Belmont Shore's Independent Bookstore!    4712 East 2nd Street,   Long Beach, California 90803       562.438.7950    apostrophebooks@verizon.net      Apostrophe Newsletter                 March 21, 2013 Hello Everyone! Spring officially began on March 20th and we will be having a very special Spring Storytime at Apostrophe Books this Saturday March 23rd.  Join the Story Book Fairy as she reads and makes butterfly bracelets with you!  Easter is March 31st and Passover begins on March 25th!  At Apostrophe we have books for the occasions in your life, all at 10% off or more.  Children's Book Week voting has begun!  Click here to let your children vote for their favorite books in four age groups, and teachers, librarians and booksellers can cast your votes here also!   Joining us soon is Mirabelle, the Boston Terrier and her devoted human Michael Muller, who will join us at Apostrophe Books for a book signing on Friday April 5th at 6:30 pm.  Mirabelle is the star of Muller's interesting series of board books that combine bold art with photographs.  Don't miss it! We are pleased to join the Long Beach Public Library in presenting the next 'Booked:  A    Local Intuitive Medium Geof Jowett returns for workshops, with private readings also available on April 18th and 19th at Apostrophe Books. For more information click here.    Mouse in the House!  Get ready to meet Mouse, have your picture taken and enjoy milk and cookies with the beloved Mouse from If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond.  He will be here on Saturday May 18th at 1 o'clock to celebrate Children's Book Week with us.  Please join in the fun!    Apostrophe Books was happy to be among those acting as Merchant Mentors this week, to Lowell Elementary School Fourth Graders.  We are always eager to share our love of books, and the young business folk were delightful, interested and very hard workers.  Click to see the Belmont Shore Patch article with pictures, and some of our own action shots of the students are below.    We were there!  Long Beach celebrated Long Beach Reads One Book 2013, along with the author of The Art of Racing in the Rain,and we were your booksellers; there are pictures below. Yes, we have copies in stock signed by Garth Stein, and for the younger reader, we have Racing in the Rain, his version for those eight and older, both available at 10% off.  We also have signed copies of his other books, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Stories, Raven Stole the Moon, and Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices.   Literary Women: The Long Beach Festival of Authors was last Saturday. We still have books by participating authors Julie Otsuka, Amy Waldman, Dana Spiotta, Michelle Huneven, Megan Mayhew Bergman, Eleanor Brown, and Charlotte Rogan available at Apostrophe Books.  See our display in the store, where all the books are 10% off!    Books!  They're all discounted all the time at Apostrophe Books, your local independent bookstore.  We are happy to special order books, and we can usually get them in 48 hours.  Furthermore we have a fantastic selection of cards and wrapping extravagance available!   Happy reading!   Valerie, Lisa, Kelsey, Michelle, Sara, Jen and cheenie Apostrophe Books 562.438.7950 In This Issue Saturday March 23 Spring Storytime Booksigning April 5th with Mirabelle Intuitive Medium Geof Jowett returns Booked: Simple Supper for Library Lovers Children's Book Week May 13-19 Fourth Graders shared the retail experience Long Beach Reads One Book Festivities Mouse in the Bookstore May 18th About Us Love Apostrophe Books? Then LIKE us on Facebook! World Book Night is April 23 when regular folks hand out free books The Vernal Equinox was March 20th Spring has sprung! Workshops with Intuitive Medium  Geof Jowett  at Apostrophe Books on April 18 and 19 click for more info Children's Book Week May 13-19, 2013   Vote online now! Kids! Teachers! Librarians! Click here to vote for your favorite children's books   The Fourth Graders from Lowell were a big help at Apostrophe Books    "My soul has learned what it came to learn, and all the other things are just things. We can't have everything we want. Sometimes, we simply have to believe."  Garth Stein,  The Art of Racing in the Rain "My soul has learned what it came to learn, and all the other things are just things. We can't have everything we want. Sometimes, we simply have to believe."  Garth Stein,  The Art of Racing in the Rain Long Beach Reads One Book Festivities included Cake! Children's Book Week May 13-19 About Us Apostrophe Books  4712 East 2nd Street Long Beach, California 90803 Contact us: 562.438.7950 or apostrophebooks@verizon.net Apostrophe Books carries a diverse collection of new books, all discounted 10% to 60% off list price!  If we don't have the book you need, we will special order it for no additional charge.  We also sell an eclectic mix of unique cards, gifts, and gift wrap, all personally and carefully chosen.     We are a locally owned and operated bookstore, and we value warm, friendly service as much as you do.  You can be sure we'll do everything we can to see that you are completely satisfied with your visit!   Please spread the word!  Share our website with friends and family so they too can follow our author events and learn about in-store specials!   WWW.APOSTROPHEBOOKS.NET   THANK YOU!

