Showing 1–100 of 132 results
The Blue Dog and the White Horse: The Best of Friends
$15.95
Written by Haven Lindsey
What happens when Gracie, a small “blue” dog, befriends Max, a big white horse? Despite all outward differences, these two become inseparable! Young Gracie learns to be confident and unafraid, and aging Max learns that he still has purpose. In The Blue Dog and the White Horse: The Best of Friends, you’ll join this unlikely pair on real-life adventures as they build bonds of love and trust while navigating excitement, illness, danger, uncertainty, and even great loss together. In this heartwarming collection of true stories, you’ll find that Gracie, Max, and their community of friends face many of the same emotions and circumstances as people. Their experiences and lessons in courage, compassion, communication, and connection are sure to resonate with children, adults, and families everywhere! (Downloadable activity book included!)
Before the Age of Dinosaurs in Virginia and Nearby States
$8.99 – $16.95
Written by Rob Weems and Gary Grimsley
The story of the ancient fossil animals and plants that lived in Virginia before the time of the dinosaurs is scarcely known to the public at large, even though numerous papers have been written about these creatures over the past two hundred years. Because most of this information is only available to academics in old scientific journals, the present book is presented to offer a detailed and comprehensive introduction to the largely unpublicized history of the animals and plants that lived in Virginia and nearby Mid-Atlantic States during the very ancient ages before even the dinosaurs had arisen on the world stage. While this book is focused primarily on the ancient fossil history of Virginia, it also extensively covers the fossils known from before the time of the dinosaurs in North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The synthesis presented here provides a detailed summary of the diverse assemblage of fossil animals and plants that lived and died here long before the age of dinosaurs had even begun.
Simone LaFray and the Bishop of Mumbai
$9.99 – $35.95
Written by S. P. O'Farrell
Simone captures Mumbai
In this third installment of the award-winning series, junior spy Simone LaFray returns to Paris after recovering the legendary OmniKey on her mission in London. Unfortunately, her opportunity for rest is short-lived. Now thirteen, Simone finds her life accelerating (much to her displeasure): The V has a boyfriend, a new baby brother has joined the LaFray family, and relics of the Red Wolf cryptically surface as the specter of an old enemy rises from its grave.
Worst of all, the OmniKey’s operation remains a mystery, even to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their only lead is the elusive Bishop of Mumbai, a fifteen-year-old prodigy whose talents for chess and technological wizardry are equally extraordinary. To learn the OmniKey’s secrets, Simone must face him in a prestigious chess tournament in his own home country of India—but this time, she won’t be working alone.
As queens, pawns, and brazen knights of unknown intent take the board, sides are chosen, and nothing is as it seems. Right and wrong blur as Simone teeters on the edge of a new world. Will she make the right move?
Maddy and Mia: Growing Pains
$20.95
Written by Pamela Adler
Growing up can have its challenges, especially when you have twin toddler siblings. Ten-year-old Maddy’s new role as a big sister presents her with many new responsibilities and opportunities. With Mia by her side, Maddy navigates through unexpected dangers, family tragedy, and exciting adventures with strength and humor, all the while learning that even though change can be difficult, it can also be a good thing!
Lemonade Lists
$32.95
Written by Carol Frazier
Lemonade Lists guides you through discovering your authentic voice, showing you how to weave creativity and gratitude into your daily life. Each page inspires self-reflection, revealing fresh perspectives and insightful expression. Creative cousins Carol Frazier and Cindy Briggs honor their shared legacy by passing forward the joys of music, art, cooking, and writing. Through their books and workshops, they inspire others to embrace the transformative power of creativity.
Steel Slides and Yellow Walls
$13.95
By Alicia Swain
In Steel Slides and Yellow Walls, Alicia Swain navigates the labyrinthine journey women undergo to form their identities. Through a feminist lens and distinctive voice, her collection veraciously portrays the trials that forge women into sagacious, resilient adults. From contemplation of how to balance mental health despite knowing what tribulations are sure to come, to the title poem’s exploration of how traumatic memories can continue to haunt in the most unexpected situations, Swain offers a look at the diverse experiences that mold women into the tenacious beings they are.
Lady Needed Space
$15.95 – $26.95
By Audrey Weatherstone
When Lady is brought home from the animal shelter, she feels overwhelmed by the busy world around her, full of unfamiliar dogs, people, sounds, and smells. She doesn’t know what to do with her big feelings! But with love and patience from her human, April, Lady learns tricks to help her feel safe, and even makes a new friend. Some days she feels brave, and some days she just needs space.
Charlie-Man
$7.99 – $34.95
By Thomas Cullen
It’s August 1994, and Charlie Stewart begins his final year at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, a prestigious all-boys school in Richmond, Virginia. Charlie, an undistinguished student by St. Mark’s standards, faces tough odds as he seeks to rekindle his relationship with Katy Hendricks, a beautiful tennis star, and gain admission to a highly selective state university. Through it all, Charlie relies on Beau Miller, his best friend and the top student athlete in their class. Despite Beau’s movie-star looks and infectious charm, he has a darker side, which becomes more apparent as the year progresses. Charlie endures his trials with wry determination and ultimately emerges with a renewed sense of purpose. This is a heartrending but hopeful story of one boy’s journey toward manhood in the American South.
Ravenous Words
$14.95 – $25.95
By Lisa Lucas and Susan Wurtzburg
In these tumultuous times, poetry bridges borders, creates connections, and imparts ideas. Writers Lisa Lucas and Susan J. Wurtzburg whispered words and shouted stanzas to each other by text and voice across the geographical expanses of Canada, the USA, and the Pacific Ocean. Their collaboration was adorned later by paired ravens, the cover print created by James Lahey, a noted Canadian artist, living in Toronto.
This raven motif glides through the book sections and their poetry, with connections to the idea of being ravenous, insatiable, and greedy, all of which contrast with the socially normed perceptions of women. It also links to the long history of strong female writers, hungry for expression, who were largely disparaged and outcast from less contemporaneous poetry histories. Here, the title and poetic content connect these tropes in innovative ways that speak to people in the Americas and the Pacific, where most of these works are situated.
Patience in your pocket
$14.95
By Shweta Ujaoney Thackeray
Kaya’s little sister, Aria, is going through a “Phase.” Whenever she wants something, she wants it now... and she’ll scream and cry and roll on the floor until she gets it! No one knows how to prevent Aria’s tantrums—and once they start, no one knows how to calm her down. That is, not until the girls’ grandmother, Nanima, comes to visit with a special gift: a cute toy bunny named Patience. At first, Kaya wonders how a stuffed bunny can teach Aria to wait for things calmly. But Patience does more than just change Aria’s behavior—it changes their whole family, too!
The Day Sweetie Pie Died
$4.99 – $26.95
By Laurie Sharp
Maggie loves attending school, where she and her friends get to play, collect nature treasures, and ride trikes together. Best of all, Maggie looks forward to hearing the class guinea pig, Sweetie Pie’s, daily greeting of “Whee, Whee, Whee, Whee, Whee, Whee, Wheat!” But today, Ms. Lamms has sad news for the class: Sweetie Pie has died, and they won’t be able to see her anymore. Alongside their grief and worries, Maggie and her classmates devise a plan to show their love for the best guinea pig ever!
A String’s Tale
$15.95 – $26.95
By Eric Albright
One evening, while being tucked into bed, Little String wonders aloud about his interests and place in the world. Encouraged by his father, the young string sets off the next morning on an adventure. During his journey, he encounters three friends who guide him through the forest and over the hills to a lake. On the other side of that lake, Little String discovers a small town that holds his destiny.
Nine Lives: My Risky Road from Fifties Rebel to Feminist Critic
$7.99 – $33.95
Written by Claire Kahane
In this tell-all memoir, a woman in her eighties, born during the Great Depression to Jewish immigrants, unveils her intimate self-transformations in the course of nine decades. Determined at an early age to prove herself a free spirit in a male dominated world, as a young adult Kahane went on the road, hitchhiking her way into and out of risky adventures and romantic affairs, ceaselessly chasing new experiences. But what started out as a “road book” takes a different turn in midlife when, influenced by the insights of psychoanalysis and feminism, she became a feminist professor, mother, and wife. In later life, her story changed tracks again when a visit to Auschwitz compelled her to confront her own family history of loss and renewal. The memoir ends with a surprising new twist that opens to a hopeful future. In this long and hard-earned coming-of-age story, readers will find a piece of themselves.
Reclaiming Southside
$14.95
Written by M.J. Coll
M.J. Coll grew up imagining herself as like her father’s son, but 1950’s Richmond, Virginia, wasn’t a welcoming environment for her to come of age. Venturing to the Midwest for college, M. J. came into her own as a lesbian feminist in her twenties, exploring relationships with other women, participating in Vietnam War protests, and advocating for citizens in crisis. But when her mother got sick, M. J. found herself back in Richmond, the city that she both loved and struggled to understand. Caring for her mother and reconciling with her father left her with no choice but to reclaim Southside, the neighborhood she grew up in and had sought so desperately to flee in her teens and twenties.
