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Early Chapter Book Recommendations

2/21/2021

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Do you have a child who is building their reading confidence and ready to move up from beginning reading books? Whether starting early chapter books as read-alouds first or immediately using them for independent reading, they’re a great choice! Most feature more text but they are divided into manageable chapters with plenty of illustrations to give your eyes a visual treat.
 
Here are just some of our favorites that we think you’ll enjoy as much as we do!
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Polly Diamond and the Magic Book
Written by Alice Kuipers, Illustrated by Diana Toledano

 
It’s every writer’s dream! Polly Diamond finds a magic book that makes everything come true. Through hilarious trial and error, she realizes she has to be more careful with what she writes down because it might just happen!
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Skunk and Badger
Written by Amy Timberlake, Illustrated by Jon Klassen
 
In a new series for fans of The Wind in the Willows comes a story of an unlikely friendship. When Skunk shows up at Badger’s doorstep, the latter’s whole world which was orderly and quiet and turns upside down. Will they be able to get along or will the appearance of too many chickens be too much for them?
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The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp
Written by Jonathan Auxier, Illustrated by Olga Demidova

 
Readers looking for a beginning light-hearted (and big hearted!) fantasy will find their perfect book in this first installment of a new series. Auggie is tasked to take care of magical and one-of-a-kind creatures. When one of them needs help, he’ll do everything to save them. Full color illustrations.
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Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World
Written by Jacqueline Davies, Illustrated by Deborah Hocking

 
Get ready for an adventure with two best friends- a hedgehog named Taylor and a skunk named Sydney. They will travel to Places Unknown and hunt like the ferocious animals they are...or, at least try to! The whole wide world can be a scary thing but with a good friend by your side, anything is possible!
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Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us
Written by Lauren Castillo

 
Winnie the Pooh fans will find themselves charmed with Lauren Castillo’s new series about the loveable creatures of Hedge Hollow. When a storm separates Hedgehog from her best friend Mutty, it will take a lot of courage and a lot of friends to help them reunite!
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Planet Omar: Unexpected Super Spy
Written by Zanib Mian, Illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik


Fresh from facing down bullies in the first book in the series, trouble-magnet Omar is back and this time it’s up to him to solve the case of some missing money that would have helped his family’s favorite mosque open. Will his quick thinking save the day or will he end up running out of ideas?

Click on the cover or title to find out more about each book and to order from our online shop! Or give the store a call!
​503-954-2354

​Happy reading!
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New Books to Read!

2/2/2021

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There have been so many good books released in 2021 already!

We want to share some of our recent favorites...

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When Life Give You Mangos
by Kereen Getter

Twelve-year-old Clara should be having the time of her life- living in what some may call an island paradise and spending time with her best friend eating ripe mangos. But something happened last summer- after a hurricane hit- that affected her memory and Clara's never felt the same then. Now there's a new girl in the village that may change everything. Readers will be immediately enticed by Kereen Getten's debut middle grade novel and will be turning pages to discover the secrets of the past. For Clara it'll be a summer to remember- and for remembrance.


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The Smartest Kid in the Universe
by Chris Grabenstein

What starts out as an innocent act of snacking on some jelly beans at his mom's work ends up with Jake being pursued by the government and mega corporations. Because unbeknownst to him, the jelly beans were digestible information pills and now he knows everything there is to know! Chris Grabenstein delivers another rollicking middle grade novel full of pirate treasure and school quiz bowl competitions.



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The Lion of Mars
by Jennifer L. Holm

Bell is your typical eleven-year-old boy living in Mars in the year 2091. He wonders what it would be like to travel beyond his own planet- to Earth, even, where his people used to live and have been cut off from for generations. When a mysterious illness befalls the adults, it's up to Bell and other kids to find a solution and perhaps bridge the gap between the Mars colonies once again.

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The Beast and the Bethany
by Jack Meggitt-Phillips

Ebenezer Tweezer has discovered the secret to immortality- and it's the beast in his attic that he has to continuously feed to maintain his youthful appearance. For 511 years, it's worked like a charm. But now the beast is hungrier than ever and wants a child to feast on. What they didn't bargain for was Bethany! Have they bitten off more than they can chew when they've met the most unpleasant child in all of existence?

