Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal was named one of the Best Books for Children 2009 by the Association of Booksellers for Children and is available now for $16.99. Suggested for ages 4 to 8.

Read our review on the Book Witches blog.

Author Michael Buckley, of Sisters Grimm fame, describes his new series NERDS. (Long-time customers may recall meeting Michael at Spellbound a few years ago when he was promoting Sisters Grimm #3: Problem Child!)

NERDS has been chosen one of the Best Books for Children  2009 by the Association of Booksellers for Children. NERDS, Book One is available now for $14.95. Suggested for ages 8-12.

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.

In a distant kingdom a growing darkness falls over the land. One is called to defend . . . to bring hope . . . to slay the Mighty Dragon. Could it be . . . Babymouse? Find out when Babymouse leads her fellow Mathletes in the quest of a lifetime. $5.99.

August 29th 2-3 pm

Susan Runholt, author of the popular Mystery of the Third Lucretia (newly available in paperback) presents a brand new adventure, Rescuing Seneca Crane, featuring teen sleuths Kari and Lucas. Reading with signing to follow. Both books suggested for ages 10 and up.

 
Rescuing Seneca Crane

When Kari and Lucas first see Seneca Crane up on stage, playing the piano in front of hundreds of people, they are in awe. She is beautiful. She is amazingly talented. And she is only thirteen! But then they get to know her at the Edinburgh Arts Festival and realize that she envies them. Soon the three are becoming friends –until Seneca disappears. There’s no stopping Kari and Lucas from jumping on the trail and tracking her down. Even when it leads to the heart of the Scottish highlands!

Following in the spine-tingling tracks of The Mystery of the Third Lucretia, Susan Runholt’s second book featuring super sleuths Kari and Lucas is just as smart and fast-paced as the first!

Horrid Henry lives in a normal house, in a normal town with his parents (Mom and Dad) and his little brother Perfect Peter. Peter is perfect. He eats his veggies, cleans his plate, loves reading, hates TV, loves tattle-telling on his brother, and pretty much anything else that a perfect child would do. Horrid Henry, on the other hand, loves any and every opportunity to create mischief for anyone who might cross his path. This series chronicles the adventures of Horrid Henry, his little brother Perfect Peter, his neighbor Moody Margaret, his school pals Rude Ralph, Lazy Linda, Aerobic Al, Brainy Brian, their teacher Miss Battle-Axe and a host of other comic foils for this young terror.

These are laugh-out loud funny books which parents will love reading to kids and which kids will love reading themselves. Reviewed in April’s School Library Journal: “Short, easy-to-read chapters will appeal to early readers, who will laugh at Henry’s exaggerated antics and relate to his rambunctious personality.” First four books in series available now. More to come. $4.99 each.