Alphabet Soup Children's Books

Old Book, New Book -- Start a Holiday Tradition!

2011-11-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

A dear friend who has been an inspiration to me for more than 20 years shared this wonderful new tradition that she started for her son. We all have old favorite, nearly forgotten, books that have been sitting on the shelf, set aside unread as we collect new favorites.

Recycle a selection of your child's old books by wrapping up a mix of 24 old favorites with a sprinkling of new ones to be unwrapped, one each night of December, like an Advent calendar with books. The excitement of choosing which book to unwrap and the anticipation of a new story -- or rediscovery of an old favorite -- will add to the magic of the season.

Even better, be creative with the wrapping, using as many different wraps as possible. At first the pile will seem endless, and a "new" story each night will be a timeless, priceless gift to remember and share again and again throughout the coming year.

Alphabet Soup is Six Years Old!

2010-12-21T19:04:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of our loyal customers as Alphabet Soup celebrates six years!

We couldn't have done it without you. Some of our best customers have been coming here for most of their life (and some for all of their life!), and we are especially grateful to them.

Be sure to stop by soon, sign up for our newsletter, or check back with the blog to keep up with the special events and new arrivals we are planning for 2011.

In the meantime, check out our holiday store hours and upcoming sales:

Holiday Store Hours:

December 22nd 5 - 9

December 23rd 10 - 8

December 24th 10 - 6

December 25th CLOSED

December 26th 1 - 5

December 30th 10 - 8

December 31st 10 - 6

January 1st CLOSED

January 2nd 10 - 8 (regular store hours)

ALL Christmas and Hannukah books are 25 % off Dec 26, Dec 30, and Dec 31st.

And, as a special thank you to our friends, mention this "anniversary posting" and receive 20% off of your purchase Dec. 26th, Dec. 30th, and Dec .31st.

Have a warm and wonderful holiday and happy healthy new year!

Best wishes from,

Your friends at Alphabet Soup

Janet, Abbey, Rhea, Anne, & Dante

Alphabet Soup Turns Five Years Old!

2009-11-23T21:46:00.000-08:00

Join our celebrations!

Friday, Nov. 27th ONLY 20% off all new books & framed pictures

Saturday, Nov. 28th @ 10:30 LIVE music with Board of Education

Saturday, Nov. 28th @ 11:30 author reading with Kevin Emerson

Saturday, Dec. 5th @ 1:30 p.m. LIVE music with Caspar Babypants

See below for details!

Stop by for refreshments & fun with your friends at Alphabet Soup as we celebrate five years in Wallingford.

Be sure to sign up for our raffles and win great prizes -- just in time for the holidays.

[Raffle One]
Put your name in the hat to win a Seattle Music Pack: a bundle of CDs from our favorite Seattle Bands!

Central Services presents...Board of Education
Caspar Babypants, "More, Please!"
The Not Its, "We are the Not Its!"
Recess Monkey, "Field Trip"

[Raffle Two]
Give us your list of ten favorite children's books. A randomly picked entry will win a $50 gift certificate -- just in time for the holidays!

[Raffle Three]
Guess how many m&ms are in the cookie jar (there are a lot) to win a $50 gift certificate.

All winners will be notified on Sunday, December 6th.

Central Services Presents....The Board of Education! November 28th @ 10:30

2009-11-23T21:31:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite Seattle bands,

The Board of Education,

will perform songs from their release

"Central Services Presents...The Board of Education!"

....and other old favorites.

Saturday, November 28th @ 10:30 a.m.

more on the band (from their website)...

"The Board of Education sprang to life in 2007 as a side project of Seattle band Central Services. While the band was gaining notoriety in the indie music scene (a stint in rotation at CMJ station-of-the-year KEXP in Seattle, a month-long stay on CMJ’s national charts, a spot in Three Imaginary Girls Top Northwest Releases, and a performance at Bumbershoot), frontman Kevin Emerson, a former elementary school science teacher turned children’s novelist, had been toying around with a few songs written for kids.

Kevin showed the kids’ songs to the band. With song topics like a lonely tomato, the dangers of commas and the wonders of tin foil, it was immediately obvious to everyone how refreshing it would be to play music that was so original, so smart, and so much pure fun. They decided to do a couple shows as the BoE and the response was so positive that well… they went and made a whole record!

The press response has been great, with favorable reviews in the Seattle Times, the PI, Seattle Weekly, Three Imaginery Girls, MSN.com, and NPR’s All Things Considered. The Board of Education has performance booked all over the Northwest this summer, including Folklife, Kidsfest and Bumbershoot."

Kevin Emerson, Author of the "Oliver Nocturne" Series

2009-11-23T21:15:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 28th, @ 11:30, local author and Board of Education band member Kevin Emerson will read from his Oliver Nocturne series. Suspenseful adventure for tween readers.

"Though he experiences typical middle school troubles—being bullied, fighting with his older brother Bane, thinking his parents don't understand him, and feeling like a misfit—Oliver is a vampire. Like others his age, he still consumes only animal blood, but Bane, who has recently bonded with his otherworldly demon to become an adult vampire, now enjoys human blood. Despite the ironclad prohibition against associating with mortals, Oliver is attracted to the daylight world and fascinated by Emalie, a human girl who has been exploring the ruins above his family's crypt home. He soon learns that she suspects the existence of vampires and intends to write an exposé—something the highly secretive undead want to avoid. Oliver agrees to help her, even guiding Emalie and her cousin into the hidden subsurface city to consult Dead Désirée, the weird keeper of secrets and powers that even vampires fear. He soon realizes that there is something mysterious about his background, and that danger threatens not only his human friends, but also himself. This volume devotes considerable space to background exposition about the vampire meta-world. While the pacing is slow in spots, the details help to fully realize the idea of parallel human and undead worlds, and the cliff-hanger ending promises more excitement." -- From School Library Journal review of Book One, The Vampire's Photograph.

Caspar Babypants LIVE at the Soup December 5th @ 1:30

2009-11-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

Come dance and sing with us when Caspar Babypants returns to the Soup on Saturday, December 5th at 1:30 p.m.

The second album "More Please" is now available with more sunshiney and happy-time tunes!

SIMPLE GOOD TIME SING ALONG MUSIC FOR BABIES BRAINS AND PARENTS EARS!

When you check out Caspar's website, be sure to click on "stories" for the down-low on your favorite Babypants tunes.

See you there!

The Not-Its Rock and Read at the Soup

2009-10-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to dance to five-piece local band The Not-Its a coupla Saturdays ago.

The music was awesome, the energy was high, and the kids were working up a sweat. In between songs, a lucky audience member got to pick the next tune by lottery. Before starting the song, kids had a breather, and the sixth band member read a portion of a story from a ginormous book especially written for Alphabet Soup and this very special concert day.

