Staff Picks

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The Annotated American Gods By Neil Gaiman Cover Image
$50.00
ISBN: 9780062896261
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: William Morrow - April 14th, 2020

Gaiman's magnum opus, now with detailed annotations from the man himself. Step into Shadow and Mr. Wednesday's world, meet gods new and old, and travel across America on a mission to keep the old ways alive. For any mythology fan, Gaiman fan (to replace their old dog-eared copy), or fan of beautiful books.

Jen


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Magnolia Flower By Zora Neale Hurston, Loveis Wise (Illustrator), Ibram X. Kendi Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780063098312
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Amistad Books for Young Readers - September 6th, 2022

As shown in Their Eyes Were Watching God, Magnolia Flower, and Sweat, Zora Neale Hurston’s poetic voice is second to none. Ibram X. Kendi’s adaptation of her 1925 short story into a children’s picture book is just beautiful!

Kayla 


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The Missing Piece By Shel Silverstein, Shel Silverstein (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780060256715
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: HarperCollins - January 24th, 2006

This touching and heartwarming tale told by a renowned children's poet about accepting who you are as you are is one of my all time favorites. Perfect for reading aloud and for beginning readers.

Morgan


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The Hand Book: A Complete Guide By Magda Gargulakova, Vitezslav Mecner (Illustrator), Scott Alexander Jones (Editor) Cover Image
$18.95
ISBN: 9788000066004
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Albatros Media - November 8th, 2022

This unique book is such a delight! Made up of vibrant illustrations-slash-infographics about the social, physical, historical, and aesthetic tradition of hands, readers of all ages are guaranteed to learn something new and have a lovely time doing so.

Catherine


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The Beatles: Get Back By The Beatles, Peter Jackson (Foreword by), Hanif Kureishi (Introduction by) Cover Image
By The Beatles, Peter Jackson (Foreword by), Hanif Kureishi (Introduction by)
$60.00
ISBN: 9780935112962
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Callaway Arts & Entertainment - October 12th, 2021

I try to choose staff picks of general interest, and I will freely admit that this book probably isn't - it is for readers who love the Beatles. You don't have to be a fanatic (I'm not), but if you love Let It Be (I do) then this book is not only appealing but probably mandatory. At a literal level, it is a textual and photographic transcript of the studio sessions preparing for their last concert, with the songs that became that album (and much of Abbey Road); but writ large it is really a narrative of the last phase of the band. They are talking, joking, playing, creating, arguing, reminiscing - far more than the story of a break-up, it is an exploration of a phenomenon. And the photos are magnificent.

David


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Shuna's Journey By Hayao Miyazaki, Alex Dudok de Wit (Translated by) Cover Image
By Hayao Miyazaki, Alex Dudok de Wit (Translated by)
$27.99
ISBN: 9781250846525
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: First Second - November 1st, 2022

A newly translated Miyazaki story! Shuna's Journey is a strange, almost grim adventure. In it can be found the thematic and visual roots of several Ghibli classics, especially Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Great for seasoned Ghibli fans and newcomers alike!

Piera


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Making Videogames: The Art of Creating Digital Worlds By Duncan Harris, Alex Wiltshire Cover Image
$40.00
ISBN: 9780500023143
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Thames & Hudson - June 14th, 2022

Got someone in your life who LOVES video games? This stunning artbook includes some of the most prolific worlds in the gaming industry and is a surefire hit on their coffee table... or maybe right next to their PC setup. With text accompanying the portraits, readers will get to see how these immersive worlds came to fruition. It's a gorgeous collectible for anyone harboring an intense love for virtual landscapes and all the possibilities that reside in them.

Cindy


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Women Holding Things By Maira Kalman Cover Image
$32.50
ISBN: 9780062846679
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Harper Design - October 18th, 2022

I love everything Maira Kalman does, but this is particularly perfect. Through paintings and short captions, Kalman beautifully evokes the stories and complexities of women’s lives. A gift for every woman you know.  

— Katie


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My Self, Your Self By Esmé Shapiro Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781774880234
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Tundra Books - September 27th, 2022

What's not to love about this book? Charming illustrations of cute little creatures who tell a tale all about loving yourself and the selves around you. Perfect book for anyone looking for a little warmth this November.

Jane


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Each Night Was Illuminated By Jodi Lynn Anderson Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062393579
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Quill Tree Books - September 20th, 2022

A tale of personal discovery that unfolds within a framework of deftly handled contemporary issues and a bizarre friendship. Is it a ghost story? Is it a haunting? Is it imagination? Your call. But it's a fresh and contemporary teen read with an old soul. Though you may not identify with the nunnery portions, you'll be hard pressed not relate to the bigger picture and enjoy how everything unfolds.

Stacey


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A Normal Pig By K-Fai Steele, K-Fai Steele (Illustrator) Cover Image
By K-Fai Steele, K-Fai Steele (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062748577
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Balzer + Bray - June 4th, 2019

An ode and a handbook to being your wonderful and unique self, no matter what anyone else thinks of you! Gaining a wider perspective helps the polka-dotted pig Pip stand up a little taller.

Kendall


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A Million Sea Creatures: Marine Cuties to Color By Lulu Mayo Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9781454711582
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Union Square Kids - October 18th, 2022

I really can't get enough of Lulu Mayo's coloring books. They're so adorable and perfect for when you need to just release. They're also perfect for fidgety hands that need something to do for the brain to focus.

Stacey


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The Wolf Suit By Sid Sharp Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781773217208
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Annick Press - October 25th, 2022

Bellwether Riggwelter is a sheep who enjoys simple pleasures like blackberries, dancing, and flowers. But the forest is a dangerous place for a kind, soft sheep like him. So Bellwether schemes up the ingenious idea of sewing himself a wolf suit to blend in with the forest's most fearsome predators.What follows is a modern-day folktale about being yourself and standing up against what scares you. This graphic novel is absolutely delightful- the art style, the story, and the twist at the end! You'll never see it coming, and that makes it all the better.

Catherine


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Mrs. March: A Novel By Virginia Feito Cover Image
$16.00
ISBN: 9781324091967
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Liveright - June 14th, 2022

In my mind, this book is like Rebecca meets Mrs. Dalloway meets The Silent Patient: gothic psychological thriller that follows the unraveling psyche of an Upper East Side housewife. As a reader, you'll find it as difficult as the titular character does to differentiate between what's real and what's made up in her mind. Also, there's an upcoming movie adaption with Elisabeth Moss!

Catherine


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Vita Nostra: A Novel By Marina & Sergey Dyachenko Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780063054158
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Harper Voyager - January 19th, 2021

I was influenced by a recent tweet from Alexis Henderson and various authors to check out this book. Vita Nostra is cut from the same cloth as Lev Grossman's The Magicians series. A slow unraveling of a story, reading this book echoes the sensation of giving someone your hand and trusting them to lead you somewhere magical.

Engel


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