Wonderland Books & Toys, a children's book and toy store, made its debut last month in Manchester, N.H. 

Owner Deirdre A.L. Shaw opened the store on a limited basis on April 20. Located at 245 Maple St. #12, Wonderland carries books for infants through teens, along with a variety of board games, puzzles, activity kits, and other nonbook items. The shop spans about 3,500 square feet and includes a retail floor, office and storage space, and an event space that is still being completed.

Once the event space is ready to open, which Shaw expects to happen later in the summer, it will be used for hosting things like author readings, book clubs, birthday parties, music performances, and weekly storytime sessions. She also plans to host an official opening event when the space is complete.

Deirdre A.L. Shaw

"The idea has been in my mind for at least 10-plus years," Shaw said. She started researching the possibility of opening a bookstore of her own while living in Denver, Colo., prior to 2014. "Then moves, a pandemic, and life in general kept pushing it back." Last fall, an opportunity finally presented itself and "all of the pieces started falling into place."

Shaw noted that she has prior retail experience with books as well as other items. She worked as a sales associate at the Curious George Store in Cambridge, Mass., as well as its Make Way for Ducklings pop-up store in Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace, before they closed permanently a few years ago. She took those jobs, Shaw explained, "to confirm that I really did want to open a children's book and toy store," and learn as much as she could about all aspects of the business. Her other retail experience includes clothing, crafts, and the performing arts.

Beyond her retail experience, Shaw has worked in the children's section of a public library, ran a pre-K through grade 8 school library, and studied child psychology. She also described herself as an "avid reader, supporter, and proponent of children's literature" going back decades, with children's literature encompassing everything from board books to YA novels.

"Reading, being read to, doing puzzles, playing with toys, playing board games with friends and family, creating art, writing and telling stories, and exploring the world--real and imaginary--will help make the world a better place, a place that we all need," Shaw said.

Community members and customers of Canio's Books in Sag Harbor, N.Y., have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the store move to a new location, Patch.com reported.

The bookstore, which has been in business for 44 years, must leave its longtime home on Sag Harbor's Main Street by September. The organizers are hoping to raise $45,000 by the end of July, "some of it earmarked for the move, some of it for new acquisitions and innovative local activities."

The GoFundMe page, which was created by "Friends of Canio's," noted: "Long the stewards of so much of the East End's literary heritage, Canio's now needs support from the community it has served so well. The bookstore and cultural cafe are labors of love and in a new space it can 'think bigger' and expand its cultural contributions. But a refresh is startlingly expensive, given legal, administrative, and moving fees, increased expenses, and the costs of repurposing and marketing a new space."

In two days, the campaign has raised more than $4,000.

Fran Greenman-Schmitz

Fran Greenman-Schmitz has been named publisher of Kar-Ben Publishing, which publishes Jewish-themed children's books and is an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group. She will assume her new position effective July 1, succeeding current publisher Joni Sussman, who is retiring.

Greenman-Schmitz has more than 20 years experience developing and producing content, including children's fiction and nonfiction book series, catalogues, and magazines. She has worked with many of the world's leading companies, including Highlights for Children, Mattel/American Girl, Procter & Gamble, Kraft Foods, United Airlines, Allstate, NASA, and Hallmark.

As publisher of Kar-Ben, she will manage the publishing program for Jewish interest books for toddlers through middle grade readers. Lerner said it will enhance the Kar-Ben imprint by "strengthening and building upon an already successful publishing program that includes highly reviewed and award-winning books that celebrate Jewish heritage and culture."
 
"With her extensive brand management and content development expertise, Fran brings to us a proven track record and will continue to build Kar-Ben's strong publishing program," said Adam Lerner, president and CEO of Lerner Publishing Group. "Fran is dedicated to Kar-Ben's mission of providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives that celebrate Jewish heritage and culture, and we are excited for her to continue grow Kar-Ben's 50-year legacy of award-winning books."

Amazon's new 630,000-sq.-ft. fulfillment center in Dublin.

Bookselling Ireland issued a warning that the recent entry of Amazon into the Irish market with its Amazon.ie website and a fulfillment center has sparked fears of a hollowing out of the bookselling market in the country, "with bookshops closing in towns and villages across the country as they struggle to compete with a multinational giant with a history of driving independent bookshops out of business."

Dawn Behan, chair of Bookselling Ireland, said, "We live in a free market economy, and competition is a fact of life for any bookshop, or any other SME [small and medium-sized enterprises]--but Amazon is something of an unstoppable juggernaut, and we are again asking government to think intelligently about what this is likely to mean for booksellers and other small businesses--and to consolidate and increase the supports for SMEs across government. Amazon's arrival in markets has been shown to distort those markets, and Ireland is unlikely to be any different.