This collection of vignettes and poems about coming of age in the South speak both to M. J.’s personal experience as a young lesbian and the movements of the latter half of the twentieth century that have shaped America today. A testament to both how far we have come since the fifties yet how far we still need to go in our search for equality for the LGBTQIA+ community, M. J.’s story is both personal and political.
The Adventures of Fuzzy and Buzzy: Speedy’s Tree and the Disappearing Forest
$15.95 – $26.95
written by Josh Brandstadter
illustrated by Soraya Bartolome Perez
Fresh off their first adventure, Fuzzy and Buzzy are enjoying their forest when something new catches their eyes. An excited visitor introduces them to a new threat, one which they have never seen before. The health and well-being of their home ecosystem is at risk, but with some collaboration and forward thinking, they come up with a solution which will benefit everything from the smallest seeds to the largest trees.
Everybody Can Dance! (Spanish edition)
$23.95
written by Kara Navolio
illustrated by Ruth-Mary Smith
Escucha la musica. Siente el ritmo. Taconea y tocs las palmas. Hagamos un gran concierto. Todos a bailar!
This colorful picture book uses rhyme and rhythm to celebrate the joy of dancing, teaching kids that no matter your culture, physical ability, or style, everybody can dance!
This Sure Thing
$4.99 – $26.95
written by Sarah Mayfield
illustrated by Dennis Auth
Inspired by real events, This Sure Thing captures a boy’s persistence after the death of his younger brother.
The boy imagines what life would be like if his brother were still alive. Days might be filled with football, laughter, and video games! His brother might discover the trick candles on his birthday cake! Despite all he wonders, the boy knows one thing for sure: his brother is no longer here, but the love he has for him still is. In sharing this unfading love with others, and writing notes to his deceased brother, the boy discovers both meaning and connection on his grief journey.
This Sure Thing, through a heartfelt, first-person narrative, encourages youth to continue to live the love they have for their person no longer here.
Bonus features included in this book:
“30 Ways to Live That Love”—Browse the list of remembrance activities and grief rituals. Pick out ones that feel like a good fit for you and your child. Discover new ways to live the love for your special person!
“Today Notes”— On these blank notes, write a few words (or draw a picture!) to your loved one about how you “live that love.” Capture the love you have for your special person! Save these notes and revisit them when you feel up to it.
Print blank Today Notes and find additional grief resources at livethatlove.org.
Twenty-five percent of author’s proceeds from book sales go to National Alliance for
Children’s Grief and Full Circle Grief Center.
Serenity: How to Recognize, Understand, and Recover from Behavioral Addictions
$26.95
written by Sanja Rozman
Life can be hard—so why not use whatever avenues you can to make it easier? Overindulging in drugs and alcohol only makes problems worse, but what could be wrong with using video games, gambling, comfort food, social media, romance, or sex to add some comfort to your life? Unfortunately, while engaging in comforting behaviors can initially seem less dangerous and more socially acceptable than smoking or drinking too much alcohol, the chemistry of addiction is not wholly tied to a substance, but rather to the brain’s response. This leads some people to develop diseases called behavioral addictions—which work just like other addictions, but without any substance involved.
Serenity is your go-to manual for understanding and overcoming behavioral addictions. It answers many questions you may have about behavioral addiction:
How can you recognize and understand behavioral addictions?
How do people develop behavioral addictions?
When it comes to activities like engaging with social media, gaming, working, or dieting, how much is too much?
How can someone become addicted to something everybody does?
How can you know if you’re helping or enabling your addicted loved one?
Are you an addict yourself—and if so, how can you recover?
In this book, renowned psychotherapist Sanja Rozman will answer these questions and help you create your own personal, state-of-the-art recovery plan. Her program has helped her clients discover the reasoning behind their destructive behaviors, work through them, and establish new, healthier patterns in their lives and relationships. Whether you are suffering yourself or are a family member, teacher, or good friend of an addict, you will learn everything you need to know about how to recognize, understand, and cope with behavioral addictions. You can’t just stop them—but you can work through the problem. It works if you work it!
I Taught Benjamin Franklin How to Drive
$7.99 – $15.95
written by Ann K. Morris
Life for twelve-year-old Luke Adams is tough, and it’s about to get weird, too. His mother died when he was ten, his dad is a workaholic, and Benjamin Franklin just traveled to his backyard from 1783 Paris. Now that Ben is standing in his living room – wearing tights, short pants, and a ruffly white shirt, no less – Luke has to find a way to get him back to Paris in time to sign the treaty that ends the American Revolution. Oh, and he teaches Ben how to drive!
You’re Not Invited!: An Ooey-Gooeys Adventure
$4.99 – $26.95
written by Sylvia Rouss and David Titcher
illustrated by Rick Penn-Kraus
A trio of undesirable Ooey-Gooeys—a wisecracking worm, a swift centipede, and a charming snail— share a yard with Queen Bea, the belle of the insect community, who makes it clear they are not invited to her party. When a “Bigfoot”—a human—arrives with his high-powered gardening tool, the Ooey-Gooeys become unlikely heroes as they use their skills and wits to save their community and worm their way into our hearts.
Turnpike Confidential
$19.95
written by Neal Savage
Richmond, Virginia, fall 1956: World War II veteran Eddie Bostic earns his living as a locksmith. It’s an honest trade and one he takes pride in, something he can’t say about his days as a cop or private eye. After quitting the force and getting blacklisted as an investigator, Eddie is now as far away from all that as possible. The only problem, he’s being evicted from his shop and can’t afford to lease a new place.
When summoned to the downtown offices of the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority, he learns it’s not about eviction or a locksmith job. The word is out that Eddie does side jobs as an unlicensed investigator. When the Authority offers him enough cash for a new shop in exchange for some of his side work, Eddie is ambivalent. They’re no friend, and this is no favor. Eddie’s choice will take him down a dark road toward deceit, betrayal, and murder.
Against a post-war Southern backdrop, this journey includes an encounter with a young Martin Luther King, Jr., the keynote speaker at a local conference. Several other scenes are set inside the liminal spaces of Richmond’s Black district, Jackson Ward, before the wrecking ball came calling. Turnpike Confidential is an explosive story of race, history, and injustice in a city that will be changed forever.
The Pinch Hitters
$8.99 – $28.95
written by Roger Stevenson
Will Livingston and his best friend, Sugarbread, aren’t about to let the paucities of war deprive them of the adventures of childhood. The Pinch Hitters chronicles one South Carolina family facing the flight of young adults in their call to wartime duty after Pearl Harbor in 1944. When the enlistment of the four military-age siblings leaves their farm in the hands of Granny Jack, the widowed owner, she soldiers on with the help of the resident sharecropping family, an elderly neighbor, and a German prisoner of war farm laborer. With a child’s pragmatism, Will navigates the challenges and joys that arise from planting season. Will’s observations of those who “came to bat” for the young men who left the farm to fight in World War II is an education in integrity and courage, with a love of baseball at its metaphorical core.
The Aftertime
$7.99 – $25.95
written by L.L.H. Harms
What if you had a weapon—a knife that had the power to heal—as long as it was never used in anger? What if this knife had been handed down for generations in your family, but because of you, it has now been taken? What if you were only twelve years old?
Our story begins in Virginia in the mid-1700s—when English settlers in Virginia claimed Monacan land as their right—and brings us into the twenty-first century. This is a story that spans generations yet begins with the simple friendship between two boys: one Monacan and the other English. The Aftertime asks what is worth fighting for, and how to fight for it. Most importantly, it’s a story about following your moral compass and standing up, sometimes all alone, for what is just.
Wisdom Builds Her House
$8.99 – $18.95
written by Carole Duff
Wisdom Builds Her House is the true story of a woman who comes face-to-face with her past when she reads the journal of her husband’s deceased daughter, a girl she never met. Curiosity leads to self-inquiry and haunting parallels between Carole and Gretchen: inexplicable disruptions from when they were five; mental illness episodes starting at sixteen; troubles in college; rejection in love—secrets hiding in their closets. While building a new house in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband, Carole reads the journals, which lead her to uncover the never-spoken truth about the violent crime from her childhood, all resulting in a crisis of faith.
Size Matters: The Large Woman’s Comprehensive Guide to Living Well
$8.99 – $16.95
written by Leslie C. Glass
As large women in America, we spend our entire lives consuming information that sends the message—sometimes subtle, but often harsh and unkind—that we are not valued. As a result, we often internalize these messages as negative beliefs about ourselves and begin to treat ourselves accordingly . . . settling for less than we deserve in every aspect of our lives. This book is the beginning of a conversation about how we get here, and what we can do to reclaim a sense of personal power in how we live. It is the large woman’s road map for a lifelong journey of well being that is derived from the knowledge that living well is our fundamental right.
