Saving Bookstores One Store at a Time

As promised, during our drive down to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation on Saturday morning, Matt and I made a celebration of Saving Bookstores by stopping at two along our route. (It also forced us to take back roads down to the campsite, which not only meant no tolls, but also allowed us a gorgeous and quiet drive.) I have to admit that I was a little disappointed that #SaveBookstores wasn't a larger trend, but it seems the Facebook page was bursting with activity.

Blackwood & Brouwer - Kinderbrook, NY

Purchased:

                Divergent by Veronica Roth

This independent bookstore was small - yet quaint. In my mind, I had already chosen the books I'd hoped to purchase on this journey. However, the selection here was rather limited. Instead of being drawn to new titles on the shelf, I found that most of what they had on their shelves in terms of Fiction were titles I already owned (mind you, I own a lot of books, so this was probably my own damned fault.) My purchase of Divergent wasn't anything I got particularly excited about - it's a book I've been told to read by several people and hey - maybe I'll love it - I'm just not breaking out the band yet.

But, I'm not knocking this shop.  Instead, it's selection seemed to support local - local travel guides, history, lore, authors and artists. Which adds it's own charm - small town, small store, big heart. Matt and I were tempted into various corners to look through some of the pictorial histories of the area. The owner (it seemed to be a family operation, but I'm not entirely sure) was incredibly friendly. When I told her I was visiting because of this event and that I'd found her using Indiebound - she was ecstatic. The customers meandering around the store that morning seemed to know and love her well, taking time to chat with her by the counter as their kids picked out new books. All in all - if I lived in Kinderhook - I could see myself stopping by pretty frequently. 

The Book Cove - Pawling, NY

Purchased: 

                A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

                Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer 

What a gorgeous store in such a gorgeous town! I'm pretty sure I repeatedly murmured, "Wow," as we drove in. The store itself was pretty large and very well organized. After my customary browsing - drooling over the gorgeous shelves -  I ended up in the section that I'd been hoping to find, housing the two books I'd set my heart on. 

I'm not sure whether or not the woman I spoke with was the owner. I really - I'm so single minded sometimes that I forget to ask important questions. Like - nice to meet you, what's your name? Gosh - anyway SHE (all of the people in the blog post are pronouns. Not confusing at all.) was really excited to hear about Save the Bookstores and offered to take our picture outside of the store. It's too bad we couldn't fit the store's fun lime green bag in the photo. I did take  a picture of the books on my lap with the bag as a backdrop and then forgot to post that photo to Twitter: 

Thank you to Kelly Sonnack for starting this thing. It was a great event set to support something that is very near and dear to all of our hearts - books and the bookstores that sell them! 

Save the Bookstores 2012

It's all about getting out there and supporting your favorite local bookstore. We're heading down to Westchester on the 16th for camping shenanigans - but that doesn't mean we can't stop at a store or two along the way! 

Here's just a few of my favorite independent bookstores: 

East Line Books - Clifton Park, NY

The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza - Albany, NY

Market Block Books - Troy, NY

Flights of Fantasy - Albany, NY

Half Moon Books - Kingston, NY

If you're unsure where to find bookstores in your area, visit IndieBound. Using the site, I was able to find two bookstores that are on our route: 

Blackwood & Brouwer Booksellers - Kinderhook, NY

The Book Cove - Pawling, NY

Get out there and save the bookstores! 

World Book Night Update!

I just got my official assignment from World Book Night!

Dear Nicole,

We're incredibly sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. This entire process has been a more intensive experience than we expected and we thank you very much for your patience. We're very sorry that this email didn't go out last week.

First of all, we're delighted to confirm that the book you'll be giving away is Wintergirls. We hope you're happy with it even if it isn't your first choice. 

It was my first choice! 

Purchase Now from Amazon: Wintergirls

World Book Night - Giving away 1,000,000 books in ONE NIGHT!

