Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery Newletter

Staff Picks

Page One Staff Picks Youth Yak Book Groups News

Our tradition for the December newsletter is to ask each member of our staff to name three books from our Holiday Catalog that they’d like to receive and three they’d like to give. Be sure to check out the suggestions in Youth Yak, too. Many of them are books for adults as well as for young people.

Jen

See more of Jen’s recommendations in Youth Yak.

Books I'd like to give:

Sun Sets in Singapore
Kehinde Fedipe

Literary fiction that includes women, friendship, and a different culture makes this an easy choice.

Books I'd like to receive:

Distant Sons
Tim Johnston

I’ve loved other mysteries by this author.

Lonely Planet: Your Trip Starts Here

The photography in this looks like the perfect escape for upcoming “OMG-it’s-cold” days.

The Museum of Failures
Thirty Unrigar

Books by Umrigar, an established and well-respected novelist, are a safe bet. I especially love books set in India.

Sally Sally

More of Sally’s recommendations can be found in Youth Yak.

Books I'd like to receive:

Joy of Winter Hiking
Derek Dellinger

This is a tongue in cheek recommendation, since I lost my resiliency to the cold during the 15 years I lived in Oklahoma. I’d like to think being outdoors in the winter could be joyful, but I’d much rather sit under an afghan with a cup of tea and look at the pictures in this inspiring book.

The House of Lincoln
Nancy Horan

Several years ago, I enjoyed Nancy Horan’s book of historical fiction, Loving Frank, based on the life of Frank Lloyd Wright. I’m hoping this book about Abraham Lincoln will be equally interesting.



Ann See Youth Yak for more of Ann’s suggestions.				A book I'd like to give: The Covenant of Water Abraham Verghese Set in South India, this epic novel follows three generations of a family facing many challenges and searching for explanations for events in their family history. I couldn't put it down!
				A book I'd like to receive: Saving Emma Allen Eskens I've read earlier mysteries by Allen Eskens and am looking forward to reading his most recent book.

Bob
Bob

See Youth Yak for more of Bob’s suggestions.

A book I'd like to give:

Company
Amy Thielen

How can you lose when you have food and Amy Thielen?

Books I'd like to receive:

Ghosts of Honolulu
Mark Harmon

I liked Mark in NCIS. I’d like to see if he's as good a writer as he is an actor.

Iliad
Homer, translated by Emily Wilson

The stories in Greek and Latin are great...as long as I'm not translating them.

Tools: A Visual Exploration of Implements and Devices in the Workshop
Theodore Gray

This looks like a toy catalog for guys!

Cascade
Cascade

See more of Cascade’s recommendations in Youth Yak.

book cover

Books I'd like to give:

And There He Kept Her
Joshua Moehling

This is the perfect gift for readers who like books set in Minnesota and is one of my favorites of the mysteries I've read this year.

Let Us Descend
Jesmyn Ward

I have several family members who love historical fiction and I know they would enjoy this new addition to the genre.

Company
Amy Thielen

Does anyone else have family members that like to show their love through cooking for gatherings? I certainly do and they could benefit from the recipes and advice in this cookbook geared towards cooking for groups.

book cover

Books I'd like to receive:

The First Bright Thing
J.R. Dawson

I gravitate towards fantastical elements in the stories I pick up and this historical novel that follows a magical circus group seems like the perfect premise for me.

The Story of Art Without Men
Katy Hessel

As someone who took an art history course in high school and was disappointed to learn primarily about white male artists, this is the book I feel could fill the gaps in my knowledge.

Doni
Doni

More of Doni’s suggestions are in Youth Yak

A book I'd like to give:

The Covenant of Water
Abraham Verghese

I would give this epic novel to someone who appreciates curling up on a cold winter day with a cozy blanket, a cup of something hot and 715 pages of a lyrically written story.

I loved it!

book cover

Books I'd like to receive:

Survival Food by a Menominee Cook
Thomas Pecore Weso

The author says, “I cannot separate foods from the moment in my life when I first tasted them.” Me, too. These essays include recipes from the food of his childhood. The writing brings me right there (I peeked.) If no one gets this for me, I think I’ll buy it for myself.

Flipping Boxcars
Cedric Kyles

Set in the days of the depression, this story is about a close-knit black family in search of financial security and their own place. The characters look engaging and authentic.

Hannah
Hannah

See more of Hannah’s recommendations in Youth Yak.

Books I'd like to give:

A Song over Miskwaa Rapids
Linda DeGarde Grover

My daughter loves novels written by minorities, sharing authentic and important aspects of their communities. This one features a rock that mischievous Ojibwe ancestors dislodge in order to bring the past forward. I trust my daughter will share the book with me when she’s done!

The Ice Book
Camper English

Someone on my gift list is an ex-bartender who likes to show off his skills at a party now and then. I bet he’d enjoy this.

Books I'd like to receive:

Iliad
Homer, translated by Emily Wilson

I recently read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and it made me curious to learn more about this classic Greek saga.

The First Bright Thing
J.R. Dawson

I’m fascinated by all things related to the circus. This novel is set in the Midwest after WWI, which promises both drama and things I can relate to since I live here.



Lee	See Lee’s picks in Youth Yak.


Rebekah See more of Rebekah’s recommendations in Youth Yak.		Books I'd like to give: The Covenant of Water Abraham Verghese This is one of the books that I go to when I don’t know what to get someone. The multi-generational story has themes familiar to almost everyone.
		Winter Tales Dawn Casey Winter Tales is a perfect book for family story time, complete with beautiful illustrations. Some stories are familiar and some are new, but all celebrate winter while warming the heart. I’d also like to receive this book!
		And There He Kept Her Joshua Moehling I love reading and sharing Minnesota authors, and this was one of my favorite books in 2023.
		Ghosts of Honolulu Mark Harmon NCIS is among the few shows that I’ve continued to watch over the last many years, and a true-life NCIS story is too interesting to pass up!
		Songs, Blood Deep Gwen Nell Westerman Gwen Nell Westerman writes poetry that can be visualized, heard, and felt for those who love poetry and those who don’t think they do. Westerman beautifully knits together the English and Dakota languages in this book and infuses it with a sense of connection, of wisdom, and of honor.
		Spirits Dancing Travis Novitsky, Annette S. Lee In case combining astrophysics, indigenous culture and history, and personal experience isn’t enough, the photography in this book is stunning! Every page inspires awe.
		Books I'd like to receive: Begin Again Oliver Jeffers While this book is listed in the Children’s Picture Book section of our holiday catalog, it’s appropriate for all ages. Begin Again explores where we began, how we got to where we are, and where to go from here. Each page’s illustrations and design invite you to spend a bit of time in the moment before turning the page. Read it quickly with an impatient audience or spend some time with a speculative one.
		A Song over Miskwaa Rapids Linda DeGarde Grover Linda LeGarde Grover is an author I haven’t read yet, but she’s high on my list for the next year. Her books have been recommended to me often by family and customers, and I’m looking forward to exploring them.
		Saving Emma Allen Eskens I read a lot of Minnesota authors, so Allen Eskens is already on my shelves. Hearing him talk about this book, his latest, when he was at Beagle and Wolf recently increased my interest in it. A legal thriller combining a wrongful conviction with a story that delves into faith, family, and the importance of connection sounds like a fascinating journey to me.