What have you read recently? Share it in the comments below!

You can click the book titles to order it from our website- or give the store a call!
503-954-2354
greenbeanbookspdx.indielite.org/


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Middle Grade Reviews, Part Five

2/2/2021

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We know you’ve been missing browsing our shelves and discovering a book that wasn’t on your radar. So, we’ll be sharing some newer middle grade releases throughout the week.
 
Give us a call at 503-954-2354 if you want any of them. And have your kids leave reviews in the comments of good books they’ve read recently.

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How to Make Friends with the Sea by Tanya Guerrero
 
After moving around all his life, Pablo and his recently divorced mother have settled down in the Philippines. As if that wasn’t enough to take in, they end up taking in an orphaned girl with a cleft lip. Will Pablo find a way to make his new situation feel like home?
 
For fans of Everlasting Nora by Marie Miranda Cruz, Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly and Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

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All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey
 
Ruby “Red” Byrd has moved around from one foster home to another. And, when she thinks her life is settling down a bit, an unexpected arrival shakes things up again. Not to mention she also has the magical power to control the wind based on her emotions. If you want a moving story with a touch of magical elements, look no further!
 
For fans of The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin.
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New Year, New You!

12/27/2020

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It's that time of year again when many of us make our annual resolutions!

​We can help you do this with books!!!

Explore the outdoors and your neighborhood more! (Safely, of course!)
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Write more letters!
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Have more music in your life!
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Read more biographies!
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Wear fun socks!
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Continue your antiracist reading!
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Read more classics!
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Learn a new language!
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Give us a call if you want any of these books to help you with your resolutions.

​Let us know if you need book recommendations for other resolutions.

We are here for you!
Happy New Year!

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Book-It-Forward!

11/11/2020

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Our Book It Forward holiday program returns this year to help young patients from
Randall Children's Hospital
get the books that they need!
Your kindness makes all the difference!


Green Bean Books has set up a wishlist of books that you can help us get for the kids at the hospital.
Just order any book on this list and we will hand deliver it to the hospital for the kids to enjoy!

You can make a real difference in helping these kids feel loved and less isolated this holiday season!

But, don't just take our word for it! A staff shared a little about this collaboration in the past and a sweet quote from one of the recipients.
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The Hospital School Program at Randall Children’s Hospital works to promote literacy in their work with patients and their siblings. Multnomah Education Service District teachers provide educational support and instruction to patients and siblings. Offering students books breaks down barriers and creates a way for us to connect with families and promote the importance and value of books. Green Bean Books in partnership with their amazing customers  have enabled patients to receive high quality books in previous years. One family noted that,
“These books elicited one of only a few smiles for my child today.”


The program will run through the end of 2020!

Call (503-954-2354) or purchase online the title(s) you want to donate and we'll keep them in store until hospital staff is ready to distribute them. (When choosing the online option, please type "Randall" in the comments/notes field.)

Your kindness and generosity never ceases to amaze us and gives us the warm and fuzzy feelings during these cold days!

Thank you for being Book Angels!
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Independent Bookstore Day

8/23/2020

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Celebrate
Independent Bookstore Day
with Green Bean Books
on Saturday, August 29th!

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This is such an important time to support small, local businesses, especially businesses who give back to their communities. You can help by giving us a call to order books, or place an online order on Independent Bookstore Day! We are so grateful for your support!

To celebrate and show our appreciation along with over 600 local independent bookstores across the nation, we'll have virtual events, freebies and giveaways, exclusive merchandise for sale, and fun surprises throughout the day!

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Virtual Events


Make sure you follow us on social media- Facebook and Instagram- where we will be sharing the links to these events! You will also find links on the Virtual Events Page of our Green Bean Books website!