Very warm thanks to all the members of The Not-Its for putting on such a great show!

Come See the Not-Its Live This Saturday!

2009-09-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

Stop by Saturday at 11 a.m. for a Not-Its in-store live, free performance!

Music, refreshments, and fun!

Recess Monkey Rocks the Soup!

2009-09-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Recess Monkey, who kicked off the hottest weekend of the year back in August. There was standing-room-only-outside-on-the-sidewalk as the band played a special Unplugged set for their dancing fans.

And special thanks also to Trophy Cupcakes, who provided treats.

Penguins are on the March!

2009-07-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

You may have already noticed if you've strolled through Wallingford recently. We have our very own Penguin! Well, it's just a guest for now. Our penguin's name is "Ice Cube" and it was decorated by students at Lake Union Preschool.

Woodland Park Zoo has a new penguin exhibit, and to celebrate they've sent five-dozen penguin statues marching through Wallingford, Ballard, Fremont, and Greenwood-Phinney.

There are two auctions open to the public. Both are during the Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk -- ony on August 14th at the Greenwood Collective; the other on September 11 at the Piper Village Grand Opening.

Check out the website for the full story. Study the map and plan your own penguin tour!

The Blueberry Pie Elf

2009-05-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

The latest book to be brought back from the rare and collectible bookshelves by Purple House Press is Jane Thayer's "The Blueberry Pie Elf." Originally published in 1959, the copyright was renewed in 1987, but the book has been difficult to find until being republished this year.

Jane Thayer was the pen name of Catherine Woolley. She wrote more than 80 books for children. Her first book, "I Like Trains," was published in 1944, and her last children's book was released in 1989. Seymour Fleishman's charming illustrations are perfect for this wonderful story about how an elf who loves pie -- but, take note -- only BLUEBERRY PIE -- does all he can think of when the cherry and apple pies start coming. Fleishman, who turned 90 last year, illustrated more than 50 books for children between 1953 and 1989. Fleishman and Woolley also collaborated on the "Gus the Friendly Ghost" series.

Caspar Babypants Rocks the Soup!

2009-05-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to see Caspar Babypants and his accompaniest on percussion, Fred Babyshirt! Caspar played songs from his debut, "Here I am" and some new tunes that'll be appearing on his next release, already in the planning stages. All the songs were crowd pleasers, but two favorites were "Fuzzy Wuzzy" with new verses about various animal friends, and a very nice version of PUSA's "Kitty," which had the grown-ups and kids rocking. Also worth note was "Little Broken Truck" for which Caspar (who is really Chris Ballew) was joined by his daughter Josie & everyone in the audience joined in. A rockin', rollin' time was had by all. Thanks, Caspar!
If you missed out, it's not too late to check out the music & schedule for future shows. "Here I Am" is also available for $10 at Alphabet Soup Children's Books.

Caspar Babypants LIVE at Alphabet Soup Saturday May 16th at 1:00 p.m.!

2009-05-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America) will be performing LIVE at Alphabet Soup on May 16th at 1:00 p.m. Caspar will be singing catchy tunes from his debut release, Here I Am! Fun for everyone. See you there!

After Hours at the Soup -- May 6th -- Celebrating Dr. Suess!

2009-04-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Mark you calendars for After Hours at the Soup -- Wednesday, May 6th from 6-9!

We'll be celebrating Dr. Suess -- study up for a fun and tricky trivia competition.

Enjoy refreshments, including beer & wine for the grown-ups.

Costumes encouraged! Contests to win Dr. Suess books!

The event coincides with First Wednesday, the Wallingford Art Walk, which kicks off in May.

So, who was Dr. Suess?

He was born Theodor Seuss Geisel in 1904 and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was the son of a brewmaster, who managed to prosper even through Prohibition. An early childhood memory is of his mother chanting rhymes, rather than standard lullabies, to soothe him to sleep. "Ted" as he was known by family and friends, attended Dartmouth College and served as editor-in-chief of the humor magazine until he got demoted after he and his friends were caught throwing a drinking party, against school policy as well as Prohibition! He continued as a contributing writer, and this was where he first signed his work Seuss.
After travelling through Europe, he married his first wife, Helen Palmer, who became a children's book author and editor (several of her books were Dr. Seuss book club selections).

He worked in advertising for 15 years and during World War II, too old for the draft, worked with Frank Capra's Signal Corps in the U.S. Army making training films and learning the art of animation. Although now perhaps best known for his tongue-twisting and nonsensical rhymes, he got his first big break into children's books with illustrations for a humorous series published by Which isn't surprising when you consider that three of his books (McElligot's Pool, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, and If I Ran the Zoo) won Caldecott Honors. That was a long way off, however -- his first book, And to Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street, was rejected 27 times before finally being published.

Dr. Seuss passed away on September 24, 1991. By then, he had published 44 children's books, and his work had been translated into 15 different languages.

Dr. Seuss Book List -- How many of these books have you read?

List includes books written under Dr. Seuss & Theo Le Seig. Illustrators are not listed, and are different for each book.

__ And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street (1937)
__ The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins (1938)
__ The King's Stilts (1939)
__ The Seven Lady Godivas (1940)
__ Horton Hatches the Egg (1940)
__ McElligot's Pool (Caldecott Honor Book, 1947)
__ Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose (1948)

__ Bartholomew and the Oobleck (Caldecott Honor Book, 1949)
__ If I Ran the Zoo (Caldecott Honor Book, 1950)

__ Scrambled Eggs Super! (1953)
__ Horton Hears a Who! (1954)
__ On Beyond Zebra! (1955)

__ If I Ran the Circus (1956)
__ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957
__ The Cat in the Hat (1957)

__ The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (1958)

__ Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories (1958)

__ Happy Birthday to You! (1959)
__ Green Eggs and Ham (1960)

__ Ten Apples Up on Top! ( 1961)
__ One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)

__ The Sneetches and Other Stories (1961)

__ Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book (1962)

__ Dr. Seuss's ABC (1963)
__ Hop on Pop (1963)

__ Fox in Socks (1965)
__ I Wish That I Had Duck Feet (1965)

__ I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew (1965)
__ Come Over to My House (1966)
__ The Cat in the Hat Song Book (1967)

__ The Foot Book (1968)
__ The Eye Book (1968)
__ I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories (1969)
__ My Book about ME (Illustrated by Roy McKie, 1970)
__ I Can Draw It Myself (1970)
__ Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?: Dr. Seuss's Book of
__ Wonderful Noises! (1970)
__ The Lorax (1971)
__ I Can Write (1971)

__ Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! (1972)

__ In a People House (1972)
__ Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? (1973)
__ The Shape of Me and Other Stuff (1973)