Inside, you will find everything that you need to begin to tear up the narrative that large women deserve substandard treatment and to replace it with a renewed sense of your own worth. What you will NOT find is a single sentence that suggests that you need to change anything about your body in order to live a full and satisfying life. Come and join the revolution!
When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond: Strong-Arm Politics in Virginia’s Capital City
$9.99 – $35.95
written by Linwood Norman
Our nation’s first elected Black governor, L. Douglas Wilder, returned to public service in 2005 as the first popularly elected mayor of Richmond, Virginia in nearly sixty years. Despite his landslide election, voters may have had little idea what they were getting themselves into, as many were ill-prepared for Wilder’s strong style of leadership. He had remarkable success in reducing crime, cutting government spending, and boosting economic vitality, but Wilder’s relationship with City Council and the School Board—and the disagreements that ensued from both sides—tarnished his record as mayor. Author and former press secretary to the mayor, Linwood Norman, skillfully recounts the turmoil of Richmond’s transition to the “strong mayor” model of local government during what was a memorable chapter in Richmond’s rich political history that is still deliberated today, more than fifteen years after Wilder’s charismatic tenure concluded.
Save the Trees
$15.95 – $26.95
written by Leslie Eva Tayloe
illustrated by Lintang Pandu Pratiwi
Ronnie loves trees. So when strange vines appear all over town, strangling the trees and making them fall over, he jumps into action right away! But Ronnie’s just one kid, and even with friends and family helping to pick, pull, and pluck the vines, they just grow faster every day!
If he really wants to save the trees, Ronnie will have to get the whole town to help out . . . before it’s too late!
Why Can’t I Just Be Me?: Remove the Masks that Hide You from the World and from Yourself
$17.95 – $28.95
written by Melissa Dawn
illustrated by Liz Lee
Let me ask you. . . . Do you feel like you can drop your masks, speak your truth, and bring your whole self forward with the people around you? Your family, colleagues, partner, friends?
After coaching thousands of people over the past decade, I can confidently say that it is the rare exception for someone to feel truly at ease as themselves—no masks, no personas, no self-protective habits—with everyone around them.
There is always an element of holding back, which drives feelings of isolation and disconnection.
In bringing this book forward, I want to help you identify what is getting in your way, guide you to break the patterns that hold you back, and get you to where you feel at ease dropping the isolating masks you’ve cultivated over the years.
Are you ready to start taking full ownership of yourself and your story? To take the courageous step to reconnect with your whole self, shadow and all?
Why Can’t I Just Be Me? is a guidebook—complete with worksheets, exercises, coaching tips and practical strategies—that will take you on a powerful journey within, illuminating what needs to shift and how to shift it, and giving you the tools to start living your life as the YOU that you are meant to be.
It's time to remove the masks that hide you from the world and yourself!
Collette in Third Grade
$15.95 – $26.95
written by Collette Divitto
illustrated by Lintang Pandu Pratiwi
Entrepreneur and activist Collette Divitto follows up her debut children’s book, Collette in Kindergarten, with the heartwarming second installment, Collette in Third Grade.
With a new year comes new challenges. Collette, a young girl with Down syndrome, must navigate balancing her busy schedule and a difficult curriculum, all while feeling different from her classmates. Join Collette during her third-grade year, and meet the special person who helps her along the way.
The War of Independence Way
$16.95
written by Brian Pinaire
illustrated by Tom Burchell
The War of Independence Way opens with the Reds (the British redcoats), bullies from Crown Township, blasting Massachusetts Avenue boys with paintballs (the Boston Massacre) on the orders of their leader, Georgie King (King George III), the richest kid around and the worst eighth grader in history. Members of Down with Crown, a “secret society,” get revenge by dumping lemonade over Georgie’s head rather than pay “taxes” on their profits. Which works out well . . . except that it starts a war that Independence Way seems to have no chance of winning.
Because the neighborhood needs her, GW (George Washington) reluctantly leads the Independence Warriors. But despite early victories, such as crossing Delaware Creek to humiliate Georgie in his own school, the Warriors, already under-resourced, become completely overwhelmed. GW hatches a plan that is either fantastically brilliant or incredibly stupid: attacking the Reds inside the Taco Bell at York Road and Town Boulevard, while also gathering “sensitive” information on them to make them give up.
Eventually, Georgie surrenders (sort of), but without something to be against, the kids wonder what it is they are for. Will Independence Way remain thirteen separate blocks, or can the neighborhood become “united streets”?
Pollyanna Gay
$12.99 – $23.95
written by Jer Long
August Applegate is sixteen years old, and he’s known he’s gay for eleven of them. But in 1963, life in a small Appalachian hamlet doesn’t offer many opportunities to learn what that truly means.
That is, not until August spends one magical—if tumultuous—summer at Buck’s County Theatre Camp. There, he steps behind the curtains that shield the gay world from view and enters a bewildering universe of heated flings, dramatic breakups, and unspoken rules that leave his head spinning. Or perhaps that’s just his bunkmates: Pete, beautiful, charismatic, and secretive; and Farley Fairfield, chaos incarnate, who seems to hate August no matter what he does.
Thus begins a journey of many years, as August leaves camp and returns home to his loving, dysfunctional family; completes high school; attends college; survives life (once again) as Farley’s roommate; and finally sets out to build a life on his own terms. Navigating the uproar of the 1970s and into the next decade, August witnesses the defiant joy of the gay rights movement and the creeping dread of the AIDS crisis. Yet even amid the waning of old friendships, the withering of old loves, and the unspoken traumas that hold his family in their codependent orbits, the one thing August can’t get rid of is his tender, trusting “Pollyanna” heart.
But August’s stubborn optimism is more than just a chic set of rose-colored glasses. In fact, it might be the only pillar to which his loved ones can cling amid the relentless tides of fate. . . .
Like the Sea and the Sky: A Mysterious Mollusk and Its Magical Blue Ink
$14.95 – $25.95
written by Jordan Namerow
illustrated by Michelle Simpson
Seven-year-old Zinni loves learning about the world—especially the ocean and the wondrous creatures that live there!
Of all the world’s fascinating sea creatures, her favorites are mollusks, like squids and sea snails. When Zinni’s mommy, a rabbi, tells her the story of a mysterious ancient mollusk whose vivid blue ink is sacred to the Jewish people, Zinni is determined to find it . . . even if the only place she can search is in her dreams.
The Big Buna Bash (Amharic Edition)
$15.95
written by Sara Arnold
illustrated by Roberta Malasomma
When Almaz makes a mistake in school, she’s really embarrassed! Other kids tease her because they don’t understand her Ethiopian culture. How can she use her family’s traditions to make friends? She needs to host a BIG BUNA BASH!
Six Revolutionary WOW Factor Women
$8.99 – $13.95
written by Heidi Hartwiger
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE WOW FACTOR?
It’s a special quality tucked down deep inside you, which comes out when a problem needs solving. It might come from love, courage, or perseverance. Whatever inspires it, it is the part of you that says, “Watch Out World! I can deal with this.”
In this book, you will meet six strong, determined, independent women of America’s Revolutionary period—among them an extraordinary schoolteacher; an enslaved woman who went to court and won her freedom; a clever mother who took on six Redcoats on her own; an Oneida maiden who braved a blizzard to save Washington’s troops at Valley Forge; a sixteen-year-old girl trapped in a fort under siege; and even a president’s wife, hauling important documents from the burning White House—all of whom found their WOW factors within a few years of each other!
Who knows? As you explore their stories, you might just discover your own WOW factor!
Mamta’s Lovely Mustache
$15.95 – $26.95
written by Puja Suri
illustrated by Michelle Simpson
Mamta is so excited for her first day of grade three! But when her classmates start to whisper and laugh in the line for recess, Mamta wonders if she’ll ever fit in. With some help from her Ma, Mamta learns to celebrate who she is in a confident and sparkling way. As Mamta encourages her classmates to shine bright and share their differences, she gains self-confidence and makes a new and unexpected friend.
Grandma’s Window
$2.99 – $22.95
written by Janet Halfmann
illustrated by Christy Tortland
Every day on the bus to school, new student Mateo stares out the window, wishing he had a friend to talk to . . . until one morning, when he spots something surprising in an apartment window—an older woman is smiling and waving to the bus!
For the next few weeks, Mateo and his classmates wave to the nice lady they lovingly nickname “Grandma,” and she always waves back. But one day, Grandma is missing from her window, and she’s not there the next day, either. Mateo and his classmates must work together to find Grandma and make sure she’s safe and happy.
Grandma’s Window is a story of friendship and kindness that shows us that, no matter how young or old you are, the best way to bring joy into your life is to give it to others.
Opening Closed Doors: The Story of Josie C. Murray
$14.95 – $25.95
written by Linda Sittig with Linda Jackson King
illustrated by Whitney Truitt
Not long ago, public libraries in Virginia were not so public. It would take the courage of a young African-American woman, Josie C. Murray, to challenge that.
