Entries by Alison Sheridan

Live Mindfully with Journals from Spruce Books

Autumn is a time of change. There’s back to school, crisper air, and the start of  busy holiday season prep. With everything on your plate, it can be a challenge to make time for yourself. Fortunately, Spruce Books has a selection of simple yet effective journals that ease anxiety, reduce stress, and increase happiness. Everything you need to practice everyday mindfulness, reflect, and enjoy your life as you move into a new season!

 

The 52 Lists Project – New Cover Design!
by Moorea Seal

The original journal in the bestselling 52 Lists series is back with a new look. …

Mental Health Awareness Month Journal Giveaway

May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, but we want to inspire you to prioritize mental health all year.  So we’re giving away a set of our journals to help you find your ultimate self-care routine, flex your gratitude muscles, create headspace, harness your confidence, get creative, and live your best life.

One lucky winner will win a copy of each:

…

Get to Know Authors Amy Pennington and Tara Austen Weaver

Spring has sprung! What better way to ready a garden than with gardening tips from the experts. We asked authors Amy Pennington of Tiny Space Gardening and Tara Austen Weaver of Dahlias and Peonies their thoughts on everything from why and how to start a garden (even if you don’t have a yard!) to garden must-haves and the pitfalls gardeners should avoid.

 

Why garden?
Amy: Ha! Gardening connects us with the natural world. It slows people down and lulls them into a sense of calm. While I didn’t plan to be in touch with nature, over the years …

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s day is just a few weeks away! Show mom the love this year with a new book, cookbook, or guided journal. This year’s gift guide includes books celebrating beautiful plants found in the garden, guided journals that celebrate a reader’s love of books, family, and the power of mindfulness, and a cookbook to inspire the home baker!

 

My Reading Life
by Spruce Books

Give mom the gift of keeping track of all the good books she reads! If she loves books, this charming guided journal is the perfect way to be more mindful about her reading. It’s a …

Sasquatch Picks for Gardening Season

Spring is here, which means it’s time to pull on your gardening gloves and get your hands in some soil. Here are our Sasquatch Picks to get ready for gardening season. They also make great Mother’s Day gifts!

 

Little Book of Flower Series
by Tara Austen Weaver; Illustrated by Emily Poole

Perfect for flower fans, this series is a little love letter to the peony and to the dahlia, each bursting with tips, tricks and facts. Did you know peonies are queens of the spring garden? Or that Dahlias are the showboats of the flower world—colorful, flamboyant, and spectacular? …

Shellfish + Hama Hama Giveaway

To celebrate the release of #Shellfish by Cynthia Nims, we teamed up with a #PNW favorite Hama Hama Oyster Company for a fantastic giveaway perfect for seasoned oyster fans or first-time shuckers!

ONE grand prize winner will receive:

  • A Copy of Shellfish by Cynthia Nims
  • A Hama Hama Oyster Starter Pack, which includes shucking gloves, a shucking knife, 2 dozen extra small oysters, an oyster tasting guide, a bar towel, a lemon, and a seasonal mignonette

Please note: this prize ships between March-April 2022. Shipping arrangements will be made directly with Hama Hama Oyster Company.

THREE runner-up winners with …

We’re Thankful for You Giveaway

The holidays are in full swing and this Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for you, our readers! To celebrate, we’re giving away a full set of our #SasquatchPicks for holiday gifts. One lucky winner will win a copy of each:

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Bravery Magazine Giveaway

Looking for a way to get your child into journaling? This giveaway is for you! We’ve teamed up with Bravery Magazine to help celebrate the launch of our new book My 52 Lists Project: Journaling Inspiration for Kids—the latest in the bestselling 52 Lists series. A creative and fun way to help kids express themselves, explore interests and hobbies and reap the mental health benefits of journaling. Five winners will win a copy of the hardback journal as well as a Bravery mag of their choice! Enter to win by following @bravery_mag and @sasquatchbooks and tagging a friend below. …

Sasquatch Picks to Enjoy the PNW Summer

There’s still time to make the most of your summer! Explore the great outdoors, hit the road, enjoy the sun at the beach, or serve up delicious seasonal recipes with our list of essential PNW #SasquatchBooks 📚

Northwest Know-How: Trees
by Karen Gaudette Brewer; Illustrated by Emily Poole

If you’re hiking this summer, be sure to pack this entertaining and educational guide of the Pacific Northwest’s most engaging and impressive varieties. It provides identification tips, statistics, and fun facts for each of the 54 trees featured and beautiful illustrations showing the full silhouette along with finer details such as a …

Secret Seattle Giveaway

We’re celebrating the upcoming release of @seattlewalkreport new book Secret Seattle with a giveaway! Enter-to-win a copy of the book and a goodie basket filled with author Susanna Ryan’s must-haves for a walk around the Emerald City 💚 Prizes include granola snack packs, a notebook, a camp cup, and an adorable set of custom pins featuring your pet!