__ There's a Wocket in My Pocket! (1974)
__ The Many Mice of Mr. Brice (1974)
__ Wacky Wednesday (1974)
__ Great Day for Up! (Illustrated by Quentin Blake, 1974)
__ Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! (1975)
__ Because a Little Bug Went Kachoo (1975)
__ Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? (1975)
__ The Cat's Quizzer (1976)
__ Hooper Humperdink...? Not Him!(1976)
__ Please Try to Remember the First of Octember! (1976)
__ I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! (1978)
__ Oh Say Can You Say? (1979)
__ Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Maybe You Should Be a Vet!(1981)
__ Hunches in Bunches (1982)

__ The Butter Battle Book (1984)
__ You're Only Old Once! : A Book for Obsolete Childre(1986)
__ I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today! (1987)
__ The Tooth Book (1989)

__ Oh, the Places You'll Go! (1990)

__ Daisy-Head Mayzie (Posthumous, 1995)

__ My Many colored Days (Posthumous, 1996)

__ Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! (Posthumous, from notes, with Jack Prelutsky & Lane Smith, 1998)
__ Gerald McBoing-Boing (Posthumous, based on story & film, 2000)

Trade in Your Books for Store Credit!

2009-04-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

It's Spring Cleaning time again! If you have any children's books you've sort of outgrown, bring them in for a trade! We'll give you credit for 50% of what we would sell the book for. So, if you have a book we'd sell for $5, your store credit would be $2.50. Please bring the books in on a Saturday -- no appointment necessary. If you need to make other arrangements please call Janet at 547-4555.

Remember: we won't sell former library books or books that have any tears, exccessive staining, or scribble marks (a written name or gift inscription is usually okay....) We only take children's books, no grown up books, please. E-mail or call if you have any questions!

Sing, Sing a Song...

2009-04-18T18:05:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite classes at school was music. Everyone could participate. I don't remember there being any particular hierarchy who was smarter than whom, which group got finished first, and all that -- we just sang. Sometimes we played instruments. I was quite the triangle afficianado, a career I sort of regret not pursuing.

In general, I love our vintage book collection. But in particular, I love the music books that were used as textbooks in grammar schools. I haven't yet found the one they used at my school -- back in that small quaint town in New Jersey, so many years ago I've lost count -- but flipping through the ones I have found still brings back memories of music class. From holiday celebrations; traditional songs; songs in French (very simple, mind you); to learning essentials such as how to tell time, the importance of sharing, manners, and other life lessons, there seemed to be a song for every occasion.

Thank you, Wizard of Oz Fans!

2009-04-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for After Hours at the Soup, Celebrating the Wizard of Oz series. And congratulations to the winners of the raffle -- Anna; and to the guessing game -- Brian; and to everyone who won a prize in the trivia contest! We had a lively game. There were wonderful costumes -- so many Dorothys!

Be sure to join us on May 6th from 6 - 9, for our After Hours at the Soup, Celebrating Dr. Seuss!

More on Syd Hoff...

2009-03-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

Soon after my post on the first book I ever read, Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff, I received this e-mail from Carol Edmonston, Syd Hoff's niece:

"I thought you might like to know I have created the "official website" dedicated to preserving and honoring the legacy of my late uncle, Syd Hoff, one of the most beloved children's authors and cartoonists. www.SydHoff.org is filled with articles, photos, letters, book list and much more. The site is still being created so do check back from time to time. Let me know if you ever find a copy of "Muscles and Brains" (by Syd). That was one of my favorite books to read as a kid. Unfortunately, its long out of print.

Warmly,

Carol Edmonston

PO Box 5023

Fullerton, CA 92838 USA

(714) 870-5695 ph/fax"

I didn't realize Hoff had written so many books! The only ones I remember from my childhood are Danny & the Dinosaur and Sammy the Seal; more recently I've read many more of them, and they are all delightful! There's a full bibliography on the website -- and some are out of print. Many are still being published as part of the "I Can Read" series.

What was the First Book You Ever Read?

2009-03-12T19:38:00.001-07:00

The first book I remember reading, and thinking to myself, "hey, I am reading!" was Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff. I even remember where I was -- in our sun-filled playroom, sitting in my rocking chair. I was 4 -- the first "generation" of kids to watch Sesame Street and I'm certain that was the main reason I was the only kid in my kindergarten class who could read! The other main reason was my mother, who had my sister and I enrolled in every book club -- the I Can Read Club, the Dr. Seuss Beginning Books Book Club, the Parents' Magazine Press Book Club -- and we could always choose books from the Scholastic catalog.

Danny and the Dinosaur, still in print, was part of the I Can Read Book Club. 40 years later, "I Can Read" is still going strong, still published in hard cover and paperback, and divided into "Levels" depending on a child's reading ability. Many publishers have similar "learning to read" series, modeled on I Can Read.

What is the first book you remember reading on your own?

Tell us Your Favorite Children's Books!

2009-03-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who stopped by during our Open House on Wednesday! And congratulations to Anna Perrone, winner of the Guessing Game Contest -- there were 219 buttons in the jar, hers was the closest guess with 202!

We mixed and mingled and shared ideas about our favorite children's books. Here are the lists submitted by folks who stopped by the Open House. Feel free to add your own 10 favorites! These are by no means "top tens" -- we all agreed it would be nearly impossible to really put them in any sort of order, but obviously there are some we love more than others.

***************************************************

1. The Witches
2. The Twits
3. My Side of the Mountain
4. Little House on the Prairie (all of them!)
5. The Hatchet
6. Dogsong
7. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
8. Charlie & the Great Glass Elevator
9. Amelia Bedelia
10. “Cartooning” -- an illustration book by someone named Bill something…can’t remember

*************************************************************
1. Old Hat New Hat
2. Charlotte’s Web
3. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
4. Pop Up Moby Dick
5. Where the Wild Things Are
6. Tuesday
7. Amelia Bedelia
8. Caps for Sale
9. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Day
10. Love You Forever
*******************************************************************
1. Chicken’s Aren’t the Only Ones
2. Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing
3. The Celery Stalks at Midnight
4. Do Something Day
5. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. Through the Looking Glass
7. Freckle Juice
8. Where the Sidewalk Ends
9. A Light in the Attic
10. Lyle Lyle Crocodile

**********************************************************
1. Frances Books by Russell and Lillian Hoban
2. Very Hungry Caterpillar
3. The Swamp Angel
4. Ramona Books
5. Clifford Books
6. The Little Fur Family
7. Pippi Longstocking
8. The Wrinkle in Time series
9. Stuart Little
10. Charlotte’s Web

Open House March 4th 6 - 9 p.m.

2009-03-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

Join us on Wednesday evening -- we'll be open 6 - 9 as part of the Wallingford Art Walk, the first Wednesday of every month!

