Rest of the Best & Begining the New Year: Books to Enhance Our Lives & Actions in the World (not just another holiday list).

Learning About the World in Picture Books, Read-Alouds & Early Readers

January's Child: The Birthday Month Book » "You were born in your very own month of the year and the world was waiting to welcome you here with daydreams and wishes and circles of love and in turn you brought a gift from above...." Every day is someone's birthday, which January's Child celebrates with creative attributes for each month of the year. More positive than the traditional Monday's Child rhyme, and geared for families to share among youngest and oldest members, this is a beautifully illustrated treasury sure to become a classic, evergreen gift for new babies.

Golden Rule » This book is a gentle reminder of a timeless rule for parent and child: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Everyone knows a version of the Golden Rule. But what does it really mean? And how do you follow it? In this gorgeously illustrated book, a grandfather explains to his grandson that the Golden Rule means you "treat people the way you would like to be treated. It's golden because it's so valuable, and a way of living your life that's so simple, it shines." And though it may be a simple rule, it isn't easy to follow. Fortunately, following the Golden Rule is something everyone can do, which means that every person—old or young, rich or poor—can be a part of making the world a better place.

Here's a Little Poem » "The list of contributors reads like a who's who of children's poetry—Margaret Wise Brown, Nikki Grimes, Aileen Fisher, Jack Prelutsky, and others. Almost all of the selections have appeared in print before. Most of them are only a few lines long, and are printed in large informal type in a variety of colors that match the illustrations. The art was created using a wide range of mediums and techniques, and Dunbar blends them seamlessly to create charming images that are amazingly expressive. The children in them are carefree and happy and the book as a whole suggests a world that is safe and secure. Here's a Little Poem is a great way to introduce the youngest listeners to the genre." -Donna Cordon, Librarian

Tico and the Golden Wings 25th anniversary Hardcover Edition » "Children will take the hopes and wishes of the little bird born without wings to their hearts. . . . They will understand the ending: 'We are all different. Each has his own memories and his invisible golden dreams.' A lovely book, and one that cannot but leave a lasting impression."--The Saturday Review

Let it Snow » Snuggle by the Fire with a heart warming tale... How do you find the best Christmas present ever for your best friend in the whole wide world? That's what Toot is trying to find out, and Puddle is having just as much trouble.

With a nod to previous books in the Toot & Puddle series Holly Hobbie, shows readers that the best kind of present for the best kind of friend is one that shows just how much you care. Hardcover, $16.95

Where the Giant Sleeps » Do ogres snore? Do pirates have blankies? Do fairies suck their thumbs? We may never know the answers to these questions. But if we're lucky--and very observant--we might be able to catch a glimpse of some fantastic creatures, all fast asleep. In soothing rhyme, bestselling author Mem Fox explores the sleeping habits of our favorite inhabitants from the world of fairy tales. Vladimir Radunsky fills a dreamy, picturesque landscape with surprising and fun details. Fairies, wizards, goblins, and even children all find peace under the same bright moon. Ages 3 to 7 years, $16.00

Emily's Balloon » One day, Emily gets a balloon. By the end of the afternoon, the balloon is no longer just a plaything. Emily and the balloon are friends. But when the balloon blows away, what will Emily do? The beautifully evocative illustrations and the timeless innocence of the story make this deceptively simple book a sure classic—sweet, compelling, and filled with the wonder and discovery of friendship. Awards and honors for Emily's Balloon: ALA Notable Children's Books 2007, Kirkus Reviews, Best Children's Books of 2006, Best Early Chapter Books, Book Links, Best New Books for the Classroom, New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2006, Hardcover, $14.95

Zoo's Who » Climb on into Douglas Florian's poetry compendium, featuring twenty-one original poems and paintings about creatures from across the animal kingdom. With sleepy sloths and portly pigs, lazy lizards and regal eagles, this creeping, leaping, sweeping collection of zoological delights is certain to have animal enthusiasts everywhere rattling their cages for more. Ages 5-10 years. Hardcover.

