Like The Boxcar Children stories themselves, there is much to adore about their author, Gertrude Chandler Warner. A grade-school teacher for over thirty years—whose career began in response to a shortage of teachers during World War I—she did not simply write for children, but with them. Warner made a lifelong practice of turning to children for input and guidance, which resulted in 19 titles that are still opening the doors of literature to young readers today.
Like Warner, we're looking forward to reading with children in 2019 with the formation of 57th Street Books' inaugural Young Readers Advisory Board, designed to strengthen our reading community by turning to young readers for input and guidance and providing insight into how booksellers think, talk, and write about books. Learn more below and apply to join our Young Readers Advisory Board by January 31.
What doors will you and the young readers in your life open this year? Where will you go? We begin this month's roundup of new books for infants and beyond with a constellation of bright picture books about our "unfurling universe," destined to be read and dreamt aloud. Turn your gaze below for these and more books and events to keep you going and growing. The Boxcar Children (Albert Whitman & Company, 1989) Gertrude Chandler Waner, illus. by L. Kate Deal
The legendary Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author and illustrator John Steptoe shares the story of a baby who desperately wants to get his older brother's attention. Now in board book format!
Read Aloud (3-7 years)The Stuff of Stars (Candlewick Press)
Marion Dane Bauer, illus. by Ekua Holmes
In an astonishing unfurling of our universe, Newbery Honor winner Marion Dane Bauer and Caldecott Honor winner Ekua Holmes celebrate the birth of every child. A seamless blend of science and art, this picture book reveals the composition of our world and beyond.
Musical text weaves stories people have told for centuries with impressions we all might have had about this enigmatic but constant celestial orb. Enhanced by luminous illustrations, this magnificent picture book collection of original poems, retold myths, and facts about the moon glows with magic and mystery.
The Roots of Rap (Little Bee Books)
Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Frank Morrison
Explore the roots of rap in this stunning, rhyming, triple-timing picture book! Kids will learn about how it evolved from folktales, spirituals, and poetry and gave birth to the musical artists we know today.
Congresswoman Barbara Jordan had a big, bold, confident voice—and she knew how to use it! Learn all about her amazing career in this illuminating and inspiring picture book biography of the lawyer, educator, politician, and civil rights leader
Is Dog Man bad to the bone? The heroic hound is sent to the pound for a crime he didn't commit! While his pals work to prove his innocence, Dog Man struggles to find his place among dogs and people. Being a part of both worlds, will he ever fully fit in with one?
The Tales of Beedle the Bard contains five richly imaginative stories of adventure, cunning, heartache, and, of course, magic. They are to the wizarding community what the tales of the Brothers Grimm are to Muggle families.
This lush new illustrated edition has been translated from the ancient runes by Hermione Granger and is presented here with extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. And now Hans Christian Andersen Medalist Lisbeth Zwerger interprets these classic tales with beauty and tenderness (and wit), illuminating them for modern readers. With an introduction and notes by J.K. Rowling, this collection will thrill and delight Muggles and wizards alike.
The Detective's Assistant (Available in paperback!) (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Kate Hannigan
A Booklist Editors' Choice
A Chicago Public Library Best Book
Based on the extraordinary true story of America’s first-ever female detective, this fast-paced adventure recounts feats of daring and danger…including saving the life of Abraham Lincoln!
This volume features three original stories set in Alagaësia, interspersed with scenes from Eragon’s own unfolding adventure. Included is an excerpt from the memoir of the unforgettable witch and fortune-teller Angela the herbalist . . . penned by Angela Paolini, the inspiration for the character, herself!
A Map of Days (Dutton Books for Young Readers) Ransom Riggs
“A Map of Days reveals Ransom Riggs at the peak of his powers, leaving loyal fans ravenous for more.”—NY Journal of Books
Now, the stakes are higher than ever as Jacob and his friends are thrust into the untamed landscape of American peculiardom—a world with few ymbrynes, or rules—that none of them understand. New wonders, and dangers, await in this brilliant next chapter for Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children.
Pre-order the highly anticipated second novel by Angie Thomas, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning The Hate U Give. Insightful, unflinching, and full of heart, On the Come Up is an ode to hip hop from one of the most influential literary voices of a generation. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; and about how, especially for young black people, freedom of speech isn’t always free.
57th Street Books is looking for young readers to form a Young Readers Advisory Board. The board will meet once a month beginning in February or March to discuss new releases, share feedback with booksellers, authors, and publishers, and help strengthen our reading community. Here's how it works:
Each month, board members will be invited to bring home up to four advance reader copies (ARC's); books sent to us by publishers before they're made available to the general public.(Yes, this is as cool as it sounds.) As a board member, you will be asked to submit a written review of at least one ARC by the date of our next meeting.
Reviews will be shared among the group and with publishers, authors, and the 57th Street Books community on in-store displays, across our social media, and in this very newsletter.
Each meeting will last between 30-45 minutes in the afternoon (exact time TBD) on the last Sunday of every month but December (unless that date falls on a holiday weekend, in which case we will move to the Sunday prior). Board members are expected to attend no fewer than five meetings per year.
Interested? Great! Apply by sending the following to kidsbooks@semcoop.com by January 31, 2019:
Name and age (recommended ages 8 and up):
Parent/Guardian name and contact information:
The name of your favorite author and/or book and a brief paragraph about what makes them/it special:
You heard right: Storytime is back on Wednesday, Thursday (Spanish Storytime), and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. Grab a seat for it and more events for young readers below!
Storytime with Komal Singh and Ara the Star EngineerSaturday, January 12 10:30am at 57th Street BooksJoin us for a STEM-inspired storytime with Google Engineer Komal Singh, reading from her new book Ara the Star Engineer. Ara is a young girl who loves BIG numbers. She wants to count all the stars in the sky… but how? Ara and her sidekick droid, DeeDee, tinker-and-tailor and build-and-fail their way through a whirlwind of intriguing locations, encountering real-life women tech trailblazers of diverse backgrounds along the way.
Mama Fresh Presents: MLK StorytimeSaturday, January 19 10:30am at 57th Street BooksJoin us for a special storytime in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2019. All ages welcome for stories in the spirit of MLK and the values of love and tolerance he stood for.
Storytime with Patricia Toht, author of Dress Like A GirlSaturday, February 2 10:30am at 57th Street BooksGet out of bed this Groundhog Day and join us for a fun and empowering storytime with Patricia Toht, author of Dress Like a Girl. In pages beautifully illustrated by Lorian Tu-Dean, a diverse cast of slumber party participants considers the most time-honored traditions for how to dress. If a lady should wear white in summertime, then how about donning a spacesuit? If team colors are apropos at sporting events, why not wear helmets and play ball? With interests ranging from sports to science to politics, this book is sure to inspire any young girl.
Adam Schmitt presents SpeechlessFriday, February 15 6pm at 57th Street BooksJoin us for a reading with educator Adam Schmitt, author of Speechless, a story that explores "complex family relationships with humor and candor" (Booklist). As Jimmy attempts to navigate the odd social norms of the wake, he draws on humor, heartfelt concern, and a good deal of angst while racking his brain for a meaningful memory to share. But it’s not until faced with a microphone that the realization finally hits him: it’s not the words that are spoken that matter the most, but those that are truly heard.
"I believe that children are only beneath me in years. I find in some, my superiors."
—Gertrude Chandler Warner
57th Street Books is partnering with a favorite nonprofit to help give incarcerated women the books they want most this year, and you can help in two ways:
Purchase a book from our in store display
Purchase a gift card in any amount
Stop in, call us at 773-684-1300, or write to us at fiftysev@semcoop.com to show your support today!