"We are very skeptical of the notion that somehow Amazon benefits SMEs--market investigations in the U.S., the U.K. and across Europe have comprehensively demonstrated that the opposite is true. Amazon has been forced to change its practices on its Marketplace platform by regulators in the U.S. and in other EU countries due to the inconsistent and unfair ways it treats sellers. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is currently suing Amazon for illegal competition conduct. It seems unlikely that Amazon won't carry out that same behavior in Ireland."

To mitigate the impact of Amazon's arrival as well as changes to school book supply, Bookselling Ireland is calling on the government to introduce a culture voucher scheme for young people similar to those in place in other European countries. "This will have the twin benefit of not only broadening young people's horizons by exposing them to in-person events and institutions they wouldn't otherwise experience, but also provides vital economic support to the bookshops that nurture the cultural output of Ireland," Behan noted.

Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association of the U.K. and Ireland, commented, "For over 25 years the Booksellers Association has fought to highlight the many benefits of local bricks and mortar bookshops in the U.K. in the face of Amazon's dominance in that market. We will fight equally hard for our members in the Republic of Ireland to ensure that Irish consumers don't lose access to the fantastic cultural and community spaces bookshops provide. From experience, Amazon's dubious track record on many issues, including the treatment of SMEs using its Marketplace platform, leads us to urge ministers to be cautious in celebrating the arrival of its .ie domain."

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BookPeople, the association for Australian bookshops, has released shortlists for its 2024 Bookseller of the Year awards, honoring individual booksellers for outstanding achievements during the past 12 months. The winners are celebrated for their exceptional performance within their bookshops, notable achievements in the broader book industry, and contributions to both the local and wider community. This award offers booksellers the chance to be acknowledged by the book industry for their innovation, excellence, and career accomplishments. Check out the complete list of finalists in each category here.

Winners will be named, along with the Book of the Year Awards, at the BookPeople conference's gala dinner and awards night on June 16 in Melbourne.

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Jennie Arado

Writer Jennie Arado launched the Alitaptap Bookshop in Koronadal Proper, Philippines, on May 1. SunStar reported that "her passion for writing and reading served as inspiration, but so did her desire to uplift Filipino authors and readers. She aims to provide access to books and foster a reading culture in her hometown."

"When I left home to work somewhere else, I discovered a lot of good books and where to find them. I found out there are good books written by Filipinos for Filipinos. But they're not available in my city. So I wanted to help increase interest in reading books through Alitaptap Bookshop," said Arado, adding: "Alitaptap Bookshop is more than just a bookshop. We want it to be a place of collaboration for local writers, artists, and advocates." 

SunStar noted that the "establishment of a local bookshop is a much-needed addition to the region, fostering the growth of a vibrant literary community. It becomes a beacon for book lovers and aspiring writers alike." --Robert Gray

Mai Corland signed copies of her new fantasy Five Broken Blades (Red Tower Books) at her local bookstore, Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where the book is a staff pick.

"The booksellers are at it again! It's National Get Caught Reading Month--yes, this is a thing! We didn't make it up but we fervently support it!" Cavalier House Books, Denham Springs, La., posted on Instagram. "We decided to show y'all the best places to hide and sneak a few minutes reading time in.... Eden is trying to become one with the desk in hopes of going undetected with their current read. Shh... don't tell! Secret or not, show us your favorite reading spot! Where do you most frequently Get Caught Reading?"

Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston, S.C., offered a musical reminder that it's "wedding season!"

"Door open season is THE BEST season," Ratty Books, Jeffersonville, N.Y., noted on Instagram, adding: "Gearing up for the big swap & donate this weekend! Really wonderful stuff is already coming in! I think this is one not to miss, friends :)"

At the Morrow Group and HarperCollins Children's Books:

Danielle Bartlett has been promoted to senior director, publicity and marketing, widening the scope of her responsibility to help lead Morrow fiction, Avon, and Voyager marketers as well as publicists. She has been with the company for 19 years.

Sam Fox has been promoted to senior director, content creation and social media strategy, leading the social teams serving both Morrow and HarperCollins Children's Books. She has been with HarperCollins for three years.

Carlos Rosario has been promoted to director, content creation and video strategy, for Morrow and HarperCollins Children's Books. He joined the company in 2022.

Today:
Here & Now: Kevin Kwan, author of Lies and Weddings (Doubleday, $29, 9780385546294).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Charlamagne Tha God, author of Get Honest or Die Lying: Why Small Talk Sucks (Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, $28.99, 9781982173791). He will also appear on CBS Mornings.

