Scholastic Shopping Guide - The Most Popular Children's Books for this Holiday Season

Scholastic Inc. 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999

www.scholastic.com

November 7, 2011 – Get ready for holiday shopping. The children’s book experts from Scholastic Book Clubs and Scholastic Book Fairs have just revealed their picks for what will be the most popular new children’s books for the 2011 holiday season. This go-to list features books for all ages from a variety of authors and publishers to help gift-givers pick the right books for the kids in their lives.

Some of the book picks include new releases and sequels for popular series, such as

The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, and The 39 Clues®: Cahills vs. Vespers Book 2: A King's Ransom by Jude Watson; others are tied to highly anticipated film releases such as War Horse, Hugo, and The Hunger Games, all of which are based on books.

“Parents, grandparents and educators all know the value of giving the gift of reading to kids, but we know they also struggle to compete with the hot new toy, electronic device or video on the market,” stated Francie Alexander, Chief Academic Officer at Scholastic. “This list was curated by the experts at Scholastic Book Clubs and Book Fairs to help shoppers identify the books that will be sure to delight a child as much as any other favorite gift.”

Scholastic’s Holiday Gift List for Kids:

Picture Books

• 10 Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Lois Ehlert (Simon & Schuster)
• Can You See What I See? Toyland Express written and illustrated by Walter Wick (Scholastic)
• If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond (HarperCollins)
• The Man in the Moon written and illustrated by William Joyce (Simon & Schuster)
• Pinkalicious: The Princess of Pink Treasury written and illustrated by Victoria Kann (HarperCollins)
  
  

Transitional Readers and Chapter Books

• Clementine and The Family Meeting by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Marla Frazee (Disney Hyperion Books)
• Fly Guy: Fly Guy vs. The Flyswatter! by Tedd Arnold (Scholastic)
• Magic Tree House: Dogs in the Dead of Night by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Salvatore Murdocca (Random House)
• Rainbow Magic: Magical Holiday Boxed Set by Daisy Meadows (Scholastic)
• Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers by Dav Pilkey, George Beard, and Harold Hutchins (Scholastic)

Middle Grade Fiction

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney (Abrams)
• The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (Disney Hyperion Books)
• The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers Book 2: A King's Ransom by Jude Watson (Scholastic)
• War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (Scholastic)
• Wonderstruck written and illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)

Young Adult Fiction

• Crossed by Ally Condie (Penguin)
• Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (Random House)
• Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion Books)
• The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic)

Nonfiction

• How Cool Is This: An Up-close, Inside Look at How Things Work (DK Publishing)
• The Hugo Movie Companion: A Behind the Scenes Look at How a Beloved Book Became a Major Motion Picture by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)
• Lego Harry Potter: Building The Magical World (DK Publishing)
• Lego Star Wars Character Encyclopedia (DK Publishing)
• Ripley's Believe It or Not!: Special Edition 2012 (Scholastic)

These books are available through Scholastic Book Clubs and Scholastic Book Fairs in schools and online at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. When you purchase these or any other books through Book Clubs and Book Fairs you are helping out your child’s school. Teachers are awarded bonus points through Scholastic Book Clubs to purchase books and materials for their classrooms, and schools raise money through their Book Fairs to support the school community. If a title from Scholastic’s holiday gift list is not available through your child’s Scholastic Book Club or Scholastic Book Fair, check with your child’s teacher or visit a book retailer or library.



For the full list please visit http://oomscholasticblog.com/2011/11/we_predict.html.

For more information on Scholastic (SCHL), visit us at mediaroom.scholastic.com.

Book Shopping

Here is what I got at Borders....
(they didn't have Highland Obsession- shame on them, so I ordered it.)

Got these at Half-Price Books.... I got to the counter and my mom says I can't believe you found more books. I just laughed at the silly woman. LOL!

throuthehaze
was the first to post that I was born in 1976. Here's her prize.
Send your mailing info to annasbookblog@gmail.com

Thanks again for all the Birthday Wishes!!!

In My Mailbox & Book Shopping [14]

Thanks to Sourcebooks

Picked these ones up at Target and Walmart

Thanks to MichelleG

Today I received these items plus a bunch of author goodies from AmyC for my birthday. While my birthday isn't until the 6th I tired to be strong and not to open it, but it kept calling my name. And no your eyes aren't deceiving you... that is a penis lollipop. LMAO! Thanks Amy! :)

Antsy...