First up:
At 10am
Join us for a fun and interactive drawing demonstration with illustrator and author Lisa Brown for her picture book Goldfish Ghost.
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At 10:30am
Join us for a graphic novel discussion and drawing class with Gene Luen Yang for his latest masterpiece ​Dragon Hoops.
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At 11am
Join us for some ​Middle-Grade Fun with Renee Watson (Ways to Make Sunshine) and illustrator Nina Mata (I Promise written by LeBron James) with moderator Isaac Fitzgerald (How to Be a Pirate with illustrations by Brigette Barrager).
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PLUS!
Special Guest Emily Arrow will be in our Book Advice Booth on our outdoor browsing deck from 12-1pm to offer her best reading recommendations with a musical touch! Come see with social distance!
Giveaway

All customers who make a purchase on Independent Bookstore Day will be entered to win a copy of the exclusive edition of Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson which includes a letter from the author!
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Freebies

The first 10 customers on Independent Bookstore Day will receive this Awesome Friendly tote bag!

There will be stickers for everyone. Plus, there will be surprise t-shirt and buttons giveaways throughout the day as well!
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Exclusive Merchandise

​We're excited to offer two exclusive items for sale on Independent Bookstore Day! The first is a "I want my book back." onesie with art by Jon Klassen! The second is a "Read" Narwhal tote bag with art by Jessie Sima. 

These will be available starting Saturday, August 29th. No holds or preorders for these items.​ They will sell quickly make sure to grab them before they're gone for good. 
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Emily Arrow's Ukulele Moon Album Virtual Launch Party!

8/14/2020

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Mark you calendars! Portland kidlit musician Emily Arrow will celebrate the release of her newest album, Ukelele Moon, with a virtual live show on Saturday, September 5th at 2pm PST in partnership with Green Bean Books!

With the purchase of the CD ($15), you'll also get the exclusive link to this event emailed to you!
Plus, 100% of the sales will benefit 
The Children's Book Bank!

Click here to buy the CD and get an event link emailed to you: 
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More Book Recommendations to Help You Diversify Your Bookshelves:

6/7/2020

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In the words of Ezra Hyland,
Humans don’t make our stories, it’s stories that make us human. It’s not until we know the stories of each other that we embrace our humanity. When I know the stories of my people and my culture, that’s when I become human myself.

Continuing on from our previous post, we wanted to share some more titles that might help you diversify your reading experience. These are books we currently have in store but they will go quickly so give us a call (503-954-2354) to place an order now!

Board Books
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-I am Brave: A Little Book about Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
-All Kinds of People by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly
-I Look Up to Misty Copeland by Anna Membrino
-Be Boy Buzz by bell hooks
-Baby Says by John Steptoe
-Happy to Be Nappy by bell hooks
-Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins
-My First Wilma Rudolph by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
-My First Muhammad Ali by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
-My First Ella Fitzgerald by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Picture Books
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-A Boy Like Me by Frank Murphy
-When Aidan Became a Brother
by Kyle Lukoff
-Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy

-Brown Sugar Babe by Charlotte Watson Sherman

-Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union
-Superluminous by Ian de Haes

-The Sun is So Quiet by Nikki Giovanni
-Bronzeville by Gwendolyn Brooks
-Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate
-Cool Cuts by Mechal Renee Roe

-Thank You, Omu! By Oge Mora
-The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome
Beginning Readers/ Early Chapter Books
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-I Am a Super Girl! by Kelly Greenawalt
-Layla and the Bots by Vicky Fang
​-Pass the Ball, Mo by David A. Adler
-Buzz Beaker and the Cave Creatures by Cari Meister
-King & Kayla and the Case of the Mysterious Mouse by Dori Hillestad Butler
-Sadiq and the Green Thumbs by Siman Nuurali
-Mia Mayhem is a Superhero! by Kara West
-Jada Jones: Class Act by Kelly Starling Lyons
-Absolutely Alfie and the Furry Furry Secret by Sally Warner
-Clubhouse Mysteries by Sharon M. Draper
-Dog Days by Karen English
-Backyard Witch: Maya’s Story by Christine Heppermann​
-Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants by Andrea Beaty
-Mighty Meg and the Magical Ring by Sammy Griffin
Middle Grade Novels
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-The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
-Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
-Dragons in the Bag by Zetta Elliott
-The Jumbies by Tracy Baptiste
-Rebound by Kwame Alexander
-Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
-Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
-Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
-Ghost by Jason Reynolds
-Some Places More than Others by Renee Watson
-Walking with Miss Millie by Tamara Bundy
-Child of the Dream by Sharon Robinson
-Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
-The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
Older Readers
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-On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
-You Should See Me in a Crown By Leah Johnson
-Dear Martin by Nic Stone
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Recommendations for Books about Racism, Anti-racism and Resistance