Enjoy refreshments, enter a raffle, and save 25% on everything in the store!

Shout About Us!

2009-02-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

You know how much you love Alphabet Soup – tell the world about it! Add your review to one of the following sites, and let us know if you see any others out there!

Judy’s Book

Yahoo
Go City Kids
Yelp

Publisher Spotlight: Purple House Press

2009-02-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

I discovered Purple House Press after a friend asked me about one of her childhood favorites, “Miss Twiggley’s Tree.” I had never heard of it. I figured she hadn’t tried an online search, so I looked it up. I was surprised to see that one of the listings had a publication date of 2002. I checked the publisher, and it was Purple House Press. I looked up their website, and was amazed to re-discover one of my own childhood favorites, “Miss Suzy” by Miriam Young! I immediately ordered one and started carrying the entire line of Purple House Press books. When I got my copy of “Miss Suzy,” reading it again was like breathing in familiar scents that brought me right back to my favorite childhood reading nook. It was one of the many books that touched my soul.

For Jill Morgan, who started Purple House Press with her husband Ray Sanders in 2000, it was “Mr. Pine’s Purple House.” She specialized in finding rare used children’s books, and when prices of her beloved childhood favorite, “Mr. Pine’s Purple House” rose to $300, she decided it was time to start republishing the book so that its message would not be lost to future generations.

Nowadays, the publishing house, based in Cynthiana, Kentucky, publishes more than 32 books, all brought back from the obscurity of being out-of-print, hard-to-find, and very expensive. The titles include classic picture books for young readers, well-loved by all ages, and literature for young adults. See if they have republished one of your favorites!

Purple House Press Book List:

Ann Likes Red

Another Celebrated Dancing Bear

The Big Chunk of Ice

The Big Kerplop!

Big Susan

The Blueberry Pie Elf

The Brothers Lionheart

David and the Phoenix

The Duchess Bakes a Cake
The Finest Horse in Town
The Flying Hockey Stick
The Mad Scientists' Club
The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald
Mio, My Son
Miss Suzy
Miss Twiggley's Tree
Mr. Bear Squash-You-All-Flat
Mr. Pine's Mixed Up Signs
Mr. Pine's Purple House
Mrs. Pine Takes a Trip
The New Adventures of the Mad Scientists Club
Night of the Moonjellies
A Pair of Red Clogs
Pickle Chiffon Pie
The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek
The Space Child's Mother Goose
The Surprise Doll
TAL, His Marvelous Adventures with Noom-Zor-Noom
Three Little Horses
Time at the Top
A Tree for Peter
Twig
The Winter of Enchantment

Vintage Collection Selection: The Crows of Pearblossom

2009-02-01T14:47:00.000-08:00

A wonderful story, illustrated by Barbara Cooney, this is the only children's book written by Aldous Huxley, the famous English novelist, essayist and critic. He wrote it for his niece, Olivia de Haulleville, during the Christmas holiday of 1944. Olivia spent long periods of time with him and his wife Maria in their desert home in Llano in Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, California. They took walks together, and Aldous and Maria would delight in telling stories to the little five-year-old girl. When Olivia and her family moved to Pearblossom, four miles from Llano, the Huxleys spent Christmas with the family and continued to make excursions into the desert they loved. Olivia's and her brother Siggy's neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Yost, are featured in the story, which was almost lost forever! A fire destroyed the Huxley home a few years later. Huxley's death in 1963 also left the story nearly in oblivion for many years. Fortunately the Yosts had kept a copy of the story, after the original manuscript had been returned to Aldous with the request that he illustrate it. The book was finally published in 1967 by Random House, and is now out of print.

Blog Buzz

2009-01-23T18:20:00.001-08:00

What fun is having a blog if you're not also checking out other blogs? I found Jeremy's Vanishing New York and check it out several times a week. I grew up in New Jersey so Manhattan was my first, and has remained my main, impression of a City and What It Should Be. For me, most others (besides maybe London) pale in comparison. NYC is near and dear to my heart in so many ways and for so many reasons. The ties are strong. This blog, in addition to being a sad paean to my first Real City, also echoes a theme I've watched unfold in so many cities where I've lived...the gentrification and homogenization that obliterates the charm and character of neighborhoods, and ultimately entire cities. I think someone could do a blog about Vanishing Seattle. Many places I've known have already disappeared in just the nearly 6 years I've lived here; my friends who were born and grew up in the area really have something to mourn. There's something else about the blog, something else I think about when I surf through its photographs and the heartfelt postings. I like to think that Alphabet Soup will be a place that people look back upon fondly. I know families have been shopping here since we opened 4 years ago, and some of our younger friends have been coming here their entire life! And I hope they may continue to for years to come, and that someday the Soup earns its spot among places that are reasons people love Seattle.

Rushton Howard & My Life as a Super Hero (well, almost)

2009-01-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday local author, illustrator and actor Rushton Howard stopped by (a mutual friend made the connection) to introduce himself, drop off some books, and talk about setting up some future readings. Apparently, he has quite an enthusiastic middle school following. After talking to him for about 5 minutes, I knew why! I have to admit, I’m not one for super heroes, but Rushton’s easygoing manner and wonderful sense of humor piqued my interest in his books.

Half an hour later, I had stacks of signed copies of "Sebastian Reckless” and “The Fearless Force” displayed in the front of the store and plans for an event or two (to be announced – watch this space!) in the near future.

I started on “Sebastian Reckless” as soon as I got home, and got through more than half of it by bedtime. Sebastian is a 10-year-old world-renowned troubleshooter/madman/genius who has a letter from the President excusing him from school for the rest of his life so long as he makes himself available to “save civilization whenever a crisis was beyond the abilities of the armies and navies of the world.” The boy is kept mighty busy. And why not? Inventor, linguist, musician, gourmet chef, time traveler – this kid doesn’t need to go to school! He owns a supersonic airplane, a submarine, a jungle tracker, a tank that tunnels through solid rock, and who knows what else (I’m only halfway through the book!) to help in his fight against evil.

Rushton’s writing is unpretentious, humorous, passionate, and real. Reading about Sebastian (and Tessa, who seeks his help to not only save her life but to save the world from unspeakable evil) made me remember what being 10 was about. Not that I had super powers at age 10, but, I actually was pretty sophisticated. Although I definitely did not have super hero adventures in 5th grade, if I had met a boy like Sebastian, it would have made sense. I suspect quite a few people actually knew a kid like Sebastian in 5th grade.

So who’s this book for, anyway? I say, everyone! Everyone in middle school and anyone, in fact, who has ever been 10.

Soup's New Hours!

2009-01-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

We'll be open fewer days this winter, but that just means the time we spend together will be more meaningful!

Our new hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10-8, and closed the rest of the week.