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings (Hardcover) “The poet-painter’s latest book brings warm wit to the outermost reaches of cold, dark space. . . . Florian’s illustrations depict the marvels of space with luminous texture and detail.” --The New York Times Book Review

Blast off with Douglas Florian's new high-flying compendium, featuring twenty whimsical poems about space. From the moon to the stars, from the Earth to Mars, here is an exuberant celebration of our celestial surroundings that's certain to become a universal favorite among aspiring astronomers everywhere. Includes die-cut pages and a glossary of space terms.

How many? Spectacular Paper Sculptures, a pop-up book » This is a book that truly has to be seen to be appreciated. Each spread features a different shape (square, circle, star, triangle, rectangle) that has been cleverly paper-engineered to form spectacular sculptures. Readers are invited to find and count as many items as they can per spread-shapes within shapes, shapes of different colors, and so on. Whether readers search and count or not, the beautiful paper sculptures will be admired by all who see them. This is a book like no other and belongs on everyone's home bookshelf.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? » This versatile and sincere story will teach math and science concepts while modeling kind behavior. When Mr. Tiffin brings three pumpkins into class for a math and science lesson, all the children guess how many seeds are inside. Charlie, the smallest kid in class, feels frustrated: "All the best guesses are taken." Then the class opens the pumpkins and counts the seeds. McNamara introduces the concepts of counting by twos, fives, and tens, and she includes pumpkin facts (the more lines on the pumpkin, the more seeds it will have). Charlie ends up with the correct guess and discovers that "small things can have a lot going on inside them."

The Jewel Box Ballerinas » The most striking thing about this book are the gorgeous, detailed paintings that grace every page. A perfect complement to the melancholy fairytale with an uplifting ending, the illustrations give kids lots to look at. Even the end papers dance with doubles that kids will want to scrutinize.

The marriage of story and illustrator here is superb. While Juan's pictures would shine regardless of the text, the story is enhanced by the extremely stylized characters, somber colors, and mysterious details (the shopkeeper wearing his short fez, for example, and Bibi's big buttons)."-Commonsense.com

Jazz on a Saturday Night (Book & CD) » "Ladies and gents, what a jam this will be—/an evening of jazz immortality!" And how! John Coltrane and Charlie Parker on sax, Thelonious Monk on piano, vocals by Ella Fitzgerald, trumpet by Miles Davis, drums by Max Roach, Stanley Clarke on bass! The audience is captivated and carried along on "a river of melody sketched in dim light" in this rhythmic tribute to traditional jazz. The spreads, graphic-styled paintings rendered in deep matte tones with a suggestion of collage, switch between stage and audience, with swirling background patterns portraying the flow of music." -- Joyce Adams, Librarian Hardcover with CD

Talented Clementine » "Energetic and imaginative, Clementine is gifted with understanding and patient parents. Give this to readers of Cleary and Blume and cross your fingers for more.” -- Kirkus (starred review)

“‘I have had not so good of a week,’ begins the irrepressible narrator of this winning caper... Fans of Judy Moody will welcome this portrait of another funny, independent third-grader.” --Publishers Weekly

Cherish Today: A Celebration of Life's Moments » Exciting adventures lie ahead in your path/ For every tear shed, you are promised two laughs / So just take it slow, one day at a time/ And you’ll find that your path is truly divine.

In jubilant verse and gorgeous images, Kristina Evans and Bryan Collier detail the wonderful journey children of all backgrounds have ahead of them as they make their way through life. With the love and guidance of their families behind them, children will find they are truly blessed and able to surmount any obstacle. Cherish Today is perfect for graduates of any grade in the School of Life.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little » It wasn't as if Moxy Maxwell hadn't tried to do her summer reading. She and Stuart Little had been inseparable all summer, like best friends. If Stuart Little wasn't in her backpack, it was in her lap . . . or holding up the coffee table . . . or getting splashed when Moxy went swimming. But now it's the end of August—the day before fourth grade. And if Moxy doesn't read all of Stuart Little immediately, there are going to be "consequences." “Gifford’s depiction of an overly exuberant nine-year-old may remind some readers of Lois Lowry’s Gooney Bird Greene.”—School Library Journal

Castle on Hester Street (25th Anniversary Hardcover edition) » A flying goat, buttons the size of sleds, and a castle on Hester Street are some of the widely imaginative stories Julie's grandpa tells her about his journey from Russia to New York many years ago. But Grandma's no-nonsense memories are far different from Grandpa's tall tales.

