Toadstool Sounds

10/03/2023

The one and only local author and illustrator Lita Judge joined us this past weekend to speak about the release of her newest book, “Don’t Worry, Wuddles”. We were even lucky enough to take a peak into Judge’s creative process of sketching, storyboarding, and character development!

One book takes Lita Judge between 3-5 years. It all begins within the pages of various blank notebooks. “Sometimes the simplest books are the hardest to do because there’s nowhere to hide in the plot,” Judge shared. “The challenge in picture books is that you’re not only writing for the four years old, you’re writing for the parent or grandparent that’s reading it to the child,” she continued.

Character development is her favorite part of her process despite it being the most time consuming part. Judge is inspired by the world around her and by the interesting experiences she has had.
“I went for a walk this morning and I was looking at the way the fallen leaves were sitting on the moss. Then, I started thinking about what animals might come and sit on top of them,” Judge shared.

“Don’t Worry, Wuddles”, a story of barnyard animals preparing for the chilly winter ahead, is available now at Toadstool Bookshops or at toadbooks.com
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09/30/2023

Same event, same guest speakers, NEW LOCATION!

Please join us on Saturday January 13, 2024 at the Peterborough Town Hall to welcome Heather Cox Richardson and Howard Mansfield!

09/23/2023

What a wonderfully eventful morning today at Toadstool Bookshop!

If you joined us for Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson’s talk, you would have met Heidi of at the door selling her handmade sea and turtle themed goods. Stories of turtles named Fire Chief, Chutney, and Pizza Man would have lured you into the center of the bookshop where Sy and Matt stood, recounting their days spent with friends, human and reptilian, at the Turtle Rescue League.

If you haven’t grabbed your copy of Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell. Stop by our shop! Or visit us online at TOADBOOKS.COM.

We are SO grateful and honored to host such incredibly talented writers and artists.

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09/21/2023

We are thrilled to announce Heather Cox Richardson will now be in-conversation with local author Howard Mansfield on January 13th, 2024 at 11am. Due to such enthusiasm and interest, we have moved the event to the Unitarian Church and have made it a ticketed event. To reserve your seats, please call our Peterborough store at 603-924-3543 and pay over the phone via card. In the case of seating availability on the day of, we will have tickets for sale at the door. We are beyond excited to welcome Heather Cox Richardson to Peterborough and hope you will join us for this special occasion!

09/16/2023

Today we were joined by Melanie Brooks,
Author of A Hard Silence: One daughter remaps family, grief, and faith when HIV/AIDS changes it all. Her memoir is a personal window into the complexity and weight of shame and grief. Thank you for sharing your family’s story as you experienced it, and for encouraging others to maybe do the same.

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09/15/2023

We hope you twin with us this Fall.

Stop by one of our bookstores to shop our newest Tees, Hoodies, and Onesies! Until we make them available online, orders can also be called in at: 603.924.3543

09/13/2023

When was the last time you browsed our record section?

🎶Lowell’s pick: Magic Music’s The Story of Horizon San Antonio, TX 1977-1984
Genre: boogie funk

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09/07/2023

Join us for a conversation with political historian, author and educator, Heather Cox Richardson. Richardson is the publisher of Letters from an American, a newsletter that has accrued over one million subscribers receiving historical context on the contemporary political landscape. She is the author of a total of six books and the co-host of the Now & Then Podcast alongside historian Joanne Freeman. We hope you will join us for this exciting event on January 13, 2024 at 11am!

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08/26/2023

Local writer Denise Ginzler joined us to read poems from her newly published book, “One Ripple”. Her poems are inspired by the things and beings that have touched her heart: loved ones, the seasons of New England, swimming, learning, the trees of NH and change. Ginzler was formerly the director of the Mason Public Library and a teacher of mathematics and kindergarten. Thank you Denise for helping nurture our community’s love for reading, writing and learning. Signed copies of One Ripple are for sale at Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough. 🌞🍂❄️🌱

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08/23/2023

Pictured: Two local amphibians in their natural habitats. Lowell, our music expert and Olivia, an Aesops barista with the best space buns in town. Because of these two, Toadstool stays groovy, happy, and caffeinated.

