ShelfTalker: A Children's Bookseller's Blog

November 5, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (34)

I'm curious what everyone is reading right now. Currently I'm reading two books: The Maze Runner and The Demon's Lexicon. I don't normally read this much fantasy, especially concurrently, but both of these are extremely compelling and I can't bear not to read a little of each every night; they speak to different audiences who I think will enjoy them as much as I am. My current challenge is to not leap ahead into the spring 2010 galleys, although they look very yummy. I'm trying to get ready for the holidays by reading some gems that I might have missed.

As we are approach the heart of the fourth quarter, I find myself eyeing my shelves thinking about what I can actively sell to all the various gift purchasers shopping in my store. I know what my favorites are: Wintergirls, The Lion & the Mouse, School of Fear, Once Was...Read More

November 4, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (6)

The season for charitable giving (and giving) is upon us. I have been keeping track of the number of times this fall I've been asked to make a donation. Every day someone has come in or called at least once a day for the last forty days. Really, every day someone has asked the store for something: a gift card, a book, several books, a whole gift basket, etc., and all for very good causes. 

As a small business owner in a small community, it's hard to say no to anyone who walks in with a simple request. But as some point you have to say no. Or do you?

I give gift cards almost exclusively. I like the gift card because the auction winner has to come back to the store to redee...Read More

November 2, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

I hope everyone had a splendid Halloween. I just wanted to report on two costumes I saw at the coffee shop across the street from the Flying Pig on Saturday.



I can safely say that I feel like I've now made it to the pinnacle of bookselling; someone made a costume from my store name! And aren't they adorable? Stephanie, the Flying Pig on the left, said she's been trying to be a flying pig since we moved to Shelburne three years ago. She kept waiting for someone else on staff to join her, and this year she finally got a co-flying pig, Emily, sort of like me and Elizabeth.

Here they are from the back. They insisted on this photo. They're very proud of their tails. And really, why shouldn't they be?
...Read More

October 28, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (9)

Displays, provided by publishers, can be a cash cow for any store. We call these displays "dumps" (if anyone knows why, I'd love to know) and generally they're a good way to sell books you love without having to handsell them to everyone who walks in. The mere act of having a display in a small store sends a message to your customers that you want them to notice this book, to pay attention to it and ultimately, to buy it.

Dumps haven't changed much in the 13 years I've had the Flying Pig. They are cardboard and designed to hold from nine to 48 books in a free-standing display. The only thing I've really noticed is they're not as big or difficult to put together as they once were. I remember Swine Lake by James Marshall came with a display that was so hard to put together I actually had two of my savvy teen customers put it together -- it took th...Read More

October 27, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (34)

It's awards time! Well, mock awards, at least. I have been asked now by three book-y friends what my picks are for the Newbery, Caldecott and Printz awards this year. I love the mock awards because they get me really thinking about the books, and there's a great deal of cachet if you get them right.

So I'm throwing down the gauntlet to all you avid readers with strong opinions. What do you think will get the nod come January?

I'll start off:

Newbery: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Caldecott: The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Printz: Wintergirls by Laura Halse Anderson.

Come January, I'll announce who among our readers got the most right. I'm only going to count the winners, but if you want to list the two to three honor books per category, well, you ju...Read More