Come into the store and pick up these great gifts for all ages -
Imaginets
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| Glow-stick Menorah
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| Elf on the Shelf
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| The Hobbit Lego Game
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| Lego Advent Calendar
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More Holiday Gift Ideas
These sturdy, colorful wooden blocks have strong magnets that cover one whole side – shapes won’t move until children move them! The hinged storage case has a built-in magnetic design board for hours of open-ended pattern- and picture-making. In the car, at home, or anywhere, children will enjoy designing pictures and patterns with these wonderfully crafted pieces.
Looking for a cool menorah this year? Have young kids to keep away from open flames? Check out our glowstick menorah, which comes with 46 glowsticks for the 8 days of Chanukkah!
If you haven’t started this new holiday tradition in your home, now is the time to start! Pick up your copy of the 
A quest to test your memory skills for ages 8 and up – the very latest in the Lego game line. Pair it up with 
We have just a few of these popular advent calendars left on the shelves, so pick yours up today to be ready for December 1st! And remember, our Lego early reader books and chapter books make great stocking stuffers!Permalink Comments off
Holiday gift ideas – book and gift pairings for the whole family
For Babies  You may have seen this fabulous sleep aid that many parents swear by…the sleep sheep. The new model released just a few weeks ago comes with a sensor that automatically turns the noise machine on if your baby stirs. Brilliant! Pair it up with a bedtime book like No Sleep for the Sheep |
For Ages 3-7 Bubble bath, Shampoo and conditioners by Miss Stephanie are a great way to stay clean. With names like “Monster Armor” and “Essence of Fairy Dust,” these all natural made-in-the-USA products are sure to be a hit. Miss Stephanie’s line also includes all natural sprays meant to keep kid’s bedroom’s monster-free! One spritz will fragrance the air with all natural oils in scents like rootbeer or lavender and take all those bedtime fears away. Pair up with Dashka Slater’s new funny picture book Dangerously Ever After (if you hurry, we even have some signed copies!). |
For Ages 5-10 Do you have a child who loves to cook? We have great kid’s cookbooks and aprons for boys and girls (some even have matching aprons for mom!) to go along with them. Star Wars cookbooks (check out Wookie Pies!), princess cupcakes, baking sets and more! |
For Ages 8-12 Our middle grade pick of the week is Edison’s Gold (check out the review below). This week, Edison’s Gold is 20% off when you buy it in-store! Pair it with one of our fantastic science kits! |
 Build it, bounce it, make a fort…this build-able bendable structure can be put together in a ton of different ways! For a family pick, pair it up with Geek Dad. For kids, Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms makes a great gift. |
For Grown-ups Got a fake tree and miss the scent of a real one? Aunt Sadie’s Christmas Tree in a Can candle has an uncanny (no pun intended!) scent that will keep you feeling that warm and fuzzy Christmas feeling. Also look for Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie scented candles on our Thanksgiving table. Pair it up with a family favorite such as Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree. |
 Now that The Bug offers fantastic exercise classes, we decided we should have the gear to match – Yoga/Activewear for Grown-ups by Prana. Pair up a family meditation book like Moody Cow Meditates, which is great for both kids and grown-ups with a new outfit…great for yoga AND everyday activewear for moms on-the-go!***Our current yoga, zumba and prenatal/postpartum students get 10% off this new line! More reason to join our classes today!! Drop in for just $15 per class or pay monthly for just $10 per class. More classes to be added in January…stay tuned! |
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The Reading Bug Song Contest!
The Reading Bug opened it’s doors about 2 1/2 years ago and we thought it was about time we had a theme song! You’re family’s favorite store for books and more is a place we hope you’ll cherish for a lifetime and we hope you’ll hum this tune for years to come. But we want your input! We have written the first verse to The Reading Bug Song and it needs a few more. Take a listen to The Reading Bug Song and then enter our lyric writing contest by filling out this form and submitting your ideas in person at the store, or by sending us an email! There are great prizes and the contest is open to all ages. And the best part is, your lyrics will be sung at our daily storytimes and events!