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08/14/2023

We are SO thankful to be part of such a creative and vibrant community. Thank you to those who stopped by and said hello during the Night Market!

Congratulations to .makerspace for putting on such a memorable night of art, food, dancing and fun!

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07/18/2023

Beginning in June of 2022, Emerson sat down with then owner of The Toadstool Bookshops, Willard Williams, and began what would be a full six month apprenticeship under Williams in the art of bookselling and bookstore ownership. Now, in June of 2023, Emerson has been the owner of the Toadstool for nearing seven months.

Coming back to the Monadnock Region after almost seven years living in four different states and three different timezones, Emerson feels incredibly grateful to the community of Peterborough and the surrounding towns for welcoming him home with such warmth and kindness. He feels that while the natural beauty of the Monadnock region certainly is special and unique in its qualities, it is the people who call it home that make it a place that constantly tugs at the heart of those who have set sail for distant shores.

On the subject of travel advice, Emerson would always advise that one searches out good company, good coffee, and good bookstores (in that order).

When asked what his favorite book is, Emerson is quick to say that his favorite is always changing, “It is usually the one I am reading at that moment”. Though his favorite is always in flux, the most impactful books when looking back at the trajectory of his life are “The Hours” by Michael Cunningham and “For the Time Being” by Annie Dillard.

“Both of those books, while I did not know it in my teenage years when I read them, had sentiments which I continue to value and think about every day: the importance of the present moment, the ultimacy of the love and appreciation one has for their loved ones and community, and the importance of, in Dillard’s inimitable voice, ‘spending the afternoon, as you can’t take it with you’”.

When asked about his favorite part of work, Emerson feels that there is not any moment which is not his favorite, “To step into the role Willard spent 50 years tenderly cultivating, and to be greeted by a community as incredible as this one, I truly feel that every day I wake up I am the luckiest man in the world”.

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#603

07/17/2023

Do you have a favorite location to read?

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07/15/2023

It was such a treat to have New York Times best-selling author Joyce Maynard here today! Joyce’s new book, ‘The Bird Hotel’ is a perfect summer read and you can pick up your copy in Peterborough.

07/08/2023

A field guide to the amphibian booksellers of the Toadstool!

Firstly, it needs to be said, the Toadstool Bookshop would not be what it is today without Jeff Osgood. A wealth of resources and experience, Jeff’s 30 plus years at The Toadstool are highlighted by his hallmark kindness and the exceptional commitment to the readers of the Monadnock region. Jeff’s tenure at the Toadstool has brought him to various booksales across New England where he has established the Toadstool as a reputable source of antique and collectable titles (as well as a destination for those on the hunt for a bargain). While many come to Peterborough’s Used Book section in search of a special edition of their favorite book, just as many come to enjoy Jeff’s company, humor, and charisma.

06/22/2023

To celebrate Pride Month, here are our booksellers’ recommendations for some LGBTQ+ reads!

Everyone should be able to find a book about someone like them 🏳️‍🌈

More titles you’ll find on our Pride display in store:
- PRIDE The Story of the LGBTQ Equality a movement by Matthew Todd
- The Pride Atlas: 500 Iconic Destinations for Q***r Travelers by Maartje Hensen
- HOLDING SPACE: Life and Love Through a Q***r Lens by Ryan Pfluger
- Special Topics in Being a Human by S Bear Bergman
- Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky
- On Christopher Street by Michael Denneny
- The Conversation: on Gender Diversity edited by Jules Gill Peterson
- Before We Were Trans by Kit Heyam
- Q***R AMERICA: A people’s GLBT History of the United States by Vicki L. Eaklor
- Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Q***r Kids and Their Allies by Lindz Amer
- GENDER Q***R: a memoir by Maia Kobabe
- The Sign for Home by Blair Fell

06/16/2023

A field guide to the amphibian booksellers of the Toadstool!

