NEIBA News
December 4, 2019
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Notes from the Advisory Council

Will the Real Leo Landry Please Stand Up?
By Emily Crowe, An Unlikely Story (Plainville, MA)
Meet Leo Landry, who is the children's book buyer and store manager, but more importantly is the heart and soul, of An Unlikely Story. In addition to the various hats he wears around the store, he is also the author and illustrator of several picture books, most recently  Home Run, Touchdown, Basket, Goal .  

How long have you been in the bookselling world? 

I started at the Children's Book Shop in Brookline in 1986, so I guess that would make it 33 years.

How has your bookselling experience informed your writing and illustrating and vice versa?

It's been incredibly inspiring as an artist over the years to be able to see so many new books arrive every day, but at the same time, it can be quite daunting as a writer and illustrator. So much amazing talent! 

What is the biggest change you've seen in bookselling during your tenure?

I think that the publication of Harry Potter created the 'blockbuster' frontlist phenomenon in children's books. Before that, I can remember the only children's author that ever had an embargo/strict on sale date was Brian Jacques. Customers weren't aware of publication dates like they sure are now.

How many people have ever impersonated you? Who were they?

Two (that I'm aware of) -- a co-worker here at An Unlikely Story this recent Halloween [pictured] and a neighbor and fourth-grader years ago for a school project!

If you could alter anything about our industry, what would it be?

I wish there was a more secure way for young people who choose to have a career in bookselling to make a living doing what they love. 

Which three children's book characters (and I include YA here) would you most want to have second breakfast with?

Frances from Russell Hoban's 'Frances' books, Dido Twite from Joan Aiken's 'Wolves' chronicles, and Skulduggery Pleasant, from the series by Derek Landy.

What is your favorite thing you've overheard a customer say?

"What's the problem? It's just little girl pee!" (From a mother to me, whilst I stared aghast as her daughter squatted to pee on the store carpet.)

Who or what is your favorite, but most underrated, author or book?

I don't know if he is necessarily underrated but David Almond is one of my all-time favorite authors. 

Creepy or not creepy: Love You Forever? 

No question: creepy. See page 23.

What was the best April Fool's prank you ever pulled?

I'll go with the classic "replace the creme filling in Oreos with mayonnaise and pass them out to classmates" in 6th grade.

What's your favorite quotation from a book?

Anything that Georgia Nicholson utters in Louise Rennison's Angus . . . series, such as "He who laughs last laughs the laughiest." 
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The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2019
Last week, the New York Times revealed its list of 100 notable books from 2019. If you are a New York Times subscriber, you can view the list on their website.

Since not everyone is a subscriber, we've also created an Edelweiss collection of these titles for your use. This information is also on the NEIBA website.
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#ShopLocal Social Media Recap
From left to right, top to bottom: Bear Pond Books (Montpelier, VT) and Belmont Books (Belmont, MA) staff don their best for #FlannelFriday; Books on the Square (Providence, RI) and Bogan Books (Fort Kent, ME) share their discounts for the holiday weekend; complimentary cider on Cyber Monday #CiderMonday from the Riverbend Bookshop (Glastonbury, CT) and Titcomb's Bookshop (East Sandwich, MA).
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Nominate your peers for Publishers Weekly 's
Bookstore and Sales Rep of the Year Awards!
Deadline for submissions is January 6
Those ties to the book industry are invited to nominate their favorite bookstores and sales representatives for the Bookstore and Sales Rep of the Year Awards. (Please note that candidates cannot nominate themselves, nor can family members nominate them.) Finalists will be named at Winter Institute 15 in Baltimore in January 2020. Winners will receive a write-up in the pre-BookExpo issue of Publishers Weekly ’s print magazine in May 2020 and will be honored at an awards ceremony in New York City at BookExpo. 

For Bookstore of the Year: PW will honor an independently owned brick-and-mortar bookstore in the U.S. that has been in operation for at least four years. In your nomination, please note what makes the bookstore special and provide contact information, including your name and industry affiliation. Bookstores that have previously received the award cannot be considered, nor can their sister stores.

For Sales Rep of the Year: We welcome nominations for outstanding telephone and house reps as well as independent sales representatives. Please include an example of the rep’s commitment to excellence, as well as contact information, including your name and industry affiliation. Sales representatives can only win the award once.

Please e-mail nominations Judith Rosen at [email protected] by January 6.
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Holiday Catalog Resources
Need holiday catalog resources for newsletters and social media?
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Join the Windows & Mirrors Committee
And don't forget to submit titles for the 2020 list!
The Windows & Mirrors Committee is looking for dedicated and passionate booksellers throughout New England to join us in curating a list of diverse, and well-crafted children’s books across all genres. Our goal is to create a list that follows Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop's ethos that all children should be able to “find representations of their own experiences and identities (“mirrors”), and be exposed to many experiences and identities of people unlike themselves (“windows”).” We use a broad definition of diversity which includes, but is not limited to: LGBTQIA, Native and Indigenous, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. (Read our full mission statement.)

If you are interested, please fill out this application . Questions? E-mail Read Davidson ( [email protected] ) and Tildy Banker-Johnson ( [email protected] ). 

