October
buyers’ picks
Book buyers’ picks

FRANCE FREEMAN

Nonfiction

Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations, by the editors of Martha Stewart Living. Somewhere there are old photos of my family’s kitchen table, covered in construction paper, sequins, crayons and glue. My family and I are engrossed in making party hats for the birthday festivities we would have later that day. We didn’t have this book then, but if we had, perhaps we’d have made matching napkin rings, glitter-filled balloons, sparkly swizzle sticks and so much more!

—Jonna Erickson, assistant buyer, books

Seriously … I’m Kidding, by Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres’ résumé is nothing shy of impressive. In addition to hosting The Ellen DeGeneres Show—now in its eighth season—she’s also hosted the Emmys and the Academy Awards and been a judge on American Idol. Her acting career includes her own prime-time sitcom and giving a voice to the lovable but forgetful fish Dory in Finding Nemo. In this book Degeneres steps back to her roots: stand-up comedy. Readers get an unadulterated look at her laugh-out-loud (and never meanspirited) sense of humor as she discusses her experiences from the last few years. (October 4)

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—Jeffrey Purtell inventory control specialist, books

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, by
Larry Levin. I’ve long believed that animals
and would-be pet owners find each other at
the right time. Something tells me Oogy,
Levin, his wife and adopted sons would agree.
When the Levin family took their terminally
ill cat to the vet in 2002, they met “the ugliest
dog they had ever seen.” Oogy, who was miss-
ing an ear and had half his face covered in
scar tissue, ran up to the family, showered
them with kisses and captured their hearts.
The poor pup had been used as bait for fight-
ing dogs and then abandoned to die. This
heartwarming and inspirational story will put
a smile on your face—and a wag in your tail.
(October 12)

Juvenile

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas, by Jane O’Connor. Since Fancy Nancy first appeared in 2005, she has been encouraging young girls to live life at their fanciest. In this book Nancy focuses her attention on decorating the Christmas tree, using all of her ribbons, glitter and spunk to make this a Christmas to remember. Nancy never lets small mishaps get in her way and reminds readers that you can never have too much tinsel. (Early October)