What's New? Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Hop on over there to ogle what other bloggers got this week.

For review: I came home a day early from vacation and found these in my mailbox!

The Brambly Head Complete Collection by Jill Barklem. 248 p. HarperCollins Publisher, October 23, 2018. 978008282820.

Publisher synopsis: Celebrate the world of Brambly Hedge with this exquisite slipcased volume containing all eight well-loved, classic picture books plus a special introduction from the author.

The mice of Brambly Hedge made their first appearance in 1980 when the four seasonal stories were published. Ever since, readers have loved exploring the miniature world of the hedgerow and meeting the families that live there.

In this collection the mice have many adventures, but they always have time for fun and relaxation too. Whatever the season, and whether they are by the sea, in the High Hills, or simply at home by the fire, there is always someone ready to lend a helping hand.

Contains 8 complete stories: Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story, Winter Story, Poppy’s Babies, Sea Story, The High Hills, The Secret Staircase.

The Person You Mean to Be by Dolly Chugh. 320 p. HarperCollins Publisher, September 4, 2018. 9780062692146.

Publisher synopsis: Many of us believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion. But how do we stand up for those values in our turbulent world? The Person You Mean to Be is the  smart, "semi-bold" person’s guide to fighting for what you believe in.

Dolly reveals the surprising causes of inequality, grounded in the "psychology of good people". Using her research findings in unconscious bias as well as work across psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and other disciplines, she offers practical tools to respectfully and effectively talk politics with family, to be a better colleague to people who don’t look like you, and to avoid being a well-intentioned barrier to equality. Being the person we mean to be starts with a look at ourselves.

She argues that the only way to be on the right side of history is to be a good-ish— rather than good—person. Good-ish people are always growing. Second, she helps you find your "ordinary privilege"—the part of your everyday identity you take for granted, such as race for a white person, sexual orientation for a straight person, gender for a man, or education for a college graduate. This part of your identity may bring blind spots, but it is your best tool for influencing change. Third, Dolly introduces the psychological reasons that make it hard for us to see the bias in and around us. She leads you from willful ignorance to willful awareness. Finally, she guides you on how, when, and whom, to engage (and not engage) in your workplaces, homes, and communities. Her science-based approach is a method any of us can put to use in all parts of our life.

Whether you are a long-time activist or new to the fight, you can start from where you are. Through the compelling stories Dolly shares and the surprising science she reports, Dolly guides each of us closer to being the person we mean to be.


Purchased: I usually try to pop into local indies when I am away. The Bookworm is a sweet little shop in Surf City. I popped in with #3 son because he was looking for a book to read. I was tickled to see a dad and his two kids troop in, bike helmets in hand to pick up their reserved copies of Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas and the latest Bad Guys, which I have already read. I decided I couldn't wait for my school book order to read Dog Man.

Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey. Captain Underpants Dog Man series #5. 256 p. Graphix/ Scholastic Inc. August 28, 2018. 9780545935173. 

Publisher synopsis: When a new bunch of baddies bust up the town, Dog Man is called into action -- and this time he isn't alone. With a cute kitten and a remarkable robot by his side, our heroes must save the day by joining forces with an unlikely ally: Petey, the World's Most Evil Cat. But can the villainous Petey avoid vengeance and venture into virtue?

That's what's new with me. What's new with you? Leave a link to your haul in the comments and I will stop by.