Hope to see you soon!

-- Janet

New Year's Resolution

2009-01-01T18:59:00.000-08:00

For me, New Year's is the best thing about winter. I love when January 1st rolls around. Not only are we already one week or so into the nights getting shorter and the days getting longer, the 1st of January sings out "fresh start." I really do feel like it's a clean slate. I rarely make a mistake in writing down the old year when filling out the date on something. I am just that excited about a new year being here. And I love making fresh promises to myself.

This year, my new year's resolution is to read all of the Oz books. What? You didn't know there was more than one? Well, until I opened a children's book store, I didn't know that either! But L. Frank Baum, in addition to a number of other books he wrote for children, wrote a total of 15 Oz books. I suppose they should be read in order, but I'm just going to read each title as I acquire it. In my long checkered reading past, I've only read two, and that was a couple of years ago...The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Ozma of Oz. The latter was a bit strange, I remember reading a couple of chapters before going to sleep and then having very odd dreams. I'll read it again this year and find out if the same thing happens again... In any case, I'm going to start with my copy of "The Scarecrow of Oz," first published in 1915. Here's the entire list of Oz books, so you can follow along.

The list is in the order of publication ("The Scarecrow of Oz" is number 9).

The World of Oz

How many of these have you read?

__ Wonderful Wizard of Oz

__ Marvelous Land of Oz

__ Ozma of Oz

__ Dorothy & the Wizard of Oz

__ The Road to Oz

__ The Emerald City of Oz

__ Patchwork Girl of Oz

__ Tik-Tok of Oz

__ The Scarecrow of Oz

__ Rinkitink in Oz

__ Lost Princess of Oz

__ The Tin Woodman of Oz

__ The Magic of Oz

__ Glinda of Oz

__ Little Wizard Stories of Oz

Fun-Time Reading: Beverly Cleary!

2008-12-22T12:48:00.000-08:00

Fun-time Reading: Beverly Cleary

Henry Huggins, Ms. Cleary's first book, was published in 1950, but it's still as much fun now as it was then. Read 'em all! Check out her website for more info on Ms. Cleary's fascinating life, a neighborhood map, and a scoop on all the characters! http://www.beverlycleary.com/beverlycleary/index.html

Have you read all of these?

__ Henry Huggins (1950)

__ Henry & Beezus (1952)

__ Henry and Ribsy (1954)

__ Henry and the Paper Route (1957)

__ Henry and the Clubhouse (1962)

__ Ribsy (1964)

__ Beezus and Ramona (1955)

__ Ramona the Pest (1968)

__ Ramona the Brave (1975)

__ Ramona and her Father (1977)

__ Ramona and her Mother (1979)

__ Ramona Quimby, Age 8

__ Ramona Forever (1984)

__ Ramona's World (1999)

__ The Mouse & the Motorcycle (1965)

__ Runaway Ralph (1970)

__ Ralph S. Mouse (1982)

__ Ellen Tibbits (1951)

__ Otis Spotford (1953)

__ Fifteen (1956)

__ The Luckiest Girl (1958)

__ Jean and Johnny (1959)

__ Emily's Runaway Imagination (1961)

__ Sister of the Bride (1963)

__ Mitch and Amy (1967)

__ Socks (1973)

__ Dear Mr. Henshaw (1983)

__ Muggie Maggie (1990)

__ Strider (1991)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

2008-11-29T19:50:00.000-08:00

Winner of the 1972 Newbery Medal, this wonderful fantasy by Robert O'Brien has stood the test of time and is a great read. Mrs. Frisby is a widowed mouse with four small children. The family must move to their summer quarters immediately or face almost certain death. But Mrs. Frisby's youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. Recommended for ages 8 - 12.

Double Your Reading Bee Club Dollars!

2008-11-24T19:31:00.000-08:00

Shop this Saturday, November 29, and get double your purchase added to your Reading Bee Club total. So, if you spend $35, we'll add $70 to your Reading Bee Club. You'll be that much closer to your $10 gift certificate!

Not in the Club? Join up on your next visit -- when you spend $100, you receive $10 off your next purchase. This weekend, spend $50 and get $10 off your next purchase!

See you soon!

Robert Sabuda's New Pop-Up: Peter Pan!

2008-11-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

Own the first edition of another of Sabuda's classic collectible pop-ups! Who could resist the joy of Peter Pan? And now the classic story comes to life in this incredible pop-up book. Master paper engineer Robert Sabuda creates Peter’s world for the reader to leap into: Tinkerbell flies, pirates pop, mermaids sunbathe, and ships spring up with masts that sway in the breeze. It's sure to become one of your favorites!

We are also taking special orders for the special limited edition, which has green cloth boards, comes with a slip case, and is signed and numbered by the author. There are only 250 of these available from the publisher, and retail cost is $250.00. Another special edition of 26, lettered A to Z, were retained by the author.

About Robert Sabuda: Robert grew up in the Pinckney, a small rural town in southeastern Michigan. He saw his first pop-up book as a child during a visit to the dentist's office -- all terror at the impending dental work dissolved when he opened the covers and the images leaped out at him! He made his first pop-ups out of manila folders his mother brought home from work. After graduating he moved to New York City to study art at Pratt Institute. He interned at a publishing house and was inspired by original artwork submitted by Barbara Cooney, Thomas Locker and James Marshall, among others. After working for a time as a picture-book illustrator, he focused his attention on teaching himself paper engineering, to create the beloved classic collectibles we all love. Find out more here.

Once Upon a Time....

2008-11-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

"When Rose's mother dies, her only comfort is the exquisite rose garden her mother left behind. The purple blossoms serve as an assurance of her mother's love. But Rose is dealt a second blow when her father dies and his greedy widow, Ombrine, and her daughter, Desiree, move in and take over the manor in true Cinderella fasion. Fate has been cruel to Ombrine and Desiree, too. So despite their harsh ways, Rose has compassion. But these feelings are bitterly tested when, in a rage, Ombrine tears out the garden. Rose nearly gives up all hope -- until a chance meeting with the king. Happiness might be within her reach, but first she must prevail over Ombrine. And then she must determine if she has the courage to love..."

Books in the "Once Upon a Time" series retell favorite childhood fairy tales in a format for teen readers.

Titles include:

Before Midnight (A retelling of "Cinderella")

Beauty Sleep (A retelling of "Sleeping Beauty")

Golden (A retelling of "Rapunzel")

Midnight Pearls (A retelling of "The Little Mermaid")

The Rose Bride (A retelling of "The White Bride and the Black Bride")

Snow (A retelling of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")

Storyteller's Daughter (A retelling of "The Arabian Nights")

Water Song (A retelling of "The Frog Prince")

Why Brodart?