ONE grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of Secret Seattle by Susanna Ryan
  • A set of custom drawn pet pins by the author
  • A set of Marge Granola snack packs
  • A Rite in the Rain notebook (size: 3.5″ x 6″)
  • A
…

Lavender Giveaway

Lavender Giveaway Featured Image

We’re kicking off summer, lavender season, and Sequim’s July Lavender Festival with a giveaway! Treat yourself and enter-to-win a copy of our new book Lavender: 50 Self-Care Recipes and Projects for Natural Wellness by Bonnie Louise Gillis and the ultimate goodie basket from Washington-area lavender farms, including essential oils, eye pillow, lip balm, and more.

ONE grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of Lavender by Bonnie Louise Gillis
  • Lavender Essential Oil from Lavender Connection & Sequim Lavender Farm
  • Lavender Eye Pillow from B&B Family Farm
  • Lavender Lip Balm set from Jardin Du Soleil
  • Lavender Hand Sanitizer from Fleurish Lavender
…

Sasquatch Picks for Father’s Day Gifts

Father’s Day will be here before you know it! If you’re still in need of a gift, browse our list of recommended reads that are perfect for the dad on your list. Aspiring pitmaster dad, got his home brew kit during the pandemic dad, “we’re going on a summer road trip” dad, armchair historian, explorer and adventurer, even the prepared for everything dad—we’ve got you covered 📚

Northwest Know-How Beer Cover ImageNorthwest Know-How: Beer
by by Jacob Uitti; Illustrated by Jake Stoumbos

For dads who love a pint, Northwest Know-How: Beer is a guide to all that is malty and hoppy in the Pacific …

Look at That Bird! Suet Activity

You Can Do It_ Suet! Activity Featured Image

Kids who enjoy learning about birds they spot in the outdoors–in their backyards and beyond–will love this fun activity from Little Bigfoot’s new book Look at That Bird! by Karen DeWitz. Even though it’s normally a winter activity, birds enjoy Suet year-round and it’s perfect for the family to do together this weekend!

Here’s what you will need:

  • 5 empty and clean half-gallon milk cartons or other square molds (see Note)
  • 2 cups squishy fat (shortening, lard, or rendered fat)
  • 1 cup crunchy nut or seed butter (I use peanut butter)
  • 3½ cups birdseed
  • 1 cup uncooked quick oats
  • ½
…

Sasquatch Picks for Summer Travel

It’s almost summer vacation! Hit the road with a great book that will help you explore the best of the Pacific Northwest. Browse our list of recommended reads that are perfect for all your summer travel and outdoor activity plans.

The Best Coast
by Chandler O’Leary

Plan an unforgettable summer road trip with this quirky, illustrated book showcasing the West Coast’s historic routes. With roadside attractions, beloved landmarks, hidden history, and other offbeat delights, it’s the perfect inspiration for your trip. It also includes route maps, travel tips, packing guides, and more! From San Diego, California, all the way up …

Meet the Author: Amanda Abler

Get to know Little Bigfoot author Amanda Abler! Her picture book The Spirit of Springer is the remarkable, real-life rescue story of an orphaned orca calf, Springer (A73) that captured the hearts of whale lovers throughout the Pacific Northwest. In this interview, Amanda shares fun orca facts, her favorite childhood books, what inspired her to become a writer, and more!

What inspired you to write The Spirit of Springer?

I was visiting the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor on San Juan island when I saw a documentary about Springer. I was so enthralled by this little orca and her …

Our Shed Coloring Activity

Our Shed Coloring Activity Feature Image

We’re celebrating the release of Little Bigfoot’s new picture book Our Shed: A Father-Daughter Building Story by Robert Broder and illustrated by Carrie O’Neill with a fun coloring activity! Download a copy of the Our Shed coloring sheet to design your own shed!

When you’re done, post a pic of your shed and tag @lbfbooks on Instagram to show off your masterpiece!

