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NB Picks - Five Best Spy Novels

Michelle is one of our booksellers, and though her main interests lie within literary fiction, she often finds herself in the mood to get lost in a well-crafted spy novel. The twists! The turns! The secret files! Here's her recommended TOP FIVE:

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: A George Smiley Novel (Paperback)

By John le Carré

$17.00

ISBN: 9780143124757

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Published: Penguin Books - September 3rd, 2013

The first of the George Smiley trilogy. Fairly scathing look at espionage during the Cold War. Cynical British Intelligence officer is commanded to take part in a plot against East German spies by feeding them misinformation, only to find himself on the outs and struggling to unravel the threads. Fantastic read - be prepared to head down the blind alley more than once.

Le Carre just released his newest book in the Smiley series, A Legacy of Spies - available now in hardcover!

Our Man in Havana (Paperback)

By Graham Greene, Christopher Hitchens (Introduction by)

$17.00
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ISBN: 9780142438008

Published: Penguin Classics - July 31st, 2007

The ever-wonderful Graham Greene created this just after his work with British Intelligence. A former vacuum salesman turned spy finds his assignment so dull he ends up faking reports of activity - with interesting consequences.

From Russia with Love (James Bond 007) (Paperback)

By Ian Fleming

$14.95
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ISBN: 9781612185477

Published: Thomas & Mercer - October 16th, 2012

You simply can't leave a classic James Bond novel off of this list - and this one is the best.

The Gun Seller (Paperback)

By Hugh Laurie

$18.00

ISBN: 9780671020828

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Published: Washington Square Press - October 1st, 1998

A witty send-up of the spy genre, written by the brilliant, talented Hugh Laurie (yes, Dr. House). A "freelance" soldier of fortune has a change of heart when ordered to assasinate an American businessman - which soon brings down the house as intelligence agents from all over the world are looking for him.

The Bourne Identity: A Novel (Jason Bourne #1) (Paperback)

By Robert Ludlum

$9.99

ISBN: 9780553593549

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Published: Bantam - January 5th, 2010

Full disclosure: I started this series because of how much my husband LOVES the Matt Damon movies. Luckily, this first in the Bourne series is just as fun as the films indicate, though they do differ in some major plot points. Jason Bourne is a man suffering from amnesia, though soon finds that he possesses a lethal set of survival skills. He is soon led down the garden path by former and current CIA, and discovers he is also the target of a skilled assasin named Carlos the Jackal. Good character development, and I do recommend the next in the series (The Bourne Supremacy).

Make 2016 Your Year!

Check out these new and classic self-improvement books to help you achieve your goals for the New Year!

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up) (Hardcover)

By Marie Kondo

$16.99

ISBN: 9781607747307

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Published: Ten Speed Press - October 14th, 2014

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The book that sparked a revolution and inspired the hit Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo: the original guide to decluttering your home once and for all.

ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE—CNN

Life-Changing Magic: A Journal: Spark Joy Every Day (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up) (Diary)

By Marie Kondo

$16.99
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ISBN: 9780804189095

Published: Ten Speed Press - December 29th, 2015

A gratitude journal from the New York Times bestselling author and star of Netflix's Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. What sparked joy in your life today?

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up) (Hardcover)

By Marie Kondo

$18.99

ISBN: 9781607749721

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Published: Ten Speed Press - January 5th, 2016

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The star of the hit Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up helps you visualize your ideal lifestyle.

The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion (Hardcover)

By Elle Luna

$19.95

ISBN: 9780761184881

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Published: Workman Publishing Company - April 7th, 2015

There are two paths in life: Should & Must.

We arrive at this crossroads over and over again, and every day. And we get to choose.

Starting out or starting over, making a career change or making a life change, the most life-affirming thing you can do is to honor the voice inside that says your have something special to give, and then heed the call and act.

Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts--Becoming the Person You Want to Be (Hardcover)

By Marshall Goldsmith, Mark Reiter

$28.00

ISBN: 9780804141239

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Published: Crown Currency - May 19th, 2015

Bestselling author and world-renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith examines the environmental and psychological triggers that can derail us at work and in life.

