Staff Favorites & Reviews

Store Location

No staff is entirely static, staying exactly the same for years with no additions or subtractions. We realize that, but we're also pretty proud of our current personnel, and the many ways they've helped shape Exodus Books and point it in some unforeseen and wonderful directions. So, in 2011 we started asking each individual to share their favorite books, curricula, games, etc., and these pages are the result.

Because sharing favorites is fairly personal, we thought you should get to know each of these peculiar persons and asked them all to write a main bio, as well as section-specific bios. These are partly to show why they selected the titles and products in their lists, and partly just to show you that Exodus Books is inhabited by real people who do real things.

One of our biggest in-store services is making recommendations and helping people find what works best for them. These lists aren't as customer-specific, but they serve the same purpose—we're not just trying to parade our excellent taste or prove that we're literate, we're trying to help you discover things you may never have found otherwise, and maybe to rediscover some old favorites.

It's probably a fact universally true of book-lovers: given the chance, they'll talk your ear off about the books they love, the books they hate, and all the books you'll never read but that are really much better than the well-known books you will read. This isn't pretension. It's simply what happens to those who love words and want to share them. We've tried to cut the talk down here, though we'll gladly answer any pertinent questions.

With that, we present Staff Favorites. You'll find some overlap (lots of people seem to like The Chronicles of Narnia), but rarely if ever will you find complete consensus on a single title, product, or curriculum line. That's why we let everyone make their own lists: you know the official Exodus stance by reading our reviews, but the individuality that makes our store unique and awesome is what's on display here. Enjoy, and don't judge too harshly.

