Part One - Camden
This weekend, after seeing STEELY DAN at Darling's Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, ME my boyfriend and I made our way down midcoast Maine through the towns of Belfast, Camden and Rockland. It was a beautiful Labor Day weekend and we strolled through the towns' streets enjoying the wonderful weather. But a walk in any town for me always means sniffing out the independent bookstores to try and find books I have never seen before or those wonderful 2014 hardcover books that I must have.
Now, I must take a minute here to acknowledge what a saint my boyfriend is! He knows that bookstores and book shopping are my passion and never complains as I spend most of the time in these stores. He will wait patiently inside or outside and he isn't even a reader! Oh, I can get him to occasionally read a picture book or two if it's about a cat (we own three) but that's about it. But you will never, ever hear him ask me to hurry up or even a heavy sign come out of his mouth. How did I get so lucky?
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Zeek Meeks vs. the Stinkin' Science Fair by D.L. Green
This is a new series I found that looks great for the 2nd - 4th grade set. It is about a boy named Zeek who is afraid of bugs - all bugs! Normally he wouldn't care about winning the science fair but he needs the money to pay off Grace Chang! It has some great illustrations as well as bullets and voice bubbles that kids will love. In addition, it has directions for a science experiment for making "quicksand" in the back as well as "Big Words according to Zeke". These are more difficult words that are defined such as cashmere, compliment and concentrate. I love how this book ties in science in a fun way with literacy. I always buy one in a series new to me, to see how kids like them, but I have a feeling I might be getting more of these . . . :-)
Benny and Penny in The Big No-No by Geoffrey Hayes
This book was the 2010 winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award but new to me. Graphic novels are appealing to all age levels but the ones that are popular now such as Amulet and Sidekicks are for the older students. Finally this is a really great series for the very young students. This story could be read by first and second graders and in addition teaches a life lesson along with it. Each of the voice bubbles has only a sentence or two so makes it very easy to access. The brother and sister, Benny and Penny, are very cute and believable. I also bought the second story, Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker. I have a feeling they will be very popular! These two stories are at the "Level 2" range but there are also several at an easier level and some at a higher level.
Teacher Discount: YES!
Sherman's Books & Stationery
14 Main St. 236-2223
The first thing I noticed when I walked into Sherman's was a long table with discounted children's books. Yippee! These were not old, unknown children's books either but great hardcover children's books! All of the books ranged from $16.00 - $18.00 but were marked down to $4.99. I purchased Go Away, Mr. Wolf! by Mathew Price & Atsuko Morozumi, Hurry Down to Derry Fair by Dori Chaconas & Gillian Tyler - a great one for our rural students, many of whom attend or participate in the local county fairs, and one of my favorite young children's authors, Nancy Tafuri's Five Little Chicks!
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo & Chris Van Dusen
It may not be another Mercy Watson book, but Mercy is in it! Leroy Ninker was a character from one of the Mercy Watson books, and now he has a book of his own and is inviting back some of the favorite characters from Kate DiCamillo's popular pig series! Mercy is back, Mrs. Watson is back, Frank is back along with a cast of new characters in another pairing up of the DiCamillio and Van Dusen extravaganza. Kids will be lining up to read this book or make it your first read aloud. Kids and teachers alike will be hoping for more in this series, I'm sure!
Kate is also the the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2014 - 2015! I can't think of a better person to represent!
Teacher Discount: YES!
What's as much fun as a bookstore? A used bookstore! I found Stone Soup in Camden - remember the story of Stone Soup? It was up a steep set of stairs and as I arrived at the top, there was an older gentleman playing music on a record player - gotta love it. I plopped myself down on the floor in front of his stack of children's books and made myself at home. I was delighted to find several volumes of L. Frank Baum's books that were NOT The Wizard of Oz. I found Ozma of Oz and a large size volume of The Emerald City of Oz. With the movie version of Oz out and a renewed interest in Oz, I'm excited to show students that there are many more works by Baum then just The Wizard of Oz.
And even though these books were already discounted due to being second hand, the owner was nice enough to take a little bit more off when he found out I was a teacher! How sweet!!
As you can see, I had a great time and found a good many books in Camden. Stay tune for Part two when I tell you all about my great finds in Camden's sister city - ROCKLAND!
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