I’m usually in this store every other month. Many of the picture books that I blog about, I purchased from Frugal Book Store.
“Changing minds one book at a time.” – Frugal Book Store
What I bought – Listed by Publisher:
Jump at the Sun/Disney. New York.
Be Boy Buzz
Written by bell hooks.
Illustrated by Chris Raschka.
2002
Published for Jump at the Sun
New York
All boy. Big open heart. Sweet mind.
– hooks 2002.
That’s right. I am the last person in the country to buy, from an actual bookstore, a new, hard cover, first-edtion copy of bell hook’s Be Boy Buzz. That may be an exaggeration, but, as I mentioned in my previous blog post, bell hook’s children’s books are no longer in print. The owner of Frugal Book Store went down into the basement to find this for me. They didn’t even have it on the shelves. Now I don’t have to fret over students eagerly borrowing my paperback edition. Frugal still has multiple copies of the paperback edition for sale, though! No other bookstore does. It’s a miracle to still see hook’s picture books on the shelf for sale still. It’s the way it should be.
The Skin i’m in
by Sharon G. Flake
1998
Published for Jump at the Sun
New York
Winner of the Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe New Voices Award. I bought this book for a few reasons: 1. I will buy any book that is an original publication of Jump at the Sun publishers. 2. I’ve been meaning to read Sharon G. Flake’s work. 3. I’m attracted to the plot: biracial teacher, identity issues.
You Don’t Even Know Me
by Sharon G. Flake
2010
Published for Jump at the Sun
New York
Now matter what I think I may understand, I must constantly remind myself that: I know nothing! You Don’t Even Know Me is an obvious need-to-buy. This is the same book, I just learned about a few days ago for the first time, while I was trying to find out why Jump at the Sun publishing imprint no longer exists. This book was on the silhouette website page for Jump at the Sun, that I describe in my previous blog post. And here, Frugal Book Store has it! They are the only book store that I know of to still carry Jump at the Sun books.
Atheneum Books For Young Children: An imprint of Simon & Schuster. New York
Jenny Reen and the Jack Muh Lantern
1996
Published for Atheneum Books for Young Readers
New York
Once upon a time,…there was a time of great tears…In this hardest of hard times there was still joy because there were children, children with round cheeks and round curls. Such a child was Jenny Reen.
– Smalls 1996
I bought this book because it is written by beloved children’s author Irene Smalls. Smalls, like other cherished children’s book authors, is experiencing THE HAND! Yup. The hand. Publishers who own the rights of many of her books, are no longer publishing them. I’ll write more about this method of oppression in a future blog post. Jenny Reen and the Jack Muh Lantern is one of Smalls’ books that she owns the rights to, and therefore it is alive and printing well! Irene, if you are reading this post, then I’d like to ask you: Can we do lunch? We live in the same city!
Abrams Books for Young Readers. New York
Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl
By Tonya Bolden
2005
Published for Abrams
New York
This is the true account of Maritcha Rémond Lyons; based off her autobiographical memoirs and scrap books. She was an assistant principal at Public School No. 83 in Brooklyn, New York. She passed away in 1929. This book has been out for eight years, and I am just learning about it now. And I call myself a progressive teacher. Hmmph! There’s just so much newly-exposed history. I am eager to uncover it. I owe it to my students. It is their history to know. It is a gem of a book. The publishers did a fine job of including ample photos of Maritcha’s original journal and scrap book. Looking through it, I am flooded with the same feelings I get when looking through my great grandmother’s scrap book. She too, a New Yorker, Harlem bred.
Random House. New York
Harlem’s Little Blackbird
Written by Renée Watson
Illustrated by Christian Robinson
2012
Published by Random House
New York
If my voice can take me around the world, what else can it do?
– Watson 2012.
This story is about Florence Mills. Harlem, bred.
Houghton Mifflin. Boston. New York.
These Hands
By Margaret H. Mason
Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
2010
Published by
Houghton Mifflin Books For Children.
Boston. New York
These Hands is the biographical account of Joseph Barnett’s experiences while working in the 1950’s and 60’s, at the Wonder Bread factory. The Wonder Bread Corporation maintained great racial discrimination practices throughout the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.
A & B Publishing Group. Brooklyn, NY.
Nandi’s Magic Garden
Written by Ron Matthews
Illustrated by David Jones
(Year ?)
A&B Publishers Group
Brooklyn
Just Us Books. Orange, NJ.
Land of the Four Winds
Written by Veronica Freeman Ellis
Illustrated by Sylvia Walker
1993
Just Us Books
Orange, NJ.
African American Images. Chicago, IL.
Markita
Written by Alissa Nash
Illustrated by Doby London
1994
Published by African American Images
Chicago
The Best Face of All
Written by Wilesse A.F. Commissiong
Illustrated by Buck Brown
1991
Published by African American Images
Chicago
The trip was well worth it. From their generous teacher discount, to their ever-expanding children’s section, complete with numerous academic and educational toys & activities. Knowledgable and friendly staff.
Also, children get a free book on their birthday!
Frugal Book Store is located:
Inside the Washington Park Mall
306 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Boston, MA 02119
617-541-1722
Thanks for reading The Picture Book Pusher.
The Picture Book Pusher 
