The Country Bookshop

On Our Way! What a Day! by JaNay Brown-Wood

A birthday! A gift? Hmmm… A delightful journey ends with a celebration of found things, group effort, and a very happy Gran. A perfect read-together for those families who delight in the joys of nature, music, and time together.

On Our Way! What a Day! by JaNay Brown-Wood, (List Price: $18.99, Nancy Paulsen Books, 9780593110751, January 2025)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

On Our Way! What a Day! by JaNay Brown-Wood Read More »

Ingrained by Callum Robinson

A beautiful memoir about the importance of making things with your hands and how a point of crisis can bring what is important back into focus.

Ingrained by Callum Robinson, (List Price: $30, Ecco, 9780063350830, December 2024)

Reviewed by Holly Wunsch, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Ingrained by Callum Robinson Read More »

A Stickler Christmas by Lane Smith

There’s always that one book that’s so weird it’s wonderful. If that’s your holiday jam, Stickler will definitely stick with you. And yeah, we all know that one kid who really might just love a really cool stick for Christmas.

A Stickler Christmas by Lane Smith, (List Price: $18.99, Random House Studio, 9780593815281, October 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

A Stickler Christmas by Lane Smith Read More »

Frostfire by Elly MacKay

Those etchings you see on frozen windows, that’s frostfire — snow dragon breath — you know. Of course they live in snowbanks and happily dine on pinecones, and if you’re quiet and if you believe, maybe you’ll see one. I am absolutely in LOVE with this magical snowy title, and if you believe, maybe you should invite a snow dragon onto your bookshelf.

Frostfire by Elly MacKay, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9780735266988, October 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Frostfire by Elly MacKay Read More »

Canoes by Maylis De Kerangal

I love dragons and a good historical fiction as much as anyone, but lately I find myself seeking good old realistic fiction, and there’s no one better for that than Maylis DeKerangal. Following her English language publication of Eastbound, comes Canoes, a delicious, delightful collection of stories of women living life. Strange, funny, sad, curious, beautiful. The stories of Canoesoffer pinhole insights into lives lived, and will absolutely leave readers changed for the good.

Canoes by Maylis De Kerangal, (List Price: $19, Archipelago, 9781953861962, October 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Canoes by Maylis De Kerangal Read More »

A Really Strange and Wonderful Time by Tom Maxwell

This book is a rapid fire entrance into the moment when punk rock merged into indie music and a creative community was blossoming in North Carolina. Not only a memoir of one of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, this is a drop into the coolest spots in the 1990s. The musicians, venues, record stores, promoters, sound people. artists for posters and albums and indie labels were all part of a collective moment of creativity- A Really Strange and Wonderful Time.

A Really Strange and Wonderful Time by Tom Maxwell, (List Price: $30, Hachette Books, 9780306830587, April 2024)

Reviewed by Kimberly Daniels, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

A Really Strange and Wonderful Time by Tom Maxwell Read More »

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . . by Jason Reynolds

What can’t he do? After opening conversations about gun violence, the importance of belonging, bravery, and superheroes, now Jason Reynolds has turned the conversation to what real love looks like as navigated by sweet, kind, confused, scared (of dogs!) insightful 17-year-old Neon. This honest book is basically Judy Blume’s Forever written for today’s teen and should absolutely be required reading for every freshman English class.

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . . by Jason Reynolds, (List Price: $19.99, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 9781665961271, October 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . . by Jason Reynolds Read More »

Leon: Worst Friends Forever: A Graphic Novel (Leon #2) by Jamar Nicholas

“Make good Choices, Leon” is something Leon hears on the way to school every morning. As much as he tries, Leon knows he sometimes messes up and sometimes is conflicted about just what the best choices are. Sometimes things are just too much, but maybe figuring it all out is Leon’s superpower.

Leon: Worst Friends Forever: A Graphic Novel (Leon #2) by Jamar Nicholas, (List Price: $12.99, Graphix, 9781338744200, October 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Leon: Worst Friends Forever: A Graphic Novel (Leon #2) by Jamar Nicholas Read More »

Puppy Talk by Penelope Dullaghan

Kids raised with pets in the home just instinctively know how to interact with animals. For others, there’s a bit of a learning curve, and this fabulous new book is simple enough for the youngest readers while detailed enough to remind anyone that animals DO talk, if people know how to listen.

Puppy Talk by Penelope Dullaghan, (List Price: $14.99, Nosy Crow, 9798887771021, September 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Puppy Talk by Penelope Dullaghan Read More »

Blue Window by Adina Rishe Gerwirtz

I Am a Candlewick Frequent Blurber! On the shortest day of the year, Max, Susan, Nell, Jean, and Kate tumbled through Mrs Grady’s cobalt blue window. On the other side, things were the same (there were animals, people, and chicken for dinner) but at the same time very very very different. In this mesmerizing new portal fantasy from the author of Zebra Forest, five children learn who they are, discern how they fit into an ancient prophecy, and learn just what they can do when they set their minds to it.

Blue Window by Adina Rishe Gerwirtz, (List Price: $18.99, Candlewick, 9780763660369, April 2018)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Blue Window by Adina Rishe Gerwirtz Read More »

The Quacken by Justin Colón

Every summer camp has legendary creepy campfire tales, but this tale just might quack you up in addition to creeping you out just a little bit. Read the book, tell the story, but whatever you do, DONT feed the ducks… Silly scariness for fans of the Creepy Carrots series.

The Quacken by Justin Colón, (List Price: $18.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665922487, July 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

The Quacken by Justin Colón Read More »

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin

Perfect lawns with their manicured grass and neat hedges are SO 2020. Wilding is IN and every neighborhood needs a weird wild little garden like Mille Fleur’s. Share this delightful little gem with the weirdest and wildest kid in your world.

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin, (List Price: $18.99, Cartwheel Books, 9781339023274, July 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin Read More »

The Mother of All Things by Alexis Landau

A lovely book about a woman leaning to find herself after losing her moorings in motherhood and marriage. This book is good. The suggestions of Greek Myth woven into the story are interesting but the story is much more about the marriage and motherhood than it is about Goddess and Greek Myth. The selected sources in the back are of great interest to anyone interested in those subjects and the story stands strong on its own as one woman reckoning with her choices in the past and every day.

The Mother of All Things by Alexis Landau, (List Price: 29, Pantheon, 9780593700792, May 2024)

Reviewed by Kimberly Daniels, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

The Mother of All Things by Alexis Landau Read More »

Poetrees by Douglas Florian

Perfectly positioned for Poetry Month and Earth Day, Poetrees is a poetry book, an art book, and a science primer all in one. From the humble seed to the Giant Sequoia there’s sure to be an ode to your favorite forest giant.

PoetreesPoetrees by Douglas Florian, (List Price: $8.99, Beach Lane Books, 9781665957946, April 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Poetrees by Douglas Florian Read More »

Treehouse Town by Gideon Sterer

Just below the canopy built on sticks and stilts, thats where you’ll find treehouse town With sunset lookout towers, nooks for books, and soft willow tree beds treehouse town has something for everyone. Snuggle up, with a sweet story and illustrations that have stories of their own, this one is the perfect read-together.

Treehouse Town by Gideon Sterer, (List Price: $18.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316592628, February 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Raeford, North Carolina

Treehouse Town by Gideon Sterer Read More »

Scroll to Top