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The week of November 26, 2024 A picture is worth a thousand memories.  November is Picture Book Month! The books we read as children stay with us forever. Just as the books we give to our children not will always stay with them. This coming weekend, when you are doing some of your holiday shopping at your local bookstore on Small Business Saturday, spend some time with the picture books in the Children’s section and let yourself remember the magic. Some recent picture books Southern booksellers have loved: When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray, Felicita Sala Somewhere, sometime, you may come across a rock. When you do, remember that it’s not just a rock. It holds memories. And like memories, rocks come in all shapes and sizes. Some happy, some blue, some too big to understand. So, if you see a cool rock, take it, I won’t tell. — Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz I want to crawl inside this book, eat LOTS of bread, curl up with a dragon next to a cheerful fireplace, and take a long nap. Devin Elle Kurtz’s glowing illustrations and cozy, atmospheric storytelling make The Bakery Dragon an instant cold-weather classic.. — Talia Smart, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo, Júlia Sardà (Illus.) Deep in the land of Norendy is the Hotel Balzaar where Marta and her mother live, waiting for Marta’s father to return from the war. Marta’s life is quiet and dull until the day that a mysterious Countess and her parrot arrive. A delightful read for anyone who enjoys being swept away by a dreamlike story! — Monie Henderson, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi The Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please, Mikey Please (Illus.) Rene and Glumfoot have a fine dining establishment in an enchanted wooded area. An ogre comes for a meal, and they get more than they bargained for. Teamwork saves the day! If you like books about ogres, this book has it all! — Sheri Bancroft, Novel in Memphis, Tennessee Drawn Onward by Daniel Nayeri, Matt Rockefeller (Illus.) This book left me speechless. It is heartbreaking and brilliant and so incredibly powerful. Congrats to Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller on a perfect collaboration. — DM Capriola, Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer, Steve McCarthy (Illus.) Well that was one of the most whimsical things I’ve read in a bit, which is saying something. Absolutely stunning art with a heartwarming story to match of a wee Bansheenie who, through happenstance, doesn’t truly bond with her human and so shenanigans ensue. — Lauren Brown The Story Shop, in Monroe, Georgia My Friend LeVar by Ezra Edmond, Jenna Nahyun Chung (Illus.) As a 90s kid who LOVED Reading Rainbow, this book sparked a lot of nostalgia for me. LeVar Burton is a true inspiration and the story behind the book is very cute. — Annastasia Williams, The Bottom in Knoxville, Tennessee 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. — Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina Lefty by Mo Willems, Dan Santat (Illus.) As a lefty in a world that wasn’t made for me, I love this. It’s so cute, fun, and perfect for kids trying to embrace their “left-handedness”. — Niamh Kenny, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia Umami by Jacob Grant Super cute picture book that introduces the five tastes — salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami! Umami the Penguin loves food and wants to liven up her continent’s diet of cold fish (ew)! — Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina All the Books by Hayley Rocco, John Rocco (Illus.) Piper Waterstone loves her books! She loves them so much, she wants to keep them with her forever. When she discovers the library, she learns the art of sharing and friendship in this beautiful picture book — Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee Open Me…I’m a Dog by Art Spiegelman Is this really a book or is it actually a dog? Find out what happens when a dog chases a rabbit, gets lost in the woods, and is cursed by a witch. For kids who love dog stories and adventure and for parents who love adult humor in children’s books. — Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia Find more picture books recommended by booksellers at SBR.
You can help! 