From a young age, Josie felt the supreme injustice of the Jim Crow South—ordering ice cream inside a restaurant and continuing her education beyond the seventh grade were opportunities denied to Josie during her childhood. Josie was surrounded by closed doors, barred from opportunities available to white people. But in 1957, when she was denied the ability to check out a book from the Purcellville Library because of the color of her skin, Josie took action. With the help of her husband, Sam Murray, a lawyer, and even President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Josie built a case and became the catalyst for all public buildings in Virginia to desegregate.
Two Faces of the Moon: A Small Island Memoir
$7.99 – $16.95
by Carolyn McGrath
Each summer Carolyn McGrath leaves her home and husband to live alone in her log cabin on a small island in Canada. Her only companions are two dogs, abundant wildlife, and the ghost of her father, who died and left the island to her when she was seventeen. During the summer of 2001, she challenges her husband’s claim that her need for solitude renders her strange, recounting stories of many women who have immersed themselves in isolation in order to explore the natural world. McGrath senses that she’s one person while alone on her island, and quite another out in the world. Her island self remains separate from the one who visits her dying mother in a nursing home. While she had always adored her father, taking from him her love for the lake and for the people who’ve made their lives there, she struggles to reconcile those feelings with the way he entered into this wilderness to kill the wild creatures with whom she shares her island home. This leads her to a humbling discovery.
Love and Other Illusions
$16.00
by Mariah Robinson
Enter the world of Jillian Barrister and those who orbit around her-Clay, David, Norma and Dr. Allison-players in a riveting drama of love and loss, happiness and anguish, innocence and guilt. It is Dr. Allison's task to study and understand his patients through the process of analysis, and Jillian is no exception-or is she? The more deeply he probes, the closer he comes to unearthing the childhood tragedy that has isolated her from herself and others, and could topple the precarious defenses of her internal world-a fragile but guarded state of consciousness in which the past is always just beneath the surface.
Twinings: Poems at Eighty
$6.99 – $14.95
by Julie Fritz
This gathering of poems from Julie Fritz’s lifetime of attention will give readers a chance to travel back in their own memories too, bringing with them the probing questions and insights she has generously shared in this heartfelt collection about a life well-lived.
Spirit of the Forest
$15.95
by Kate Kempton
12-year-old Coby is navigating a complicated world.
It’s summer in 1980s Texas, and Coby heads to work with his dad, B.B., a logger. At the logging site, Coby is thrust headlong into a fight for the forest and its spirit, for his family, and for his own dignity. Coby finds his courage tested beyond his wildest expectations, in an adventure through the heart of the dark and ancient woods, through a hurricane, and through his emergence as a young Black man in a color-charged world. Coby finds his strength, and his voice, with the help of the haunting bear-man, a sweet little skunk named Orphus, and the magic of an open heart.
The Woods of Wicomico (1st Ed.)
$2.99 – $15.95
written by Nuala C. Galbari
illustrated by Buttons Boggs
During the hot, lazy days of summer, life in the woods of Wicomico is peaceful. Mukki the muskrat makes herbal teas, Cornelius the crow fruitlessly tries to take a midday nap, and young Timothy Trumble the tortoise marvels at the world around him. But when humans plan to build a new development in their woodland, the community of animals springs into action to save their homes.
Join a host of loveable characters as they work together to stop the destruction of the Wicomico woodland and preserve their way of life. Travel with them on the Chesapeake Bay, where they meet new friends and find a bright world outside the Wicomico woods. After an ample share of excitement, they learn that small animals can make a difference and discover that plenty of wisdom can be found right at home.
Songs, vocabulary, and fun facts about the history and wildlife of the Chesapeake Bay, make The Woods of Wicomico a delightful educational experience for the whole family. This imaginative, richly illustrated, story invites us all to discover, enjoy, and preserve the natural world around us.
Strangers in Jerusalem
$4.99 – $23.95
by Kerry Olitzky and Inas Younis
After many years, Leila is back in her birthplace, Jerusalem, and she’s on a mission. Before she left for the Holy Land, Leila promised that she’d say a healing prayer for her best friend back home, even though Leila is Muslim and has never prayed in a Christian church. While making her way through the crooked streets in the Old City of Jerusalem, Leila meets Asma and Rachel, two girls also trying to find holy sites of religions that are different from their own. Together, they’ll discover that Jerusalem is perhaps the most special and welcoming place in the world.
The Big Buna Bash (Hebrew Edition)
$13.95
written by Sara Arnold
illustrated by Roberta Malasomma
When Almaz makes a mistake in school, she’s really embarrassed! Other kids tease her because they don’t understand her Ethiopian culture. How can she use her family’s traditions to make friends? She needs to host a BIG BUNA BASH!
Before You Were You
$13.95 – $23.95
by David and Jonathan Shmidt Chapman
How do you make a baby, even when you don't have all the necessary ingredients? What does it take for two daddies to grow a family? Before You Were You is the story of how some babies are brought into the world-with the help of an inspiring, creative community of friends, family, doctors, and no small measure of love.
The Phoenix of Upperville
$9.99 – $23.95
by Bradford Moore
When Senator J.A. Burnside is found dead in his penthouse, the police rule it a suicide. However, Detective Arch Williams isn’t convinced, so decides to dig deeper. Meanwhile, Tradd Mashburn, a young attorney, comes across a seemingly run-of-the-mill historic preservation lawsuit coupled with an amicus brief so passionately written that he must meet its author. Burnside’s death and the lawsuit point to a conspiracy so grand and secretive it appears impossible to unravel. Tradd’s and Arch’s respective investigations bring them together unexpectedly, taking them across Virginia and deep into its culture. Together, they grapple with the reverberations of Southern history that linger in our modern times and attempt to uncover the truth behind Burnside’s death and the apparently benign lawsuit.
Normal
$7.99 – $17.95
by Dave Kerpen and Lindsay Brockington
Life for four middle schoolers in New York City can be tough. David’s dad has bipolar disorder. Alexa’s new stepmother will never be able to fill her mom’s shoes. Tiffany’s dad acts like he’d rather be at the bar than at home with his family. And Albert’s got a family secret he can’t even tell his best friend.
All these four strangers want is to be normal, but it seems like they’re cursed to be outcasts no matter how hard they try. That is until they hear about a special school on New York City’s Upper East Side that’s meant for kids who stand out.
Thanks to a lot of hard work, their new school, a magical teacher, and each other, these four misfits soon find that being different makes them something much better than normal. . . . It makes them friends.
Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
$7.99 – $32.95
by S. P. O'Farrell
After her triumph at the Chocolatiers’ Ball, Simone LaFray wants to fade into the shadows and avoid her newfound popularity—but it is not to be. Duty calls when a fellow junior spy goes missing from the posh Claymoore School in London, and Simone jumps at the assignment. Going undercover, she soon finds herself embroiled in a complicated game involving dark forces, the enigmatic OmniKey, and an unruly royal. First looks can be deceiving, but could a certain redheaded thief be pulling the strings?
In this second book of the Simone LaFray Mysteries, Simone navigates school rivalries, oversees the opening of a new LaFray’s Patisserie, and finds herself questioning her loyalties as she prowls under the moonlight with the notorious Red Wolves. And to top it all off, the most popular boy in school can’t stop staring at her. The life of the world’s most promising young spy is about to get messy.
Bone Necklace
$4.99 – $28.95
written by Julia Sullivan
In the summer of 1877, the bedraggled remains of the Nez Perce tribe took on the U.S. Army and, despite being badly outnumbered and outgunned, emerged victorious. Inspired by true events, Bone Necklace captures the intensity, violence, and unexpected conclusion of America’s final “Indian War,” told from the perspectives of a Nez Perce warrior, an Idaho militiaman, and an English painter who gets caught up in the violence. Combining heart-thumping action with an unforgettable cast, the novel centers on the relationship between two fighters, who are both enemies and allies in this war.
Bone Necklace is a tale of survival in which the Nez Perce not only overcome staggering odds but also win the grudging respect of a war-weary nation. While deeply rooted in American history, this remarkable story continues to resonate, illuminating modern debates around institutional racism, journalistic bias, and the call for courage in times of moral crisis.
Brothers and Strangers: A German-Iraqi Memoir
$8.99 – $19.95
written by Junis Sultan
Born in Mosul, Iraq, to a wealthy intercultural family, Junis Sultan’s happy, privileged childhood is abruptly cut short by the start of the Gulf War in 1991. With their home destroyed, Junis’s family flees to Germany, settling in a small conservative town near Frankfurt. As his family struggles to adapt to their new circumstances, Junis finds himself increasingly torn between two worlds—fighting to carve out an identity for himself between his family’s expectations and a culture that demands his assimilation. After the 9/11 terror attacks, Junis begins to keep a diary, in which he reflects on questions of family, friendship, religion, and politics. These deep insights gradually expand beyond cultural borders, as Junis begins to explore the universal human needs for bonding and freedom.