The Power of Positive Thinking: 10 Traits for Maximum Results (Paperback)

By Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

$17.99

ISBN: 9780743234801

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Published: Touchstone - March 12th, 2003

An international bestseller with over five million copies in print, The Power of Positive Thinking has helped men and women around the world to achieve fulfillment in their lives through Dr.

F*ck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems (Hardcover)

By Michael Bennett, MD, Sarah Bennett

$26.99

ISBN: 9781476789996

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Published: Simon & Schuster - September 1st, 2015

New York Times Bestseller

The only self-help book you’ll ever need, from a psychiatrist and his comedy writer daughter, who will help you put aside your unrealistic wishes, stop trying to change things you can’t change, and do the best with what you can control—the first steps to managing all of life’s impossible problems.

Timeless Beauty: Over 100 Tips, Secrets, and Shortcuts to Looking Great (Hardcover)

By Christie Brinkley

$30.00
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ISBN: 9781455587940

Published: Grand Central Life & Style - November 10th, 2015

In her first book in more than 30 years, supermodel Christie Brinkley shares the secrets she's learned on what to eat, how to apply makeup like a pro, and what to wear to look like a knock out.

Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You: A Journal (Do One Thing Every Day Journals) (Paperback)

By Robie Rogge, Dian G. Smith

$12.95

ISBN: 9780385345774

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Published: Potter Style - December 31st, 2013

A year's worth of fear-facing prompts and mottoes of encouragement will motivate you to jot down one thing a day and make a daily habit of thinking courageously.

Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty, Inside and Out (Paperback)

By Jolene Hart

$16.95

ISBN: 9781452123660

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Published: Chronicle Books - February 25th, 2014

"Eat Pretty is a gorgeous book that reveals the latest research-based ageless secrets of true beauty from the inside out and outside in throughout the seasons of the year and seasons of life. Beauty-full reading to last a lifetime." —Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., CNS, and New York Times bestselling author

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles (Paperback)

By Shawn Coyne (Editor), Steven Pressfield

$18.85

ISBN: 9781936891023

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Published: Black Irish Entertainment LLC - January 11th, 2012

A succinct, engaging, and practical guide forsucceeding in any creative sphere, The War ofArt is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul.
What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do?
Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid theroadblocks of any creative endeavor-be it starting up a dreambusiness venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?

The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don't Have with People You Don't Like Doing Things You Don't Want to Do (A No Fcks Given Guide) (Hardcover)

By Sarah Knight

$21.99

ISBN: 9780316270724

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Published: Voracious - December 29th, 2015

The "genius" national bestseller on the art of caring less and getting more -- from the author of Calm the F*ck Down and F*ck No (Cosmopolitan).

Are you stressed out, overbooked, and underwhelmed by life? Fed up with pleasing everyone else before you please yourself?

The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation: A step-by-step practical guide to losing body fat and living primally (Paperback)

By Mark Sisson

$22.95
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ISBN: 9780982207772

Published: Primal Blueprint Publishing - October 18th, 2011

Primal Blueprint author Mark Sisson presents a fun, easy-to-follow, practical guidebook to help you "get Primal" in only 21 days. First, you'll learn eight Key Concepts that represent the most important day-to-day elements living Primally, then tackle five Action Items that will enable you to literally reprogram your genes toward a long, healthy, and energetic life.

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right (Paperback)

By Atul Gawande

$17.99

ISBN: 9780312430009

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Published: Picador - January 4th, 2011

The New York Times bestselling author of Being Mortal and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist.

Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself (Paperback)

By Melody Beattie

$16.95
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ISBN: 9780894864025

Published: Hazelden Publishing - September 1st, 1986

In a crisis, it's easy to revert to old patterns.