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The Extra Yarn Contest
CALLING ALL KNITTERS! Help The Reading Bug win this fun yarn-tastic contest!!! Please submit your yarn projects with your name and contact info attached to The Reading Bug any time before February 26th. We are looking for items that you have made for objects that may not necessarily wear a sweater (ie a book cover, stuffed animal…be creative!) We will make a window display featuring all of your work for everyone on Laurel Street to see! We will submit photos to the publisher on March 1st and if we win the contest, ALL CONTRIBUTORS will receive a Reading Bug gift card! To make this even more fun, the author of Extra Yarn, Mac Barnett, will be visiting The Reading Bug on March 23rd and will enjoy meeting all of you who contributed! Don’t miss it!
ALL AGES welcome (kids and grown-ups! Kids, please include your age on your project if you wish)
and don’t forget to Buy the Book, even if you don’t enter the contest!
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Legendary musician Peter Yarrow at The Bug!
While nearly 500 people waited outside The Reading Bug on a beautiful Monday morning, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary was seated in our event space working away on his next project on his laptop. With 5 minutes to spare before his performance, the 73 year old singer closed his computer, walked over to me and said, “Lauren, I have a problem.” Panic spread across my face. There are nearly 500 people waiting for this concert, it’s 10:55… and we have a problem?! “What’s wrong?” I ask. His reply could not have made me smile any bigger…”I need someone to sing Puff the Magic Dragon with me. Would you do it?” WOULD I SING WITH PETER YARROW? YES!!!
But this isn’t all about me (I mean, you can see the clip on YouTube if you want ;0)). This was about different generations in our community coming together to enjoy timeless music of one inspiring man. In addition to Puff and adorable songs like “We’re Going to the Zoo” where all 225 students from local schools sang along, Peter’s song “Don’t Laugh at Me” touched the hearts of every grown-up and child in the room. It’s message came across loud and clear when 4 students from Parkside Elementary stood at the microphone and told Peter what it meant to them. Their poignant answers reminded all of us how important it is to respect, love, and accept one another for who we are.
My favorite part of the day was at dinner that evening with Peter when he said, “if every town in the world had a community gathering place like The Reading Bug, the world would be a perfect place.”
Thank you, Mr. Yarrow. We will never forget this day!
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The Whole Ball of Wax with Annie Barrows
200 kids and parents lined up to wait for an autograph from the witty Annie Barrows last Saturday at The Bug! Her latest book in the Ivy & Bean series, No News is Good News flew off The Reading Bug shelves.
Annie read a portion of the book to a room full of laughter from children and grown-ups alike. While waiting in line, kids unwrapped mini gouda cheeses (read the book and you’ll find out why this is an important part of the story) and added the wax to our big ball of red wax by the autographing table.
After the kids event, Annie met with our grown-up book club for a little cocktail party to discuss The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. A double whammy! Thanks for spending an afternoon with us, Annie!
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Great Summer Reads
Summer is a time to kick back and enjoy yourself. For readers who may have a little more unstructured time during the summer, this is the time to pursue books that you choose to read based on your interests rather than the “must reads” that may be dictated by your studies or your work. Here are books that I highly recommend for summer readers for kids and grown-ups of all ages!