Independent bookstores in the South are still struggling in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and now Hurricane Milton. You can help: Donate to Binc; a relief organization for booksellers and comic book sellers. Visit the SIBA Hurricane Relief Resources page to donate directly to store fundraisers. And shop online at a store that has been impacted. Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca Adult Fiction, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance 
2025 Southern Book Prize Finalist I enjoyed my first Jen DeLuca novel, and I can’t wait to read my next one. This romance/mystery was spooky, funny, and so much fun to read. Cassie moves to start over in a small town in Florida with a reputation for being haunted. She’s skeptical about all the ghost stories until she meets Nick, a local coffee shop owner and his roommate—a ghost named Elmer who I loved and is quite funny. A perfectly charming romance too! This is an awesome way to start Autumn, 5 stars! Reviewed by Sandra Pinkney, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia |
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Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage Contemporary, Fiction, Romance Not to cause alarm but this is the best installment in the Rebel Blue Ranch yet. The enemies to lovers was PERFECTION. BEAUTIFULLY DONE. I thought it was going to feel weird because it has a bit of a “nanny” trope, but it was so perfectly executed that it didn’t bother me (I ended up absolutely adoring Riley). I will be raving about this book for the foreseeable future and forcing everyone to read it!!! Nov 5th can’t come fast enough! Reviewed by Aubrey Miles, Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers in Auburn, Alabama |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle 
The idea for the book came up a long time ago—in 1987 actually. And that was just the first bits of it, just the idea of a woman stuck in time repeating one day again and again. It took a long time for the idea to actually develop and all the philosophical material to kind of fall into place, because there’s a lot of questions about how this universe is working. So it took a long time and also the person had to develop, the person who ended up being Tara Selter, and also to find out when would it happen and all these little bits and pieces. So, there’s a lot of elements that prolonged the process. Also, there was a film coming out called Groundhog Day, which I didn’t see in the beginning because I thought it was too close. But when I finally saw it, I realized, ah, that’s a lot of nice research for my idea, because I realized it was so different. ― Solvej Balle, National Book Award Interview, Words Without Borders What booksellers are saying about On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) 
Solvej Balle was born in 1962, made her debut in 1986 with Lyrefugl, and she went on to write one of the 1990s’ most acclaimed works of Danish literature, According to the Law: Four Accounts of Mankind (praised by Publishers Weekly for its blend of “sly humor, bleak vision, and terrified sense of the absurd with a tacit intuition that the world has a meaning not yet fathomed”). Since then, she’s published a book on art theory, Det umuliges kunst, 2005, a political memoir Frydendal og andre gidsler, 2008, and two books of short prose Hvis and Så, published simultaneously in 2013. On the Calculation of Volume is Solvej Balle’s major comeback, not just to Danish or Nordic fiction, but—expanding the possibilities of the novel—to all of world literature. Barbara J. Haveland (born 1951) is a Scottish literary translator, resident in Copenhagen. She translates fiction, poetry and drama from Danish and Norwegian to English. She has translated works by many leading Danish and Norwegian writers, both classic and contemporary, including Henrik Ibsen, Peter Høeg, Linn Ullmann and Carl Frode Tiller. |
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Canoes by Maylis De Kerangal 21st Century, Adult Fiction, Fiction, France, World Literature I love dragons and 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 Canoes offer pinhole insights into lives lived and will absolutely leave readers changed for the good. Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina |
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Every Valley by Charles King 18Th Century, Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Classical, Genres & Styles, History, Modern, Music As told by Charles King, the story of the Messiah’s creation has everything: war, a royal succession crisis, forbidden love, disgrace and reinvention, all of it funded by the horrors of slavery. It’s thrilling stuff, regardless of your religious beliefs or familiarity with classical music, and supported by rigorous research. Can’t wait to get this into people’s hands for the holidays. Reviewed by Amy Woolsey, Bards Alley in Vienna, Virginia |
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Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott LGBTQ+, Romance, Young Adult Fiction Take note Hallmark, this is the sapphic Christmas movie we want! Caroline is making her way through her senior year of high school and it’s almost time for the holidays. She’s started talking to a new girl, but she’s not really been into anyone since her best friend/crush left years ago. Arden, the best friend, left her small town when she was 14 to become an actor. She’s made it big in the past four years, but her real behavior has started to echo the party girl image her agent developed for her. Now she’s up for a serious role that she really wants. She kills the audition, but the director doesn’t want the flighty party girl. So she and her agent come up with a lie on the spot. They say she’s been dating her hometown best friend for years and is headed back for Christmas to be with her. Now she just has to convince Caroline. Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia |
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A Map for Falasteen by Maysa Odeh Children, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Multigenerational A stunning, heartbreaking, story that was well-performed by the voice actor on the audiobook. Every line seemed to tug my heartstrings, and yet this story felt grounded. Beautiful. Reviewed by Nyawira Nyota, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina |
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Halfway There by Christine Mari Biography, Biography & Autobiography, Comics & Graphic Novels, Depression & Mental Illness, Indigenous, Native American, Social Topics, Women, Young Adult Nonfiction This had me SOBBING. For someone who is not mixed race, this was really eye-opening about the struggles that mixed-race children and adults face in their daily lives. I’m assuming this book would be very comforting for someone who also understands what the MC goes through. This really highlights the microaggressions that are often spoken. Really eye-opening and a very emotional ride. Beautiful story. 10/10! Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
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Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
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11/22/63 by Stephen King Adult Fiction A high school English teacher discovers a portal to the past – specifically to September 9, 1958 – and decides that he’s going to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. But here’s the thing – the past is stubborn. It’s obdurate. It doesn’t want to be changed and will fight back any effort to rewrite history. In typical King fashion, 11/22/63 is a brilliant and affecting novel full of heart and terror in near-equal parts. Reviewed by Colin Sneed, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
Parting Thought “If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance. Or better, one’s chances of survival increase with each book one reads.” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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