Zest Books

We received some VERY exciting news recently...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will now be distributing Zest Books! An innovative San Francisco-based company, Zest Books is a line of smart and edgy books for teens ages 12 and up that focus on the color and chaos of teen life.
Hallie Warshaw, founder and publisher of Zest started the company in 2006 to offer "high quality, current, fun, hip nonfiction books" for the booming demographic that was devouring YA fiction. Zest produces 8-10 titles per year on topics important to teens, such as relationships, fashion, beauty, stress, dating, music, and high school and home life. The books are written by industry experts along with teen authors in consultation with Zest's Teen Advisory Board.
I am so excited to start selling these books- Here's a little of what you can expect!

The Date Book: A Teen Girl's Complete Guide to Going Out With Someone New

Kiss: A Girl's Guide to Puckering Up

Where's My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide

Backlist Discovery: Creature Comforts

Almost everyone has a favorite doll, an aging teddy, or an unraveling blankie—either safely put away in a drawer or still lovingly tucked into bed at night. Adults and children alike treasure these creature comforts because they offer security, lifelong friendship, and the smell of home.

9780618118649 ~ $17.00

Through striking black-and-white photographs and first-person accounts, Barbara Collopy O’Halloran and Betty Udesen tenderly document and reveal just some of the extraordinary magic found beneath the worn exteriors of a misshapen sweater, a winking dog, and even an earless rabbit named “Chickey.”

Backlist Discovery: This is Just to Say...

While digging through our children's library for samples, I came across this lovely book by the incredible duo of Joyce Sidman and Pamela Zagarenski. (The same brillant author and illustrator of Caldecott Honor book Red Sings From Treetops 9780547014944)

9780618616800 ~ $16.00

This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness is illustrated in the same collage style as Red Sings and writes of crushes, overbearing parents, loving and losing pets, and more. This book is perfect for any stationary, card store, or pharmacy.

When the Game Was Ours - Celtics/ Lakers Back in the Finals!

First LeBron. Then Dwight Howard. Now onto Kobe.

The Boston Celtics have made it to the NBA Finals and will take on longtime rivals the Los Angeles Lakers. And what better way to get ready for this showdown!? A brand new copy of When The Game Was Ours, (see below post) by basketball legends and rivals Larry Bird and Ervin "Magic" Johnson.

A bit regional, but a perfect companion to any sports related store in the New England/ California areas.

totally unrelated, but still important...

Last night the Boston Celtics eliminated LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers from their run at the NBA championship. For those of you who don't know, I am a HUGE Celtics fan, and was lucky enough to be at the Boston Garden last night to witness this amazing game.

Click here to check out highlights from the game!

Also check out...
When The Game Was Ours by Jackie MacMullen, Larry Bird, and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. 978-0-547-22547-0 ~ $26.00 An inside look at basketball's greatest rivalry.

Now Available!

Lyle Walks the Dogs

9780547223230 ~ $12.99 Hardcover

By Bernard Waber, illustrated by Paulis Waber
** The first new Lyle book in over 11 years**

Lyle the crocodile has a new job walking dogs. As Lyle's excellent reputation as a dog walker spreads, the number of dogs in his charge grows- from one dog to ten! Whether they're frisky or happy, sniffy or snappy, Lyle must get them all walking together in harmony. But never fear- Lyle's winning smile and gentle ways will always save the doggie day! Young children will enjoy walking the dogs-and counting from one to ten-with Lyle.

Summer Reads!

It's almost summer! Which means its almost time to find a book, grab the sunscreen and sit on the beach. And if you are still searching for that perfect summer read, check out the following...

For Teens...

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey 9780547259406
New York Times best-seller Graceling by Kristin Cashore. 9780547258300
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. 9780152061548
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks. 9780547411668
All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn. 9780547248783
Dead is So Last Year by Marlene Perez. 9780152062163

For Adults...
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 9780156029438
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. 9780156027328
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum. 9780156031660
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer 9780618711659
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. 9780618485222
2009 Best American Short Stories, edited by Alice Sebold. 9780618792252

For more information on these fiction titles and more, visit www.hmhbooks.com