So, yesterday I finished reading The Highwayman, that was good and all. But now I had to find something else to read. Not that I'm running out or anything, but sometimes it's hard to decide. I picked up and started four different books and then put them down. I still want to read them, I just wasn't in the mood for Them. Finally found one that clicked, Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair. So, far I'm really enjoying this one.


I also stopped by Walmart today and they actually had the new releases out. I got:

Branded by Fire- Nalini Singh

Breaking Midnight- Emma Holly

Staked- J.F. Lewis (I just realized I have this in Trade paperback, I hate when that happens)

The Dark-Hunters Vol. 1- Sherrilyn Kenyon

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows- J.K. Rowling (yay! It's finally in paperback)

Damn, Walmart!

I had planned not to buy any books this month, since I pre-order most of the ones on my list. You can see below how well that worked out. Walmart is to blame, usually they suck at getting new releases out. :P

Como Park Zoo/Conservatory & A Side of Book Shopping

My mom & I decided to take a trip to Como Park Zoo today. It had been ages since we last went. We use to go every spring when I was little. It was interesting to see all of the changes. I took a bunch of pictures, here are some of my favorites....

Sparky here trying to scratch his nose.

Awww isn't that the cutest thing.

This one here is my favorite. It's great when zoom actually does it's job.

We couldn't get into the Primate house cause it was soo packed.
But this guy was outside hanging out.

The Conservatory- The Sunken Garden

Koi Pond

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden


And we just happen to cross a Barnes & Noble on the way home.
Ok, ok, I knew exactly where it was. LOL! Here is what I got:

In My Mailbox & Book Shopping [7]

Below are books I've received in the mail in the last week or so.

Beyond Heaving Bosoms- Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan
Slave- Cheryl Brooks
How to Abduct A Highland Lord- Karen Hawkins
Bride of the Beast- Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Highlander Untamed- Monica McCarty
Demon Mistress- Yasmine Galenorn
Jennifer Scales & the Ancient Furnace- MaryJanice Davidson

These are the books I pick up today....

Skin Trade- Laurell K. Hamilton
Once Dead, Twice Shy- Kim Harrison
The Vampire Diaries Vol. 2- L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries #5: Nightfall- L.J. Smith

Book Shopping/In My Mailbox [6]

So I went into Borders with a list (really I did), and it had two books on it. I came out with 5 books. Which is really good. Usually I leave with 8 or 9. :) Here's what I got:

Devil in a Kilt- Sue Ellen Welfonder
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie- Jennifer Ashley
Sea Lord- Virginia Kantra
Doomsday Can Wait- Lori Handeland
Relentless- Lauren Dane

And in the mail this week I got:

Sword of Darkness- Kinley MacGregor
Ask For It- Sylvia Day
Storm Glass- Maria V. Snyder
BTVS GN Season 8 Vol. 4
Calvin and Hobbes

I So Love Tower.com

Not that that I needed anymore books, but the prices of the Trade paperbacks are just too good to pass up. Tower.com http://www.tower.com/ has trade paperbacks at insanely cheap prices. Below Is what I ordered. Each book was under $10. Plus if it's shipping in the U.S and you spend over $25- shipping is free. That's what I call a very nice deal. :)

In My Mailbox & Book Shopping [4]

In the mail the past few days I've received...
Courting Midnight- Emma Holly
Swallowing Darkness- Laurell K. Hamilton
Dreamstone- P.A. Hendrickson
Dragonborn- Jade Lee

Yesterday....
My mom who totally rocks didn't know I had preordered Lover Avenged from SciFi Book Club brought me home a copy. I can't cancel my order so look for LA as part of my contests in June.

Today I went book shopping and found....
To Beguile a Beast- Elizabeth Hoyt
Burning Wild- Christine Feehan
Bloodline- Maggie Shayne
Eve of Darkness- S.J. Day
The Awakening- Kelley Armstrong
Fragile Eternity- Melissa Marr

Book Shopping

I stopped in at both Barnes and Noble & Borders today. I hadn't planned on going to Borders but then I got my bucks and a coupon. Here's what I got...

Kiss of Darkness- Jennifer St. Giles
The Better to Hold You- Alisa Sheckley
Curse the Dawn- Karen Chance
The Mage- Jean Johnson
Midnight Cravings- Anthology

I also picked up a few goodies for the April contest, which I'll be
posting soon. :)


There were a few I couldn't find so I had to order them...

Night Rose- Annaliese Evans
Royal Blood- Rona Sharon
Dragonhaven- Robin McKinley

Whoa- Books!

I almost fainted right in the middle of the Wal-Mart book section. LOL! They actually had the new books on the actual day of their release. That almost never happens. At least not at my local store.

