Sparkle Stories

Sparkle Stories
online audio stories for children and families

Yes, storytelling is still alive! And of course, coming to you from Vermont. Surprised? We’re not.

Every week Sparkle Stories releases a new audio story to subscribers. It’s simple – you subscribe or purchase audiobooks and get access to fun, inspiring and entertaining stories for the whole family.

In our crazy, connected world, Sparkle Stories is using technology to bring you back to a screen-free time. Partially unplug, give eyes a rest and let imaginations flourish allowing listeners to create scenes and images for themselves.

Interested? Listen to a story here.

Still not convinced? Read these testimonials. Buy for your own family or as a  great green gift for others. Have travel plans? Sparkle Stories also has accompanying printables for the Martin & Sylvia stories.

They were voted iTunes Best of 2013 by Apple for a reason!

vermont independent bookshops

Vermont Independent Bookshops

Today is Black Friday and the eve of Small Business Saturday. Instead of heading to the big box stores, check out one of our very own independent booksellers:

bartleby’s books & music – wilmington
bear pond books  – montpelier & stowe
bennington bookshop – bennington
better planet books – st. albans & bristol
book nook – ludlow
boxcar and caboose – st. johnsbury
bridgeside books – waterbury
briggs carriage bookshop – brandon
brown dog books & gifts – hinesburg
cover to cover ltd – randolph
crow bookshop – burlington
ebenezer books – johnson
everyone’s books – brattleboro
flying pig bookstore – shelburne
galaxy bookshop – hard wick
green mountain books & prints – lyndonville
hopkins bookshop – burlington
misty valley books – chester
next chapter bookstore – barre
northshire books – manchester center
norwich bookstore – norwich 
phoenix books – burlington & essex
rivendell books – montpelier
ryan books inc – johnson
shiretown books – woodstock
stardust books & cafe – craftsbury
tempest bookshop – waitsfield
vermont bookshop – middlebury
woodknot bookshop – newport
village square booksellers – bellows falls
yankee bookshop – woodstock

We are so lucky to have so many to choose from.

Buy Local. Support our indie booksellers!

(know of one that’s missing? please let us know)

the expeditioners

the expeditioners and the treasure of drowned man’s canyon
by s.s. taylor

vermont is more than beautiful views and amazing startups. it’s also home to many authors!

sarah stewart taylor’s (writing as s. s. taylor)  new book “the expeditioners and the treasure of drowned man’s canyon” is being released this weekend.

set in the future, when there is no more internet, “the expeditioners” has everything a young adventure reader wants in a book:

• maps
• mystery
• disappearances
• secrets
• fame
• wild riches
• smuggling
• exploration
• intrigue

just read chapter one and you’ll see – you’ll want to read what happens next.

“Full of kid power, clues, codes and maps, this will appeal to sophisticated readers who appreciate their adventure served with heaping helpings of cleverness.” -kirkus reviews

with wonderful illustrations by center for cartoon studies (which is in vermont, btw) graduate katherine roy, young readers will find her visual interpretation of the characters and scenes quite compelling.

sarah has a fun website too – readers can design their own maps of the world as well as their own explorers vests.

want a copy? order here or better yet, come meet sarah at these book signings this weekend:

• nov 17   2-4 p.m.    norwich bookstore norwich, vt
• nov 23   11 a.m.      bear pond books montpelier, vt
• dec   7    5-8 p.m.    center for cartoon studies first friday holiday open house
• dec   9    2-4 p.m.    misty valley books chester, vt

check here for more events.

buy local. read local.

vermont – an explorer’s guide

vermont – an explorer’s guide
by christina tree and rachel carter

whether you are visiting vermont or are lucky enough to live here, vermont – an explorer’s guide is for you. you’ll find all sorts of tips from where to stay & eat and what to see & do to a great a to z guide of  “what’s where in vermont”.

yes, we know you can find everything online these days. but the reality is it would take you thousands of searches to just get all the websites and it wouldn’t be all neatly organized in one place. use the book to let you explore a new area of vermont or discover hidden treasures about a place you thought you knew so well! you never know.

how about:

• bushwhacking in mount snow region aka traveling through the woods exploring forested and mountainous land. pg 103
• checking out the sweet winter cabins at merck forest & farmland center after a snowshoe or cross-country ski adventure on over 3,000 acres in the taconic mountains in southern vermont near the new york border. pg 156
• eating delicious french country cuisine at tourterelle restaurant in new haven – worth a drive for an imaginative evening out. pg 448
• exploring missisquoi national wildlife refuge in swanton. with over 200 birds known to live there, the wildlife viewing is exceptional as swamp areas start to freeze over. it’s also great for hiking or snowshoeing once the snow flies. pg 517
• staying at the maple house inn in morrisville and swimming in their flamingo-inspired indoor pool with milky way ceiling and checking out their 45-seat galaxy of the stars home-theater — funky! pg 585

love vermont?  buy the book.

challenge: vermonters, keep a copy in your car and when you discover something new from the book – let us know.

salvage secrets

 

salvage secrets

transforming reclaimed materials into design concepts

by joanna palmisano

photographs by susan teare

 

ever wondered where people get the ideas to take something reclaimed (old/used) and make it into something new? you often hear of people who find an old board, antique lighting fixture or some old glass and work it into their design to create wonderful new living spaces. but how did they do it? where did they start? where did they get the ideas? not to mention we are also in a world of going green where reuse, reduce and recycle are becoming words to live by.

 

joanne has a great eye for finding that perfect reclaimed material or item and design creativity to turn anything into something new. add susan’s eye for capturing these beautiful design concepts in crisp, clean photos and you’ll wish you lived in a house full of “salvage secrets”. filled with ideas, images and resources that bring reclaimed materials to life, this book is the foundation you’ll need to do some ‘transforming’ and creative integration of old into new in your own home.

 

salvage secrets is not only a must for anyone thinking of building or renovating in any style, it would also look great on your coffee table and spark many an idea and inspiration for anyone who sees it.

 

and if you don’t believe us – take a look at these reviews (scroll a little – they’re worth reading!) and check out the salvage secrets blog.

 

oh and in case you were wondering – yes, both joanne and susan are vermonters!