Indie Next List Holiday Gift Guide Flier to Arrive in Stores in November

The American Booksellers Association’s third annual Indie Next List Holiday Gift Guide flier, to arrive in stores in the November Box mailing, features 20 children’s and adult titles across a range of gift book categories, as recommended by independent booksellers.

The double-sided, four-color flier is branded with the Indie Next List logo and highlights titles in six categories: Arts & Culture, Cooking & Culinary, For Makers, Fun for Kids, Offbeat & Humorous, and Science & Nature. Each featured title is accompanied by cover art and a quote from one of the booksellers who recommended the book.

The November Box is scheduled to arrive in stores in mid-November. Questions about the new flier can be directed to ABA Director of Development and Publisher Relations Matthew Zoni.

The titles appearing in the Indie Next List Holiday Gift Guide flier are:

Arts & Culture

Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon
(Workman Publishing Company, 9781523506644, $12.95, trade paper)
“This is a no-holds-barred approach to hanging tight with the mindset and habits we all need for an inspired life. A long line of creatives, like John Waters, Ralph Waldo Emerson, C.S. Lewis, and Wendell Berry, are quoted here, and if these alone don’t move you along, any of the practices in this sweet little book surely will. Perfect for gifting.” —Nancy Scheemaker, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, NY

Plagued by Fire: The Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright by Paul Hendrickson
(Knopf, 9780385353656, $35)
“This is a simply brilliant meditation on Frank Lloyd Wright, who is unquestionably one of the most famous architects ever but also one of the most enigmatic figures of the 20th century. Hendrickson digs deep and questions the preconceived notions of Wright to provide a nuanced and wholly original portrait that will challenge the way we view the man and his work.” —Cody Morrison, Square Books, Oxford, MS

Solid State: The Story of “Abbey Road” and the End of the Beatles by Kenneth Womack
(Cornell University Press, 9781501746857, $26.95)
“A must-read for any Beatles fan. Womack is a noted Beatles scholar and has all of the inside info you could possibly want about both the personalities and the technology involved in the band’s last studio recordings and the ‘end’ of the Beatles. Fascinating and elucidating.” —David Lucey, Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC

Cooking & Culinary

Anthony Bourdain Remembered by CNN
(Ecco, 9780062956583, $35)
“Anthony Bourdain shouldn’t have been famous. A journeyman cook, a recovering addict—by all rights, he should have been on the line forever. But he could write. Man, how he could write. His television work brought the world to our living rooms and made the foreign, the strange, the scary-because-it’s-unknown seem relatable. This book is a compilation of memories of Bourdain from famous people and from us ordinary Joes whose lives he touched.” —Lee Virden Geurkink, Monkey and Dog Books, Fort Worth, TX

Botany at the Bar: The Art and Science of Making Bitters by Selena Ahmed, Ashley Duval, Rachel Meyer
(Roost Books, 9781611804980, $22.95)
“A whimsical encyclopedia about the history, creation, and use of bitters, complete with a playful and richly illustrated format. A perfect gift for someone who appreciates scientific method but who also enjoys a great (and interesting) cocktail.” —Darryl Peck, Righton Books, St. Simons Island, GA

Eat Joy: Stories & Comfort Food From 31 Celebrated Writers by Natalie Eve Garrett (Ed.)
(Black Balloon Publishing, 9781936787791, $22)
“Humans have an intimate relationship with food. Eat Joy gives us stories from some of our most beloved writers as they share big moments in their lives and the recipes that were a part of them. Covering weighty topics like growing pains, loss, healing, and homecoming, these stories are delicious. Eat Joy is a perfect host/hostess gift.” —Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA

Notes From a Young Black Chef: A Memoir by Kwame Onwuachi
(Knopf, 9781524732622, $26)
“Before age 30, Kwame Onwuachi had opened a restaurant, cooked at the Smithsonian and the White House, and competed on Bravo’s hit series Top Chef. This book is an example of food writing done perfectly: balancing fun reality-TV anecdotes with a side of poignant social commentary, plus heartfelt family history and even a few amazing recipes!” —Liv Stratman, Books Are Magic, Brooklyn, NY

For Makers

A Craftsman’s Legacy: Why Working With Our Hands Gives Us Meaning by Eric Gorges
(Algonquin Books, 9781616208363, $24.95)
“Eric Gorges wants you to believe in the value of working with our hands—of being involved in creative craft works. And you know something? He’s right. Most of us have lost out on the joy of working with our hands to create our own unique objets d’art. Whether or not you are already working in a craft field, you’ll finish this book and immediately want to find something to do!” —Linda Bond, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, WA

Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter
(Abrams Press, 9781419739538, $26)
“Far more than an entertaining survey of needlework, this debut work from Clare Hunter weaves the history of the human race through its stitches. From the author’s early descriptions of the Bayeux Tapestry to Mary, Queen of Scots to British soldiers and prisoners of war, it’s a story told in panels both large and small and utterly captivating. Do not miss this one.” —Anne Holman, The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT

Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool by Clara Parkes
(Abrams Press, 9781419735318, $23)
“We’ve all been learning that eating locally produced food has many benefits for our health, economy, and environment. What if we could do the same with our clothing? Parkes spins a fascinating tale as she shepherds a bale of fine Merino wool from their New England farm through the production of beautiful commercial yarn. She makes a persuasive case that we can support the creation of fabric and clothing here at home.” —Ellen Sandmeyer, Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, Chicago, IL

Fun for Kids

Bake It: More Than 150 Recipes for Kids From Simple Cookies to Creative Cakes!
(DK Children, 9781465486141, $24.99)
“Bake It features beautifully illustrated step-by-step directions. A must-have for the young baker in your family!” —Debbie Buck, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA

Can You Hear the Trees Talking?: Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest by Peter Wohlleben
(Greystone Kids, 9781771644341, $17.95)
“This is a beautiful, smart adaptation of The Hidden Life of Trees with gorgeous photographs, clean and inviting layouts, and fantastic nonfiction text features. The content is absolutely fascinating and is guaranteed to transform the way young people see the trees around them. This would be a great middle-grade science text to use with a whole class, or a wonderful addition to any home library.” —Brittany Baker, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, Boston, MA

Jon Klassen’s Hat Box by Jon Klassen
(Candlewick, 9780763666972, $49.99)
“Glum, angry, loving, guilty, covetous, kind...Klassen’s simply rendered animal characters possess the full range of nuanced human emotion. Their trials and tribulations deal with justice and injustice, all while being hysterically funny. The outstanding hat trilogy belongs on every bookshelf, though it’s most likely going to be found out on a table, having just been read — no matter the ages of the people in your house.” —Marika McCoola, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA

The Pigeon Needs a Bath Book With Pigeon Bath Toy! by Mo Willems
(Hyperion Books for Children, 9781368048651, $14.99, boxed set)
“Mo Willems’ hot-headed bird friend is exploring a brave new frontier: the bathtub! Squishy, waterproof, and cute, this bath book is perfect for any toddler in your life. (Especially reluctant bathers—those who know Pigeon will be unsurprised to hear that he starts out pretty reluctant himself!)” —Madeline Shier, Powell’s Books, Portland, OR

Offbeat & Humorous

The Cat in the Box by Chris Ferrie
(Sourcebooks, 9781492671237, $17.99)
“A delightful little poem exploring quantum physics and Schrödinger’s paradox. Charming pictures and a nice rhyme scheme make this a fun gift book for any fans of science.” —Amanda Kothe, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH

Giraffes on Horseback Salad: Salvador Dali, the Marx Brothers, and the Strangest Movie Never Made by Josh Frank, Tim Heidecker, Manuela Pertega
(Quirk Books, 9781594749230, $29.99)
“This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever read and I loved it! If you are either a Marx fan or a fan of the strange worlds Dali created, this book is for you. The illustrations are magnificent and the story makes you laugh out loud in the way only a Marx would make you laugh.” —Jordan Arias, Anderson’s Bookshops, Naperville, IL

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions From Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty, Dianné Ruz (Illus.)
(W.W. Norton & Company, 9780393652703, $25.95)
“With her trademark humor and wit, mortician Caitlin Doughty returns to the world of death with this new book. But unlike her previous two books, children dictate the content here. Because kids lack the same death-anxious filter as adults, from the questions they’ve asked ‘Aunt Caitlin,’ readers can take in her answers and, hopefully, start to become more comfortable with life’s inevitable conclusion.” —Sarah Danforth, Towne Book Center & Wine Bar, Collegeville, PA

Science & Nature

The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson
(Doubleday, 9780385539302, $30)
“Less curmudgeonly than his more personal narratives, The Body is Bryson at his best. Nobody can beat his uncanny ability to blend science and humor. This the best of nonfiction, which makes me want to pester friends and strangers alike with all of the fascinating and occasionally grotesque details that I’ve learned about the human machine.” —Emily Crowe, An Unlikely Story, Plainville, MA

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht
(Chronicle Books, 9781452174037, $15.95, trade paper)
“There are birders, and then there are Birders. But what about the rest of us? We all come across that noisy blue pokey one that screams, the herds of tiny round brown birds, and the tubby gray sacks with tiny heads, but there hasn’t been a specific guide for us meh-birders until now. Crass, blunt, and incredibly accurate, this is a field guide begging to be gifted, loved, and worn down by use.” —Rachel Swan, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe
(Riverhead Books, 9780525537090, $28)
“This is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud, absurd, and scientifically over-the-top guide to basic everyday things. With brilliantly simple cartoons and dry, sarcastic syntax, this book will have your head spinning with equations, breakdowns, and implausible situations for real-world problems. Perfect for science nerds, geeks, or the mechanical handyman in your life.” —Anna Rose Carleton, The Well-Read Moose, Coeur d’Alene, ID