz, Cold Turkey! Expect a little song, expect more than a few jokes, expect a lot of joy, and giggles, and all the good things that come with a picture book launch! We can't wait! 

More about Cold Turkey: 

The Mitten meets How to Catch a Turkey in this absurd-yet-heartwarming read-aloud that's perfect for Thanksgiving—or anytime you're feeling ch-ch-chilly!


Turkey woke up c-c-cold.
He wheezed, "It's ten degrees!"
I need to b-b-bundle up,
before I f-f-freeze!"

Sheep is shivering, Chicken is chilly, and Cow is quivering! Lucky for them, bundled-up Turkey is generous and shares his warm clothes with each of his barnyard friends. But once he's down to just his birthday suit, what's a cold turkey to do? (Not to worry—his friends will have him toasty again in no time!)

With rollicking rhythm and giggle-inducing illustrations, this heartwarming story of kindness is sure to be a hit with young readers at Thanksgiving, through snowy winter months, and all year-round!



You know how we feel about a good, giggly, rhyme-y, cozy read aloud. Come for the great time, stay for the beautiful book, leave with a couple copies because this one is going to make a great gift just in time for the impending holiday season! 

*This event will be outside for the safety of our guest and audience. Please be sure to bring your mask and practice distancing. We are watching the COVID numbers and hold the same concerns that you do. Please stay tuned to our website just in case we have to change plans and move this event online. 

 

 

Author/Illustrator Jarrett Lerner is LAUNCHING a new series of graphic novels, and he wants to celebrate the launch with you awesome teacher and librarians! Read on! 


We're always excited to host Massachusetts author/illustrator Jarrett Lerner for book events! He's always funny, always engaging, and his books are big hits around here! As his first book in the Hunger Heroes series is all about getting a kid in a classroom a much-needed snack, we just knew we had to ceelbrate this launch with teachers and librarians! 

Jarrett will be talking about his new book and series, he'll read an excerpt of the book, he'll probably do some of his beautiful artwork and, who knows? There are always surprises at our book launches! We can't wait! 

Not a teacher or librarian but want to celebrate this book launch? We're welcome! Don't worry! 

Are you a parent who wants to introduce your kiddo to this new book? We got you! Jarrett will be joining us IN PERSON on Saturday, November 6th for a special Saturday Morning Story Time event! 

More about Missed Meal Mahem: 

Meet the Hunger Heroes: Toots the Bean, Chip Ninja, Tammy the Tomato, and Leonard, a wedge of cheddar cheese, ready to save kids—even cranky, annoying ones—all over the world while flying around in their taco hovercraft!

It’s a typical Monday when the Hunger Heroes get the call: a kid in Ms. Sternbladder’s class missed breakfast and isn’t allowed to have snacks! How will he pass his math test, study for spelling, or play soccer at recess if his stomach is growling out of control? Hunger Heroes to the rescue!


We're so excited to launch Jarrett's latest book and series! We hope you'll join us and tell your friends! Mark your calendar now and then register for the event by clicking here! And, of course, preorders are available by clicking here! Let us know in the comments if you'd like yours signed!  

 

They're calling it Pretty Little Liars meets Teen Wolf and we're like, yes! Sign us up! We can't wait for Squad to hit the shelves on October 5th! Read the book, then come for this virtual author talk!



 We can't even believe our good fortune! We get to host author Maggie Tokuda-Hall to talk about her new graphic novel with friend, fellow author, and good friend of the bookstore Sara Farizan! We're so excited to welcome both authors to talk about the new, timely, perfect for the season YA graphic novel, Squad. It's going to be good and we can't wait to read it! 

More about Squad: 
 

When Becca transfers to a high school in an elite San Francisco suburb, she’s worried she’s not going to fit in. To her surprise, she’s immediately adopted by the most popular girls in school. At first glance, Marley, Arianna, and Mandy are perfect. But at a party under a full moon, Becca learns that they also have a big secret.
 

Becca’s new friends are werewolves. Their prey? Slimy boys who take advantage of unsuspecting girls. Eager to be accepted, Becca allows her friends to turn her into a werewolf, and finally, for the first time in her life, she feels like she truly belongs.
 