2008-11-08T20:04:00.001-08:00

Why Brodart?

What in the heck is Brodart? And why do we use Brodart book jacket covers on our books?
The shiny covers you see on the books we sell protect the jacket covers, which are designed to protect the book underneath. So often, we find books with worn out book jackets (or “dust jackets”), but they have done such a great job, the book underneath them is in nearly new condition! The jacket really helps protect the book underneath from scratches, bumps and tears. On top of that, a jacket cover can protect your book – and the jacket – even more! The shiny covers help protect your favorite books, so they can be passed along rather than tossed out when they are too worn out. And we all have our favorite stories we’d like to save.

A Brodart book jacket cover is complementary when you purchase a book at Alphabet Soup. If it’s not already covered, just ask and we can cover the jacket before you leave the store. Bring in favorites from your personal collection & we’ll Brodart them for you, for $1.95 per book.

Here’s some background, from the Brodart website:
Book Jacket Covers were created in 1939 by Arthur Brody, founder of Brodart Co. Arthur Brody studied architectural photography at Columbia University, and one day after washing the emulsion off some film, he folded it around some books for added protection. When the covers' popularity grew among fellow students, the plastic book jacket cover was born. Today, Brodart book jacket covers are used to protect original paper jackets of library books, giving them a longer shelf life..” They are also popular with collectors, or anyone who wants to keep their books pristine for years to come.

Magic by the Lake...

2008-11-01T22:38:00.000-07:00

With an acknowledged debt to E. Nesbit and George MacDonald, Edward Eager's stories all have the same theme: bringing magic to ordinary lives. Fun-filled and whimsical, the stories are anything but dated. Universal themes of friendship, subtle sibling rivalry, vivid imaginations, and a sense of adventure are as engrossing now as they were when the books were first written 50 years ago.

Read them all!

Half Magic (1954)

Knight's Castle (1956)

Magic by the Lake (1957)

The Time Garden (1958) [A play on the word "thyme"]

Magic or Not? (1959)

The Well Wishers (1960)

Seven Day Magic (1962)

The World's Most Scrumdiddlyumptious Storyteller

2008-10-18T18:23:00.001-07:00

Have you read them all?

Roald Dahl wrote 21 books for children.

Check out the official website for more info, games, and fun!

http://www.roalddahl.com/

Roald Dahl reading list:

Gremlins (1943) -- written for Walt Disney & optioned for a film that was never made

James and the Giant Peach (1961) a frequent target of censors, it is #56 on the American Library Association's (ALA) list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) This story of the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric candymaker Willie Wonka is often considered one of the most beloved children's stories of the 20th century.

The Magic Finger (1966) Different editions were illustrated by William Pen3e du Bois, Tony Ross, and Quentin Blake.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (1970) -- film coming in 2009!

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1973) -- Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka as they travel through space in the Great Glass Elevator.

Danny, Champion of the World (1975) -- Based on Dahl's adult short story "Champion of the World" which appears in "Claud's Dog".

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More -- short stories for older readers

The Enormous Crocodile (1978) -- a short story rather than a novel, illustrated by Quentin Blake, published as a picture book.

The Twits (1980) -- Read it to find out the tricks of Mr. and Mrs. Twit, including The Frog, The Spaghetti Worms, The Balloons, and the Sticky Tree!

George's Marvelous Medicine (1981) -- Get the recipe!

The BFG (1982) -- stands for "Big Friendly Giant"

Dirty Beasts (1983) -- poetry

The Witches (1983) -- adapted into a movie and stage play, it appears as #27 on the ALA's list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.

Boy -- autobiography

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (1985) -- write your own review for this book.

Going Solo -- sequel to autobiography "Boy"

Matilda (1988) - made into a movie in 1996!

Rhyme Stew (1989) -- poetry

Esio Trot (1989) -- but what does it say backwards?

The Minpins (1991) -- Published in 1991, several months after Dahl's passing.

The Vicar of Nibbleswicke (1991) -- The principal character is a dyslexic vicar, and the book was written to benefit the Dyslexia Institute in London (now Dyslexia Action)

Revolting Rhymes (1992) -- poetry

Caldecott Award Winners

2008-09-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Randolph Caldecott Medal -- for best children's illustrators!

The medal has been awarded to children’s book illustrators since 1938 by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Several books each year are also named as honor books. The award started because after years of awarding the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished children’s literature published the prior year, ALA decided that illustrators also deserved recognition. The medal is given to the artist who created the most distinguished picture book of the year. It was named in honor of the 19-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott.

Caldecott – along with Kate Greenaway and Walter Crane -- were three influential 19th-century British children's illustrators. Caldecott’s illustrations were unique because they wonderfully complemented the stories they accompanied.

The illustration on the Caldecott Medal, designed by 1937 René Paul Chambellan in 1937, depicts one of Caldecott's illustrations for "The Diverting Story of John Gilpin." It is a perfect example of the humor, vitality, and sense of movement found in Caldecott's work. The illustration shows John Gilpin astride a runaway horse, accompanied by squawking geese, braying dogs, and startled onlookers.

One of our recent favorites is David Wiesner's Flotsam, which won the award in 2007. No words, but the exceptional illustrations tell quite a story!

Here's a list of the all of the Caldecott medal winners, from 1938:

2008: Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic)
2007: Flotsam by David Wiesner (Clarion)
2006: The Hello, Goodbye Window Illustrated by Chris Raschka, written by Norton Juster (Michael di Capua/Hyperion)
2005: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollinsPublishers)
2004: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein (Roaring Brook Press/Millbrook Press)
2003: My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann (Roaring Brook Press/Millbrook Press)
2002: The Three Pigs by David Wiesner (Clarion/Houghton Mifflin)
2001: So You Want to Be President? Illustrated by David Small; text by Judith St. George (Philomel Books)
2000: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Simms Taback (Viking)
1999: Snowflake Bentley, Illustrated by Mary Azarian; text by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (Houghton)
1998: Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky (Dutton)
1997: Golem by David Wisniewski (Clarion)
1996: Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (Putnam)
1995: Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz; text: Eve Bunting (Harcourt)