Here's what I picked up today:

Magic Strikes- Ilona Andrews
Passion Unleashed- Larissa Ione

The Immortal Hunter- Lynsay Sands

Secret Life of A Vampire- Kerrelyn Sparks

You're So Vein- Christine Warren

From Dead to Worse- Charlaine Harris

Love Bites- Lynsay Sands

There's still a few more that I plan to pick up on Friday that Walmart didn't have

:)

Invading Borders...

well sorta
Here is what I got:

Angel's Blood- Nalini Singh

Seducing A Scottish Bride- Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Kitty Raises Hell- Carrie Vaughn

Second Skin- Caitlin Kittredge

As Shadows Fade- Colleen Gleason

Vampire Knight Vol. 6

Men of the Otherworld- Kelley Armstrong

The Vampire's Quest- Vivi Anna

I think this trip was tame compared to others. But only because I was unable to find a few of the books on my list. :)

Book Awards, Book Shopping & Upcoming Contest

Blog Awards
Last week Lea over at Closetwriter gave me this award. Thank You Lea! :)

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Probably won't have 15, but here is who i'm giving the award to:

Lea at Closetwriter

AmyC at Romance Book Wyrm

Barbara at Happily Forever After

Kate at Babbling About Books & More

Blanche at There's No Such Thing As Too Many Books

Christine at The Happily Ever AFter

KristieJ at Ramblings On Romance Etc...

Tracy at Tracy's Place

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book Shopping
I will be heading to Borders on Thursday, shockingly enough I haven't been in a while. :) I'll be picking up books by Carrie Vaugh, Colleen Gleason, Caitlin Kittredge, Nalini Singh, Kelley Armstrong & Sue-Ellen Welfounder. If anyone has some suggestions, I'm all ears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Upcoming Contest
I'll be having one contest this month, with three lucky winners. Next week I will get it posted. Up for grabs is:

Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

Issue #1 of Mercy Thompson Homecoming

Alyson Noel's Evermore & Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods

e-Book Shopping

I've been waiting to go e-book shopping until all the books I wanted were out. Here's what I got. :)


This story is part of The Hunters series.

Book Description: Being a vampire sucks. Just ask Cori Lewis. The "Change" didn't change her enough. She's still shy, quiet and she never feels as though she belongs anywhere. Not even with the people who took her in after the vampire attack that left her near death. But other things have changed a lot. Cori needs sex — now!She goes in search of a one-night stand — hot sex with an anonymous man in a dark alley — and her life changes yet again. He's a connection to the past she thought was lost and he's everything she's ever dreamed. But when he finds out who she is, he might never be able to forgive her.





Book Description: When Maven, the eldest daughter of Caralon's mighty ruler, is given in marriage to the fearsome Dane of Rawley, she's horrified. Bad enough that she should be any man's possession, but she's heard the dreadful tales about Dane, tales of force and brutality. She goes into the marriage refusing to submit to him in any way—the only problem is, the sensuously forceful Dane demands her submission, especially in his bed, and he's determined to get it.As Maven begins to clash with the Beast of Rawley, she needs all her wits about her to win their erotic battle for control.







Book Description: Love can bloom where nothing else survives…

Wildlife photographer Chase Calder is no stranger to wandering in wilderness areas like the stark Nevada desert. When a freak electrical storm leaves him strangely disoriented, and he awakens as a prisoner in a high-security Air Force base under the scrutiny of a seductive microbiologist, he knows he’s in dangerous territory.
Undercover Special Ops agent Martina Sanchez finally has the proof she needs to expose the Acheron beam for the danger it is. Not a harmless bio-decontaminate, but a potentially deadly super-weapon. She’s also discovered exposure to the beam has more than one unexpected side effect for Chase whose sizzling touch melts her cool, professional resolve. It also melts steel walls.

Martina risks everything to free Chase before he becomes the next casualty of unauthorized scientific testing. Together they flee to safety, but safe becomes a relative term when their growing passion finally ignites…


This short story is a short continuation of Arcady Morrison and Snow Ipwhisk, stars of Silk and Steel.

Book Description: Arcady finally has a reason to celebrate Valentines Day, and a woman worth everything he's ever dreamed of to spoil. This year, all is possible and Arcady plans on making it the best Snow has ever had.










Book Description: Kit has never forgotten the cruel way Rysen rejected her as a possible consort over a hundred years ago. She's striven to get stronger, pushing her attraction to him down and using her anger as fuel.