Materially Crafted: A DIY Primer for the Design-Obsessed (Paperback)

By Victoria Hudgins

$24.95
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ISBN: 9781617691409

Published: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book - March 3rd, 2015

Design enthusiasts are bombarded with beautiful inspiration at every turn, but many lack the foundation necessary to re-create their dream projects. Materially Crafted is a must-have guide for design mavens seeking to develop their DIY chops, even if they’re embracing their crafty side for the first time.

How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie Books) (Paperback)

By Dale Carnegie

$18.99

ISBN: 9780671027032

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Published: Gallery Books - October 1st, 1998

Updated in 2022 for today’s readers, Dale Carnegie’s timeless bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People is a classic that has improved and transformed the professional and personal and lives of millions.

One of the best-known motivational guides in history, Dale Carnegie’s groundbreaking book has sold tens of millions of copies, been translated into

Holiday Gift Guide 2015

2015 Cooking & Wine

Thug Kitchen Party Grub: For Social Motherf*ckers: A Cookbook (Thug Kitchen Cookbooks) (Hardcover)

By Thug Kitchen

$25.99
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ISBN: 9781623366322

Published: Rodale Books - October 13th, 2015

From the duo behind New York Times bestseller, Thug Kitchen, comes the next installment of kick-ass recipes with a side of attitude. Thug Kitchen Party Grub answers the question that they have heard most from their fans: How the hell are you supposed to eat healthy when you hang around with a bunch of assholes who couldn't care less about w

My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life: A Cookbook (Hardcover)

By Ruth Reichl

$35.00

ISBN: 9781400069989

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Published: Random House - September 29th, 2015

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Los Angeles Times • NPR • Men’s Journal • BookPage • Booklist • Publishers Weekly

Food52 Genius Recipes: 100 Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook [A Cookbook] (Food52 Works) By Kristen Miglore, Amanda Hesser (Foreword by), Merrill Stubbs (Foreword by) Cover Image

Food52 Genius Recipes: 100 Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook [A Cookbook] (Food52 Works) (Hardcover)

By Kristen Miglore, Amanda Hesser (Foreword by), Merrill Stubbs (Foreword by)

$35.00

ISBN: 9781607747970

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Published: Ten Speed Press - April 7th, 2015

There are good recipes and there are great ones—and then, there are genius recipes.

NOPI: The Cookbook (Hardcover)

By Yotam Ottolenghi, Ramael Scully

$40.00

ISBN: 9781607746232

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Published: Ten Speed Press - October 20th, 2015

A cookbook from acclaimed London restaurant Nopi, by powerhouse author Yotam Ottolenghi and Nopi head chef Ramael Scully.

Pandan leaves meet pomegranate seeds, star anise meets sumac, and miso meets molasses in this collection of 120 new recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi's restaurant.

Tacopedia: The Taco Encyclopedia (Paperback)

By Deborah Holtz, Juan Carlos Mena, René Redzepi (Contributions by)

$34.95

ISBN: 9780714870472

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Published: Phaidon Press - September 28th, 2015

Tacopedia is an encyclopaedic tribute to the vibrancy of Mexican taco culture.

The Violet Bakery Cookbook (Hardcover)

By Claire Ptak, Alice Waters (Foreword by)

$29.99

ISBN: 9781607746713

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Published: Ten Speed Press - September 29th, 2015

A design-forward cookbook for sweet and savory baked goods from London's popular Violet Bakery that focuses on quality ingredients, seasonality, and taste (as opposed to science) as the keys to creating satisfying, delightful homemade pastries, tarts, sweets, and more.

The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide To Becoming A Whiskey Know-It-All: Know Your Booze Before You Choose By Richard Betts, Crystal English Sacca, Wendy MacNaughton Cover Image

The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide To Becoming A Whiskey Know-It-All: Know Your Booze Before You Choose (Hardcover)

By Richard Betts, Crystal English Sacca, Wendy MacNaughton

$22.00

ISBN: 9780544520608

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Published: Harvest - October 6th, 2015

A clever distillation of America’s favorite libation, by the New York Times best-selling authors of The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert

Whiskey fever is sweeping the nation.