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SLUGGERS Series (ages 6-9) For early readers who love baseball, I suggest the Sluggers series. With its wonderful illustrations by Loren Long (author/illustrator of the New York Times best-selling picture book, Otis) and a great story line, Sluggers #1: Magic in the Outfield by Phil Bildner is a perfect series for young baseball fans who are early readers or who love being read to (dads and moms will like the series too). Set in 1899, three Payne family siblings (Griffin, Ruby and Graham) have just lost their father, who had been a member of the Travelin’ Nine, an itinerant professional baseball team. The team has decided to barnstorm across the US in order to help the Payne family pay off their debts. The book uses, and defines, a number of baseball terms, and there is a good deal of game play for baseball aficionados. But the book also includes elements of mystery and magic. In the first chapter, Grif’s uncle warns him that, “Great danger lies ahead, “and urges him to, “see the things that others don’t.” Over the course of the book, it becomes clear that a baseball from their father has magical powers that the children don’t yet know how to use. This series is also a great series to read aloud to sports fans who are not quite ready to read chapter books. Simon & Schuster. |
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JUNONIA (ages 8-11) Of course, there’s no better beach book than a book about the beach and Junonia by award winning author and illustrator Kevin Henkes fits the bill! Junonia is a quirky coming of age story about Alice Rice, who is nine going on ten. During her annual trip with her mother and father to Sanibel Island in Florida, Alice realizes that many things in her life are changing—she loves the beach house where her family has always stayed and the other vacationers who return to Sanibel Island each year at the same time have formed a special summer community. This year, however, Alice is disappointed that some of her summer friends did not come, and she is upset with the new people that have taken their places. Alice spends her birthday looking for a junonia—a rare and beautiful seashell—on the beach. Although her search is unsuccessful, her neighbor reminds her that the important thing is to enjoy the hunt. Later, her party is disrupted by six-year old Mallory, a newcomer who steals some of Alice’s spotlight (and perhaps one of her birthday presents as well), and Alice can feel “the beginnings of a growl uncurl deep within her.” Alice learns that things don’t always turn out the way she wants them to, but her understanding of people deepens as she experiences frustration as well as moments of joy. Henkes’ words and illustrations are magical, and as rare and beautiful as the junonia Alice is searching for. A good book for ages 8 to 11. HarperCollins |
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YOUNG FREDLE (ages 7-10 or read-aloud) If you have a young reader who has enjoyed the Humphrey the Hamster series, or someone who likes books about adventure or animals, then Young Fredle by Newbery Award winning author, Cynthia Voigt may be a perfect summer read. Fredle is a house mouse, and house mice are, above all else, not adventurous. They eat, play and sleep, and when they wake up they eat, play and sleep again. Fredle’s life would have been the same were it not for a peppermint patty. Without giving away the story, I can assure you that Fredle’s life changed forever after his encounter with the peppermint patty. Fredle winds up outside and has numerous adventures involving cats, dogs (I love the dogs!), raccoons and more! He learns to love the stars, the sun and the flowers, and most important of all, he realizes that he can be more than an ordinary house mouse. In addition to being a fun read for ages 7 to 10, it would also be a great read aloud—the pen and ink illustrations by Louise Yates (author and illustrator of Dog Loves Books) are extraordinarily cute. This book will definitely inspire young readers to get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors! Random House |
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HORTON HALFPOTT (ages 8-12) If you know a reader who loved The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and can’t wait for the sequel, Darth Paper this Fall, you may want to suggest Horton Halfpott or The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor by Tom Angleberger, the author of the bestselling The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.Horton is a young boy who works in the kitchen of Smugwick Manor, palatial home of the Luggertuck family. The story begins when M’Lady Luggertuck, a dour and stingy mistress, does something unspeakable—she loosens her corset! As news of the loosening spreads through the manor, the servants start to believe that they might get away with breaking other rules as well: “Footmen felt they might slouch a little. Maids felt they might scrub less thoroughly.” The situation deteriorates further when someone—or something—starts stealing the few remaining heirlooms that make up the Luggertucks’ dwindling fortune. If you like rooting for the underdog, you will love cheering for Horton. This book is perfect for young readers who enjoy mysteries—or who just like to read a funny story. If your reader enjoyed the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell, he or she will love Horton Halpott! Ages 8 to 12. Amulet Books. |