1994: Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say; text: edited by Walter Lorraine (Houghton)
1993: Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully (Putnam)
1992: Tuesday by David Wiesner (Clarion Books)
1991: Black and White by David Macaulay (Houghton)
1990: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young (Philomel)
1989: Song and Dance Man, illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Karen Ackerman (Knopf)
1988: Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr; text: Jane Yolen (Philomel)
1987: Hey, Al, illustrated by Richard Egielski; text: Arthur Yorinks (Farrar)
1986: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton)
1985: Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: retold by Margaret Hodges (Little, Brown)
1984: The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot by Alice & Martin Provensen (Viking)
1983: Shadow, translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown; original text in French: Blaise Cendrars (Scribner)
1982: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton)
1981: Fables by Arnold Lobel (Harper)
1980: Ox-Cart Man, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: Donald Hall (Viking)
1979: The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble (Bradbury)
1978: Noah's Ark by Peter Spier (Doubleday)
1977: Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: Margaret Musgrove (Dial)
1976: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: retold by Verna Aardema (Dial)
1975: Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott (Viking)
1974: Duffy and the Devil, illustrated by Margot Zemach; retold by Harve Zemach (Farrar)
1973: The Funny Little Woman, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by Arlene Mosel (Dutton)
1972: One Fine Day, retold and illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian (Macmillan)
1971: A Story A Story, retold and illustrated by Gail E. Haley (Atheneum)
1970: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (Windmill Books)
1969: The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz; text: retold by Arthur Ransome (Farrar)
1968: Drummer Hoff, illustrated by Ed Emberley; text: adapted by Barbara Emberley (Prentice-Hall)
1967: Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness (Holt)
1966: Always Room for One More, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian; text: Sorche Nic Leodhas, pseud. [Leclair Alger] (Holt)
1965: May I Bring a Friend? illustrated by Beni Montresor; text: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers (Atheneum)
1964: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Harper)
1963: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking)
1962: Once a Mouse, retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown (Scribner)
1961: Baboushka and the Three Kings, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov; text: Ruth Robbins (Parnassus)
1960: Nine Days to Christmas, illustrated by Marie Hall Ets; text: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida (Viking)
1959: Chanticleer and the Fox, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: adapted from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Barbara Cooney (Crowell)
1958: Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (Viking)
1957: A Tree Is Nice, illustrated by Marc Simont; text: Janice Udry (Harper)
1956: Frog Went A-Courtin', illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky; text: retold by John Langstaff) (Harcourt)
1955: Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown (Scribner)
1954: Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans (Viking)
1953: The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward (Houghton)
1952: Finders Keepers, illustrated by Nicolas, pseud. (Nicholas Mordvinoff); text: Will, pseud. [William Lipkind] (Harcourt)
1951: The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous (Scribner)
1950: Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi (Scribner)
1949: The Big Snow by Berta & Elmer Hader (Macmillan)
1948: White Snow, Bright Snow, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; text: Alvin Tresselt (Lothrop)
1947: The Little Island, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard; text: Golden MacDonald, pseud. [Margaret Wise Brown] (Doubleday)
1946: The Rooster Crows by Maud & Miska Petersham (Macmillan)
1945: Prayer for a Child, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text: Rachel Field (Macmillan)
1944: Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin; text: James Thurber (Harcourt)
1943: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (Houghton)
1942: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (Viking)
1941: They Were Strong and Good, by Robert Lawson (Viking)
1940: Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire (Doubleday)
1939: Mei Li by Thomas Handforth (Doubleday)
1938: Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop; text: selected by Helen Dean Fish (Lippincott)

Many other books win an honor book award, which is a silver label. The medal winners receive a gold seal.

Jessie Wilcox Smith

2008-09-11T18:26:00.001-07:00

Jessie Willcox Smith was born in Philadelphia in 1863. She was a kindergarten teacher before accidentally discovering her artistic talent. She was probably around 20 before she started drawing. She soon enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and was a student of Thomas Eakins, and others. Her earliest work appeared in the monthly magazine for children, St. Nicholas. She also worked in the production department of The Ladies' Home Journal in 1889 and was still working there five years later when Howard Pyle began teaching illustration at Drexel Institute of Arts and Sciences, and she joined his first class. At age 31, she was only 10 years younger than her teacher and one of his oldest students. She formed a lifelong friendship with two other students, Elizabeth Shippen Green and Violet Oakley. The three shared a home/studio for almost 15 years, including a lease on a property called The Red Rose Inn, just outside Philadelphia. Smith was hugely successful in the emerging illustration market – it was the advent of mass-produced periodicals, many with a focus on home and children: The Ladies' Home Journal, Century, Collier's Weekly, Leslie's, Harper's, McClure's, Scribners, and, most famously, Good Housekeeping, which was one of America’s most popular magazines. Her illustrations graced the covers month after month from 1917 through 1933.

She also illustrated many famous books: A Child's Garden of Verses (1905); A Child's Book of Stories (1911); The Water-Babies (1916); At the Back of the North Wind (1919); and Boys and Girls of Bookland (1923), and an edition of Heidi, among others.
In 1933, her eyesight fading, she decided to retire from illustrating and try traveling. Jessie Willcox Smith died in her sleep in 1935.

Special thanks to

http://www.bpib.com/illustra.htm#illustopage, which has a lot of wonderful information on many famous and well-loved illustrators.

Laughing Elephant publishes (and we carry!) her illustrations on greeting cards. We also sell eight of her illustrations in 8 x 10 prints, that are also available framed.

Gone Fishin'!

2008-08-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

We will be closed for Labor Day weekend, from August 29th through September 1st.

See you next month!

Hairy Maclary and Slinki Malinki!

2008-08-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

We have some new friends at Alphabet Soup! The famous-in-New-Zealand dog and cat pals have arrived in Wallingford. Meet the whole gang: Hercules Morse, Bottomley Potts, Muffin McLay, Bitzer Maloney, Schnitzel von Krumm, Stickybeak Sid, and Zachary Quack. Join in the fun as this not-so-motley crew have adventures at the vet, in a pet show, and around the fields and yards closer to home.

With illustrations described as “amiably animated and suitably silly” and a rhyming story using “wonderfully waggish words” they’ll be friends you’re glad to have!

Titles in the series:

Collect them all!

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy
Hairy Maclary’s Bone
Hairy Maclary Scattercat
Hairy Maclary’s Rumpus at the Vet
Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack
Slinky Malinki
Slinky Malinki Catflaps
Slinky Malinki, Open the Door

Clyde, Cyrus, Kermit & a Troll

2008-08-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

Bill Peet created whimsical fantasies featuring a bevy of lifelike and lovable creatures, consistently combining excellent storytelling with enduring illustrations, becoming one of the most popular picture book creators of our time. Born in Grandview, Indiana, Bill Peet nurtured his childhood drawing talent and was awarded a scholarship to the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis, where he studied painting and design. After a brief apprenticeship period, he went to work for Walt Disney as a sketch artist, eventually becoming a screenwriter and helping to produce such beloved films as “Fantasia,” “101 Dalmatians” and “Peter Pan.” In 1959 Bill published his first book, “Hubert’s Hair-Raising Adventure,” going on to write and illustrate more than 30 successful books for children.

