BY SUZANNE LUCEY
The nights are getting longer, the temperatures are
cooling down, and the promise of a new season is
upon us. What’s better than fi nding a spot on the
couch, snuggled up with a soft blanket, sipping a
cup of tea or coff ee (or maybe a glass of wine) while
you escape this world for a while within the pages of a good book?
Did you know that you can reduce your stress by 68% by simply
reading a book for 10 minutes? So if you’re feeling a tad anxious
with all that’s going on these days – not to mention the busyness
that looms with the upcoming holiday season – let me help you
fi nd the perfect book for a perfectly relaxing autumn aft ernoon of
couch sitting, blanket snuggling, tea sipping, and yes, reading.
BABIES, TODDLERS, AND NEW READERS
Indestrutcibles
As described on their website, “Indestructibles are books built for
the way babies ‘read’: with their hands and mouths. Chew-proof,
rip-proof, and drop-proof, they’re printed on a unique 100% nontoxic,
paper-like material that holds up to anything babies can
throw at them – gumming, spilling, dragging across the fl oor. And
if they get dirty, just wash them off .” Th ese “books” are the perfect
gift for any baby parent this holiday season.
My Very First Cookbook: Joyful Recipes to Make Together!
by Danielle Kartes
(Available October 13)
Family time in the kitchen – what better way to make memories,
while learning math, and helping understand what goes into food?
Th e recipes found throughout My Very First Cookbook are unique,
delicious, and contain ingredients that are easy to work with and
you already have in your home.
No Reading Allowed: Th e WORST Read-Aloud Book Ever
by Raj Haldar, Chris Carpenter (Illustrated by Bryce Gladfelter)
Th e English language is hard – and this book pokes fun at it while
teaching homonyms and synonyms, and the crazy rules we should
know. But it’s done in such a fun way that your young reader will
want to read it again and again. Honestly, I’m not sure who will
enjoy it more – kids or adults!
GOOD READS
CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia
Local author Kwame Mbalia spent much of last year on the New
York Times bestseller list, and he is back at it once again with the
second book in his trilogy. Th is next installment, presented by
Rick Riordan, will not disappoint fans with its puns, fast-paced
story line, and fascinating folklore. Parents will love that their kids
are reading it, and those kids will be lost in another world as they
turn each and every page.
Lightbringer by Claire Legrand
Th e fi nal book in the Empirium Trilogy, this just might be the best
book of them all. You will fi nd yourself laughing, crying, and your
heart racing as you slowly make your way to the end of this incredible
journey, knowing that you don’t want to close the world in
which you are in.
If you’re looking for even more good reads for the kids in your life
this fall, I also recommend:
– Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan: Th e breathtaking, action-packed
fi nale of the #1 bestselling Trials of Apollo series.
– Ickabog by J.K. Rowling (Available November): A warm, fast-
paced, funny fairy tale of a fearsome monster, thrilling adven-
ture, and hope against all odds.
– Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Deep End by Jeff Kinney: In book 15
of the wildly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Greg Heffl ey
and his family hit the road for an adventure of a lifetime … but
things take an unexpected turn.
– Th e Offi ce: A Day in the Life of Dunder Miffl in Elementary by
Robb Pearlman: Discover “Th e Offi ce reboot fans never knew
they needed” with this kid-friendly adaptation of everyone’s
favorite workplace comedy (Entertainment Weekly).
ADULTS
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
As described on Grisham’s website, “Jake Brigance is back! Th e hero
of A Time to Kill, one of the most popular novels of our time, returns
in a courtroom drama that showcases #1 New York Times bestselling
author John Grisham at the height of his storytelling powers.”
28 CIRCA Magazine | October • November • December 2020 | www.circamagazine.com
/www.circamagazine.com