PowellsBooks.Blog

Awesome. Think John James Audubon prints in a more twisted and dark light. The title Pancha Tantra refers to an ancient Indian animal folktale book thought to be a precursor to Aesop's Fables. This has lots of sly wit and offhand comments interwoven with the artwork.

Do you shriek or weep easily? Then be prepared to go into overload! These little bundles of SQUEE! will melt even the most curmudgeonly naysayers. You'll  find yourself saying, "Kittens? What kittens?", or possibly becoming what I call "sloth-drunk." As a super-sparkly bonus, a portion of the proceeds go directly back to the sloths!

Taxidermy has been a particular fascination of mine ever since I was a small child. My family's favorite pizza parlor was covered with nature's lifeless bounty, as was Marsh's Free Museum in Long Beach, Washington, where we had a beach house. With Jake the Alligator Man as a close personal friend, it is no wonder that I found myself drawn to The Breathless Zoo. Taxidermy isn't a morbid or dark interest; it's more about the awe and wonder of trying to capture a creature's power and beauty. I think of it in the same vein as mummification — the urge to preserve life in a very small way. Like bottling fireflies. This book, however, takes the art to a whole new level. Each page is like peering into a new cubby of a curio cabinet.

Superb. This memoir is another good example for me of someone who is living a parallel life to my own. I always find solace in knowing that I'm not alone in experiencing trauma from family, love, or life. The voice is wonderful and the artwork is great.

From the author of the National Book Award winner Slaves in the Family, The Inventor and the Tycoon is about the partnership of Eadweard Muybridge and Leland Stanford — one an eccentric inventor of stop-motion photography, the other a railroad baron with a penchant for racehorses. Murder, ingenuity, wealth, and sensation spiraled out of this union.

Pixar animator Sanjay Patel presents the major gods and goddesses of Hinduism in a colorful and friendly form, perfect for kids interested in other cultures or mythologies. For example, previously I associated Kali with the Temple of Doom and the sacrificing of hearts, but with this book I learned that the goddess represents time and death.

Graphic, vibrant, and superfun, At Our House is an amazing counting book that tallies unconventional things such as freckles, nostrils, and the lengths of intestines. It subtly and adorably gives a sense of family and togetherness. Reading Oldham's book feels like snuggling on the couch watching cartoons.

Perfect for the young and the young at heart, this kapow of a craft book has tons of projects and ideas for kids and adults with fresh and modern twists. I think of myself as somewhat crafty, but Kid Made Modern had great and inventive ideas that even I couldn't overcomplicate and could easily reproduce.

I know this title is everywhere right now. I was very fortunate to get an advanced copy, and I immediately fell in love. Why? Well, like many, my favorite books are those that seem to have been written just for me. I deeply understood the raw ache of grief, anger, and loneliness. I wanted to run away to fill that black maw with anything other than what I was feeling. Cheryl did too. I didn't take it as far as hiking the Pacific Crest Trail solo, but I laughed out loud at many parts, seeing myself on her journey. Bittersweet, fulfilling, and healing.

The Snowman is a timeless classic. Wonderfully sweet and nostalgic illustrations conjure all kinds of winterland memories and fantasies. It's wordless, so it's a lovely choice for even the littlest reader.