Brothers and Strangers is a unique, heartfelt memoir of endurance, forgiveness, and self-actualization, offering a timely message about the importance of acting with openness and love in a global reality.
Of Memories and Mirages
by Abu B. Rafique $7.99 – $30.95
written by Abu B. Rafique
Although both time and origin separate them, this story is of lives that fate and circumstance have tied to Pakistan. Aasiya slips away from watchful eyes to meet her lover at a teashop in the same city her grandparents, Suraiya and Iqbal, once moved to after meeting amid the bloodshed of the Partition. The owner of the teashop, Salim, also finds himself refuge from Afghanistan’s war in the heat of Karachi. Meanwhile, a family nearby deals with the consequences of their son eagerly leaving the city and bearing firsthand witness to the horrors of the seemingly holy war.
My Family Tree Has Roots
$4.99 – $22.95
written by Tina Mowrey
illustrated by Vineet Siddhartha
When Jasmyn’s teacher assigns a family tree project to the class, Jasmyn can’t help but feel uneasy. She loves her family, but she’s not sure how everyone fits together. Jasmyn is especially unsure about where to place her birth parents. To complete her project, Jasmyn must look at her tree in a different way.
IKIGAI: Life’s Purpose
$4.99 – $23.95
written by Chiemi Souen
illustrated by Flor Kaneshiro
Inspired by a true story, a young boy overcomes self-doubt to realize his dream of sharing the traditional Okinawan art of uta-sanshin with the world.
The Adventures of Fuzzy and Buzzy
by Josh Brandstadter $4.99 – $22.95
written by Josh Brandstadter
illustrated by Soraya Bartolome
A hungry bear named Fuzzy and a hardworking bee named Buzzy form an unlikely bond to right a wrong! Working together, the new friends learn that everyone, no matter how big or small, can make a difference in their local ecosystem. This is the first of Fuzzy and Buzzy’s adventures aimed at teaching children and their parents about the responsibility we all share to protect the world we live in.
A Rebellious Woman
by Claire J. Griffin $9.99 – $34.95
by Claire J. Griffin
A Rebellious Woman is based on the life story of Belle Boyd (1844-1900), whose coming of age coincided with the opening shots of the Civil War. Debutante, teenaged spy, seductress, actress, divorcee, cross-dresser, and self-promoter, she carried a pistol and wasn’t afraid to use it. In a century when a woman was meant to be nothing more than a well-behaved wife and mother, Belle Boyd stands out as a scandalous woman of history defying all the rules.
It’s My Time to Fly: The Story of Caterpillar Number Five
by Julie Conner $12.95 – $22.95
written by Julie Conner
illustrated by Emily Row
Five baby caterpillars grow and grow. They hang upside down, tuck themselves into cozy chrysalises, and wake as beautiful butterflies. But Caterpillar Number Five is just a little behind the rest. When will it be his time to fly?
The Clothesline Code: The Story of Civil War Spies Lucy Ann and Dabney Walker
$4.99 – $22.95
written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Trisha Mason
Lucy Ann and Dabney Walker didn’t have to risk their lives to spy for the Union army. The couple had already risked everything to escape slavery themselves.
But in early 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, the couple was determined to help defeat slavery for everyone—no matter the risk. Together, they created a secret code disguised as laundry on a clothesline. Their plan was incredibly dangerous: it required Lucy Ann to sneak into Confederate territory to steal military secrets, while Dabney took the vital information she gathered to the Union army.
This true story of sacrifice and bravery shows us that when we have courage and compassion for the world around us, even the simplest items can become powerful tools for change.
A Photographic Journey through the James River Park System
by Bill Draper $41.00
by Bill Draper
This special collection is a testament to photographer Bill Draper’s appreciation of Richmond’s most distinctive urban oasis, the James River Park System. These diverse views of the Park and the Richmond skyline were captured on and off the beaten path in all four seasons, from vantage points that are not always seen by the everyday Park visitor.
As these photos reveal, Bill’s appreciation for the Park’s beauty is a year-round passion. He can be found taking photos from sunup to sundown on both the hottest days of summer and the iciest days of winter. Bill says the secret to his success lies in covering between four and ten miles at a time, sometimes taking seventy-five to one hundred photos a day, hoping for a winning shot.
Along with nature lovers and Richmond devotees, we invite you to celebrate the unmatched beauty of one of the most beloved river park systems in the nation.
Royalties and the author’s net proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to the Friends of the James River Park, allowing them to continue to conserve, protect, and enhance Richmond’s 600-acre paradise.
Purchase this Special Limited Signed Edition from Friends of the James River Park!
Bubble Duck and Bubble Duck Does Hockey (2nd Ed.)
by Teresa Pistole $2.99 – $13.95
written by Teresa Pistole
illustrated by Alex Pistole
Meet Bubble Duck! Join Bubble Duck on his first adventure as he learns not to litter, plays ice hockey, and makes new friends!
Back Home
by Shaista Fatehali $4.99 – $22.95
written by Shaista Fatehali
illustrated by Michelle Simpson
Today is Asha’s first day of school in her new country. Everything seems so different. She can’t even understand what the teacher is saying! But with a little help from her classmates, Asha soon learns that things in her new school might not be so different from back home after all.
Collette in Kindergarten
by Collette Divitto $4.99 – $22.95
written by Collette Divitto
illustrated by Katie Mazeika
When Collette, a young girl with Down syndrome, begins her first year of school, her bubbly personality helps her make friends right away. Soon, Collette notices these new friends are not inviting her to playdates—but it’s not because they don’t want to invite her. Collette comes up with a great idea to show her classmates’ parents a new way of thinking.
Based on the real-life experiences of entrepreneur and activist Collette Divitto, Collette in Kindergarten shows us how important it is to practice acceptance throughout our lives, just as children do so freely every day.
Toby Wears a Tutu
by Lori Starling $4.99 – $22.95
written by Lori Starling
illustrated by Anita DuFalla
It's the first day of school, and Toby is dressed in their best and ready to make new friends! But first, Toby’s new classmates want to know: Is Toby a boy or a girl? Toby isn’t sure how to answer. Toby likes to wear basketball shorts and tutus. Toby plays ninjas and dances ballet. Finally, after a little thought and some encouragement from Mom, Toby has a declaration to make: they can eat, wear, do, or be anything they want! Toby isn’t a boy or a girl—Toby is just Toby!
Safe
by Elspeth Roake $7.99 – $16.95
by Elspeth Roake
Elspeth Roake lives in the competitive world of showing horses, aspiring to perfect technique in the ring against a backdrop of long hours, hard work, and frequent travel. On the surface, she is poised and goal-oriented. Only her boss, Leslie, is witness to her depression.
Leslie never shies away from Elspeth’s dark moods or tendency to self-harm, and eventually her strength and compassion inspire Elspeth to explore the shadows of childhood trauma which lurk at the back of her mind. But memories slip away even as she reaches for them, and behind closed doors Elspeth’s mental state continues to deteriorate. Over the course of two harrowing years, Elspeth sets increasingly radical goals for herself, determined not to let her illness get the better of her. Yet despite outward success, no ribbon or medal can help her outpace her depression. Finally, at a horse show far from home, Elspeth’s battle descends into a matter of life and death, and not even Leslie can help her. Finding herself trapped and sobbing into the sticky floor of a psychiatric ward, she realizes that something has to change.
Safe is a memoir of brutal and intense honesty, exploring the depths of despair, determination, and self-discovery, and the vital bonds—both human and animal—that make life possible.
Seasons for Stones
by Nikki Bergstresser $4.99 – $22.95
written by Nikki Bergstresser
illustrated by Kelly O'Neill
Tilly has not seen Mrs. Miller outside lately, tending to her garden or feeding the birds. What can she do when her neighbor is feeling down? Sometimes, small acts of kindness can make all the difference.
Once Upon a Fable
by Mariah Robinson $4.99 – $25.95
by Mariah Robinson
Once Upon a Fable is a lively collection of seven compelling and comforting tales with 20/20 vision. There’s a solid marriage verging on the rocks; an abandoned baby raven and a family of field mice; a precocious little boy, his strong-willed nanny, and his amazing best friend; an unyielding politician’s moments of reckoning; a bridge whiz millionaire who chooses his partner; a mantis of distinction and a beyond-the-coop hen who cross paths, and last, an exotic Hollywood-bound duck of color who gets her wish. Mariah Robinson has drawn a collection of fast-paced, age old dramas of memorable life events, enduring love, envy, animosity, infidelity with a twist, and a host of bittersweet tosses and turns--all set in fanciful plots. This unforgettable cast of characters is sure to capture your heart and set it spinning.