	Aaron and the Green Mountain Boys by Patricia Lee Gauch, illustrated by Margot Tomes from Betterway Books Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Adventures of Tintin - Complete Package (large size paperback set, approx 12"x9") by Herge from Little, Brown & Company Comic Book for 2nd-6th grade in Adventures of Tintin (Location: COM-TIN) $241.39
	Almost Home A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Mary Chilton Daughters of the Faith by Wendy G. Lawton from Moody Press Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Daughters of the Faith (Location: SER-DAU) $7.99 $5.00 (4 in stock)
	Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey An I Can Read Book Level 2 by Herman Parish, Illustrated by Lynn Sweat from HarperCollins for Kindergarten-2nd grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
	Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey An I Can Read Book Level 2 by Herman Parish, Illustrated by Lynn Sweat from Scholastic Inc. for Kindergarten-2nd grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
	America's Paul Revere by Esther Forbes from Sandpiper Books Biography for 2nd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $12.99
	American Boy's Handy Book Turn-of-the-Century Classic of Crafts and Activities by Daniel Beard from Dover Publications for 4th-9th grade in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $12.95
	Anatomy Coloring Book by Wynn Kapit 4^th edition from Pearson Education for 9th-Adult in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL) $29.99
	Ant and the Elephant by Bill Peet from Sandpiper Books Animal Fantasy for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.99
	Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan from Storey Publishing for Adult in Self-Sufficiency (Location: SS-Self) $18.95
	Bad Puppy Lad, a Dog by Margo Lundell from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-3rd grade in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH) $1.50 (1 in stock)
	Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 2nd-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Bear Cub All Aboard Reading - Station Stop 2 by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso, illustrated by Neecy Twinem from Grosset & Dunlap for 1st-2nd grade in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Bear That Heard Crying by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock & Helen Kinsey from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Beginning of the Republic 1775-1825 A Basic History of the United States Volume 2 by Clarence B. Carson from American Textbook Committee American History Reference for 9th-Adult in Basic History of the United States (Location: HISCUR-US) $17.00
	Benjamin Franklin by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Big Max An I Can Read Books Level 2 by Kin Platt Revised from HarperCollins for Grades 1-3 in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99
	Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward from Sandpiper Books Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-1st grade 1953 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Billy and Blaze by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.99
	Call of the Wild by Jack London, Michael Clay Thompson from Royal Fireworks Press Action/Adventure for 7th-10th grade in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Children of Odin The Book of Northern Myths by Padraic Colum from Aladdin Paperbacks Norse Mythology for 3rd-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $10.99
	Colonial Experience 1607-1774 A Basic History of the United States Volume 1 by Clarence B. Carson from American Textbook Committee American History Reference for 9th-Adult in Basic History of the United States (Location: HISCUR-US) $17.00
	Colonial Kids An Activity Guide to Life in the New World by Laurie Carlson 1^st edition from Chicago Review Press for 4th-6th grade in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL) $9.00 (2 in stock)
	Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende & Harry Devlin from Purple House Press for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Creating Books with Children by Valerie Bendt 2^nd edition for Preschool-1st grade in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Dinosaur Days Step Into Reading 3 by Joyce Milton, Franco Tempesta Revised from Random House Books for Young Readers for 1st-3rd grade in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke Deluxe from Chicken House for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, translated by Anthea Bell from Chicken House for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Dragon Rider: Griffin's Feather Dragon Rider #2 by Cornelia Funke Deluxe from Chicken House for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous from Aladdin Paperbacks for Preschool-2nd grade 1951 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	First Thanksgiving Step into Reading Level 3 by Linda Hayward from Random House for 1st-3rd grade in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP) $4.99
	Fizz, Bubble & Flash! Element Explorations & Atom Adventures for Hands-On Science Fun! by Anita Brandolini from Williamson Publishing Company for 3rd-8th grade in Chemistry (Location: SCI-CHEM)
	Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh 2^nd edition from Aladdin Paperbacks Historical Non-fiction for 2nd-4th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $8.99
	Geek Dad Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share by Ken Denmead from Gotham Books for Adult in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $18.00
	George Washington by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster, expanded by Joanna Foster from Beautiful Feet Books History Reference/Biography for 7th-10th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
	George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster, expanded by Joanna Foster and edited by Rea Berg from Beautiful Feet Books History Reference/Biography for 7th-10th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $21.95
	Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade 1952 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble from Aladdin Paperbacks Native American Legends for Kindergarten-2nd grade 1979 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Gizmos & Gadgets Creating Science Contraptions That Work by Jill Frankel Hauser from Williamson Publishing Company for 1st-8th grade in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Handy Dad 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids by Todd Davis from Chronicle Books for Adult in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $24.95
	Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch Revised from Aladdin Paperbacks for Nursery-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Harry and the Lady Next Door An I Can Read Book Level 1 by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-1st grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99
	Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley Reissue from Puffin Books for 5th-9th grade 1985 Newbery Medal Winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99
	Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley from ACE Publishing for 5th-9th grade 1985 Newbery Medal Winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	History of the Horse Through Literature - Guide by Hilary Berg 3^rd edition from Beautiful Feet Books for 2nd-8th grade in Beautiful Feet Books (Location: HISCUR-BFB) $16.95
	History of US Book 3 From Colonies to Country: 1735-1791 History of US Book 3 by Joy Hakim 3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University American History Reference for 5th-9th grade in History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM) $15.95 $11.00 (1 in stock)
