As the newest member of the ShelfTalker team, I wanted to say a quick hello. I’ve been lucky enough to buy books for BookPeople’s children’s book department in Austin for the last 10 years, and I’m really looking forward to exploring our ongoing adventures in bookselling with you and my fellow ShelfTalker contributors in the upcoming year!
Although last fall was a tumultuous season (to say the least), we’re coming off a bustling December that reminded me of the essential, positive role books play in bringing us together around words and ideas that shape who we are. It gives me great heart that the bestselling children’s book of BookPeople’s holiday season was I Dissent, Debbie Levy’s look at the life of a notorious judicial icon who has never struggled to form an opinion or state it boldly. Separating personal feeling from well-reasoned dissent, this timely tribute to the value of clear-eyed debate will hopefully inspire young thinkers to navigate the discomfort of disagreement and calmly speak their minds. I honestly can’t think of a better book to take our community into this coming year.
I’ll be posting more from the bookselling trenches soon. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what books resonated with your communities this holiday season.
Happy New Year!
Meghan Dietsche Goel
Children’s Book Buyer & Programming Director
BookPeople
Welcome indeed Meghan! I would have to say that Gertie’s Leap to Greatness was the book that resonated the most here.
Great to see you here Meghan.
Meghan, many thanks to you and BookPeople for embracing I DISSENT. As you might imagine, you’re not the only one who takes great heart from the fact that it was your bestselling children’s book over the holidays–so do I! 🙂 I look forward to coming to Austin one of these days and visiting the store.
Thanks Debbie,
We’re big fans of the book and would love to see you if you’re ever in Austin. In the meantime, we’ll happily keep selling I DISSENT!
Meghan
Delighted to have you join us – and bring a little west to our east! Welcome!