The Woods of Wicomico (2nd Ed.)
by Nuala Galbari $9.99 – $30.95
written by Nuala Galbari
illustrated by Button Boggs & Taylor Atkins
During the hot, lazy days of summer, life in the woods of Wicomico is peaceful. Mukki the muskrat makes herbal teas, Cornelius the crow fruitlessly tries to take a midday nap, and young Timothy Trumble the tortoise marvels at the world around him. But when humans plan to build a new development in their woodland, the community of animals springs into action to save their homes.
Join a host of loveable characters as they work together to stop the destruction of the Wicomico woodland and preserve their way of life. Travel with them on the Chesapeake Bay, where they meet new friends and find a bright world outside the Wicomico woods. After an ample share of excitement, they learn that small animals can make a difference and discover that plenty of wisdom can be found right at home.
Songs, vocabulary, and fun facts about the history and wildlife of the Chesapeake Bay make The Woods of Wicomico a delightful educational experience for the whole family. This imaginative, richly illustrated story invites us all to discover, enjoy and preserve the natural world around us.
Birds at the Post Office
by Richard Zuras $4.99 – $12.95
by Richard Zuras
These poems illuminate a life of family—a life of love and loss: jobs worked, kids born and raised, love’s passions and ebbs, failures and successes, the big moments and the small, the dreams and the nightmares.
The Big Buna Bash
by Sara Arnold $2.99 – $22.95
written by Sara Arnold
illustrated by Roberta Malasomma
When Almaz makes a mistake in school, she’s really embarrassed! Other kids tease her because they don’t understand her Ethiopian culture. How can she use her family’s traditions to make friends? She needs to host a BIG BUNA BASH!
A Tree For A Year
by Ellen Dutton $2.99 – $22.95
written by Ellen Dutton
illustrated by Emily Hurst Pritchett
The forest is a beautiful place, full of many different animals, tall trees, and a crystal-clear river. But when Man appears, he cuts down trees and scatters litter on the ground. Soon, the animals and their home threatened and decide they must come up with a plan to change Man’s ways. How can the animals show Man the true beauty and importance of their home? To understand the forest, Man must become a part of it. With Mother Nature’s help, Man is transformed in ways he never thought possible. But will a change in Man’s ways take root?
Half on Tuesdays
by Amy E. Whitman $2.99 – $16.95
by Amy E. Whitman
A soldier skilled in silent warfare has invaded my mother's body. He has marched his way up the spiral staircase, leading him to the top of her head. This is where he has set up camp. Slowly and faithfully, he has built a prison around her brain . . . Alzheimer's is an enemy of mine. And it is destroying my world!
At first, Summer doesn’t want to use the journal her mother gave her for her birthday. Soon she realizes that boyfriend issues, girl drama, and school worries can be worked through by writing them down. When Summer’s mom is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, the journal becomes Summer’s loyal confidant and trusted adviser. Pouring her heart into her cherished gift as her world falls apart around her, perhaps Summer will find a new way to connect with the mother she loves so much.
Super Socks
by Connie Bowman $2.99 – $22.95
written by Connie Bowman
illustrated by Kelly O'Neill
Molly’s little sister, Katie, was born with Down syndrome, but that’s never stopped her from doing anything! She helps with chores, makes new friends, and every morning without fail, she helps Molly pick out the wackiest, mis-matchiest socks she can find to wear to school.
Join Molly and Katie on a journey of kindness, acceptance, and finding the courage to be different, no matter what!
Sister Cities: A Story of Friendship Between Virginia and Mali
by Ana Edwards and Robin Poulton $4.99 – $19.95
by Ana Edwards and Robin Poulton
Most early African Virginians came from the lands of the medieval Empire of Mali, founded by the original Lion King. Since the first Africans arrived in 1619, Virginia’s history has been linked to Africa and to Mali. Virginia's culture is filled with West African music, food, and other influences—including slavery and colonial domination. Both cities have a victims’ cemetery.
Lifeline 65: How Small Connections and Big Enthusiasm Can Change Education
by Ryan Stein and Jennifer Costa Berdux $4.99 – $28.95
by Ryan T. Stein and Jennifer Costa Berdux
After fifteen years as an award-winning educator, Ryan Stein knows this: when you make the school experience about fostering genuine human connection, students don’t just succeed—they thrive.
In this part-guidebook, part-memoir, Ryan shares the best ideas and stories from his groundbreaking educational philosophy with anyone seeking to make a positive difference in a student’s life. Lifeline 65 is as joyful as it is useful, packed full of wit, humor, and heart. Try even one strategy and you’ll find your students more engaged, confident, and eager to excel, from elementary school to college and beyond. All you have to do is begin.
Everybody Can Dance!
by Kara Navolio $2.99 – $21.95
written by Kara Navolio
illustrated by Ruth-Mary Smith
The music starts. You feel the beat.
You clap your hands and tap your feet.
Everybody twist and twirl!
Everybody can dance!
This colorful picture book uses rhyme and rhythm to celebrate the joy of dancing, teaching kids that no matter your culture, physical ability, or style, everybody can dance!
Simone LaFray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball
by SP O’Farrell $6.99 – $25.95
by S.P. O'Farrell
Simone leads a double life.
As a covert agent, she walks in the footprints of her spy mother, darting between the shadows. If she’s not sleuthing, she’s icing eclairs and dusting pastries in her father’s patisserie.
When a notorious thief returns to Paris, the patisserie is threatened, and Simone questions everything. She and her father must participate in the exclusive Chocolatiers’ Ball to redeem themselves and catch the thief. Simone’s concealed life is crumbling, the shop hangs in the balance . . . and now she needs a ball gown!
Life in a French patisserie may not be as sweet as she thought.
The Precariousness of Done
by Tony Houck $5.99 – $15.95
by Tony Houck
Meet Ethan, a bright yet painfully shy former exchange student to Spain. He has returned to Las Rozas during the town’s annual fiestas—complete with carnival, bullfights, street vendors, and pickpockets. Ethan’s “Spanish family” welcomes him into their home despite having their own problems, and he becomes inextricably involved in the personal affairs of two sisters, for better or for worse.
Next meet Thomas, another American living in Spain, whose obsessive-compulsive disorder wreaks havoc on his daily life and keeps him from connecting with his family, and even worse, being with the woman he adores.
Full of Spanish zest, layers of love, and the nuances of mental disorders, this smart and sexy book is sure to evoke joy and sorrow. Find out how these men’s lives mysteriously intertwine in this wonderful novel about culture, family, and the precariousness of “done.”
B for Baxter
by Ted Simonin $13.95 – $21.95
written and illustrated by Ted Simonin
Baxter the dog is full of surprises—you never know what fun gadget he’s going to pull out next! When his bird buddies, Marcus and Fiona, begin their annual journey to their Family Tree, Baxter must find a way to fly with his feathery friends! Follow Baxter, Marcus, and Fiona across the United States as they find new twists on old traditions and learn what it really means to be a family.
Uncle George and Me
by Bill Sizemore $4.99 – $26.95
by Bill Sizemore
In Uncle George and Me, author Bill Sizemore tells the story of his slave-owning Virginia ancestors, their slaves, and those slaves’ descendants—a story that lay buried by a century of denial and historical amnesia. Its threads run through the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Great Migration, the struggle for civil rights, and the crippling legacy of slavery that still plagues the nation today. In microcosm, it is the story of Virginia and the South. In telling it, Sizemore hopes to advance an essential, if painful, national conversation about race.
Dinosaurs in the Cornfield: Lessons Unearthed on My Grandfather’s Farm
by William B. Hardison, Jr. $19.95 – $28.95
written by William B. Hardison, Jr.
illustrated by Candice Smith
Grandpa says it best. He always does:
“Knowin’ where you came from makes you part of somethin’ larger’n yerself—and from yer beginnin’, you were meant t’ be larger’n yerself.”
For young Billy, summer means saying goodbye to city life and traveling seven hundred miles to visit his grandparents on their Tennessee farm. It means long, humid days of snapping beans, milking cows, hunting for fossils in rocky fields, and trips into town for ice-cream sodas and comic books at the five-and-dime. It means muggy nights spent on the front porch with family, the boys gathered around the big Philco radio, listening to The Lone Ranger over the low hum of crickets. But most of all, summer means time spent in the long shadow of Grandpa, a massive Welchman, keenly observant, frugal of words and actions, but rich in experience and country wisdom. On this remote patch of farmland, Grandpa’s word is law.
Now, William Hardison looks back on those summer days with nostalgic fondness and his own hard-earned wisdom. In doing so, he rediscovers deeper lessons hidden within the adventures he so often took for granted as an energetic child. And along the way, he invites you to ponder:
When you look back on your childhood, what long-forgotten treasures might you unearth?
Coming Around
by Richard Rose $15.00
by Richard Rose
While researching family history for his semibiographical opera Monte and Pinky, Richmond-based poet and songwriter Richard Rose came face to face with the fact of his ancestors' involvement in the local slave trade. As a social and environmental activist, Rose became determined to explore and come to terms with the many consequences of the injustices in which his family took part.
