Children’s author, MARYROSE WOOD will introduce The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, the first book in her humorous middle grade series.  The series is about a 15-year-old governess and her three charges—children who happen to have been raised by wolves.  They were found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place.  Who are they?  How did they get there?  How have they survived?   

Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess.  Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the use of globes, she must first help them overcome their canine tendencies.    Alexander keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips.  Cassiopeia has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite, and Beowulf is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.  These are not your usual traits for children!    How on earth will Penelope teach them table manners, let alone their ABC’s!   

Maryrose Wood is a former actor, comedian, and playwright and the author of novels for teens, including Why I Let My Hair Grow Out, How I Found the Perfect Dress, and What I Wore to Save the World.  The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place is her first series for middle-grade readers. 

Knitting expert SUSAN B. ANDERSON, author of Itty-Bitty Hats and Itty-Bitty Nursery, will discuss her newest book, Itty-Bitty Toys: How to Knit Animals, Dolls, and Other Playthings for Kids.  The book features stuffed animals, including a luscious lamb and a gigantic giraffe, and finger-puppet fruits that will delight babies and toddlers.  With step-by-step directions, clear diagrams and drawings, and colorful photographs, knitters of all levels will find it easy to make the pull-toy Mama Duck and Ducklings, the set of Russian nesting dolls, and the Princess and the Pea Set.  Even older kids will enjoy these, as well as the Felted Bouncy Ball, a felted version of a Super Ball that’s perfect for indoor play.  

A series of five reversible toys—a frog that turns into a turtle, a mouse that changes into a cat, an egg in a nest that transforms into a blue bird, and so on—showcases the creativity that makes Susan B. Anderson a rising star in the knitting world.  You can read more about her at susanbanderson.blogspot.com.  Her series of 10 knitting tutorials, posted on You Tube, has been watched by more than 130,000 people in just the past 6 months.  

Bring your knitting needles and yarn and join in the fun! 

LISA MCMANN, author of Wake and Fade will introduce her newest novel for teens, Gone, the final book in her bestselling paranormal teen trilogy.  Readers of the series know that 17- year-old Janie is a Dream Catcher, having inherited the ability to enter into other peoples’ dreams.  She learns that Dream Catching is destined to be her future, not something she can outlive.  She thought she “had made peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.  She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams.  He’s amazing.  And she’s a train wreck.  Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves—she has to disappear.   And it’s going to kill them both.  Then a stranger enters her life—and everything unravels.  The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible.  She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils.”    

February 27 - Bookseller Favorites & a visit with BETSY SNYDER, author and illustrator of the new picture book, Sweet Dreams Lullaby

TEEN BOOK CLUB; Gone by Michael Grant

Children’s author JEFF STONE will introduce Dragon, the seventh book in his The Five Ancestors Series.  The series takes the reader back 350 years when China’s Cangzhen Temple was destroyed.  Only five young warriors survived the destruction of their home temple.  Each is named after a different animal—Tiger, Monkey, Snake, Crane, Dragon---for each is the youngest ever to master that animal’s kung fu fighting style.

“The five young monks separate and begin teaching not only their formidable martial arts skills, but also their peaceful philosophy of life.  It is said that today’s martial arts came from the teaching of these five warrior monks who must uncover the secrets of their own pasts if they are to become...The Five Ancestors.”   (quoted from Jeff Stone’s web page) 
Other books in the series are: Book 1: Tiger; Book 2: Monkey;  Book 3: Snake;  Book 4: Crane; Book 5: Eagle; Book 6: Mouse.

KIM HARRISON will introduce Black Magic Sanction, the latest thriller in her bestselling Hollows paranormal series.  In it, bounty hunter Rachel Morgan faces her toughest case yet—one where she has become the prey.   For years, readers have been enthralled by watching this tough, sexy, bounty hunter go after vampires, werewolves, banshees and demons.  Now in the 8th book in the series, she is the one being hunted...by her own kind.  The book’s thrilling, climactic confrontation not only stretches Rachel’s courage, strength and supernatural powers to the limits, but also tests her convictions, forcing her to weigh the moral cost of winning her own freedom.  

Kim Harrison has published eight thrillers, including Dead Witch Walking; White  Witch, Black Curse; and Once Dead, Twice Shy, the first book in her new series for young adult readers.

LITERARY CLUB; The Piano Teacher by Janice Lee

DAYTIME KNITTERS knit and discuss knitting books.

FAITHPOINT; Forgotten God by Francis Chan

BOOKS&CO CLUB; Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

CLASSICS BOOK CLUB; Silas Marner by George Eliot

Today is the official beginning of  THE BIG READ, sponsored by The Dayton Daily News, Books & Co and other community sponsors.  We encourage you to read this year’s selection, Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell and participate in the discussions that will take place at public libraries and Books & Co from now until April 10.   Please check the discussion schedule at area libraries, Books & Co, and The Big Read webpage at www.bigread.org.
 
THE BIG READ culminates in a visit with MARY DORIA RUSSELL at Books & Co at The Greene on Saturday, April 10 at 1 pm and then with a festive dinner gathering with Mary that evening.  More information about these two activities will follow in the March and April newsletters.  Please save the April 10 date for The Big Read festivities.  We don’t want you to miss them!  

It’s our ninth annual Crowns Hat Show! In observance of Black History Month and inspired by the African-American tradition of wearing extraordinary hats to church services, we have invited members of black churches in the Dayton area and other dignitaries to model their “Crowns.”  The event will be emceed by SHARON HOWARD and WDTN-TV2’s JIM BUCHER. You won’t want to miss it. The hats are gorgeous! 

The Crown Jewels of Dayton 2010 Calendar will also be featured, and the models pictured in it will be happy to sign your copies at this event.   All profits from the calendar go to the Kettering Medical Center Foundation Women’s Wellness Fund, which pays for mammograms for women who can’t afford to have them.