This classic story, which reveals the immigrant experience with wit and warmth, won the Sydney Taylor Book Award when it was originally published with Linda Heller's own illustrations. Now, on its twenty-fifth anniversary, The Castle on Hester Street is given new life with Boris Kulikov's vibrant paintings. Hardcover $15.95

Changing the World for Tweens & Teens

An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming (Paperback) » This young readers' version of the recent documentary film's companion adult volume cuts the page count by about a third but preserves the original's cogent message and many of its striking visuals. After explaining that his interest in the environment predates even his mother's reading of Silent Spring aloud to him as a teenager, Gore proceeds to document steeply rising carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere, and then to link that to accelerating changes in temperature and precipitation patterns worldwide... Gore is counting on the kids to make the crucial diffrerence: "I have faith that young people have both the ability and the enthusiasm to put a stop to global warming." Good Lord, let's hope so.

Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming » This essential guide will help you understand why global warming happens, how it affects the planet, and the simple steps you can take to get involved in protecting the environment. 128 pps, ages 9-12

Irreverent and entertaining, DOWN TO EARTH is filled with fact about global warming and its disastrous consequences, loads of photos and illustrations, as well as suggestions for how kids can help combat global warming in their homes, schools, and communities. Engagingly designed, DOWN TO EARTH will educate and empower, leaving readers with the knowledge they need to understand this problem and a sense of hope to inspire them into action.

We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin (Hardcover) » Nearly everyone in the United States is familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. They know the kinds of things these two important figures did for the civil rights movement. What few people realize is that there was another man who was just as vital to the movement. A man who, more than ten years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus, also refused to move from his seat. The same man who organized the March on Washington at which Dr. King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech and who taught Dr. King about the concept of nonviolent protest. That man was Bayard Rustin. A great book for later Elementary & Middle School classrooms.

America Dreaming is an educational and visual look into a time of energy and influence. Covering subjects such as the civil rights movement, hippie culture, black nationalism, and the feminist movement, Hill paints a sprawling picture of life in the '60's and shows how teenagers were on the forefront of the societal changes that occurred during this grand decade. Hardcover, oversized, ages 12 and up.

The Ever-After Bird » "Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous pre-Civil War South, The Ever-After Bird is the story of a young woman's education about the horrors of slavery and the realization about the kind of person she wants to become. "Ann Rinaldi delivers another spellbinding, well-researched historical novel. Her characters are well-rounded and enticing, experiencing development and deepening awareness. Read as CeCe grows from a self-centered child to a caring, self-sacrificing young woman; experience her blossoming heart as her relationship grows with her uncle, and she begins to recognize human cruelties in the world. Rinaldi also has a special talent for descriptions, bringing the south alive with color and essence (“She wasn’t even looking at the fairyland around us, the fallen and decaying trunks of trees, the dark cypresses protecting us from the sun with their dripping branches, the water lilies, the rich mosses that gleamed in the sun like green jewels.”). More importantly, this talented author brings to light the nightmares of our country’s past, for we must never forget." -- Teenreads.com, Ages 10 and up. Hardcover $17.00

Snow Goose » Originally published in 1940 in the Saturday Evening Post, it was brought out in book form the following year by Knopf, Michael Joseph and M&S simultaneously. It won the prestigious O Henry prize that same year and has been continually in print ever since. The Snow Goose has inspired a number of musical scores and albums, has been made into two feature films and moved generations of readers. A new feature film will be released in the coming year. Beautifully written in simple, lyrical prose, The Snow Goose is a moving story about love and courage, with an ending that is unforgettable -a story of hope in hopeless times. Beautifully written, with a powerful ending, and breathtakingly illustrated, this is an exquisite edition of Gallico’s masterpiece.

