Read for the Record

The tenth annual Read for the Record sponsored by Jumpstart is Thursday, October 22, and Chapters is once again participating in this event to raise awareness of the importance of reading aloud with kids.

To show your support for literacy and be counted toward a world reading record--and have some fun!--just bring your favorite child(ren) to Chapters on October 22 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, read the official Read for the Record book Not Norman: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett in our big comfy chair (courtesy of Davisson Furniture Center), snack on goldfish crackers (courtesy of St. John's CDC), and take home a certificate and tips for reading aloud together.

Not Norman, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones, is a humorous tale about a child who finds a new friend in an unexpected place. With vivid illustrations and expressive language, the story is sure to engage children and adults of all ages.

Help us break the world's record (again) for the most kids around the world reading the same book on the same day and share some quality time with a child.

For more information on Jumpstart's Read for the Record and other programs, visit https://www.jstart.org/campaigns/read-for-the-record.

Ingrid Law Returns to Seward. . . And Some Book Fair News

Booksellers, like teachers, probably aren't supposed to have favorites, but I have to confess, we do. I am very excited that one of my favorite authors will be returning to Chapters on Tuesday, October 20.

Ingrid Law is the Newbery Honor-winning author of Savvy, one of the all-time best middle grade novels. It's a wonderful story about the unique talents each person has, whether they've discovered their abilities yet or not. The book has magic, humor, warmth, and a perfect ending. It's also set in our own part of the country, with action taking place in Bee, Nebraska, and other parts of southeast Nebraska and Kansas. Scumble and the newly-released Switch, companions to Savvy, are charming stories, too.

And, if that's not enough, Ingrid herself is a fabulously nice person. The last time she came to Seward, back before Savvy even won its Newbery Honor, back when my kids were the perfect age to read Savvy, we took her to Bee for fish--because how can you write a book set in Bee and not eat fish there? (If I find the photo of all the kids with Ingrid on the Bee sign, I'll post it.) This time we're taking her to visit area schools instead of to Bee, and at 4:00 that afternoon she'll be at Chapters to sign copies of her books and talk to readers of all ages.

Ingrid's visit coincides with two book fairs we're hosting for area schools, and any of Ingrid's books that you buy will benefit St. Vincent's and St. John's school libraries. St. John's book fair is an in-store event, so a portion of all purchases at Chapters (except Ingrid's books purchased by St. Vincent families) on October 20 and 21 will go to the St. John school library. St. Vincent's book store is at the school/church October 18-25. Your area schools appreciate your support of their book fairs, and autographed books make great gifts!

October 6 Releases

Today, October 6, is a big day for book releases. Many favorite authors and well-known politicians have books coming out today--for both kids and adults. Here are a few of the most anticipated.

This new edition of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone (Scholastic, $39.99), illustrated by Kate Greenaway-award winning artist Jim Kay, features over 100 full-color illustrations. Dedicated Harry Potter fans will be delighted to receive this--and you'll have holiday gifts for the next seven years, as they plan to continue with illustrated editions of the rest of the series! I can think of several people who'd appreciate it.

Rick Riordan has a new series, eagerly anticipated by fans of his Percy Jackson books. This one features Magnus Chase, a homeless Boston boy who is the son of a Norse god. In The Sword of Summer, the first book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, Magnus is tracked down by an uncle his mother warned him was dangerous, who tells him that the Viking myths are true, and the Gods of Asgard are preparing for war, a war in which Magnus will soon be involved. (Disney Hyperion, $19.99). 

Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues by Kimberly and James Dean (HarperCollins, $17.99) is a fun addition to the series. Pete needs his sleep. His friends aren't ready to settle down--until Pete thinks to read them a bedtime story! I love the messages of the Pete books, and I love the fact that they're conveyed in ways that aren't at all preachy. This is as fun as the others.

Carry On, new from Omaha author Rainbow Rowell (St. Martin's Griffin, $19.99), is the story of Simon and Baz, who were introduced in Fangirl. Baz is a vampire, Simon the worst "chosen one" ever, and they're roommates at a magical school. Sounds vaguely familiar, but with Rainbow's unique twist--plenty of romance, mystery, and monsters for an entertaining read.

Hard as it is to believe, this is the tenth anniversary of Stephanie Meyer's sensation, Twilight. To commemorate the anniversary, Little Brown has released a special edition of Twilight ($21.99) that features the original novel as well as bonus content, which includes a new re-imagining of the story that's upside down and back-to-back with the first novel. It's called Life and Death and is a reworking of the Twilight story in which, "Beaufort Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edythe Cullen." Sound intriguing? It's available today!

We enjoyed a Skype visit with Sheila Turnage when her first book, Three Times Lucky was brand new, even before she won her Newbery Honor. Today, The Odds of Getting Even (Kathy Dawson Books, $16.99), her newest book about Mo and Dale, releases to great reviews. Middle grade fans of mystery and quirky characters and books with a good dose of humor and heart will enjoy all three books in the series. Plus, Sheila's just a nice person, so we should all read her books!

For adults, there's a good variety in today's new releases. One of my all-time favorite authors, Geraldine Brooks, has a new book. The Secret Chord (Viking, $27.95), the story of King David (yes, that King David), in all his glory and remorse, told through the eyes of the people who knew him. The Survivor by Kyle Mills (Atria, $28.00) continues Vince Flynn's thrilling Mitch Rapp series. And finally, Ben Carson has a new book, A More Perfect Union (Sentinel, $26.95), in which he explains the principles of the American Constitution and the freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and how they relate to our daily lives.

These titles--and nearly a million more--are available through our online store, www.sewardchapters.com
Regular shipping is always FREE. Or, stop in and pick them up in store and let us know what you think of them!