Read More in 2024 Children’s Holiday Edition
Beautiful Touches has received these titles in exchange for sharing with our readers.
A book is a wondrous thing…and a gift that lasts for the ages!
Read More in 2024 Children’s Holiday Edition
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From APOLLO Publishers
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FURRY PLANET A World Gone Wild: Includes History, Costumes, and Conventions
By Joe Strike
About the Book
“From a veteran fur comes an immersive entry into the world of furry fandom, with an inside look at an amazing subculture, the timeless human instinct to identify with animals, and color images of furry costumes, art, and conventions.
Furs are the creative subculture of people who identify with animals. You can find them at furry conventions, furfests, around the world—tens of thousands of people, many donning their most elaborate fursuits. In costume, at conventions, with friends or alone, furries unleash the animal within, letting their inner beasts roar and their inner cats purr, aware of the power—and joy—to be found in bringing forward one’s animal side and encouraging others to do the same.
In Furry Planet, long-time furry Joe Strike dives deep into this compelling subculture to share its appeal and rewards. Strike and a wealth of interviewees trace the history of the subculture and its various iterations today, in the process covering conventions, media, art, storytelling, community resources, costume creation, and advice for newcomers, and addressing stigmas and misconceptions head on.
An unprecedented in-depth guide, Furry Planet is sure to inform and delight the ever-growing furry fandom and anyone who has ever been curious about it. Inside you’ll find:
- Insight into the natural human impulse to anthropomorphize animals
- A fascinating history of furry fandom
- A detailed look at furcons around the world
- Inspiration for fursuit costume creation
- Color images of costumes, art, and conventions
- Much more!”
About the Author
“Joe Strike is a long-time furry and an expert on the subculture. He is the author of Furry Nation and has been interviewed about the furry subculture on CBS’s The Doctors and by the New York Post, Slate, CNN, and a wide range of other outlets. Professionally, Joe is a writer and producer who has spent his career immersed in comic books, cartoons, and sci-fi and fantasy worlds. He has created hundreds of TV promotions for channels including Bravo and Sci-Fi, and worked with talents like Stan Lee, Ralph Bakshi, and the cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Joe produced and hosted Interview with an Animator, a series of events held at New York’s Society of Illustrators and the Paley Center for Media, and was a writer for the Nickelodeon TV series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! He lives in New York City.”
From Gibbs Smith
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
Written by Marci Kay Monson – Illustrations by Greg Paprocki
About the Book
“This retelling of Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first in a series of interactive picture book mysteries for children.
Younger readers will adore the vivid illustrations and entertaining activities; older readers will be able to absorb the entertaining story while compiling clues….It may be a murder mystery, but it’s a supremely cozy and stylish one, and an ideal introduction to the amazing Poirot.”—Booklist
The Mysterious Affair at Styles is Agatha Christie’s first detective novel (a cozy mystery—no violence or gore), and where she introduces her fictional detective Hercule Poirot. The story, set in England during World War I, is a true who-done-it full of mysterious characters and teasing clues. Monson’s retelling of the original book captures the plot and distills it in a way that is fun for children, gently ushering them into the literary world of Christie’s mysteries. Along with the story, there are activities, games, and puzzles throughout to help with children’s engagement, and might just foster a few budding detectives.
There is also a glossary of terms and French words.”
About the Authors
“Marci Kay Monson is an avid reader, crafter, and gardener. She received her BS in Technical Communications from Utah State University and a graduate certificate in publishing from the Denver Publishing Institute. She found a love for Agatha Christie when her book club read And Then There Were None and never looked back. She loves story, bright colors, and a little bit of (cozy and fictional) murder. Raised in Japan, England, and Germany, she now lives in Layton, Utah.
Greg Paprocki works full-time as an illustrator and book designer. He has illustrated several Curious George books, the Little Leonardo series, and the BabyLit alphabet board books including S Is for Santa, B Is for Boo, E Is for Easter, and C Is for Camping. Released summer 2023 in the alphabet series were G is for Gross and U is for Universe. Greg’s Gibbs Smith titles have sold 820,000 copies. He lives in Omaha, Nebraska.”
NANA LUPITA AND THE MAGIC SOPITA
Written by Felicia Cocotzin Ruis – Illustrations by Carlos Vélez Aguilera
About the Book
“This enchanting story features the mystery of a grandmother’s secret recipe, a seek-and-find of healing plants, and bilingual words for young readers.
Luna and her little brother, Sol, are out to solve a mystery! They suspect that their grandmother uses magic to create her remedies because she says that she uses a “magic” ingredient.
At the beginning of the story Luna and Sol catch colds so their grandmother makes a healing soup. Luna overhears Nana singing a classic Spanish children’s song about frog tails while cooking the soup, so Luna secretly thinks that frogs are the magic ingredient. The children explore the enchanted garden in search of frogs until it is time to eat, in which Nana reveals the real secret ingredient. Can you guess what it is?
This sweet semi-bilingual story includes a seek-and-find of traditional plants used in curanderismo and includes the recipe for Nana’s magic soup!
Written by renowned healer Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz, Nana Lupita and the Magic Sopita is inspired the author’s grandmother, who was a curandera (a traditional healer of Mexican heritage).
First In a New Series: Mi Hermosa Familia: Stories of Four Generations
When a five-year old girl from el barrio (the neighborhood) shares memories of her beautiful family, her rich imagination takes the wheel as she recalls what did—and what almost did—happen. This semi-bilingual series called Mi Hermosa Familia (My Beautiful Family) highlights the small and beautiful moments found throughout Latino communities, told with a dose of magical realism. All books include an interactive seek and find.”
About the Authors
Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a storyteller and curandera living in one of the most edible and medicinal landscapes in the world, the Sonoran Desert. Recognized for her work with Indigenous foodways and holistic wellness, Felicia is passionate about sharing food and lifestyle as medicine across many platforms. Her award-winning book Earth Medicines: Ancestral Wisdom, Healing Recipes, and Wellness Rituals from a Curandera, has received praise from industry leaders including Padma Lakshmi, Dana Cowin, and Darin Olien. Felicia’s work has been featured in Spirituality & Health, Forbes, Bon Appétit, The List television news magazine, and several other media outlets including The Original Americans episode on Padma Lakshmi’s Taste The Nation (Hulu). Felicia presents frequently around the country on traditional healing practices, culinary medicine, folk herbalism, and Native American food sovereignty for nonprofits, universities, and museums–including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Carlos Vélez Aguilera was born in Mexico City in 1980. He is a graduate of the National School of Plastic Arts of the National University Autonomous of Mexico and has been a professional illustrator for 12 years. He lives in Mexico City.
From Page Education Foundation
BAKING UP LOVE
Written by Alan and and Kamie Page – Illustrations by David Geister
About the Book
“Esther and her mom are supposed to bake cupcakes after school this afternoon for tomorrow’s Literacy Feast. But when Esther arrives home, her mom is still at work, and she finds Grandpa snoozing in his favorite reading chair. “Grandpa! Wake up!” Grandpa reassures a doubtful Esther that he does in fact know how to bake, a skill he learned from Esther’s late grandmother. Grandpa and Esther bake, dance, and sing, filling the kitchen, and their hearts, with Grandma’s special ingredient—love.”
IMPORTANT: SIGNED COPIES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2024! ORDER YOUR COPY NOW.
These books sound interesting. No matter the age ever one needs to grow up loving books.
Fun idea to incorporate food and recipes into a book series.
A great goal to have in 2025. I have a reading list and am starting my 2nd book of the year.