Belmont Shore's Independent Bookstore!    4712 East 2nd Street,   Long Beach, California 90803       562.438.7950    apostrophebooks@verizon.net      Apostrophe Newsletter                 March 13, 2013 Hello Everyone! Spring has sprung and we are ready for Easter and Passover! The Vernal Equinox is on the 20th, so cruise on over to Apostrophe to see our display of hoppity books, a lovely Haggadah or two and a variety of Spring titles, all 10% off.   Literary Women: The Long Beach Festival of Authors is this Saturday, March 16th at The Long Beach Convention Center. Participating authors Dana Spiotta, Michelle Huneven, Megan Mayhew Bergman, Eleanor Brown, Charlotte Rogan, Julie Otsuka, and Amy Waldman titles are available at Apostrophe Books.  See our display in the store, where all the books are 10% off!  Events are happening all over town and we will be there! Click here to check out what's going on in Long Beach as Long Beach Reads One Book 2013, The Art of Racing in the Rain, continues. We are honored to be your bookseller at An Evening with Author Garth Stein on March 19th.  Tickets are only $30 for the main event!  Details below, and for those interested in a special dinner with the author on stage before the main event you can also find details.  Get the kids involved, too!  For the younger reader, we have Racing in the Rain, Stein's version for those 8 and older. We also have signed copies of Sheepby Valerie Hobbs available as an alternative for younger readers, and some other suggestions below, all available at 10% off!   Dogs keep on coming, when Mirabelle the Boston terrier and her devoted human Michael Muller join us at Apostrophe Books for a book signing on April 5th.  Mirabelle is the star of Muller's interesting series of board books that combine bold art with photographs.  Don't miss it!   World Book Night is April 23rd and we will be having a pick-up party for those book-givers who signed up with us, details soon to follow!  We are very excited about being part of this fantastic event in which members of the public will give out free books to non-readers or those with limited access to books.   Having an expert in kids' books in the house, I was inspired to write about our discussion of wordless picture books, below.  We also touched upon the value of children's books for older kids and even grown-ups.  Take a deep breath and read one of your old faves for a new look at your childhood!   Books!  They're all discounted all the time at Apostrophe Books, your local independent bookstore.  We are happy to special order books, and we can usually get them in 48 hours.  Furthermore we have a fantastic selection of cards and wrapping extravagance available!   Happy reading!   Valerie, Lisa, Kelsey, Michelle, Sara, Jen and cheenie Apostrophe Books 562.438.7950 In This Issue World Book Night is April 23rd Booksigning April 5th with Mirabelle Children's Book Week May 13-19 Long Beach Reads One Book 2013 Special Dinner with Garth Stein Younger Reader Titles for Racing in the Rain No Words Necessary Happy St. Patty's Day About Us Love Apostrophe Books? Then LIKE us on Facebook! World Book Night is April 23 when regular folks hand out free books "To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live."  Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain Children's Book Week May 13-19, 2013   Look for events at Apostrophe Books!  Voting for your favorite children's books begins March 19th Long Beach Reads One Book 2013 THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN March 12-19, 2013 "I know this much about racing in the rain.  I know it is about balance.  It is about anticipation and patience... [it is also] about the mind!  It is about owning one's body...It is about believing that you are not you; you are everything.  And everything is you."  Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain            You are cordially invited to a private meet and greet reception with Long Beach Reads One Book  Author GARTH STEIN Mr. Stein has graciously agreed to meet a few guests before the main event on March 19th at the Carpenter Center.  Guests will be treated to a private dinner reception on stage with the author who will answer your personal questions and, of course, sign your copy of The Art of Racing in the Rain.  Space is very limited. Contact the Foundation office to purchase your VIP tickets today! (562) 628-2441, info@lbplfoundation.org **General admission tickets for the main event are going fast, be sure to purchase your tickets today! Call (562) 985-7000 or click HERE. "People are always worried about what's happening next. They often find it difficult to stand still, to occupy the now without worrying about the future. People are generally not satisfied with what they have; they are very concerned with what they are going to have."   Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain "My soul has learned what it came to learn, and all the other things are just things. We can't have everything we want. Sometimes, we simply have to believe."  Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain   Long Beach Reads One Book 2013  Selections for younger readers     Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein Stein's "New York Times" bestselling adult novel "The Art of Racing in the Rain" is adapted for tweens--the story of an indelible friendship between a man, Denny, a racecar driver, his daughter Zoe, and his dog Enzo, the unforgettable narrator of the book.  