The View: Scott Galloway, author of The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security (Portfolio, $32, 9780593714027).

Sherri Shepherd Show: Michael Arceneaux, author of I Finally Bought Some Jordans: Essays (HarperOne, $19.99. 9780063140417).

Watch What Happens Live: Paul Scheer, author of Joyful Recollections of Trauma (HarperOne, $29.99, 9780063293717).

German-Norwegian actor Tobias Santelmann (The Last Kingdom) will play the lead in Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole, a TV adaptation of author Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole crime novel series. Santelmann is joined by Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, The Suicide Squad) playing Tom Waaler and Pia Tjelta (Made in Oslo, State of Happiness) as Rakel Fauke. The casting was announced recently at the Schrøder restaurant in Oslo, Norway, which also serves as Harry Hole's "second home" in the novels, Deadline reported.

The project comes from Exit and So Long, Marianne creator Øystein Karlsen and is based on Nesbø's novel The Devil's Star. Working Title is producing ahead of a 2026 debut, with Nesbø is writing the script.

"I am incredibly grateful for the trust I have been shown in getting to play Harry Hole," said Santelmann. "I am very much aware of the huge global fan base and the millions of readers who love the character."

Nesbø added: "I'm guessing that all readers of the book series have their own vision of what Harry Hole would look like, and they should be allowed to keep that. We will create a Harry that is based not only on the books but someone based on the actor Tobias Santelmann and everyone involved in this project--both in front of and behind the camera."

Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated from the German by Michael Hofmann, has won the 2024 International Booker Prize. The author and translator are splitting the £50,000 (about $63,640) prize. Erpenbeck is the first German to win the first International Booker, and Hofmann is the first male translator to win.

Organizers said that Kairos, published in the U.S. by New Directions, "follows a destructive affair between a young woman and an older man in 1980s East Berlin, with the two lovers seemingly embodying East Germany's crushed idealism. A meditation on hope and disappointment, Kairos poses complex questions about freedom, loyalty, love and power."

Chair of judges Eleanor Wachtel said: "In luminous prose, Jenny Erpenbeck exposes the complexity of a relationship between a young student and a much older writer, tracking the daily tensions and reversals that mark their intimacy, staying close to the apartments, cafés, and city streets, workplaces and foods of East Berlin. It starts with love and passion, but it's at least as much about power, art and culture. The self-absorption of the lovers, their descent into a destructive vortex, remains connected to the larger history of East Germany during this period, often meeting history at odd angles.

"Michael Hofmann's translation captures the eloquence and eccentricities of Erpenbeck's writing, the rhythm of its run-on sentences, the expanse of her emotional vocabulary.

"What makes Kairos so unusual is that it is both beautiful and uncomfortable, personal and political. Erpenbeck invites you to make the connection between these generation-defining political developments and a devastating, even brutal love affair, questioning the nature of destiny and agency. Like the GDR, it starts with optimism and trust, then unravels."

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Perpetual, the trustee of the A$60,000 (about US$40,000) Miles Franklin Literary Award, has released this year's longlist celebrating "novels of the highest literary merit that tell stories about Australian life." The longlisted titles are:

Only Sound Remains by Hossein Asgari 
Wall by Jen Craig
Strangers at the Port by Lauren Aimee Curtis
Anam by André Dao
The Bell of the World by Gregory Day
Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
The Sitter by Angela O’Keeffe
Hospital by Sanya Rushdi
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright

Eve J. Chung is a Taiwanese American lawyer specializing in women's human rights. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation. Her writing is inspired by social justice movements, and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. Chung's debut novel is Daughters of Shandong (Berkley, May 7, 2024), about a mother and her daughters' harrowing escape to Taiwan as the Communist revolution sweeps through China.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

My book is about daughters who were abandoned during China's Communist revolution, and traveled over a thousand miles to confront those who left them behind.

On your nightstand now:

How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino. I haven't opened it yet, but it came highly recommended from a friend, who said that it was Hayao Miyazaki's favorite childhood book, so I had to check it out.

Favorite book when you were a child:

I had many, but loved the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate and the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

Your top five authors:

This list changes all the time! Isabel Allende is always on it because I love all her work (The Wind Knows My Name is her newest), but I would say recently, my favorites are Jamie Ford, who wrote my favorite love story (The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet), Shubnum Khan, who wrote the most recent book that I can't stop talking about (The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years), Ruta Sepetys, who taught me about historical events that I was completely unfamiliar with (Between Shades of Gray), and Jesse Q. Sutanto, whose Auntie books make me laugh out loud (Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers).