	Home Machinist's Handbook by Doug Briney 1^st edition from McGraw-Hill for 10th-Adult in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
	Horse Heroes: True Stories of Amazing Horses A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4 by Kate Petty from DK Publishing for 2nd-4th grade in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Horse Heroes: True Stories of Amazing Horses A DK Eyewitness Reader Level 4 by Kate Petty from DK Publishing for 2nd-4th grade in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK) $4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
	How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill from Anchor Books for 10th-Adult in Europe (Location: HISMC-EUR) $17.00
	I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade by Diane Wilson from Sourcebooks for 4th-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.99
	Ian Fleming's Story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! The Magical Car by Ian Fleming from Random House Books for Young Readers for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
	King Ottokar's Sceptre Adventures of Tintin by Herge from Little, Brown & Company Comic Book for 2nd-6th grade in Adventures of Tintin (Location: COM-TIN) $14.99
	Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle from ROC Science Fiction for 9th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $17.00
	Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien Revised from Mariner Books for Nursery-2nd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $25.00
	Life & Legacy of Saint Patrick by Michael McHugh from Great Light Publications Biography for 7th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Light and the Glory for Children Discovering God's Plan for America from Christopher Columbus to George Washington by Peter Marshall & David Manuel from Revell Publishing American History Reference for 4th-6th grade in Clearance: History & Geography (Location: ZCLE-HIS) $3.00 (2 in stock)
	Maze Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle by Christopher Manson from Henry Holt and Company for 3rd-6th grade in Brain Teasers & Puzzlers (Location: LOG-PUZ)
	Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág from PaperStar Books Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1929 Newbery Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Monster Trucks! Step into Reading Level 3 by Susan E. Goodman and Michael J. Doolittle from Random House for 1st-3rd grade in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	My Little House Crafts Book 18 Projects from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Stories by Carolyn Strom Collins & Christina Wyss Eriksson from HarperCollins Arts and Crafts for 3rd-6th grade in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM) $13.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	New World In View To Pledge Allegiance Volume 1 To Pledge Allegiance #1 by Gary DeMar & Fred Douglas Young from American Vision Press American History Reference for 8th-10th grade in To Pledge Allegiance (Location: HISCUR-US) $15.00 (4 in stock)
	Oliver by Syd Hoff from HarperCollins for Preschool-1st grade in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
	On the Road to Independence To Pledge Allegiance #3 by Gary DeMar & George Grant from American Vision Press American History Reference for 9th-12th grade in To Pledge Allegiance (Location: HISCUR-US) $15.00 (3 in stock)
	Penny and Her Doll I Can Read Level 1 by Kevin Henkes from Greenwillow Books for Preschool-1st grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $5.99
	Penny and Her Marble I Can Read Level 1 by Kevin Henkes from Greenwillow Books for Preschool-1st grade 2014 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $5.99
	PLP: Survey of Science Specialties - Package from Master Books for 10th-12th grade in Master Books Science (Location: SCICUR-MB)
	Ponies National Geographic Kids Level 1 by Laura Marsh from National Geographic for 1st-3rd grade in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Ponies and Horses DK Eyewitness Readers Level 1 by Fiona Lock from DK Publishing for 1st-3rd grade in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK) $3.00 (2 in stock)
	Poor Richard by James Daugherty from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 6th-9th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges & Trina Schart Hyman from Little, Brown & Company Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-3rd grade 1985 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Henry Holt and Company Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Trumpet Club Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.50 (1 in stock)
	Seabird by Holling C. Holling from Houghton Mifflin Realistic fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in BFB Holling Geography (Location: HISCUR-BFG) $12.99
	Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope from Sandpiper Books for 10th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1984 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James from Aladdin Paperbacks for 5th-8th grade 1927 Newbery Medal winner in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Spaceships and Rockets DK Readers Level 2 by Deborah Lock from DK Publishing for Kindergarten-2nd grade in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret Pumphrey 2^nd edition from Christian Liberty Press for 2nd-4th grade in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP) $14.50 $8.00 (2 in stock)
	Stories of the Pilgrims (old) by Margaret Pumphrey Revised Edition from Christian Liberty Press for 2nd-5th grade in Old Edition Reading (Location: OREAD) $3.50 (2 in stock)
	Story of the Wright Brothers and Their Sister by Lois Mills from Christian Liberty Press for 3rd grade in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP) $11.75
	Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo from Candlewick Press for 3rd-6th grade 2004 Newbery Medal winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Ten Mile Day And the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad by Mary Ann Fraser from Henry Holt and Company Historical Non-Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Transcontinental Railroad (Location: HISA-19TRR) $10.99
	The Underneath by Kathi Appelt Reprint from Atheneum for 5th-8th grade 2009 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Three Bears by Paul Galdone from Sandpiper Books for Nursery-1st grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone from Sandpiper Books for Nursery-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness from Aladdin Paperbacks Biography for 1st-4th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Very First Easter by Paul L. Maier from Concordia Publishing House for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.99
	Voyage to Freedom A Story of the Atlantic Crossing 1620 by David Gay from Banner of Truth Trust Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $12.00
	Watership Down by Richard Adams from Charles Scribner's Sons Animal Fiction for 7th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $19.99
	Wolves Scholastic Science Readers Level 2 by Carolyn B. Otto from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-2nd grade in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven & David Borgenicht from Chronicle Books for 7th-Adult in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Yankee Doodle Boy A Young Soldier's Adventures in the American Revolution Told by Himself by Joseph Martin from Holiday House Historical Non-Fiction for 5th-8th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $8.95 $6.00 (1 in stock)

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