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THE PRINCE OF MIST (ages 12+) The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, author of the international phenomenon, The Shadow of the Wind, is a great beach book about a beach mystery that is perfect for ages 12 and up.The paperback version of the award-winning Prince of Mist, his first young adult novel, was just released in April. If you enjoy a good thriller, then this book is perfect for you. The story is set in 1943, when 13-year old Max’s family moves from the city to a small town on the coast in order to get away from the war. The house that they move into, however, has a story of its own—it was vacated by it owners after their seven-year old son drowned in the ocean. From the very first day that they arrive, strange things happen. Max and his older sister Alicia are left alone in the new house after his younger sister hurls herself down the stairs and her parents take her to the hospital. Max discovers a cemetery near the house that is filled with statues of circus performers, who seem to change position as the days go by. Max and Alicia spend their days with a local boy, Roland, who lives with his adopted grandfather in a lighthouse on the beach. After Roland takes Max and Alicia diving at the site of a sunken ship, Roland’s grandfather tells them he was the sole survivor of the ship, which sank during a severe storm. Even as he tells the story, however, it is clear that Max’s grandfather is not telling them everything. As they learn more about the shipwreck, they also learn about the chilling story of a legendary figure called The Prince of Mist. This is a good read for young adults who enjoy thrillers, science fiction, and mysteries. Ages 12+. Hachette. |
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BEAUTY QUEENS (ages 14+) Despite the cover art (the torso of a young woman with a pageant sash over one shoulder and a round of ammunition over the other), Beauty Queens by N.Y. Times bestselling author Libba Bray (Going Bovine) is not a celebration of beauty pageants or our obsession with feminine beauty. Instead, it is a wry (and at times hilarious) social commentary. Fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant, sponsored by a ubiquitous international business operation known as the Corporation, are on a plane to the beach when their plane crashes on a desert island, leaving 14 survivors stranded, with little food, water, or other supplies. Unknown to the survivors, the Corporation decides that it is in its best interests to let the survivors die, rather than to rescue them (there is a subplot involving corporate espionage). Unlike Lord of the Flies, to which Bray refers, these young women work together to make the best of a bad, in fact very, very bad, situation. The novel flashes back and forth between the island, the Corporation and the press. Ladybird Hope, a former Teen Dream queen and a current candidate for President of the United States (who, let’s admit it, bears a striking resemblance to a recent ex-beauty queen who ran for Vice President), is definitely up to no good. Her televised interviews are remarkably clever social commentary; unfortunately, they sound much like what we actually hear on television these days. This book is both hilarious and thought provoking. Parents should be aware that there are sex scenes in the book (did I mention that the survivors meet up with a group of bodacious pirates?). As a result, I recommend this book for young adults, 14+, as well as for grown-ups who love good YA novels! Scholastic |
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ISLAND BENEATH THE SEA (grown-up) I took a copy of Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende with me on a recent trip and I was able to completely lose myself in this novel about Zarite— the daughter of an African woman and a white sailor who raped her—born into slavery on the island of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), the richest French colony in the New World in 1770 because of the immense profits from the sugar and coffee plantations that was based on a system of slaveholding even worse than that in the United States at the same time. As is always the case with Allende’s novels, I felt I learned a great deal about a place (Haiti) and time (the late 18th century) that I knew very little about while reading a compelling story about a strong woman who was able to rise above her circumstances. Because Zarite’s owner flees Haiti for French-controlled New Orleans, Louisiana, during the slave uprising in Saint-Domingue, I also learned a great deal about New Orleans prior to the agreement between Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte that resulted in the Loiuisiana Purchase. If you love historical fiction, this book is perfect for you! Harper. |
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MAJOR PETTIGREW’S LAST STAND (grown-up) Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by first time author, Helen Simonson, is a small jewel. Set in a bucolic English village, this book deals with universal issues, including sibling rivalry, prejudice and discrimination, religious extremism, grief, and many different facets of love. I laughed and I cried as I read this book, and I grieved because it was over far too soon. The story is complicated: the story is simple. If you are a fan of English novels, especially the comedy of manners genre, you will love this novel. If you enjoy a great romance novel, you will love this book. I highly recommend Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand! Random House. |
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