Thrift it, break it, cook it, prank it, friend it, cure it, learn it

A package arrived this morning…and surprise, surprise, it was full of books!

– “New Dress a Day” by Marisa Lynch
Based on her wildly popular blog of the same name, guerrilla seamstress Marisa Lynch shows you how to easily (and affordably!) transform your wardrobe from frumpy to fabulous! With just a snip here and a stitch there, your basement bargains will rival anything in designer collections. Yes, with a little imagination—and DIY tools like needles, thread, and safety pins—you too can update an outdated castoff. Inside you’ll discover how to
 
• ace the sewing basics (remember: safety first!)
• create DIY designer look-alikes
• cut Flashdance-inspired sweatshirts
• make an old, tired muumuu a smashing must-have
• give bridesmaid dresses a second life
• dye your way to a vibrant new wardrobe
• whip up accessories in seconds
• style the same dress seven different ways

– “Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot” by Masha Gessen
On February 21, 2012, five young women entered the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. In neon-colored dresses, tights, and balaclavas, they performed a “punk prayer” beseeching the “Mother of God” to “get rid of Putin.” They were quickly shut down by security, and in the weeks and months that followed, three of the women were arrested and tried, and two were sentenced to a remote prison colony. But the incident captured international headlines, and footage of it went viral. People across the globe recognized not only a fierce act of political confrontation but also an inspired work of art that, in a time and place saturated with lies, found a new way to speak the truth.

Masha Gessen’s riveting account tells how such a phenomenon came about. Drawing on her exclusive, extensive access to the members of Pussy Riot and their families and associates, she reconstructs the fascinating personal journeys that transformed a group of young women into artists with a shared vision, gave them the courage and imagination to express it unforgettably, and endowed them with the strength to endure the devastating loneliness and isolation that have been the price of their triumph.

– “The Official DC Super Hero Cookbook” by Matthew Mead
The DC Super Hero Cookbook is packed with simple, fun recipes designed to evoke kids’ favorite super heroes and to enhance their super powers. DC Super Hero logo stencils and character cut-outs make for extra-fun food styling.

More than fifty easy, tasty recipes inspired by beloved DC characters (including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Wonder Woman–and more!) are fun for kids to prepare and to eat! From the Up, Up and Away Parfait and Green Arrow Fruit Kebobs to Holy Guacamole and the Martian Manhunter Malted, the colorfully presented recipes are perfect for making everyday family meals extra special, as well as for themed parties. Simple, step-by-step instructions are easy to replicate. And kids will enjoy flipping through the fabulous finish photos. Special sections on lunch box suggestions and super hero parties are packed with clever ideas. And DC Super Hero symbol stencils and character cut-outs make it easy to style every dish.

– “Desmond Puckett Makes Monster Magic” by Mark Tatulli
Meet Desmond Pucket – master of mayhem! Desmond’s world is full of monster magic – packed with detailed drawings of custom-crafted wiggling worms, goblins that spring from toilets, and elaborate slumber party ghost scares. He’s an aspiring special effects wizard with dreams of creating his own dark amusement park rides, just like the Mountain Full of Monsters at Crab Shell Pier he’ll be visiting on this year’s school field trip. But when Desmond takes his frightful pranks a little too far, he finds himself in trouble and his field trip privileges in danger. Can he clean up his act, while staying true to who he is?

– “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

This book:
– Was selected as an Honor Book for the Michael Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
– Won the Stonewall Book Award from the American Library Association
– Won the Pura Belpre Award
– Won the Lambda Literary Award

– “The Hungoevr Cookbook” by Milton Crawford
Everything you need to know to assess, understand, and improve a hangover is here: dozens of comforting recipes, very clever graphic tests for analyzing your state of mind, and quizzes for tracking your progress.
 
A good hangover brings its victim to a new state of mind—and one that, when looked at objectively, can be quite fascinating to its host: It can create an increased awareness of the body, a willingness to eat something usually off limits, and a fascination with the mind’s strange acrobatics. With P. G. Wodehouse’s six hangovers—The Broken Compass, The Sewing Machine, The Comet, The Atomic, The Cement Mixer, and The Gremlin Boogie—as a starting point, recipes are tailored to each specific malady, allowing the reader to find a recipe (or just a menu item) that precisely suits his state of mind . . . and body. Interspersed with the recipes are mind games, witticisms and graphic jokes, insights into hangover science, quizzes to see if you are still drunk or now just merely hungover, and more.

– “Creatures” and “Shapes” by Orla Kiely
From elephants and giraffes to foxes and dragonflies, learn all about creatures and shapes in these beautifully-designed board book from iconic British designer, Orla Kiely.

Complete with stunning, textured cloth covers, this stylish series blends bold design with gentle learning and first concepts to create rewarding books for both parent and child.