But things get complicated when Arianna’s predatory boyfriend is killed, and the cops begin searching for a serial killer. As their pack begins to buckle under the pressure—and their moral high ground gets muddier and muddier—Becca realizes that she might have feelings for one of her new best friends.



A little patriarchy smashing. A lot of supernatural fun. Even more commentary about what it means to be a girl right now. We are all the way here for this. We hope you'll join us! Mark your calendar now and then register for the event with the link below! 

This event is a Zoom webinar for the safety of our guests and audience. You can receive the Zoom link by registering for the event. Click here! 

 

***Note the Special Time--Perfect for a walk around West Acton with your favorite furry companion!***


Fans of bestselling Massachusetts author Jenna Blum know her by her  novels--The Stormchasers, Those Who Save Us, and The Lost Family. But now she's bringing her brilliance to the memoir space, chronicling the final days of life of her beloved dog Woodrow, dubbed the "George Clooney of dogs" for his beauty and charm. With so many fans of memoir in our community, and so many neighbors who love their dogs life family here, we're so proud to host Jenna to talk about her beautiful new memoir Woodrow on the Bench: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog. 

Jenna has informed us that she'll be bringing a furry companion with her and we're working to make sure our event benefits a local pet rescue or shelter. Stay tuned for more details on that! 

In the meantime, here is more about Woodrow on the Bench: 

 
“For anyone who’s ever loved an old dog.”
 

Since she adopted him as a puppy fifteen years earlier, Jenna Blum and Woodrow have been inseparable. Known to many as “the George Clooney of dogs” for his good looks and charm, Woodrow and his “Mommoo” are fixtures in their Boston neighborhood. 
 

But Woodrow is aging. As he begins to fail, the true nature of his extraordinary relationship with Jenna is revealed. Jenna may be the dog parent, but it is Woodrow, with his amazing personality and trusting nature, who has much to teach her. A divorcée who has experienced her share of sadness and loss, Jenna discovers, over the months she spends caring for her ailing dog, what it is to be present in the moment, and what it truly means to love.
 

Aided by an amazing group of friends and buoyed by the support of strangers, Jenna and Woodrow navigate these precious final days together with kindness, humor, and grace. Their unforgettable love story will reaffirm your belief in kindness, break your heart, and leave your spirit soaring.



*We're watching the COVID-19 numbers and hold the same concerns that you do. This event is planned to be outside for added safety. Please practice masking and distancing. Shoud the need arise, we change this to a Zoom event. Check this space for any changes. 

 

Admit it: You didn't know there was such thing as a National Women's Football League until you read the book title. Now that you know, don't you want to know everything about it? Tune in for this awesome author talk, read the book, and learn more! 

Fans of our store know just how much we love good sports journalism. And by "we," we really mean "Paul," who basically lives and breathes this stuff! That's why Paul had to make sure we host incredible award-winning authors Britni de la Cretaz (who we're welcoming back!) and Lyndsey D'Arcangelo to discuss their brand now book, Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League.

More about Hail Mary: 

 In 1967, a Cleveland businessman had a brilliant idea: why not start a women's football team? It was conceived as a gimmick and a publicity stunt in the vein of the Harlem Globetrotters. He recruited women to compete as a traveling football troupe; much to his surprise, he learned that women really wanted to play, and play hard.

Hail Mary is the story of the unlikely rise of the National Women's Football League and the players who loved a game that society told them they shouldn't be playing. In nineteen cities around the country, against the backdrop of second-wave feminism and the passage of Title IX, these athletes broke new barriers and showed adoring crowds what women were capable of physically. Thousands of people came to watch-perhaps to gawk at first but then, in the end, to cheer. Hail Mary is a rollicking chronicle of fearless women-players on the Detroit Demons, the Toledo Troopers, the LA Dandelions, and more-bringing us into the stadiums where they broke records, the small-town lesbian bars where they were recruited, and the backrooms where the league was conceived, and where it ended.

