Where's Waldo? On Grand Ave, of course!
The famous children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 25 different local businesses, including Red Balloon Bookshop, this July for our 7th annual Where's Waldo? scavenger hunt ! Pick up a “Find Waldo Local” passport and collect stamps when you find the well-hidden Waldo at any of the participating businesses. Those who spot him can win prizes, including stickers, book coupons, and more!
Tuesday, July 9, 6:30 pm
Tracy Nelson Maurer, SAMUEL MORSE, THAT'S WHO! launch party.  
Thursday, July 11, 10:30 am
Storytime with Bob Shea and UNICORN IS MAYBE NOT SO GREAT AFTER ALL.
Wednesday, July 17, 10:30 am
Patio Piano Storytime!  
Thursday, July 18, 6:30 pm
Bob Dylan Family Sing Along!
Peter Pearson & Barbara Carroll Roberts
Saturday, July 13, 6:30 pm | Frattalone Construction Center
Celebrate the release of Minneapolis author  Peter Pearson's newest picture book,  How to Walk a Dump Truck ...surrounded by actual dump trucks! We're headed out to the Frattalone Construction Center in Little Canada where Peter will be joined by debut middle grade author  Barbara Carroll Roberts , author of  Nikki On the Line . Join these two fantastic authors for an evening of stories, treats, great company, signed books, and maybe even a song or two! 
PICTURE BOOK
So Big!
By Mike Wohnoutka

Love this book that so perfectly captures all the emotions of the very first day of school. Excitement, fear, feeling overwhelmed, courage, and finally delight, are all conveyed in just two important words: SO BIG! (with a few little twists at the end). Readers will sail on the ups and downs of the story, basking in the warm colors and charming drawings used to illustrate this widely-shared experience.  — Susan (RBB Staff)
Picture Book
Bear Out There
By Jacob Grant

Bear and Spider (and Ursula) are back!! Spider has made a lovely kite, but Bear does NOT want to go outside. After all, who would want to go outside when there are so many fun things to do inside, like tidying. Oh, I am so happy to have this book in my hand. We find out what happens when helping a friend brings one outside their comfort zone. Rain, and mud, and general untidiness can be quite enriching, after all.    — Julie (RBB Staff)
YOUNG ADULT
Technically, You Started It
By Lana Wood Johnson

When Haley gets a text from Martin Nathaniel Munroe II, it should be clear who she's talking to—except there are two boys with the same name at her school. When she asks which one, he says "the good one." As they start to become friends, there's only one problem: Haley thinks she's texting one Martin, but she's actually texting the other. Can their friendship (and maybe more) survive the confusion? Told entirely in funny, sarcastic, nerdy texts, this is a completely charming romance and a great read from a new Twin Cities author .    — Lily (RBB Staff)
ADULT
Say Say Say
By Lila Savage

Say Say Say may be short in length, but this debut novel captures the heart-breaking relationships between a caregiver, her brain-damaged charge, and the husband dealing with the loss of his spouse. Savage is a keen observer of human nature, and it shows. Love—in all its guises—is messy and complicated—but in the end, it's what we have. It's not about happiness and perfection, it's about the experience and being open to it. — Barb (RBB Staff)
Find more great books!
Last chance to sign up for a Red Balloon Summer Camp!
It's your last chance to sign up for one of our bookishly imaginative summer camps! Our Elephant & Piggie themed camp begins July 22, and our Hogwarts Preparatory camp begins August 5! Don't miss out on these exciting camps for your little ones!
Get to know a Bookseller | Gigi
1. Describe your favorite sub-genre of books in just a few words.
Probably Dark Academia. I like secret societies and clubs as well as just pretentious university students getting up to no good. 

2. If you could be an animal, what animal would you like to be?
Raccoon, that way I could still have hands. 

3 . Do you have buttons on your lanyard and, if so, what are your top three favorites?
I have a dragon hoard of pins (I buy new ones on a regular basis), but my top three on my lanyard have to be the unicorn skull, the 4 Londons, and the Jason Reynolds pin. 
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