Our Shed: A Father-Daughter Building Story
by Robert Broder; Illustrated by Carrie O’Neill
A sweet, nostalgic father-daughter story that celebrates DIY families as well as the unique creativity and spontaneity of each individual child. This lovely book is …

Meet the Author: Vicki Conrad

Get to know Little Bigfoot author Vicki Conrad! Her picture book biography Just Like Beverly celebrates the life of beloved author Beverly Cleary, who would have turned 105 on April 12th! In this interview, she shares why she was inspired to write this book, what she loves about Beverly Cleary (including her favorite books!), her journey to becoming a published author, why reading is so important, and more!

What inspired you to write this book?
Years ago, someone told me in passing that Beverly Cleary struggled with reading as a child and wanted to write books about kids like her; …

Meet the Author: Sonora Jha

Get to know Sasquatch Books author Sonora Jha! In this interview, she shares her motivation for writing, thoughts on feminism, advice for parents raising boys (and girls!), what gives her hope for the future, and more. Her memoir How to Raise a Feminist Son publishes on April 6th.

What is How to Raise a Feminist Son about?
It’s a collection of personal essays chronicling where we have arrived as a culture in raising boys and where we could be headed. It’s also a manifesto, a manual, and a love story of an Indian immigrant mother raising an American boy. These …

How Portland Book of Dates Authors Eden Dawn and Ashod Simonian Have Fun in a Pandemic

Let’s face it, we’re all struggling to find new ways to have fun and spend time together in the time of COVID-19. Lucky for us, we have authors who happen to be experts on that subject! The Portland Book of Dates authors and real-life couple Eden Dawn and Ashod Simonian did the work for you and we asked them to share their hard-won wisdom. Happy to oblige, Eden and Ashod talk bed dates, bad dates, and the importance of snacks!

Eden: Well, for starters, we should tell everyone about Bed Dates and Bad Dates.

Ashod: Yes! We’re putting together a …

Sasquatch Picks: Five Books for Right Now

Welcome to Sasquatch Picks: Five Books for Right Now, a curated list of our top five monthly reading recommendations. Our February books are all about Valentine’s Day and feature our picks for the perfect gift for your #valentine, #galentine, or to treat yourself!

52 Lists for Happiness
by Moorea Seal

List lovers rejoice! 52 Lists for Happiness helps you unlock the keys to living your most joyful life.  Drawing on happiness research and her own personal philosophy, Moorea Seal creates an inspiring tool to unlock your own unique happiness and bring more joy and balance into your  life. This …

Newsletter Launch Giveaway

We’re excited to announce the launch of our newsletter, and we think you’re going to love the thoughtfully curated content for readers, home cooks, outdoor enthusiasts, parents and more! Sign up early and we’ll send you one of our favorite books in the category of your choice—memoir, cookbook, journal, or children’s book.

Be among the first 50 people to sign up, and select one of the following free books:

 

We will notify …

Sasquatch Picks: Five Books for Right Now

Welcome to Sasquatch Picks: Five Books for Right Now, a curated list of our top five monthly reading recommendations. Our January books include two new books for health-conscious cooks, a timely anti-racist resource, a new picture book, and a journal that will help you slay self-doubt!

Five Books for the New Year

Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food
by Hsiao-Ching Chou

The much-anticipated follow-up to Chinese Soul Food, Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food is our newest cookbook by Hsiao-Ching Chou. With 75 plant-based recipes that work for everyone (even new home cooks!) and practical tips from the author, you’ll be comfortable …

Sasquatch Picks: Books for Right Now

Welcome to Sasquatch Picks: Books for Right Now, a curated list of our top monthly reading recommendations. Our December books are for everyone on your holiday gift lists. No matter the reader, we have a book they will love! This list features comfort food favorites for home cooks, books & journals for #selfcare, popular new releases, and books for birders, nonfiction fans, and more!

Trending Books on Everyone’s Holiday Gift List

Comfort Food Cookbooks
Colder weather and too much time indoors means comfort food is on the menu! Many home cooks have stepped up their culinary game this year …

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving may look a little different this year! Even if you’re getting together with fewer folks than usual, this holiday still deserves a special meal. Whether you’re cooking the “traditional” meal or feel like mixing things up, Sasquatch Books has you covered with delicious Thanksgiving menus from our popular cookbooks and authors. Our final Thanksgiving menu is vegetarian and features recipes from cookbooks PNW Veg, Cooking from Scratch, and Simple Fruit.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

PNW Veg Roasted Squash Toasts with Spiced Nut Dust

Start your meal with these flavorful, creamy, savory, and surprisingly wonderful toasts!

PNW Veg…