“By cataloging the weirdest and wildest places on earth, the original Atlas Obscura absolutely changed the way people travel. Now, adventurous kids have their chance to get in on the fun. Arranged categorically rather than geographically to allow information-loving kids to dig deeper into the strange and wonderful, The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide will be the hottest thing for young readers this season.” (Workman Publishing, 978152‌3503544, $19.95)

—Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC

“America’s Test Kitchen had an ingenious idea: to involve kids in the slicing, dicing, measuring, blending, beating, baking, and cooking of more than 100 recipes. What a perfect introduction to the basics of food preparation for any young, aspiring chef! From breakfast tacos and kale chips to beef-and-broccoli stir-fry and fudgy chocolate mug cakes, all the recipes have been kid-tested and kid-approved.With great photos and easy-to-follow instructions, this colorful cookbook will inspire anyone and everyone to simply have fun in the kitchen—alone or with the entire family!” (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 978149‌2670025, $19.99)

—Mindy Ostrow, the river’s end bookstore, Oswego, NY

“Rachel Ignotofsky is the perfect blend of scientist and artist. The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth focuses primarily on ecosystems around the world but also gives us information on micro-ecosystems and microscopic ecosystems. These 121 pages are packed with adult-level information in a format that 10- to 14-year-olds will easily be able to understand.” (Ten Speed Press, 97803‌99580413, $19.99)

—Michele Bellah, Copperfield’s Books, Sebastopol, CA

“I simply could not put down this collection of essays. This is a love/hate letter to a passion that drives one to swear and cause non-crafters to swoon. Written with sharp wit and featuring heartfelt moments of love and loss, this true page-turner will have you curling up with your knitting, with the author’s stories echoing in your mind between the stitches.” (Flatiron Books, 97812‌50095619, $24.99)

—Shannon Alden, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI

“Draw Your Day makes you feel like you’ve spent a day­­—or even a week—with the author, and the sketchbook is a truly wonderful guided journal. With Draw Your Day, people who don’t think of themselves as artists may discover that drawing and writing have new meaning in their life. Baker makes little things come to life in a magical way.” (Watson-Guptill, 978039‌9581298, $16) (Clarkson Potter, 97805‌25572954, $14)

—Kira Wizner, Merritt Bookstore & Toystore, Millbrook, NY

“Yumiko Higuchi is an incredible artist and a master of elegant and organic design. Her new book features the perfect embroidery motifs for every month of the year, with each using only a handful of different stitches to produce stunning results. The useful charts and instructions make this a wonderful gift for embroiderers of all levels, and Higuchi’s finished projects are sure to inspire anyone who picks up this gorgeous book!” (Roost Books, 978161‌1804720, $21.95)

—Kelly O’Sullivan, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT

“While the title may sound morbid, Margareta Magnusson’s goal is not to focus on death but to focus on paring back in order to better enjoy life in old age. Her book is short, charming, practical, and sprinkled with sly humor.” (Scribner, 978150‌1173240, $18.99)

—Shirley Freeman, Bookbug, Kalamazoo, MI

“A beautiful book to introduce and celebrate a beautiful concept! As Tokyo proves, even city-dwellers can take part in shinrin yoku. Dive in. Advocate for green spaces in your community. Enjoy nature!” (Timber Press, 97816‌04698794, $16.95)

—Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA

“This gorgeous book is a gentle and insightful tool for anyone who would like to connect with plants on an intuitive level. Highly recommended for those who enjoy working with tarot, for herbalists, and for anyone who feels most at peace or enlivened in the garden, woods, or fields. The cards are an excellent complement to the book. The 36 plants chosen include many herbalists’ most beloved species and will be familiar to gardeners and nature lovers as well.” (Storey Publishing, 97816‌12129686, $19.95)

—Kristen Eaton, Phoenix Books, Essex Junction, VT

“A must-have for fans of this iconic band, which revolutionized the music scene and captivated a generation. Lavishly produced and full of rare photos and intimate stories, this is the best of the Beasties all in one package.” (Spiegel & Grau, 978081‌2995541, $50)

—Cody Morrison, Square Books, Oxford, MS

“Macfarlane and Morris have created a treasure, something so precious that we need to hand this on to future generations with great care, but also great urgency. When Macfarlane discovered that the Oxford Junior Dictionary intended to leave out some nature words and replace them with tech words, he set out to reintroduce them via his poems so that words like acorn, dandelion, and kingfisher could remain alive in our vocabulary. Brought to life by the most beautiful illustrations, a wild world that only Jackie Morris can evoke, this is a spellbook for modern life.” (Anansi International, 97814‌87005382, $35)

—Becky Doherty, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, NY

“I love literally anything that Mary Beard does, and this is no exception. Beard walks the reader through art from past to present and analyzes how it has shaped our culture, our concept of gods and religion, and our view of ourselves. Great for history buffs, art fans, or anyone who wants to delve deeper into the collective psyche of humanity.” (Liveright Publishing Corporation, 9781‌631494406, $24.95)

—Makena Burner, Bookworm of Edwards, Edwards, CO

“Though we all know better, it seems that history happens in black and white. When we see a color photo of a Nazi or the Korean War, it’s so unexpected and startling that it just looks wrong. Black-and-white also allows us to hold history, especially the painful parts, at some remove. In an effort to bring it closer, authors Wolfgang Wild and Jordan Lloyd have painstakingly colorized some iconic moments from the past so vividly that the viewer feels like they are watching the moment unfold. A great gift for the history or photography buff or anyone who enjoys an eye-opener.” (Chronicle Books, 978145‌2169507, $40)

—Sam Miller, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Louisville, KY

“In this accessible guide to plant-based cooking, Carol J. Adams and Virginia Messina connect our food choices to social and political movements, outlining practical ways we can make incremental—and delicious!—changes to our diets to affect positive change. Part cookbook, part manifesto, Protest Kitchen is our essential blueprint for the vegan revolution. Resistance has never tasted so good!” (Conari Press, 97815‌73247436, $16.95)

—Beth Wagner, Phoenix Books, Essex Junction, VT

“Why did we have to wait until 2018 for a cookbook like this? This cookbook will actually make sense to people who don’t enjoy a list of instructions but who will enjoy experimenting with flavor based on a professional’s suggestion. The Flavor Matrix can be whatever you want it to be—a way to brainstorm ideas, a recipe provider, or a cool book to learn about the way distinctive tastes mix.” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 97805‌44809963, $30)

—Destinee Hodge, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC

“Did you know that most of the wine we drink is created with only 20 different grapes? What about the other 1,350 varieties of wine grapes? How can 80 percent of the world’s wines come from just 1.4 percent of the available grapes? Jason Wilson takes us along in his research to find and experience these obscure and limited wines. This is a book to be enjoyed like (and perhaps with) a glass of wine: slowly savored.” (Harry N. Abrams, 97814‌19727580, $26)

—Susan R. Kelly, Pilgrim’s Way Community Bookstore, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

“Beautifully illustrated and deeply personal, this is a memoir I devoured in two nights. In a turbulent time, the life lessons bestowed by Sy’s animals comforted me with the knowledge that I’m a tiny part of a greater whole and that life goes on with or without us, ever changing and ever adapting. We have a lot more in common with our animal brethren than we think.” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 97805‌44938328, $20)

—Emily Draffen, Novel., Memphis, TN

“So much fun! Tons of great info with a fun cast of paleontologist characters. A really engrossing read.” (William Morrow, 97800‌62490421, $29.99)

—Elayna Trucker, Napa Bookmine, Napa, CA