A story in verse, Coming Around is the companion piece to Monte and Pinky, following the life and descendants of a slave named Simon Abouette and of the Ouillechaud family, who purchase him to work on their sugar plantation in the early 1800s. Interspersed with heartbreaking lyric pieces based on historical anecdotes from across the South, Coming Around is the culmination of one man's effort to heal the hurts of the past through humility, understanding, and acceptance.
Eyewitness: My Journey to the Hague
by Isak Gaši and Shaun Koos $5.99 – $29.95
written by Isak Gaši and Shaun Koos
Before April of 1992, Isak Gaši was a world-class athlete and community leader, content to live a quiet life with his wife and infant daughter in the Bosnian city of Brčko. He never could have dreamed that within just a few short years, he would come face to face with Serbian President Slobodan Milošević and others indicted for war crimes, as a lead prosecution witness at the International Criminal Trials for the Former Yugoslavia.
Eyewitness is an accessible history that joins the personal story of a man who was close to the action with the war’s broader historical and political contexts. In a world still challenged by ethnic violence and refugee response, this story of justice, forgiveness, and truth will resonate with readers for many years to come.
From Rebel Yell to Revolution: My Four Years at UVA 1966–1970
by Joel Gardner $35.95
written by Joel Gardner
In this entertaining and informative memoir, University of Virginia alum Joel Gardner delves into the four most turbulent and transformative years in the history of UVA. Arriving as a total outsider in 1966, Gardner, a born and bred New Yorker, soon found himself immersed in a sheltered world of customs and traditions that had existed virtually unchanged for decades. Yet within his tenure, this genteel Southern culture of coats, ties, and party weekends would be irrevocably disrupted, as the anti-Vietnam War and Civil Rights movements at last caught up with “The Old U.”
With a sharp eye for detail and a canny sense of historical relevance, Gardner recreates the turbulent world of UVA in the late 1960s, a microcosm of the tides of change that swept the world. In these four short years, blazers and bourbon gave way to denim and demonstrations, changing the face of Mr. Jefferson’s University and forever altering the spirit of an American institution.
Friday Adventures
by PV Jackson $15.00
by PV Jackson
It’s never too late for one last adventure!
Follow two sisters on an unforgettable journey through Richmond!
It’s been years since Kate and Grace went on their last “Friday Adventure” with Dad. They’ve since grown up and left home to lead their own lives. After their father passed away, both he and Friday Adventures became happy memories.
Then one day, Grace receives a cryptic letter from Beyond, and a gift package: an old laptop with a video message from Dad.
Spoken from beyond the grave, Dad has one last Friday Adventure for his daughters—an unusual scavenger hunt through the fascinating history of their hometown. From Maymont to Macbeth, Swannanoa to Hollywood Cemetery and beyond, Kate and Grace will follow clues and work together to solve the mysteries of Dad’s final Adventure. They’ll learn about their father; their city; and most of all, each other.
Sister Sorrow, Sister Joy
by Mariah Robinson $4.99 – $29.95
by Mariah Robinson
Ann Cabot, upscale art gallery owner, is struggling to find a pathway to lasting happiness while coping with the sorrows of relinquished love. There is George, her kind but stifling boyfriend, and Max, her intelligent but corrosive ex-husband.
Enter the Pied Piper—Maggie Lambert—Ann's newly commissioned and exquisitely gifted art conservator. Charismatic, enigmatic, and abrasively tough-minded, Maggie awakens something foreign and insistent in Ann that promises a new freedom.
Deeply wise and deftly written, Sister Sorrow, Sister Joy is about the risks of love—with all its joy, sorrow, and uncertainty.
A Call to Mind: A Story of Undiagnosed Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury
by Claire Galloway $16.95
by Claire Galloway
A few seconds. That was all the time it took for two-year-old Luke Galloway to slip away from his parents and go running toward the swing set. And only a few seconds more before the hard plastic swing struck the side of his head with enough force to send him flying. But the effects of that playground accident would stay with him—in the form of an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury—and alter the course of his life.
In A Call to Mind, Luke’s mother, Claire Galloway, recounts how a seemingly routine childhood injury—readily dismissed by professionals for sixteen years—transformed a happy, healthy child into an anxious, agitated boy, who would be haunted by “noises” only he could hear.
As knowledge of brain injury in sports and the military is on the rise, Claire adds Luke’s voice to the choir. As she lays the groundwork for physicians, educators, psychologists, family and friends to better recognize symptoms of traumatic brain injury in a practical, everyday sense, she hopes to embolden parents to fight for their children on behalf of what only they might see, increasing the odds of successful post-injury outcomes.
The Sea Hunt
by Anna Burger $20.95
written by Anna Burger and illustrated by Laura Craig
What’s the weirdest sea creature you’ve ever seen?
Did it have fins, or tentacles, or a shell?
Did it wriggle, or skitter, or stay still as a rock?
Did it sting, or cling, or hide?
Join young explorers Jack and Jenny as they hunt for strangeness in the Chesapeake Bay. Together you’ll discover just how weird, wild, and wonderful a saltwater world can be!
Honor Held Dear
by Alan Eschbach $4.99 – $28.95
by Alan Eschbach
What motivates people to follow the lead of another person—to sometimes suppress their own fears, desires, and needs and to adopt a leader’s vision as their own? It’s a question that anyone in, or who aspires to, a leadership position should ask.
In this uplifting and often humorous account, Captain Alan Eschbach, USN (Ret) reflects on his life experiences and how he used them to create his own code of leadership, behavior, and ethics. Using snapshots of his early life in the tiny village of Rawlinsville, Pennsylvania and recollections from the navy, from SEAL training to captaincy of the guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, Alan shares his insights into what can be gained by working without compensation, the pain and joy of leaving the comfort of home and community, and the value of repeatedly testing one’s physical and mental limits. Most importantly, this book is an account of how an unwavering commitment to personal honor and integrity, and an even greater devotion to serving others can lead to positive change.
Honor Held Dear: My View from the Bridge Wing is a portrait of leadership as a calling. Moreover, it’s a challenge to leaders everywhere to take stock of their leadership styles as a measure of their understanding of sacrifice and duty.
Last, it is Alan’s way of saying thank you—to the community and people who shaped and inspired him, and to everyone who granted him the great privilege and profound honor of leadership.
Coco’s Number Nightmare
by Georgie Hanlin $20.95
written by Georgie Hanlin and illustrated by Maegan Penley
Which is scarier—math, or monsters?
Coco loves almost everything about third grade—except math! Coco’s friends adore playing multiplication games, which only makes her feel worse about math. After struggling with homework and losing a game in front of her whole class, Coco feels humiliated and has a TERRIBLE nightmare! In the dream, the Multiplication Monster laughs an evil laugh and attacks her in front of her classmates when she answers a problem wrong. Find out how Coco overcomes her fear of math, gets rid of the malicious Multiplication Monster, and learns the value of a teacher who believes in her.
The Fourth Branch of Government: We the People
by Jack Trammell, PhD and Guy Terrell, MS, PMP $7.99 – $16.95
by Jack Trammell, PhD and Guy Terrell, MS, PMP
With the explosion of social media and the Internet, practically everyone in America has instant access to the news and a greater ability to follow what is happening anywhere. As a result, we are a culture and a nation that is bombarded with information. However, we are coping poorly with that assault and using an outdated framework for our governance. Many people feel disconnected from the very mechanisms and people who are supposed to represent their interests. The Fourth Branch of Government is about updating the framework of our democracy. It is a movement whose time has come, and one that the Founding Fathers envisioned. This book outlines a roadmap for how change can be facilitated, as well as a rationale for why it is absolutely necessary and urgent. The only way to update our democracy and make it relevant to the 21st century is to call for a Constitutional Convention. In that forum, we can consider changes like eliminating the Electoral College, or implementing e-voting—perhaps even changes leading to a broader and more direct participation in our governance, the Fourth Branch of Government.
What’s Under That Rock, Papa?
by Dave Bauer $19.95
written by Dave Bauer illustrated by Tia Canonico
When Serea and Kai spend a weekend at their Grammy and Papa’s home, it’s always a time of discovery and fun! Join them as they encounter the wonders of backyard nature, from the microcosm of life under rocks and compost piles, to the joy of learning why thunder sounds scary and rain clouds are black.
With Serea and Kai as their guides, children and adults will be encouraged to join in exploring their own backyards in search of those fascinating moments of discovery fostering inquiry learning and the riches of playing in nature.
Writing Our Way Out: Memoirs from Jail
by David Coogan $16.95 – $30.95
by David Coogan
Detailing the formative and transformative memories of ten men, Writing Our Way Out is the creative culmination of a writing class that began in the Richmond City Jail in Virginia, and grew into a journey to re-entry. Compiled in a narrative by their teacher, Dr. David Coogan, these stories explore the conditions, traps, and turning points on the path to imprisonment in modern America, as well as the redemptive and rehabilitative power of memoir.