Hail Mary is a celebration of women athletes and their fight on and off the field, and a powerful story of the league that changed their lives and the course of women's sports.


And just to be clear--Britni and Lyndsey are amazing! 

Britni de la Cretaz is a freelance writer who focuses on the intersection of sports and gender. They are the former sports columnist for Longreads and for Bitch Media. Their work has appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, espnW, Vogue, The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, The Ringer, Bleacher Report, The Atlantic, and more. Their work on racism in Boston sports media received the 2017 Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Journalism from the Transformative Culture Project, and that story was also a Notable Story in the 2018 Best American Sports Writing. Their writing on the queer history of women's baseball for Narratively was nominated for a prestigious baseball writing award, the 2019 SABR Analytics Research Award. They live in the Boston area.
 

Lyndsey D'Arcangelo writes about women's college basketball and the WNBA for The Athletic. Her articles, columns and profiles on female/LGBTQ+ athletes have previously appeared in The Ringer, Deadspin, espnW/ESPN, Teen Vogue, The Buffalo News, The Huffington Post, NBC OUT and more. She received a Notable Mention in the 2018 Best American Sports Writing anthology for her story, "My Father, Trump and The Buffalo Bills." Lyndsey lives in Buffalo, NY. 


Come for the journalism, stay for the journalists! This is a must-see for our sports enthusiasts, so mark your calendar now and register for the Zoom link! 



This event is a Zoom Webinar for the safety of our guests and audience. You can register for the Zoom link by clicking here. 

 

Ok kiddos and families! This one is just for you! 

Massachusetts author/illustrator is so excited about his new graphic novel series The Hunger Heroes and launching with the first book, Missed Meal Mayhem, he's back to see us for a special Saturday Morning Story Time event! Events with Jarrett are always a good time! Expect a few laughs, a really great read, and probably some time to do a little art! We can't wait to host him for this in-person celebration of his new book and series! 

More about Missed Meal Mayhem: 

Meet the Hunger Heroes: Toots the Bean, Chip Ninja, Tammy the Tomato, and Leonard, a wedge of cheddar cheese, ready to save kids—even cranky, annoying ones—all over the world while flying around in their taco hovercraft!

It’s a typical Monday when the Hunger Heroes get the call: a kid in Ms. Sternbladder’s class missed breakfast and isn’t allowed to have snacks! How will he pass his math test, study for spelling, or play soccer at recess if his stomach is growling out of control? Hunger Heroes to the rescue!


Eat a yummy breakfast, come see us for story time, do a little shopping and then... go get some lunch! What do you say? 

*This in-person event is planned to be outside for the safety of our guests. Please practice masking and social distancing. We are watching the COVID-19 numbers and hold the same concerns that you do. Please watch this space for any announcements, just in case we have to turn this into a virtual event. 

 

We're so excited to host author Andrea Williams again to talk about her newest book, co-written with THE LeBron James, We Are Family! 


You read that right: Andrea Williams' new book is co-written with LeBron James and we have so many questions! We have questions about the book, the process, the characters, plot and sequence. Very professional questions about the book and that's it! 

You might remember Andrea from her most excellent middle-grade biography of Effa Manley, Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues. We had the chance to interview her back in February about the book and it was a great time! 

More about We Are Family: 
 

Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group—the free, after-school basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there’s not going to be a Hoop Group this year—and maybe ever again — Jayden is heartbroken. And he’s not the only one. Coach Beck’s daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick’s only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4’6” of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.
 

For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible – but then the world hasn’t met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes.  


We suspect this is going to be on the shelves of a lot of classrooms and school libraries, not to mention home to-read piles this season! Tune into this event to learn more! Even better--the book is out and you can read it now! Buy the book, read it, and come to the event with your questions! Mark your calendar and register for the event today! 


This event is a Zoom webinar for the safety of our guest and audience. You can register to receive the Zoom link by clicking here.  

***Note the special date and the special time!*** 


They're back and they're LIVE! Our first in-person ballet performance since the start of the pandemic!


This is one of those events we look forward to hosting year after year! We're so excited to welcome back the wonderful performers of the Commonwealth Ballet Company to perform the wonderful holiday tradition, The Nutcracker! 