Love, Stargirl » This brilliant sequel to Stargirl (Knopf, 2000) takes place a year later. Now living in Pennsylvania, Stargirl, 15, continues to pine for Leo, who dumped her, and struggles to make a place for herself in her new community. Fortunately, her eclectic neighbors, who include Dootsie, a five-year-old "human bean"; Betty Lou, an agoraphobic divorcée; and Perry Delloplane, an amiable thief, draw her back into life and happiness. Written in diary format-the "world's longest letter," as Stargirl calls it-this novel is as charming and unique as its sensitive, nonconformist heroine. Addressing loss, growing pains, and staying true to oneself, this stellar follow-up is both profound and funny.—Terri Clark, Librarian, Ages 12 and up.

Eclipse » Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger.

In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which? Hardcover, ages 12 and up.

Collected Works of Kahlil Gibran » For the first time, all the major works of this beloved writer are gathered together in one hardcover volume. Poet, artist, and mystic, Kahlil Gibran was born in 1883 to a poor Christian family in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States as an adolescent. His masterpiece, The Prophet, a book of poetic essays that he began while still a youth in Lebanon, is one of the most cherished books of our time and has sold millions of copies in more than twenty languages since its publication in 1923. But all of Gibran’s works—essays, stories, parables, and prose poems—are imbued with equally powerful simplicity and wisdom, whether they are addressing marriage or children, friendship or grief, work or pleasure.

Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits (Hardcover) » The inaugural exhibition of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) -- traces the history of the United States from the vantage point of people who have suffered discrimination, oppression and injustice. Even now, after decades of social progress, the images from Resistance still challenge America to live up to its own highest ideals, according to Deborah Willis, curator of the exhibition. One of the greatest collections of portraits ever assembled. 

Collected Poems 1946-1997 » Counterculture icon, beat apostle, Buddhist chanter, heir to William Blake, unapologetic explorer of intoxicating substances, world traveler, political protest leader, celebrant of gay sex, chronicler of New Jersey Jewish heritage and of Lower East Side post-hippie bohemians, Ginsberg (1926–1997) became by the midpoint of his career the most famous American poet of his era. At first hardworking and tormented, later on a spontaneous, welcoming mentor, the writer who in Howl (1956) "saw the best minds of my generation starving hysterical naked," and who mourned his psychotic mother in the wrenching title poem of Kaddish (1960) kept creating entertaining (if not quite so innovative) poems, for almost three decades after he rose to fame. Now in paperback, $26.00

The Best American Nonrequired Reading of 2007 » "This lively latest volume of "The Best American Nonrequired Reading" boasts the best in fiction, nonfiction, alternative comics, screenplays, blogs, and "anything else that defies categorization." Edited by that dean of ecelticism, Dave Eggars. Introduction by Michigan native wunderkind musician Sufjan Stevens.

The Colorful Apocalypse: Journeys in Outsider Art » “If James Agee and Tom Wolfe were to cross their bare wires, the resulting flash would be The Colorful Apocalypse. Greg Bottoms gets us deep inside not just the art, but the making, the visionary angst that drives these outsiders, these unassimilated originals. A savvy, but also deeply heartfelt, intensely searching tribute.”—Sven Birkerts, author of The Gutenberg Elegies

Awakenings:Asian Wisdom for Every Day » Each of these 365 beautiful photographs of the Far East are accompanied by the thoughts of great masters, including Confucius, Lao Tzu, Dogen Zenji, Shonin Shinran, D. T. Suzuki, Gao Xingjian, and the Buddha. These words have guided generation after generation for thousands of years, and they continue in this volume to enrich our views and lives with their thoughts on nature, self-awareness, family, and society. A truly wonderful combination of text and image, from the same series that brought out, Origins: African Wisdom for Everyday.