Wildlife’s Greatest Connection
by Ken Conger
by Ken Conger
Throughout his life, award-winning wildlife photographer Ken Conger has visited dozens of national parks and wildlife refuges, documenting the candid behaviors of wildlife in their natural habitats. Over the course of his long career in wildlife protection and conservation, he's witnessed thousands of interactions between animals of all species—but no type of interaction has been as memorable as that which occurs between mothers and their offspring. Now, he invites you to share in the experience of these fascinating moments from behind his camera lens. Using photographic techniques perfected over his forty years in the field, Conger has brought together a compilation of stunning images celebrating the diversity of the special bond that forms between mothers and their young across the animal kingdom. This collection, which features more than 100 high-quality, full-color photos, will take you from the jungles of Indonesia to the coasts of Patagonia, from the plains of the Maasai Mara to Conger's own 'backyard' of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
To purchase this book at the sale price, please order here.
The Honeymoon Corruption
by Richard Lee Zuras-1 $15.00
by Richard Lee Zuras
It’s the early 1960s, and while the Doo-wop era is ending, racial and class prejudice is alive and thriving in the American South. In this unforgiving environment, star-crossed young lovers Althea and Guy are determined to wed—despite the objections of Althea’s disapproving and powerful father.
Undeterred, the couple elopes to the seaside resort town of Wildwood, New Jersey, with two suitcases, a veil, and no plans. Fast running out of cash, they fall in with a local duo: the free-spirited Jeannie and the fast-talking Max Castaldi, who may be able to provide just the break the young couple needs. But as Max introduces Guy to a shadier world that seethes under the boardwalk lights, both Guy and Althea—so full of optimism at first—soon learn that getting on their feet in this town may demand more than they are prepared to give.
Set against a backdrop of the glitzy, glamorous resorts of the Mid-Atlantic coast in its heyday, The Honeymoon Corruption marries hope with fear, desperation with promise, and triumph with tragedy, revealing the seedy underbelly of the East in the Kennedy era—and the true cost of a fairy-tale ending that might not be such a fairy tale after all.
Labyrinth of Terror
by Richard P. Wenzel $4.99 – $16.00
by Richard P. Wenzel
Terror reigns when a string of post-op infections erupts in the sanitized halls of King’s College Hospital in London. A trio of experts—Microbiology Professor Chris Rose, Jake Evans, an American infectious disease specialist, and Elizabeth Foster, a senior agent with M15—soon realize that the offending organism is a weapon in a worldwide terrorist plot. The terrorists turn their focus on an upcoming medical-legal conference, hoping to infect hundreds and subsequently ravage the global community, as well as those very doctors who might be able to find a cure.
Author and physician Richard Wenzel takes us on a riveting, winding journey through Europe and the Middle East, unravels the science of infections, and opens a revealing window on the complex politics of medicine.
A Love Letter: My Y Story, My Cancer Journey
by Michael Roberts $15.95
written by Michael Roberts
The frightening grip of cancer uncovers strengths and weaknesses within the human spirit. For Ethan Clarke, a very personal battle with the disease reveals hidden demons that had been stifling his sexual identity and his connections with others. These demons had kept him from enjoying health and happiness and from accepting the healing powers of change.
Ethan, however, had some formidable allies to face down these foes: Ethan’s close friend, Sophie, the camaraderie found at the local YMCA, the LIVESTRONG program, the idea of one day finding love, and the human will to survive. When Ethan is persuaded to mail a letter to a fellow survivor, a sporting hero from the past, and faces the possibility of meeting this hero, he realizes he must find the strength to fight the disease and the strength to embrace hope and self-confidence.
A Love Letter describes one man’s fight against cancer, the many levels of support and community found in the YMCA, and the power of friendship.
Remembering for Both of Us: A Child Learns about Alzheimer’s
by Charlotte Wood $12.95 – $18.95
written by Charlotte Wood
Tasha loves her grandfather, and she knows that PaPa loves her. But lately, PaPa has begun to forget things. He’s often confused and upset. Sometimes, he doesn’t even recognize his own family. How can Tasha’s grandmother help her see that while PaPa is changing, his love for Tasha has not?
Remembering for Both of Us is a touching story of a child’s first glimpse of Alzheimer’s and a reminder that ties of the heart transcend age and illness.
Making Manna
by Eric Lotke $5.99 – $16.00
by Eric Lotke
Libby Thompson is just fourteen years old when she flees her abusive home with her newborn son, Angel. Now they must build a life for themselves on hard work and low wages, dealing with police who are sometimes helpful—but not always—and a drug dealer who is full of surprises. As Angel gets older, he begins asking questions about his family, and Libby’s tenuous peace threatens to crumble. Can a son without a father and a young woman without a past make something beautiful out of a lifetime of secrets? Making Manna explores the depths of betrayal, and the human capacity to love, forgive, and flourish in the face of heartbreaking odds.
A Better Man: True American Heroes Speak to Young Men and Women on Love, Power, Pride, and What It Really Means to Be a Man (2nd Ed.)
by Kelly Johnson $25.95
edited by Kelly H. Johnson
The journey from adolescence to adulthood is a momentous time in every person’s life. Never has this transition been more challenging than it is today. In addition to the perennial trials of peer pressure, hormones and popularity, young men and women must now grapple with a media-saturated culture that places enormous emphasis on physical appeal, material wealth and celebrity status. And, thanks to the growing number and reach of social media platforms, the cultural noise is only getting louder, making it exponentially more difficult to find reliable answers to life’s largest and most meaningful questions.
Stepping in to help fill this void, A Better Man features first-person narratives from some of the most respected and engaging men in America today. With sincerity, humor and directness, they share their experience and advice on courage, service, anger, respect, and a host of other topics. Their stories speak to our common humanity and so have the power to impact young men and women alike, inspiring them to imagine larger possibilities as they seek to define adulthood for themselves. For example . . .
Civil rights icon Andrew Young talks about what happened at the Lorraine Motel in the moments before Dr. King was shot . . . and what he learned from that event.
NBA Hall of Fame Basketball player Dominique Wilkins explains why it’s important to treat others with respect, do what you know is right and stand up for yourself.
Four-star Admiral Leighton Smith talks about learning the lesson of responsibility (and avoiding the life of a pig farmer!).
An open letter from one generation to the next, A Better Man offers young people some much-needed light on the journey to becoming who they were meant to be—showing all of us another way. A better way.
The Private War of William Styron
by Mary Wakefield Buxton $28.95
by Mary Wakefield Buxton
Returning to his childhood home in Virginia for the funeral of his stepmother, Elizabeth Buxton Styron, acclaimed writer William Styron finds himself plunged into boyhood reminiscence. He is “Billy” again, fourteen and heartbroken, with a mother recently passed from cancer and a grieving father who has fallen in love with the head nurse at the local hospital. The impending marriage terrifies Billy, who finds his new stepmother’s strict worldview stifling to his creativity, his joy, and his hopes for the future.
Driven by Elizabeth’s desire for him to become a doctor, Billy is sent to Christchurch boarding school, where he finds himself drawn more to writing than to sport, or anything else deemed appropriate for a man of good Southern breeding. Desperate to build a life on his own terms, the young Styron turns to fantasy and alcohol. He emerges a painfully burdened man, hounded by “the black dog” of depression from which he would never fully escape, and gifted with a foundation of moral sense that would inspire all of his later writing.
This is the story of the war Billy fought against the cruelty of circumstance, for the prize of his own soul and future—before he became Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Styron, gaining international recognition for his novel Sophie’s Choice.
Married into the family at a young age, Mary Wakefield Buxton, “the Ohio bride,” writes of her mentor and cousin’s coming of age with a sympathetic spirit but an objective eye, deftly revealing the complicated psyche of a man tormented by demons of and outside of his own making, and the beauty of the Tidewater region that birthed him.
Coyote Summer
by Margo Solod $15.00
by Margo Solod
For thirteen-year-old Jessie Silva, life on Bayberry Island is at its best in the summertime. That’s when the seasonal renters return to spend their vacations on the island, bringing with them Jessie’s best friend, Amanda. This year, though, change has come to Bayberry. For one thing, there’s a new girl among the summer visitors—a snotty New Yorker named Susan—and she’s driving a wedge between Jessie and Amanda. For another, there are rumors of coyotes roaming the tiny island, and the locals are talking about taking up arms to stop the animals from spreading.
Jessie knows the rumors are true. She’s seen the coyotes, and she knows they have a den and four little pups. She’s been visiting the den in secret, watching the pups play and letting them come close to her. The coyotes have been the only bright spot in her long, lonesome summer. But can she save her new friends from the islanders who want to see them gone at any cost?