Ages 8-12       Sheep, by Valerie Hobbs, a meaningful story about a Border Collie who loses his home and his quest to find a new one.  Signed copies still available at 10% off.  Ages 8-12                 A Dog's Life: the Autobiography of a Stray, by Ann M. Martin.  Squirrel is a dog born on a farm whose life takes several turns for the worse when she is forced to fend for herself, but she ultimately finds a happy home with responsible, loving humans.  Ages 8-11               Dear Mrs. LaRue:  Letters from Obedience School, by Mark Teague. This delightfully illustrated and comically written picture book is the story of Ike, sent to obedience school for his misbehavior, and told through his letters home.  Ages 6-9              Click for info on Citywide Long Beach Reads One Book 2013 Events!   "To be a champion, you must have no ego at all. You must not exist as a separate entity. You must give yourself over to the race. You are nothing if not for your team, your car, your shoes, your tires. Do not mistake confidence and self-awareness for egotism."   Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain     No Words Necessary Margaret Ordoubadian, now retired after having taught Children's Literature for over thirty years at Middle Tennessee State University, was visiting this coast recently. As we sat around talking about books, I handed her a few of my recent faves. Upon perusing Arthur Geisert's delightful pig tale and sequel to Ice, The Giant Seed, we ended up on the subject of wordless books, which I adore, and the value of picture books with older children. The Surprise,  by Sylvia van Ommen is another of my favorite sweet and fun wordless books for all ages, the story of a sheep who shears herself to make a sweater for a friend. Margaret didn't know it, but she mentioned Changes, Changes, a colorful classic by Pat Hutchins, A Boy, A Dog, and a Frog, by Mercer Mayer (and it's the first in a series), and I remembered Tuesday by David Wiesner (almost wordless), a book my son enjoyed. Wordless books really help teach a child to read as they follow a sequence of events creating a story visually, allowing the child to articulate the tale.                     Margaret said, "For a child to learn to read well the child needs to be able to recognize sequencing in character development and plot development, and wordless books achieve this for the pre-reader. Then when the child tells the story to the adult it helps the child's reasoning ability because the child is forming sentences that rely on cause and effect, one thing leading to another.  The adult can also prompt with why, allowing the child to probe the subject in an open-ended discussion."  Thus is visual literacy developed. Margaret mentioned Peter Spier's Noah's Ark as a particularly good book for just this purpose. "The child can follow the story and get many many details in a panel, and you see the ark from way above and from the inside.  It's very cinematic and a wonderful book for a child to "read" to her parent. There's an English translation of an old Dutch poem in the beginning that can be read to the child.  Then the child's imagination can carry him forward to tell the story with maybe a few promptings."  Wordless books are best used one on one (or maybe two) to achieve the full benefits of the adult/child interaction. In fact, even with older kids picture books can lead to powerful skill building. Chris Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick and Peter Sis' The Wall are two books that Margaret mentioned reading together with older children to stimulate their imaginations and to facilitate the development of visual literacy. Margaret's genre of choice is fairy tales, and she thinks Bettelheim's The Uses of Enchantment is a significant book for parents who want to explore the impact of stories on the healthy development of their children. The Call of Stories, by Robert Coles, is another resource for parents and adults working with books and children. She also recommends Sur La Lune Fairy Tale Pages, a website where these concepts are fully explored.    We have a lively section of wordless picture books in the store, and they are all at least 10% off!  Come over and spend a few minutes back in your childhood as you prepare to help the little ones in your life with reading.  -cheenie Happy St. Patrick's Day May your blessings outnumber The shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you Wherever you go. About Us Apostrophe Books  4712 East 2nd Street Long Beach, California 90803 Contact us: 562.438.7950 or apostrophebooks@verizon.net Apostrophe Books carries a diverse collection of new books, all discounted 10% to 60% off list price!  If we don't have the book you need, we will special order it for no additional charge.  We also sell an eclectic mix of unique cards, gifts, and gift wrap, all personally and carefully chosen.     We are a locally owned and operated bookstore, and we value warm, friendly service as much as you do.  You can be sure we'll do everything we can to see that you are completely satisfied with your visit!   Please spread the word!  Share our website with friends and family so they too can follow our author events and learn about in-store specials! WWW.APOSTROPHEBOOKS.NET   THANK YOU!