Milk Bar Life: Recipes & Stories: A Cookbook (Hardcover)

By Christina Tosi

$35.00
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ISBN: 9780770435103

Published: Clarkson Potter - April 7th, 2015

Go off the clock with Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar as she bakes one-bowl treats, grills with skills, and embraces simple, nostalgic—and often savory—recipes made from supermarket ingredients.

Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day (Paperback)

By Leanne Brown

$16.99

ISBN: 9780761184997

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Published: Workman Publishing Company - July 14th, 2015

By showing that kitchen skill, and not budget, is the key to great food, Good and Cheap will help you eat well—really well—on the strictest of budgets.

Created for people who have to watch every dollar—but particularly those living on the U.S.

The Wine Bible (Paperback)

By Karen MacNeil

$24.95
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ISBN: 9780761180838

Published: Workman Publishing Company - October 13th, 2015

No one can describe a wine like Karen MacNeil.

Comprehensive, entertaining, authoritative, and endlessly interesting, The Wine Bible is a lively course from an expert teacher, grounding the reader deeply in the fundamentals—vine-yards and varietals, climate and terroir, the nine attributes of a wine’s greatness—while layering on tips, informative

The Beer Bible (Paperback)

By Jeff Alworth

$19.95
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ISBN: 9780761168119

Published: Workman Publishing Company - August 11th, 2015

“The only book you need to understand the world’s most popular beverage. I swear on a stack of these, it’s a thumping good read.”––John Holl, editor of All About Beer Magazine and author of The American Craft Beer Cookbook

Imagine sitting in your favorite pub with a friend who happens to be a world-class expert on beer.

Jacques Pépin Heart & Soul In The Kitchen (Hardcover)

By Jacques Pépin

$38.00

ISBN: 9780544301986

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Published: Harvest - October 6th, 2015

In the companion book to his final PBS series, the world-renowned chef shows his close relationship to the land and sea as he cooks for close friends and family.

Jacques Pépin Heart & Soul in the Kitchen is an intimate look at the celebrity chef and the food he cooks at home with family and friends—200 recipes in all.

Fire and Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking [A Cookbook] (Hardcover)

By Darra Goldstein

$40.00

ISBN: 9781607746102

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Published: Ten Speed Press - October 13th, 2015

2016 James Beard Award nominee, 2016 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) nominee for Best International Cookbook, and 2016 Art of Eating Prize longlist finalist

Crossroads: Extraordinary Recipes from the Restaurant That Is Reinventing Vegan Cuisine By Tal Ronnen, Scot Jones (With), Serafina Magnussen (With) Cover Image

Crossroads: Extraordinary Recipes from the Restaurant That Is Reinventing Vegan Cuisine (Hardcover)

By Tal Ronnen, Scot Jones (With), Serafina Magnussen (With)

$35.00

ISBN: 9781579656362

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Published: Artisan - October 6th, 2015

“A new kind of flavor-first vegan cooking. . . . Stunning.”
—Food & Wine

“The Best Cookbook Gifts for Vegans”
—Vice

“Best Food Books of the Year”
—USA Today

Reinventing plant-based eating is what Tal Ronnen is all about.

The Southerner's Cookbook: Recipes, Wisdom, and Stories (Garden & Gun Books #3) (Hardcover)

By Editors of Garden and Gun

$45.00

ISBN: 9780062242419

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Published: Harper - October 27th, 2015

From Garden & Gun—the magazine that features the best of Southern cooking, dining, cocktails, and customs—comes an heirloom-quality guide to the traditions and innovations that define today’s Southern food culture, with more than 100 recipes and 4-color photography throughout.

Gjelina: Cooking from Venice, California (Hardcover)

By Travis Lett, Michael Graydon (By (photographer)), Nikole Herriott (By (photographer))

$37.50
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ISBN: 9781452128092

Published: Chronicle Books - October 27th, 2015

The ultimate California cookbook: 125+ rustic and delicious dishes from Los Angeles's most talked-about restaurant.

Gjelina in Venice Beach, California, is lauded by critics from London to New York to San Francisco.

Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes: The First Cookbook from the Cult Food Magazine (Hardcover)

By Peter Meehan, the editors of Lucky Peach

$35.00
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ISBN: 9780804187794

Published: Clarkson Potter - October 27th, 2015

“Delicious, straightforward recipes ... fill Lucky Peach: 101 Easy Asian Recipes, along with romping commentary that makes the book fun to read as well as to cook from.” —Associated Press

Tacos: Recipes and Provocations: A Cookbook (Hardcover)

By Alex Stupak, Jordana Rothman, Evan Sung (Photographs by)

$32.50

ISBN: 9780553447293

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Published: Clarkson Potter - October 20th, 2015

Superstar chef Alex Stupak's love of real Mexican food changed his life; it caused him to quit the world of fine-dining pastry and open the smash-hit Empellón Taqueria in New York City. Now he'll change the way you make--and think about--tacos forever.

Children's Book Halloween Picks!

Leo: A Ghost Story (Hardcover)

By Mac Barnett, Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

$16.99

ISBN: 9781452131566

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Published: Chronicle Books - August 25th, 2015

This book is great!

The Dark (Hardcover)

By Lemony Snicket, Jon Klassen (Illustrator)

$18.99

ISBN: 9780316187480

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Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - April 2nd, 2013

Laszlo is afraid of the dark.

The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't come into Lazslo's room. But one night, it does.

This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark.

With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear.

Night Animals (Hardcover)

By Gianna Marino, Gianna Marino (Illustrator)

$18.99

ISBN: 9780451469540

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Published: Viking Books for Young Readers - July 14th, 2015

Something’s out there in the dark!

First Possum hears it. Then Skunk. Then Wolf comes running.
“What could it possibly be?” asks Bat.
“Night Animals!” the animals declare.
“But you are night animals,” Bat informs this not-so-smart crew.

Tickle Monster (Hardcover)

By Edouard Manceau

$14.95
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ISBN: 9781419717314

Published: Abrams Appleseed - August 11th, 2015

This engaging picture book prompts young children to face their fear of monsters and take charge of the situation! The reader is prompted to tickle various parts of a monster, deconstructing the creature and repurposing his parts into a far less threatening scene. His horns become the moon, his legs and arms become trees, his nose becomes a car. . . .

Peanut Butter & Brains: A Zombie Culinary Tale (Hardcover)

By Joe McGee, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

$16.95
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ISBN: 9781419712470

Published: Abrams Books for Young Readers - August 11th, 2015

Reginald isn’t like the other zombies who shuffle through Quirkville, scaring the townspeople and moaning for BRAINSSSSS! The only thing Reginald’s stomach rumbles for is sticky peanut butter and sweet jelly. He tries to tell his zombie pals that there’s more to life than eating brains, but they’re just not interested.

Dracula: A Babylit(r) Counting Primer (Board Books)

By Jennifer Adams, Alison Oliver (Illustrator)

$11.99

ISBN: 9781423624806

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Published: Babylit - August 1st, 2012

Meet 2 friends, Mina and Lucy, and the 5 heroes who try to save them from the dreaded Count Dracula in Dracula: A BabyLit(R) Counting Primer. Make sure you're wearing a necklace of 10 garlic flowers as you count wolves, ships, tombstones, and boxes full of soil in this witty retelling of Little Master Stoker's classic gothic tale.

Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart: A Babylit(r) Book: Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "the Tell-Tale Heart" (BabyLit First Steps Books) (Hardcover)

By Jennifer Adams, Ron Stucki (Illustrator)

$16.99
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ISBN: 9781423637660

Published: Gibbs Smith - September 20th, 2014

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins: A Halloween Book for Kids (Hardcover)

By James Dean, James Dean (Illustrator), Kimberly Dean

$12.99

ISBN: 9780062304186

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Published: HarperCollins - July 21st, 2015

Author and artist James Dean brings us a groovy rendition of the classic favorite children’s song “Five Little Pumpkins,” sung by cool cat Pete and perfect for Halloween. A New York Times bestselling favorite!

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