Puddnhead Books and free YA swag!

I moved to St. Louis one year ago.  A huge part of my settling in process hinged on discovering an independent bookstore that specializes in books for kids and teens.  Puddnhead Books in Webster Groves is a place where you can count on finding knowledgeable staff members who are reading the newest and most awesome YA titles.  This is a place that offered midnight pickups on the release date for Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay.  Due to a combination of first day of school jitters and excitement to finish this intense dystopian trilogy, I was there!

This coming Monday, Puddnhead's YA expert, Melissa, will be booktalking her favorite new children's and YA titles.  On top of her energetic booktalks, Melissa will be giving away swag--that is, promotional stuff that publishing companies send out to drum up interest in new titles.  Here's her invitation to booktalk night:

Educator Night
Monday, September 13th at 6:30 PM
Okay, teachers and librarians, here's the deal:
You come in, and I tell you about the newest, most awesome books - picture books through YA. You receive 20% off not only on your professional purchases (like you always do), but on ANYTHING you buy that night. You walk out with armloads of free posters, buttons, advance copies, tshirts, and everything else I've been stashing in my house for you since May.
I Get to have a blast talking to you AND keep my husband from complaining that there are 20 BIG NATE tshirts lying just inside our front door (not that you'd see them as they are buried under four boxes full of giveaway novels).
Sound good? Just email or call to tell me you're coming (so I can have enough chairs) and forward this info to anyone you think would be interested!
**Educator nights are now MONTHLY rather than seasonally - next one is October 18th at 6:30. However, the most stuff will be given away on Monday as I have four months' worth rather than one month!**

Puddnhead will also be sponsoring YA author Ellen Hopkins' upcoming visit to St. Louis:

Ellen Hopkins
Monday September 20th at 7 PM
St. Louis County Library HQ, 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard.

NYT bestselling (and frequently banned) YA author Ellen Hopkins discusses her newest book, "Fallout." "Fallout" is the stunning conclusion to Hopkins' bestselling "Crank" trilogy about teenage addict Kristina Snow. "Fallout" is written from the perspective of Kristina's children, now teenagers and dealing with how their own lives have been shaped by the choices Kristina made when she was their age. The "Crank" trilogy is a transfixing, vivid look at teenage drug abuse and a testament to the harsh reality that addiction is never just one person's problem. Ellen Hopkins is one of THE BEST speakers in the YA world - this is going to be a dynamite evening!

 Jennifer Buehler