Don't forget! S ubmissions for the 2020 list are open . All NEIBA members and publishers may submit titles which fit our mission statement. Please feel free to share the link to the submissions page with other booksellers and publishers: bit.ly/wm2020submissions .  
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Food for Thought
A round-up of pieces across publications.
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Promotions for Holiday/Re-Stock Orders
Wondering which publishers/wholesalers have special
promotions for holiday and re-stock orders?


To receive this grid by e-mail every Monday,
e-mail Ali the names and emails of those who would like to receive it.
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NEIBA 
Best Sellers   
for the week ended
Sunday December 1, 2019

Based on reporting from the independent booksellers of
NEIBA and IndieBound  

HARDCOVER FICTION
1. The Dutch House
Ann Patchett, Harper, $27.99, 9780062963673
2. Olive, Again
Elizabeth Strout, Random House, $27, 9780812996548
3. The Starless Sea
Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday, $28.95, 9780385541213
4. Where the Crawdads Sing
Delia Owens, Putnam, $26, 9780735219090
5. The Water Dancer
Ta-Nehisi Coates, One World, $28, 9780399590597
6. Agent Running in the Field
John le Carré, Viking, $29, 9781984878878
7. The Giver of Stars
Jojo Moyes, Pamela Dorman Books, $28, 9780399562488
8. The Testaments
Margaret Atwood, Nan A. Talese, $28.95, 9780385543781
9. Under Occupation New!
Alan Furst, Random House, $27, 9780399592300
10. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Ocean Vuong, Penguin Press, $26, 9780525562023
11. The Topeka School
Ben Lerner, FSG, $27, 9780374277789
12. Blue Moon
Lee Child, Delacorte Press, $28.99, 9780399593543
13. The Guardians
John Grisham, Doubleday, $29.95, 9780385544184
14. Nothing to See Here
Kevin Wilson, Ecco, $26.99, 9780062913463
15. The Nickel Boys New!
Colson Whitehead, Doubleday, $24.95, 9780385537070

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. The Body
Bill Bryson, Doubleday, $30, 9780385539302
2. A Warning
Anonymous, Twelve, $30, 9781538718469
3. Talking to Strangers
Malcolm Gladwell, Little Brown, $30, 9780316478526
4. Educated
Tara Westover, Random House, $28, 9780399590504
5. Blowout
Rachel Maddow, Crown, $30, 9780525575474
6. Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds: 100 New Ways to See the World
Ian Wright, The Experiment, $19.95, 9781615196258
7. Catch and Kill
Ronan Farrow, Little Brown, $30, 9780316486637
8. Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse
John Lithgow, Chronicle Prism, $19.95, 9781452182759
9. How To New!
Randall Munroe, Riverhead Books, $28, 9780525537090
10. Little Weirds New!
Jenny Slate, Little Brown, $27, 9780316485340
11. Finding Chika
Mitch Albom, Harper, $24.99, 9780062952394
12. Guinness World Records 2020 New!
Guinness World Records, $28.95, 9781912286836
13. Me
Elton John, Holt, $30, 9781250147608
14. The Yellow House: A Memoir New!
Sarah M. Broom, Grove Press, $26, 9780802125088
15. Crime in Progress: Inside the Steele Dossier and the Fusion GPS Investigation of Donald Trump New!
Glenn Simpson, Peter Fritsch, Random House, $30, 9780593134153

TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION
1. The Overstory
Richard Powers, Norton, $18.95, 9780393356687
2. Unsheltered
Barbara Kingsolver, Harper Perennial, $17.99, 9780062684738
3. The Best American Short Stories 2019
Anthony Doerr, Heidi Pitlor (Eds.), Mariner, $15.99, 9781328484246
4. A Gentleman in Moscow
Amor Towles, Penguin, $17, 9780143110439
5. The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Heather Morris, Harper, $16.99, 9780062797155
6. Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng, Penguin, $17, 9780735224315
7. The Great Alone New!
Kristin Hannah, St. Martin's Griffin, $17.99, 9781250229533
8. There There
Tommy Orange, Vintage, $16, 9780525436140
9. Olive Kitteridge
Elizabeth Strout, Random House, $17, 9780812971835
10. Nine Perfect Strangers
Liane Moriarty, Flatiron Books, $17.99, 9781250069832
11. The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood, Anchor, $15.95, 9780525435006
12. Before We Were Yours
Lisa Wingate, Ballantine, $17, 9780425284704
13. Killing Commendatore
Haruki Murakami, Vintage, $17, 9780525435761
14. Girl, Woman, Other
Bernardine Evaristo, Grove Press/Black Cat, $17, 9780802156983
15. A Spark of Light New!
Jodi Picoult, Ballantine, $17, 9780345545008

TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION
1. No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference
Greta Thunberg, Penguin, $10, 9780143133568
2. The Old Farmer's Almanac 2020 New!
Old Farmer's Almanac, $8.95, 9781571988102
3. The Library Book
Susan Orlean, S&S, $16.99, 9781476740195
4. Born a Crime
Trevor Noah, Spiegel & Grau, $18, 9780399588198
5. Upstream: Selected Essays
Mary Oliver, Penguin, $17, 9780143130086
6. Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari, Harper Perennial, $22.99, 9780062316110
7. Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump New!
Neal Katyal, Sam Koppelman, Mariner Books, $14.99, 9780358391173
8. These Truths: A History of the United States
Jill Lepore, Norton, $19.95, 9780393357424
9. Calypso
David Sedaris, Back Bay, $17.99, 9780316392426
10. The Best American Food Writing 2019
Samin Nosrat, Sylvia Killingsworth (Eds.), Mariner, $15.99, 9781328662255
11. The Spy and the Traitor New!
Ben Macintyre, Broadway Books, $18, 9781101904213
12. Leadership: In Turbulent Times
Doris Kearns Goodwin, S&S, $18, 9781476795935
13. Classic Krakauer: Essays on Wilderness and Risk
Jon Krakauer, Anchor, $15, 9781984897695
14. The Best American Essays 2019 New!
Rebecca Solnit, Robert Atwan (Eds.), Mariner, $15.99, 9781328465801
15. The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2019 New!
Sy Montgomery, Jaime Green (Eds.), Mariner, $15.99, 9781328519009

MASS MARKET
1. Elevation
Stephen King, Scribner, $9.99, 9781982102326
2. Dune
Frank Herbert, Ace, $10.99, 9780441172719
3. The Shining
Stephen King, Anchor, $8.99, 9780307743657
4. Good Omens
Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Morrow, $9.99, 9780062836977
5. Outlander New!
Diana Gabaldon, Dell, $9.99, 9780553393699
6. The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss, DAW, $9.99, 9780756404741
7. The Left Hand of Darkness
Ursula K. Le Guin, Ace, $9.99, 9780441478125
8. The Catcher in the Rye New!
J.D. Salinger, Little Brown, $8.99, 9780316769488
9. Doctor Sleep
Stephen King, Pocket, $10.99, 9781982138868
10. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy New!
Douglas Adams, Del Rey, $7.99, 9780345391803

CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED
1. The Crayons' Christmas
Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers (Illus.), Penguin Workshop, $19.99, 9780525515746
2. Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever
Matt Tavares, Candlewick, $17.99, 9781536201376
3. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost, Susan Jeffers (Illus.), Dutton, $16.99, 9780525467342
4. The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats, Viking Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9780670012701
5. The Mitten New!
Jan Brett, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, $8.99, 9780399231094
6. The Snowy Nap New!
Jan Brett, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, $18.99, 9780399170737
7. The Shortest Day
Susan Cooper, Carson Ellis (Illus.), Candlewick, $17.99, 9780763686987
8. Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.), Harper, $8.99, 9780694003617
9. The Polar Express
Chris Van Allsburg, HMH Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9780544580145
10. Sisters First
Jenna Bush Hager, Barbara Pierce Bush, Ramona Kaulitzki (Illus.), Little, Brown Books
for Young Readers, $18.99, 9780316534789

CHILDREN'S INTEREST
1. Guts
Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $12.99, 9780545852500
2. Best Friends
Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham (Illus.), First Second, $12.99, 9781250317469
3. White Bird: A Wonder Story
R.J. Palacio, Knopf Books for Young Readers, $24.99, 9780525645535
4. A Tale of Magic...
Chris Colfer, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $18.99, 9780316523479
5. My Book with No Pictures
B.J. Novak, Dial Books, $9.99, 9780593111017
6. Drama New!
Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $10.99, 9780545326995
7. The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs New!
America's Test Kitchen Kids, Sourcebooks Explore, $19.99, 9781492677697
8. The Midwinter Witch New!
Molly Knox Ostertag, Graphix, $12.99, 9781338540550
9. Sisters
Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, $10.99, 9780545540605
10. Allies New!
Alan Gratz, Scholastic Press, $17.99, 9781338245721

CHILDREN'S SERIES TITLES
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball
Jeff Kinney, Abrams, $14.99, 9781419739033
2. Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls
Dav Pilkey, Graphix, $12.99, 9781338236590
3. Sofia Valdez, Future Prez (The Questioneers)
Andrea Beaty, David Roberts (Illus.), Abrams, $18.99, 9781419737046
4. The Secret Commonwealth (Book of Dust, Volume 2)
Philip Pullman, Knopf Books for Young Readers, $22.99, 9780553510669
5. The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle New!
Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, LeUyen Pham (Illus.), Candlewick, $14.99, 9781536202212
6. Dog Man
Dav Pilkey, Graphix, $9.99, 9780545581608
7. The Toll (Arc of a Scythe, #3)
Neal Shusterman, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9781481497060
8. Dog Man Unleashed New!
Dav Pilkey, Graphix, $9.99, 9780545935203
9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Illustrated Edition New!
J.K. Rowling, Jim Kay (Illus.), Arthur A. Levine Books, $47.99, 9780545791427
10. The Bad Guys (The Bad Guys, #1) New!
Aaron Blabey, Scholastic, $5.99, 9780545912402
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