Author & illustrator Nick Bruel will be at Spellbound on Saturday, November 7 at 5pm to read and sign books! You probably know his nationally bestselling picture books Boing! and Bad Kitty.

His new book is Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty, a heavily illustrated early chapter book. Nick will be in the Tarheel state to accept the 2009 North Carolina Picture Book of the Year award for Who Is Melvin Bubble? We’re thrilled to be hosting Nick for the second time at Spellbound. If the company he keeps tells you anything, in October Nick appeared with 5 real luminaries of the children’s book world at a group signing in New York’s largest bookstore for kids: LANE SMITH, MARK TEAGUE, ROBIE HARRIS, MAC BARNETT, and the Children’s Book Laureate himself JON SCIESZKA.
 
Best to have the kids in the door by 5:15 at the latest for a reading, though Nick will be here to talk with readers and sign books until 7:oopm.

 It’s Bad Kitty’s birthday, and you’re invited! Bad Kitty’s second illustrated novel is packed with deadpan humor, rich tidbits of cat information — and even some suspense! Who took Kitty’s presents? Why are Kitty’s friends so bizzare? Readers will laugh out loud at Kitty’s feline mood swings, and they’ll be touched by the heartwarming visit from a surprise guest. Follow-up to Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, now available in paperback.

Who is this kid with the funny name? Well, that depends on who you ask. Everybody who knows Melvin—his mom, his dad, his best friend Jimmy, his dog—even Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the big ugly monster with three eyes who lives in his closet have a different opinion.  This original and riotous picture book has a lot to say—not only about Melvin, but also about perspective, point of view, and a six-and-a-half-year-old’s place in the world.

Free cupcakes all day (while supplies last…)!

All poetry books are on sale for the whole month of April!

Thursday April 16th 4:00pm 
Poetry Workshop with NC Author Julia Ebel
This workshop is open to kids as well as parents and teachers who would like to observe or participate. Julia does many school appearances, so if you are looking to schedule an author appearance or workshop for your school or homeschool group, please join in. For more on Julia’s books and workshops, please click here. 

Her books: Dresses, Dreams and Beadwood Leaves, which is poetry; Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns, which uses the naturally poetic flow of the storyteller’s voice to tell the stories, and The Picture Man, also told with  free-verse style, although most readers will not notice. 

Or, here is a handy link to a pdf of the catalog. Enjoy!

ABC Best Books for Children 2008

The Good Neighbors

The Good Neighbors # 1: Kin
by Holly Black, illustrated by Ted Naifeh
Ages 12 and Up

From Holly Black, the co-creator of the enormously popular Spiderwick chronicles, comes an exciting new graphic novel for older readers. Rue Silver’s mother has disappeared . . . and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing her. But it’s not as straightforward as that. Because Rue is a faerie, like her mother was. And her father didn’t kill her mother — instead, he broke a promise to Rue’s faerie king grandfather, which caused Rue’s mother to be flung back to the faerie world. Now Rue must go to save her — and must also defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world. $16.99

Poppleton in Winter

Poppleton the pig knows how to make the most of a season’s offerings. In three short, charming chapters, Poppleton deals with fallen icicles, makes a bust of his llama friend’s head, and enjoys a very happy surprise birthday party. Young readers will giggle at the changing expressions on the characters’ faces as they carry on their misadventures and comedies of errors. From the author of the Henry and Mudge series of early readers and the illustrator of the How Do Dinosaurs… series. Scholastic Reader Level 3. $3.99