Against the Day » The inimitable Thomas Pynchon has done it again. Hailed as “a major work of art” by The Wall Street Journal, his first novel in almost ten years spans the era between the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 and the years just after World War I and moves among locations across the globe (and to a few places not strictly speaking on the map at all). With a phantasmagoria of characters and a kaleidoscopic plot, Against the Day confronts a world of impending disaster, unrestrained corporate greed, false religiosity, moronic fecklessness, and evil intent in high places and still manages to be hilarious, moving, profound, and so much more. Now in paperback, $18.00

Poet's Choice » Gifted poet and critic Edward Hirsch offers a new way to look at the world through the art of poetry. The author of the bestselling How to Read a Poem collects and reflects on the work of more than 130 poets—from Asia and the Middle East to Europe and America, from ancient times to the present—and demonstrates how poetry answers the challenge of finding meaning in the midst of suffering.

Coltrane: the story of a sound Coltrane, in the hands of this New York Times music critic, is a man constantly searching—and practicing—and pushing himself to the next level musically. He's also a music theory-obsessed saxophonist that people didn't always know what to make of, but he was consistently invited to play anyway; and repeatedly blew people away with his power and tenacity. A deep revolutionary study on a revolutionary and spiritual musician.

Loving Every Child: Wisdom for Parents (Hardcover gift edition) » When the U.N. declared 1979 "The Year of the Child," the organization dedicated the year to Janusz Korczak, a Polish-Jewish physician and child advocate who was murdered by the Nazis alongside the orphans he refused to abandon. Although his fable, King Matt the First, has been available in translation, his writings about children have not been. And while this present volume of selections may seem slim, Korczak's insights are profound. The opening selection, "No Book Is a Substitute," reminds readers not to trust childcare books more than their own thoughtful observations. hardcover, $10.95

BOOM! » Race, war, politics, feminism, popular culture, and music are all explored here, and we learn from a wide range of people about their lives. Tom Brokaw explores how members of this generation have gone on to bring activism and a Sixties mindset into individual entrepreneurship today. We hear stories of how this formative decade has led to a recalibrated perspective–on business, the environment, politics, family, our national existence.

Rolling Stone Interviews » for the first time ever, the very best interviews from the magazine's remarkable 40-year history have been collected in a single volume. All of the biggest and most important musicians, writers, political figures, and directors are here—completely unafraid to bare their souls and comment candidly on the issues of their day. THE ROLLING STONE INTERVIEWS is more than a collection; it's a marvelous cultural history.

Cooking, Health & Resolutions

Discover Chocolate There’s a difference between a chocoholic and a chocophile, and Clay Gordon is decidedly in the latter category. It’s not enough for him to simply love this rich indulgence; he is equally addicted to the finer points of choosing it, just as a wine aficionado enjoys researching different varietals and developing a taste for particularly fine ones. A guidebook and encyclopedia to the finest chocolates in the world. Richly filled with photos and contacts making this one delicious reference. Hardcover.

The Hippy Gourmet's Quick and Simple Cookbook for Healthy Eating » From creamy hot Quinoa Cereal grown in the high Andes to a robust Salad Olivier from the Ukraine, Bruce Brennan "The Hippy Gourmet" (PBS celeb chef) celebrates the joy of using local, freshly grown, and organic ingredients. Now in a cookbook packed with over 150 recipes, Bruce shows you how you can make these easy, delicious dishes in your own home. His vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian meals will transform your eating experience-and change the world for the better, one meal at a time. Paperback, $14.99

Sweety Pies: An Uncommon Collection of Womanish Observations With Pies » "I'm having a hard time making up my mind which is more delicious--Patty Pinner's glorious words or these heavenly pies! I've read all the words--and now I'm working my way through the pies--I'll get back to you on this asap and I suggest you undertake your own study of this weighty question IMMEDIATELY. This is the PERFECT discussion for book clubs--but don't talk with your mouth full!" --Jill Conner Browne, THE Sweet Potato Queen

Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without » Sometimes we need a little inspiration when it comes to adding more vegetables to our plate. Thankfully for us, Mollie Katzen knows a thing or two about vegetables! On the 30th anniversary of her groundbreaking Moosewood Cookbook, Mollis presents just under 100 delicious vegetable side dishes in this delightful and beautiful cookbook.

