Woods in the Books Blog

Long ago, this folktale retelling begins, people had trouble remembering when they were born and how old they were. To help people remember their birth years, the Jade Emperor hit upon the idea to assign twelve animals to each year through a river-crossing race. Written and illustrated by Taiwanese author and illustrator Lai Ma, this warm and funny retelling recounts the story of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac in simple but lively language well-suited to the playful illustrations. The heart of most retellings of this folktale lies in the conflict between the cat and the rat, where the...

Every Lunar New Year, Grandma would ask the same questions, wear the same "lucky" red, cook the same "lucky" food, give the same "lucky" amount, and invite the same "lucky" lions. The year turns, the lanterns are lit, the table is laden. Food, family, and festivities: it's time for the Lunar New Year reunion dinner. But a reunion dinner celebration in the world of Grandma and the Things that Stay the Same might be quite the same as Lunar New Year in our world. From its opening pages, Grandma and the Things that Stay the Same invites readers into a...

For a very long time, Cosmo the Octopus watched over the busy elves at Woods in the Books, waiting for the right person to bring him home. Many a customer gave him a pat as they walked by, drawn by his conspiratorial gaze and cuddly plush arms. But no one brought him home, until the December afternoon he went to live with an avid fan of marine creatures. One can only imagine the kinds of ocean-inspired adventures they’ll have together for years to come!

Happy Holidays!  In this chilly December, the Woods in the Books elves wish you the warmest of Christmases. May you be surrounded by your loved ones and a plethora of good reads!From our inaugural Creative Residency and Mandarin Picture Book Camps to the publication of Friends: A Counting Book, we could not have accomplished it without YOU.  1368 kids joined in our fun and games(camps, workshops, StoryTime, LITTLE SingLit Puppet Theatre, the list goes on)! 245 parent-child pairs spent time bonding together under our roof. 1000 paper bags and more saved through the Little EcoHero Project. Our 1st Picture Book published! #FriendsACountingBook Countless readers jingling through our...