I just registered to give away a mere 20 books on World Book Night - as part of the attempt to give away 1 MILLION books in one single night. You have to register before February 1st to be chosen as a book giver. World Book Night happens on April 23rd.

World Book Night List of Books

I applied to give away either Wintergirls, The Poisonwood Bible, or Hunger Games

Apply to Be a Giver

Children's Book Week - Children's Book Drives

Children's Book Week is May 10 -16th, but this quote from PW's Events post inspired me to start celebrating early:

"In St. Louis, the CBC's partner is Onesto Trattoria, which will hold a week-long children's book drive."

Though I'm nowhere near St. Louis, I think donating books to children is a great way to celebrate Children's Book Week. Donating gently used (with love) books to local libraries, shelters, schools and youth centers is a great way to get involved. Here are some other organizations that accept donations:

International Alliance for the Advancement of Children I've been donating boxes upon boxes of books for Haiti to this organization. A wonderful co-worker of mine traveled to Haiti just weeks after the earthquakes to help build a library for the families displaced by the tragedy.

Tuck's R.U.S.H. for Literacy donate money to help buy new books for children in need. 97% of your donation goes towards the All Stars Helping Kids charity of your choice.

Reach out and Read has a variety of ideas on how you can help spread literacy across the nation.

Reader to Reader donate books or money to help distribute books to libraries and schools in need.

The Lisa Libraries distributes NEW books to organizations that work with children in poor and under-served communities. My publishing house constantly donates our advance overstock to The Lisa Libraries - we know the books will get redistributed where they are needed most!

First Book donate money to buy brand new books for children in need.

Goddard Riverside Community Center donate money or donate books that Goddard sells at their annual Book Fair to raise additional funds for their various programs.

Please post other organizations and/or ideas in the comments!

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York

Since this 10th Anniversary event happened April 20th at the Tribeca Rooftop Lounge, I probably should have written about it two weeks ago. But, two weeks have passed and it's nearing midnight on Monday. Still, I think this organization is too important to not mention what they do for children all over the country.

Reach Out and Read
Unlike traditional childhood literacy programs, the objective of the ROR model is to deliver specialized early literacy counseling and support. ROR achieves this by taking advantage of the unique access that pediatric primary care providers have to children while they are in their critical years of cognitive and language development – six months through five years old. Three program components complement and reinforce one another:

* At each well-child visit from six months through five years, children receive a new, developmentally and culturally appropriate children's book from medical providers. By the time they begin school, children acquire a home library of at least 10 beautiful children's books.
* In the examination room, physicians and nurse practitioners offer parents tips and age-appropriate advice about the importance of reading with their young children, including materials to take home.
* Volunteers read stories and look at books with children in clinic waiting rooms, thereby modeling for the parents reading aloud techniques.
Donate Now


Also attending this event was Giants' defensive end Justin Tuck and his wife, Lauran. The Tucks founded Tucks R.U.S.H. for Literacy, and were honored at the dinner that night. Both Justin and Lauran spoke eloquently that night about their work with children, and Justin stressed how important his role is - not only as a starting defensive end for the Giants, but as a role model for children. It was pretty incredible to hear an athlete speak this way - especially in the wake of all the A-Rod nonsense.


Tuck's R.U.S.H. for Literacy
Tuck's R.U.S.H. for Literacy aspires to encourage children to READ, UNDERSTAND, SUCCEED, and HOPE as they continue to nurture literacy in their lives. This charity program is committed to raise funds to donate books and other reading materials to benefit the local New York and Central Alabama communities.
Donate Now


Hoda Kotb, from The Today Show's Fourth Hour, was the keynote. She took a few pictures that she promised to show during the fourth hour the next morning, and I'd hoped she would have them posted on the website. But, no. All she mentioned about the event on her Twitter was that it was a rainy night, and that you should go out on rainy nights "cuz u never know what could happen!" Though, her story about her mother reading them Green Eggs and Ham as kids was hi-larious.