Cooking the Whole Foods Way:Your Complete, Everyday Guide to Healthy, Delicious Eating with 500 VeganRecipes, Menus, Techniques, Meal Planning, Buying Tips, Wit, and Wisdom » The revised and updated edition of the popular, whole foods cookbook-with more than 80 new recipes...now 100% vegan! With a dash of fun, Christina Pirello introduces whole foods cooking, inviting health-conscious readers to cut out processed and chemically enhanced food, as well as dairy, sugar, and meat, and embrace fruit, whole grains, vegetables, and beans. From savory soups to innovative entrées and delectable desserts, here are more than 500 recipes and ideas for wholesome, gourmet eating.

You Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty (You) » At the core of this landmark book are the Major Agers--14 biological processes that control your rate of aging. Some you've heard of, some you haven't, and some you never knew contributed to the aging process. Some speed decline, others inhibit your repair mechanisms. These Major Agers are everything from short telomeres and inefficient mitochondria to stem cells and wacky hormones. The doctors explain the principles of longevity and many of the causes of aging and how to fight the effects. The climax of the book is a 14-day plan to help you along your path to staying young.

Getting Organized: Revised paperback edition » The ultimate "how-to" book! Now, with nearly one hundred pages of new material, this updated edition applies the timeless principles of organization to today's changing life-styles and technology - while losing none of the original invaluable guidance on paper work, maximizing storage and living space, budget planning, closet organization, meal planning, and more.

A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder—How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place »

Forget what everyone from your first boss to your mother taught you. The authors of A Perfect Mess are here to say that "moderately disorganized people, institutions, and systems frequently turn out to be more efficient, more resilient, more creative, and in general more effective than highly organized ones." Even better, they have proof--in this compelling and comical tour of humanity's guilt-ridden love affair with accidents, messes, and randomness.

Our reading group will meet at Gayles' Chocolates in Royal Oak on Wednesday, January 30th at 7:00 PM for a discussion on Patricia Hampl's Blue Arabesque. The meeting is open to the general public. For an idea on past discussions check out our list of Reading Group Books.

With her acclaimed books A Romantic Education, Virgin Time, and Blue Arabesque, Patricia Hampl has helped define what Booklist has called “the memoir of discovery.” The Chicago Tribune has praised her for linking “the intellectual inquisitiveness of the essay with the narrative drive of the memoir to create nothing less than a conduit between self and culture.” Four of her books have been named "Notable Books" of the year by The New York Times Book Review. In 1990 she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.

Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime » “A painting must depict the act of seeing, not the object seen,” Hampl asserts, having “shadowed” Matisse — and the portraits of women known as “his odalisques — from museum to museum,” both at home and abroad. To her eye, these reclining females “suggest not languor but the art of perception” as they gaze calmly back at their observers.... Patricia Hampl’s determination to occupy the space between the eye and its object and her success at articulating the mysterious transactions therein grants her authority among writers like Berger and Sontag, who not only sit and stare but see. Read “Blue Arabesque” and you too might mistake — or exchange — art museums for churches." --Katheryn Harrison

Wishing you a very Happy & Healthy New Year! We hope you make "reading more great books" for yourself and to others a New Years resolution... Peace, Cheers and Good Reading!

The Book Beat is an independent locally owned bookstore serving the metro Detroit area since 1982. We specialize in children's books, art, photography and quality lit. Our hours are Mon-Fri 10 AM-9 PM, Sat: 10 AM-7 PM and Sunday 12-5 PM. For more information or to reserve books, please call: 248-968-1190