April Book buyers’ picks
buyers’ picks
Fiction
W W W.KIDSBOOKS.CO M
The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa
Diffenbaugh. Some people communicate
with paintings, some with poetry. For Victoria
Jones, flowers are her language of choice—red
roses mean love, while asters represent
patience. After being emancipated from the
foster-care system, the 18-year-old finds herself living in a public park where she plants a
small garden of her own. Soon a local florist
discovers the young woman’s talents and
offers her a job—all of which forces Victoria
to confront a painful secret from her past.
Happily, this book does not wilt, staying fresh
and engaging through the last page.
—Shana Lind, assistant buyer, books
Calico Joe, by John Grisham. Now that
spring has finally arrived, you can almost hear
the crack of the bat, smell the grass in the out-
field and taste the peanuts and Cracker Jack.
It’s baseball season. In 1973, Joe Castle is
plucked from a AA team to become the hot-
test player of the season. Then comes a game
that pits him against a hard-throwing and
hard-partying pitcher in a life-changing
game. The novel weaves complementary
themes of boyhood heroism, sacrifice and
paternal pride as much of the story’s sub-
stance is in the interactions off the diamond.
Nonfiction
Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook,
15th edition, from Meredith Books. When I
was a kid, the Better Homes and Garden
Cookbook was my mom’s go-to source for
everything from main dishes to desserts, and
it was the first real cookbook I bought. This
much-loved classic is comb-bound, so that it
lies flat while you’re cooking. It features more
than 1,400 recipes, more than 1,000 photos,
three new chapters and special features cover-
ing how to tailor recipes, make flavored but-
ters and much more.
Juvenile
Giant Floor Mats, from Kidsbooks. These
search-and-learn mats, measuring 4 feet by 3
feet, are great for entertaining young children.
Trust me, I’m the father of four. Themes
include Around the Town, ABC and Animal
Antics. They are designed to improve visual,
motor and perception skills as well as pro-
mote social interaction as the family works
together to find images. Each durable vinyl
mat includes three write-and-wipe markers.
—Josh Lilly, inventory control specialist, books
FRANCE FREEMAN
TM
Unless otherwise stated, all trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland. 31717
Delish and only 120 calories You’ll believe it when you taste it! Find it in the CANDY AISLE.
ITEM #594501
Available in select locations
WAREHOUSE ONLY | AVAILABLE EARLY APRIL
APRIL 2012 ;e Costco Connection 33