This live performance will happen inside the store, with performers dancing in their masks and costumes. We asks our audience to come masked and use safe practices so that we can all enjoy this event, together, as safely as we can. 

We look forward to welcoming back the wonderful Commonwealth Ballet dancers for this seasonal favorite! 

*This in-person event will be INSIDE because of the requirements for performing and because of the potential weather. As such, we ask that attendees wear masks and practice as many safety measures as they can to feel comfortable and stay safe. We are watching the COVID-19 numbers and hold the concerns as you do. Stay tuned to this space just in case there needs to be a change to virtual due to public health conditions. 
 

Experience illustrator Ekua Holmes' incredible artwork at the MFA in Boston, then join us for this special Saturday Morning Story Time with charismatic author Tricia Elam Walker! 

Award-winning author Tricia Elam Walker, who hails from Massachusetts but lives in the D.C. area now, is back to see us with a brand new book and we're too excited! Perhaps you remember her from our Saturday Morning Storytime last July for Nana Akua Goes to School. This time, Tricia has paired up with acclaimed Boston artist Ekua Holmes to produce a work of art that will surely brighten any bookshelf, classroom, library, and holiday! You don't want to miss this special Story Time and you most certainly don't want to miss this book! 

More about Dream Street: 


Welcome to Dream Street—the best street in the world! On Dream Street, love between generations rules, everyone is special, and the warmth of the neighborhood shines.  

Meet kids like Azaria, who loves to jump double-Dutch one leg at a time; Zion, whose dream is to become a librarian; and cousins Ede and Tari, who dream of creating a picture book together one day. Meet grown-ups like Mr. Sidney, a retired mail carrier who greets everyone with the words, ”Don’t wait to have a great day. Create one!" and Ms. Sarah, whose voice is only a whisper but who has stories between the lines of her face that she’ll share when you come close. 



This is our last Saturday Morning Story Time of the Fall and you don't want to miss it! Mark your calendar now! 

This event is a Zoom webinar for the safety of our guest and audence. You can register for the link by clicking here. 
 

Gregory Maguire might be out of Oz, but that never meant that he wouldn't be back for Another Day! It's a delight to welcome back friend, neighbor, and bestselling novelist Gregory Maguire to our store! 

Last December, we got to host Gregory for a virtual event for his book, A Wild Winter Swan. During that event, Gregory dropped big news: his next book would return to the beloved universe of Wicked fame! Jaws dropped across the internet and we started counting down the days! Well here we are--The Brides of Maracoor returns us to that universe and these characters who we so love. It's time to meet Elphaba's granddaughter, Rain! 

More about The Brides of Maracoor: 

Volume one of the Another Day trilogy, The Brides of Maracoor, finds Elphaba’s granddaughter, Rain, washing ashore on a foreign island. Comatose from crashing into the sea, Rain is taken in by a community of single women committed to obscure devotional practices.
 

As the mainland of Maracoor sustains an assault by a foreign navy, the island’s civil-servant overseer struggles to understand how an alien arriving on the shores of Maracoor could threaten the stability and wellbeing of an entire nation. Is it myth or magic at work, for good or for ill?
 

The trilogy Another Day will follow this green-skinned girl from the island outpost into the savage badlands of Maracoor before she learns how, and becomes ready, to turn her broom homeward, back to her family and her lover, back to Oz, which—in its beauty, suffering, mystery, injustice, and possibility—reminds us all too clearly of the troubled yet sacred terrain of our own lives.



This book is out October 12th. You know what that means? It means you can buy it, inhale it, and then bring it back to the store for this event so you can ask all your questions, even more out of the book, and then get your book signed by Gregory! It's pretty much the best way to do this! Love the book, then love it even more! We can't wait to host you and Gregory for this event! 

*This in-person event will be inside, which means masks and distancing will be important for the safety of our guest and audience. Please practice extra care and stay home if you are sick. We are watching the COVID-19 numbers and hold the same concerns that you do. Please watch this space for any changes due to public health concerns.