The Laurel & Leaf Bookshop

10/19/2026

Just wanted to show off some of our favorite storybooks!

10/17/2026

These STEM kits are so much fun!

10/16/2026

Renee's Latest Read: One of Us by Dan Chaon

What It's About:

In 1915, thirteen year old twins Bolt and Eleanor find themselves on the run after their mother's death leaves them in the care of a dangerous uncle. Their escape leads them to a traveling carnival called the Emporium of Wonders, where they find an unlikely family among a collection of extraordinary performers and misfits. But as the twins settle into their new lives, their once inseparable bond begins to change, and the threat of their uncle finding them is never far behind. What unfolds is a strange, dark, and sometimes unsettling story about belonging, identity, and the families we create.

What I Loved:

I'll admit, I wasn't quite sure what to think of this book at first, but about twenty pages in, I was hooked! I loved getting to know the eccentric characters who made up the traveling carnival, each with their own fascinating stories and personalities. The shifting perspectives were especially fun because they gave me a chance to see the world through so many different eyes. And then there's Uncle Charlie - what an absolutely unhinged character! His thought process was so outrageous that I found myself laughing at some truly messed up moments. Chaon has a way of making the bizarre feel strangely believable, and I loved never knowing quite what to expect next.

Fun Fact:

Dan Chaon is an award winning author who has written across several genres, including literary fiction, psychological suspense, and horror. His novel Ill Will was named one of the best books of 2017 by several publications, and his writing often explores fractured families, complicated identities, and the darker corners of human behavior.

10/15/2026

Some of our favorite characters hit the shelves this week, thanks to MerryMakers

10/14/2026

I may not be ready to think about Christmas, but I know some of you are. We will be putting out our Christmas books as they come in on this cart until it's time to display them! 🎄

10/13/2026

10/09/2026

Renee's Latest Read: Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

What It’s About:

Fresh out of rehab and looking for a fresh start, Mallory Quinn takes a job as a nanny for five year old Teddy. At first, everything seems perfect. She has a comfortable place to live, a routine she enjoys, and quickly bonds with Teddy. But then his innocent drawings begin to change. Stick figures become increasingly disturbing scenes, and soon Teddy is producing detailed images that seem impossible for a child his age to create. Mallory becomes convinced the pictures may be connected to a long buried mystery, and possibly something supernatural.

What I Liked:

This was a really fast paced read that kept me engaged the entire way through. Creepy kids in horror stories are always fun, and the increasingly disturbing drawings added such an unsettling element to the story. I kept trying to figure out what was actually happening and whether there was a supernatural explanation behind it all. And while I definitely had theories, I was completely thrown by where the story eventually went. This was one of those books that kept me turning pages because I needed to know how everything was going to come together.

Fun Fact:

One of the coolest parts of Hidden Pictures is that Teddy’s drawings actually appear throughout the novel. The illustrations change along with the story, so they become part of the mystery rather than simply something the characters describe.