We have many of these titles in stock, and can special order any title:

Ant and the Elephant, The
Big Bad Bruce
Buford the Little Bighorn
Caboose who Got Loose, The
Capyboppy
Chester the Worldly Pig
Cock-a-doodle Dudley
Cowardly Clyde
Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent
Eli
Ella
Encore for Eleanor
Farewell to Shady Glen
Fly, Homer, Fly
Gnats of Knotty Pine, The
How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head
Hubert’s Hair-Raising Adventure
Huge Harold
Jennifer and Josephine
Jethro and Joel Were a Troll
Kermit the Hermit
Kweeks of Kookatumdee, The
Luckiest One of All, The
Merle the High Flying Squirrel
No Such Things
Pamela Camel
Pinkish, Purplish, Bluish Egg, The
Randy’s Dandy Lions
Smokey
Spooky Trail of Prewitt Peacock, The
Whingdingdilly
Wump World
Zella, Zack and Zodiac

We also have second-hand copies of Bill Peet’s autobiography.

Meet Our Staff: Rhea!

2008-08-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Rhea’s favorite children story is one her mother read to her very often. "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch is one that will always make her smile and remember exactly how her mom would read it to her at night before bed. Now working at a wonderful children’s book store she is reminded of the many children’s books she used to enjoy. She also loves when kids come in and are excited to read and learn from books. Working at Alphabet Soup has made her become excited about reading for fun again. Rhea is currently a sophomore at Washington State University majoring in Early Education.

Meet our Staff -- Abbey!

2008-08-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

Abbey’s favorite children’s book is Old Hat, New Hat, by the Berensteins. To this day, she loves to recite the line “Too beady, too bumpy, too leafy, too lumpy, too twisty, too twirly, too wrinkly, too curly” whenever it is appropriate (and equally as often when it is not appropriate). The rhyming is great, but more importantly, the message is something that resonates for years. The story recognizes that when something is “just right,” it can be as fulfilling and wonderful as any new and shiny thing. Truer words were never spoken, whether about relationships or material things. She has also developed a love of children’s books from the Green Tiger Press, as the colors and pictures always make for such amazing renditions of classic stories. When not at Alphabet Soup, Abbey enjoys spending time with her two cats, Elliot and Evan. She sings them a “good morning” song every day.

Meet our Staff: Anna!

2008-07-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

Anna in another member of the Alphabet Soup family. She grew up in San Diego but fell in love with Seattle – both the city and the people – five years ago and now makes her home in North Seattle. She first learned about “The Soup” at Fremont Sunday Market, where Alphabet Soup has a booth every Sunday. Remembering her love for children’s illustrated books, she started spending more time at the shop in Wallingford.

Anna’s favorite book growing up was "Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones," by Ruth Heller. Both the information and the illustrations fascinated her. This should have been a big clue to her parents that she would end up studying biology and engineering in college but eventually run her own jewelry design and art business.

"Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones" combines the everyday knowledge most children have of eggs with more advanced scientific knowledge of animals other than birds. The illustrations beautifully compliment the slightly more technical side of the text through big, bright and memorable depictions of animals and their eggs. In some cases, the pictures are far more expressive than the text, showing different life stages of common animals.

Anna recommends this book for anyone, big or small, that has a deep appreciation for color and an appetite for knowledge. She also recommends it for younger children that may need some encouragement with reading and science. The bright illustrations make learning about science and animals much more visually entertaining and stimulating, and the short concise sentences help increase attention to specific words.

Meet Our Staff: Michael

2008-07-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

Michael’s favorite children’s book is In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak. His favorite young adult books are The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. He’s a graduate of the University of Washington and enjoys listening to public radio, creating music and riding his motorcycle. He was originally born with six toes on his left foot.

Join Us at Fremont Sunday Market

2008-06-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Join us June 15th & 29th at Fremont Sunday Market (We will be taking June 22nd off!) -- there's something for everyone!

Alphabet Soup has a booth every Sunday featuring discounted books, framed pictures, stickers, magnets, and all sorts of other wonderful, fun products. Fremont Market runs all year round, rain or shine, on 34th Ave between Evanston and Phinney Avenues in the Fremont district of Seattle.

In addition to Alphabet Soup, Fremont Market is also home to some of the best hand crafts and vintage items in Seattle. You can find knitting needles and repurposed/recycled yarn, hand made jewelry, candles, soaps and clothing, used tools and furniture, and a plethora of other fun family items. All vendors are local business owners and work very hard to keep their products fresh and exciting. Meet some of our friends here, here, and here.

During the summer months at Fremont Market you can also find fresh produce and flowers at very reasonable prices. There are always fun things to see, including the canal, the Fremont Troll, and lots of friendly dogs.

Stop by our booth on June 15th and mention this blog entry to receive a special gift!

A Child's Garden of Verses

2008-06-08T19:55:00.001-07:00

Many famous illustrators have interpreted Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved collection of poetry. When I was a child, a favorite aunt gave me Gyo Fujikawa’s lovely rendition; it remains my favorite. Michael Foreman, Tasha Tudor, Brian Wildsmith, and many others have also illustrated collections.

Robert Louis Stevenson was a man who "seemed to pick the right word up on the point of his pen, like a man playing

spillikins", at least according to contemporary G. K. Chesterton. He was born in 1850 into a long line of lighthouse engineers. Stevenson chose writing, devoting himself to the profession. He was quite prolific.

Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland. Although he suffered from tuberculosis, during the summer his parents encouraged to play outside, where he proved to be a wild and carefree child, and it seemed to improve his health. It must also have served as an inspiration to write his famous collection for children.

Welcome to the Alphabet Soup Blog!

2008-05-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our blog! If you've been to our store, you know how much we love books. We started this blog as a way to share our love for books, and to keep in touch with our friends. Watch this blog for happenings behind the scenes, special features, new arrivals, and old favorites.

To celebrate spring -- we think it's finally here! -- join us for a special in-store sale on Saturday, May 10th -- 20 % off all used books! Stock up on old favorites or try something new. Be sure to stop by!

Visit our Seattle store at 1406 N 45th Street in beautiful Wallingford (Tuesday - Saturday 11-8); call us at 206-547-4555. E-mail us at alphabetsoupbooks@gmail.com with questions or special orders. Browse our ebay store online: http://stores.ebay.com/alphabetsoupbooks

And starting Sunday May 11, you can once again visit us at Fremont Sunday Market http://www.fremontmarket.com/fremont/ between 10 and 5.

Shop our market specials, pick up a discount coupon for the store, and be sure to check out our friends' stylish new offerings -- original jewelry and fiber art from Anna Perrone Designs www.annaperronedesigns.com; scrumptious smelling candles by Jim www.candlejim.com; and hot new original artwork printed on short & long sleeve organic tees from Karl at Partybots www.partybots.org; and many, many others! Hope to see you soon!