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But comics thrive on conflict, not friendship. What better conflict than pitting a superhero against his trusted and beloved comrade? Superheroes often find themselves in (short-lived) combat with their best buds, but how they handle it depends on the circumstances. Help Her Out Nadia was raised in the Red Room to be an assassin, which didn’t leave much time for making friends. She did manage to get close to Ying, another baby assassin who she was forced to leave behind when she escaped to America....

Some of these pen names are pretty close to the real name while other are not, and I can only imagine the brainstorming that went behind some of the radically different ones. The truth is, authors use pen names all time, and for good reason. Take Emily Jenkins/E. Lockhart. One of my favorite writers of all time, Lockhart is the pen name of Emily Jenkins. Lockhart publishes YA while Jenkins publishes for children....

Children’s books, as well, abound with eggs. Below, find 10 picture books about the incredible, eggcellent egg. Eggcelent Fiction Books About Eggs 1. After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat This is the book that inspired this list because I had to tell more people about it! This book follows Humpty Dumpty after his stay at the King’s Men Hospital. It answers the question “Why was Humpty Dumpty sitting on that wall?...

Before we jump into the list, I just wanted to mention that there are waaaay more new historical fiction books coming out in 2023. So this list is by no means complete or comprehensive. Also, I chose to include new releases from late 2022 up until Spring 2023. Which means 2023 still has plenty of new surprising novels in store. And the best thing? Almost all of these books are written by authors of color, showcasing the beauty and diversity of the genre....

So get ready to break out your pillow and doze away with the ten best books on sleep. The Best Books on Sleep Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker Neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker delivers a thought-provoking examination of the purpose and power of slumber. Using decades of data and clinical practice, Walker explores how getting sleep can enrich almost every aspect of daily life—from decision-making skills to the immune system....

If you want the full list of book holidays to add to your 2021 calendar, look no further! You can browse through them on A Calendar of Book Holidays to Celebrate Reading All Year Long. Double-check dates, because some vary from year to year. With that said, what can you do for those holidays? How can you appreciate them this year? Well, I’ve got you covered. I did a nice roundup of the best literary holidays and what you can do to celebrate them....

When a shy girl and her dragon-like companion discover their country’s idyllic weather comes at a steep—and secret—cost, they recruit fellow students to defy authority and attempt to spread the truth. We all love dragons, and there are plenty of books out there that promise to take us on an adventure alongside our fire-breathing friends. From Harry Potter to Game Of Thrones, dragons really are the perfect companions for all ages....

Twin sisters Sunshine and Margot are as different as chalk and cheese, but what they do have in common is a complete lack of luck when it comes to love. Emotionally stunted by a mother who dropped everything to follow boyfriend after boyfriend, the sisters have ever only had each other for support and to share a pint of post-heartache ice cream. When Margot, an etiquette specialist, is hired to work with Bianca, an icon from Hollywood’s Golden Age with romantic entanglements of her own, she and Sunshine become the daughters she never had, and their friendship teaches them how to embrace the quirks that make them unique, and how to demand the love they deserve just as they are....

In mid-July, I had the opportunity to go to the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS) in Colorado Springs. In its 42nd year, CABS is open to novice and experienced booksellers, collectors, and archivists/librarians who are interested in learning about the book trade. It’s meant to be a comprehensive look at everything a bookseller would need to know for their first year in business. Lectures cover everything from using bibliographies to identify a book, to how to sell a book to a customer, all the way to how to collect....

Emily Henry’s work is distinctive for a few reasons. Her characters feel very lived-in to me, with relatable flaws and struggles. The premises of her books — two authors swapping genres, travel buddies to lovers, and a twist on the city girl in the small town — are enough to grab a trope lover’s attention without being so high-flying as to defy believability. Perhaps most notably, her books feature relationship arcs and character arcs for the main characters that are mostly separate from their romantic arcs....

On January 21, 2017, millions of people gathered worldwide for the Women’s March, one of the largest demonstrations in political history. Together they raised their voices in hope, protest, and solidarity. This inspiring collection features 500 of the most eloquent, provocative, uplifting, clever, and creative signs from across the United States and around the world. Each is a powerful reminder of why we march. As with the recent battle cry of “Nevertheless, she persisted,” these messages continue to reverberate daily and fortify a movement that will not be silenced....

These books about change are perfect for those who need a little guidance through life’s transitions as we head into 2022. These are not life-changing books but rather books that can help you through life’s changes, whether it’s inspiration to start a project, pragmatic advice to overcome hurdles, or insight into what’s holding you back. Every year, we tell ourselves that this is the year to accomplish that one goal....

Thor: Love and Thunder has been filling movie theaters for nearly a month now. Some love it, while others are raking it over the coals, which seems appropriate for a character with such a long publication history. There have been plenty of low points through the years, but also plenty of high points in the funny pages. Love or hate the movie, here are 12 of the absolute best Thor comics you can read right now....

For over 40 years, Jedi and Sith have battled it out in the glossies. But of course, Star Wars is much bigger than Jedi and Sith. Partly because of these comics, the universe of Star Wars has grown, filled with generals, pilots, monsters, aliens, planets sparse or densely populated, and so much more. For each character you see in the movies, you can find a comic book series (or five) telling stories of their life, their species, and their home planet....

Unfortunately, basically all of these are written or illustrated by white authors; I found it very difficult to find adult coloring books by authors of color. Hit me up on Twitter if you know of any more! Escape to Christmas Past: A Colouring Book Adventure by Good Wives and Warriors This Christmas coloring book tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge through intricate and lovely full-spread illustrations that include everything from cakes to cityscapes to snow globes, and that include the always-fun black backgrounds as well....

The Mothers Quotes on Being a Woman Like most girls, she’d already learned that pretty exposes you and pretty hides you and like most girls, she hadn’t yet learned how to navigate the difference. A girl’s first time was supposed to hurt. Suffering pain is what made you a woman. Most of the milestones in a woman’s life were accompanied by pain, like her first time having sex or birthing a child....

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes Jerome is a boy who is a ghost. No, it’s not a fantasy story, it’s based on real life events. Jerome is playing with a toy gun when he’s murdered by a policeman. His ghost emerges and meets other ghosts, namely Emmett Till. As he watches his family grieve, the judicial system crumble, and his own spirit rise, we the reader are hit with the stark reality that this is something that happens too many times in America....

School libraries are one way to create a portal to decreased anxiety, routine, and familiarity. There are a ton of funny YA out there from diverse voices. That is another goal of mine, of course, to try and ensure students can find themselves in the books they borrow from their library. Funny books in particular allow teens to see themselves caught up in awkward situations, and these books allow them to see that everyone feels awkward – no one really knows what they are doing....

1. To Know The Dark by Wendell Berry To go in the dark with a light is to know the light. 2. A Winter Solstice Prayer by Edward Hays Excerpt: The dark shadow of space leans over us… 3. The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper Excerpt: So the shortest day came, and the year died, 4. An Old Man’s Winter Night by Robert Frost Excerpt: All out-of-doors looked darkly in at him Through the thin frost, almost in separate stars, That gathers on the pane in empty rooms....

From reading board books with your littlest Padawan to introducing them to the ways of the Jedi as they get older to exploring the Dark Side, there really is something for everyone, even kids. There are books about the Resistance, the Sith, pilots, and droids. With the High Republic, there are even more stories to be told. Whether your little one is familiar with the franchise already or you’re introducing them for the first time, there’s plenty of Star Wars books for kids from which to choose....