Rysen has always regretted the way he rejected Kit. As much as he loved her, Rysen despised the way her clan tried to use her as a political gambit for power and protection. But he never stopped wanting Kit, trying to make her his in every way possible.

When enemies attack, they use old magic to seal themselves off and stay safe. But now they find themselves trapped with a century of hunger rising between them....



This is Stella Price writing as Dagmar Avery

Book Description: Invited to the Eros Festival, Drea encounters many people calming to be gods, including Hades, a man that makes her body burn. Hades pursues her, but it isn't as easy as a normal hunt and chase. There are obstacles in the way, sexy, horny obstacles that want to keep them apart... and Drea has to decide... a night of meaningless pleasure at the hands of the gods, or a lifetime beside one, and only one, as Persephone

Trade Paperback Shopping

I've had a list of Trade paperback books that I've wanted to get for a while now. I could probably get them through PBS, but the wait is just too long. I did a bit of a searching on what sites were charging for these books. And in opinion I hit the jackpot with Tower.com. I'm really loving this store right now. They had the lowest price on books. I got 5 books that ranged from $10.55 to 9.98. Shipping was free too. Here's what I got:

Midnight Sins- Cynthia Eden

Dirty- Megan Hart

Road Trip of the Living Dead- Mark Henry

The Vampire Shrink- Lynda Hilburn

The Bride of Casa Dracula- Marta Acosta

:))

http://www.tower.com/

Shots & Book Shopping

Today I went to see my Rheumatoidologist (arthritis dr). I've been feeling good so I didn't have too much to report, except some really bad headaches back at the beginning of December. I wasn't sure there was a connection but I mention it anyway. So my doctor comes around and pushes down on my shoulders and my neck. OMG, that man is lucky I didn't back hand him... it hurt so bad. So, he gets out his pen and starts marking spots. That is never a good sign when that happens. In the end I got a shot in each shoulder and a shot on each side of my neck. Yes 4 needles.. ugh I really hate getting shots. But these weren't has bad as when I got one in my knee.

Afterwards it was all worth it cause I went book shopping. :) I've been saving up my gift cards from Christmas so I was able to get more than I usually do. I got:


A Mermaid's Kiss- Joey W. Hill

Seeing Eye Mate- Annmarie McKenna

Kiss of a Demon King- Kresley Cole

Night Huntress- Yasmine Galenorn

Child of a Dead God- Barb & J.C. Hendee

Witch Heart- Anya Bast

An Offer From A Gentleman- Julia Quinn

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton- Julia Quinn

Someone to Watch Over Me- Lisa Kleypas

To Taste Temptation- Elizabeth Hoyt

Bound To Please- Hope Tarr

Dragon Bones- Patricia Briggs

Last Trip to Borders....

Well, last trip of the year. LOL! This is what I picked up today:

22 Nights- Linda Winstead Jones

Again the Magic- Lisa Kleypas
(I had other LK books on my list to get but of course they didn't have the ones I was looking for.)

Untamed- Pamela Clare
(Had plan to get Surrender. But I want the new cover, so I had to ordered it. I know I'm picky. :))

City of Bones- Cassandra Clare

The Christmas Countess- Adrienne Basso

From Paperbacks to Hardcovers

It's no secret, even though I buy hardcovers... I am a paperback girl all the way. I don't really have a big problem with hardcovers other than the price. But what I find really annoying is when Authors that are 4, 5, 6, 7 books into a series, they decided to go hardcover. Now I realize this is probably not the Author's doing, it's probably more the Publishers idea. I just find it very frustating.

The frustration really isn't that it's a hardcover or that I'm gonna pay more for it. It's the fact that all the other damn books in the series are in paperback.

The two books below are a great example. They will be released in 2009 in hardcover, while the previous books are paperbacks. These books happen to be two of my favorite series, so of course I'll be buying them. But why do this? Is there another reason to go hardcover besides making more money??

Lover Avenged
-J.R. Ward

Bone Crossed
-Patricia Briggs

Ok, now that I've had my little rant, I'm just wondering if this bothers anyone else?

:)

Book Shopping This Week....

I didn't have plans to go to Borders yet, but they sent me my Border Bucks, which is a very good excuse to go. LOL! So, on Thursday or Friday I will be heading there to pickup a few books.

Thing is earlier this week when I had to do a system recovery on my computer, I lost my list a books coming out. Now I got the list mostly put back together. But I think I am missing a few. If you can think of any books coming out this month please let me know.

Here some that I plan to pick up:

I also have Kenyon's One Silent Night on my list, but I pre-ordered it. What books are you planning to get this month?