6/2/2020

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We find ourselves in troubling times with a familiar problem that frankly, feels like it's getting worse. Racism is not an abstract idea tucked away in history books. It is unfortunately still alive and it is everywhere. It is a large systemic problem that won’t be solved overnight. But it is something we do need to confront head-on if we want to make a difference, and a lasting change.

One thing we can do now is to read books to open our minds and to educate ourselves about our biases and issues at stake. We can also diversify our bookshelves, and amplify the voices of writers and illustrators of color. That's where we can help.

We'd like to share some of our favorite titles with themes of racism, antirasicm and resistance to help you get started on your journey to helping make a better world.

Special Note:
Many of these titles are currently sold out and on back-order due to recent high demand. You can still call us up (503-954-2354) and place an order with us and we will get them to you as soon as they are available again. Please be patient and know that they are worth the wait!


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Board Books

Counting on Community
by Innosanto Nagara
Anti-Racist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
Woke Baby by Mahogany L. Browne and illustrated by Theodore Taylor, III
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Picture Books

Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
We March by Shane W. Evans
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano and Marietta Collins and illustrated by Ann Hazzard
Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester and illustrated by Karen Barbour
You Matter by Christian Robinson
Skin Again by Bell Hooks and illustrated by Chris Raschka

​All Because You Matter ​by Tami Charles and illustrated by Bryan Collier
Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham
Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler and illustrated by David Lee Csicsko
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Middle Grade Novels

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
Piecing Me Together
by Renée Watson
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
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Young Adult Titles

The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
This Book is Anti-Racist b
y Tiffany Jewell and illustrated by Aurelia Durand
Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
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Graphic Novels

New Kid by Jerry Craft
I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina and illustrated by Stacey Robinson & John Jennings
March: Book One
by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell
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For Grown-Ups

Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
The Color of Law
by Richard Rothstein

Below are links to other pages with more book recommendations:

Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion
from We Need Diverse Books

How to Talk to Kids About Race: Books and Resources That Can Help
from Brightly

Anti-Racist Reading List from Ibram X. Kendi
from The Atlantic


What Can You Do?

Read books that will open your mind and educate yourself.


Discuss what you’ve read and learned with others.

Act. Do something and make a difference.

If you are in position of privilege, help those who aren’t.

Don’t forget. Don’t stop fighting to change things. Don’t give up.

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

-Maya Angelou

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Middle Grade Reviews, Part Four

5/23/2020

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We know you’ve been missing browsing our shelves and discovering a book that wasn’t on your radar. So, we’ll be sharing some newer middle grade releases throughout the week.
 
Give us a call at 503-954-2354 if you want any of them. And have your kids leave reviews in the comments of good books they’ve read recently.

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All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey
 
Ruby “Red” Byrd has moved around from one foster home to another. And, when she thinks her life is settling down a bit, an unexpected arrival shakes things up again. Not to mention she also has the magical power to control the wind based on her emotions. If you want a moving story with a touch of magical elements, look not further!
 
For fans of The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin.

Picture
How to Make Friends with the Sea by Tanya Guerrero
 
After moving around all his life, Pablo and his recently divorced mother have settled down in the Philippines. As if that wasn’t enough to take in, they end up taking in an orphaned girl with a cleft lip. Will Pablo find a way to make his new situation feel like home?
 
For fans of Everlasting Nora by Marie Miranda Cruz, Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly and Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai.

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