Book you've faked reading:

Oh, a lot of Shakespeare. I might have read one or two of his books that were assigned in high school, but generally looked up the summaries. Romeo and Juliet is probably my least favorite read of all time.

Book you're an evangelist for:

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I didn't like it when I was a child, but loved it as an adult, possibly because it reminds me of the innocence of childhood.

Book you've bought for the cover:

The Apology by Jimin Han. As a child, I loved persimmons, which are on the hardcover version of the book. It turned out to be a great book, about a 105-year-old Korean woman who must correct a mistake that she made to cover up a family secret.

Book you hid from your parents:

I didn't have to hide books from my parents--they were always very supportive of me reading, but English was also their second language so they were unlikely to police my reading when I was at a level that was more advanced than their own.

Book that changed your life:

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I loved that she took a popular story and spun it from a woman's perspective, and then laced it with magic.

Favorite line from a book:

I have so many, but a recent line that I admired so much that I wrote it down was from Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon, a memoir about the Cambodian civil war and ensuing genocide: "The murderers among us would have us believe that history is slippery and unknowable. Insisting otherwise is an act of defiance."

Five books you'll never part with:

I have moved so many times in my life and parted with many books, so I'll have to say there aren't really any books that I feel like I MUST keep. Clearing out my shelf gives me an excuse to buy new books, so I'm pretty ruthless about it. Everywhere I go, I also immediately find my local library and find a sense of permanence there. One book that I might hold onto for sentimental value is I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne and illustrated by Julia Kuo, which is about missing one's relatives who are far away, and grief after losing one's grandma--it is a very Taiwanese book, with illustrations that reminded me of my relatives.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan was so beautifully written, and unlike any other story--it is a blend of a ghost story, mystery, and romance. I had gotten an early ARC of it, which I read twice, just to savor the language again (and then I bought the book).

What book did you wish was around when you were a child?

I don't read much MG or YA now, but there are so many books that I wish had been around when I was younger. They were books that I probably needed to see myself in, and would have helped me deal with some of the issues that I faced in middle and high school. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a book that I would have loved to have as a teenager because it combines feminist rage with a fantastic story.

Sherri L. Smith (American Wings) movingly imagines the complex life of a teen caught between two warring countries in the piercing historical graphic novel Pearl. In 1941, Amy sails to Japan--where she's never been--to visit her "sick, maybe even dying" sōsobo (great-grandmother). She goes alone from Hawaii to Hiroshima, because her parents can't travel with new baby Henry. Amy won't return home for 11 years. Illustrator Christine Norrie meticulously documents Amy's harrowing separation in pages awash in hues of blues, emphasizing the somber experiences ahead.

Amy's sōsobo was an ama, "a pearl diver from the shores of Honshu in Japan." Stories of her aquatic prowess abound, particularly her discovery of a "perfect" pearl "the size of her fist." Sōsobo's grandson is Amy's father who immigrated to Hawaii. Amy meets her "new family... across the sea," spending her first three months on her uncle's farm outside Hiroshima; that chance to get to know Sōsobo is "better than anything."

"But time changes all things" and Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. As war commences, Sōsobo emboldens Amy with inspiring reminders of "ikinokoru... You must survive!" With her English fluency, Amy is conscripted as "a monitor girl," translating American radio broadcasts for the Japanese military. Meanwhile, her parents and baby brother are unjustly imprisoned by the U.S. government for being of Japanese descent; Henry dies. Sōsobo, too, passes away, but her entreaties to "ikinokoru" keep Amy alive after atomic blasts end World War II. Following an arduous recovery, Amy helps other hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) record their stories until she's finally allowed to go home.

Smith's dedication cites the "research and stories" of friend Rahna Reiko Rizzuto, a Japanese American writer whose titles center the Japanese American experience. In her acknowledgements, Smith credits Rizzuto's memoir, Hiroshima in the Morning, with holding "the seeds of this story." Smith excels in capturing Amy's liminal state, caught between conflicting Japanese and American identities. Norrie, who is of Thai and Scottish descent, wordlessly expands Smith's narrative with her insightful illustrations: the (white) boys bullying Amy at the movie theater, glimpses of Amy's lonely voyage, and her poignant interactions with her sōsobo; most affecting perhaps is Norrie's 20 brutally realistic, near-textless pages documenting atomic destruction and its aftermath. Smith and Norrie's collaborative graphic title eloquently humanizes history with names, faces, and families, to create an intimate testimony of formidable challenges and resolute courage. --Terry Hong

Shelf Talker: A deft and affecting historical graphic novel collaboration about a Japanese American teen's complex experiences of World War II in Japan.