Eric was hired on in 2002 to help develop and expand the existing music section of Toadstool Bookshops. He had just graduated from college and was at the time camped out in his parent’s basement.

Eric is a charismatic, community oriented, passionate about the arts, and a knowledgeable, caring member of the team.

Over the past two decades, Eric has introduced records to the store which have continued to be a source of enjoyment for the community and an invitation to folks from all over the country to annually travel to see Toadstool’s Music Collection. “It’s been really cool to build that over the years,” Eric said.

Outside of the Toadstool, Eric is the lead guitarist and vocalist in the band “Footings”, an American rock band formed in Peterborough, NH. He has traveled all over the country with his band, most recently opening for Bonnie Prince Billy on his North East tour.

We appreciate Eric’s calming presence and knowledge on all things music and all things ‘Monadnock region’. Thank you Eric for your two decades of giving and kindness!

Swipe right to see one of Eric’s record recommendations!

06/16/2023

Eric was hired on in 2002 to help develop and expand the existing music section of Toadstool Bookshops. He had just graduated from college and was at the time camped out in his parent’s basement.

Eric is a charismatic, community oriented, passionate about the arts, and a knowledgeable, caring member of the team.

Over the past two decades, Eric has introduced records to the store which have continued to be a source of enjoyment for the community and an invitation to folks from all over the country to annually travel to see Toadstool’s Music Collection. “It’s been really cool to build that over the years,” Eric said.

Outside of the Toadstool, Eric is the lead guitarist and vocalist in the band “Footings”, an American rock band formed in Peterborough, NH. He has traveled all over the country with his band, most recently opening for Bonnie Prince Billy on his North East tour.

We appreciate Eric’s calming presence and knowledge on all things music and all things ‘Monadnock region’. Thank you Eric for your two decades of giving and kindness!

06/08/2023

The finger puppet board books were a hit with baby browser Heron.

05/17/2023

New arrival at the Toad!!! Yellowface, the latest book from R.F. Kuang, is on the shleves and highly recommended by our booksellers!
This witty thriller addresses appropriation, exploitation and racisim in the publishing industry, while keeping you on the edge of your seat. It’s a brutal satire that may keep you up all night turning pages.

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05/12/2023

Join us this Saturday at 11am for a reading with Andrew Krivak! Andrew will be presenting his new book “Like the Appearance of Horses”, the final installment in his Dardan Trilogy.

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05/11/2023

A field guide to the amphibian booksellers of the Toadstool

Meet Lowell — an integral human to Toadstool’s identity and development. He has spent eleven years helping make the store a warm and inviting space. If you stop into the store, you’ll likely find him in the back corner jamming to some good tunes. When asked when his interest in music began, he responded, “I’ve been obsessed with music for as long as he can remember. On my 4th birthday, my dad made me a custom CD-R featuring all of my favorite Beatles songs and crudely photoshopped my face next to theirs on the album cover. This was some high-tech stuff for 1995! That gift not only introduced me to the concept of custom mixtapes, but showed me that you can have a role in music without necessarily being a performer or composer.” Lowell loves sound in general and is a big fan of drone-based music and field recordings. “Birdsong, humming power lines, passing cars, mountain streams; it’s all music to me,” he shared. His favorite part of the job is tracking down out-of-print books and records for people. One of his current favorite albums is John Andrews & the Yawns’ new record Love For The Underdog. The next time you stop in, check it out! John is a New Hampshire based musician who previously played with the psych pop band Quilt. Outside of Toadstool, Lowell is a wonderful father and enjoys hiking, reading, and attempting to play the pedal steel guitar.

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05/10/2023

Join us this Friday the 12th at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture for dancing AND a new book, what could be better? Thomas Curren will be presenting his book, All Join Hands followed by a country dance open to all!

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05/06/2023

A huge thank you to Sy and Matt for joining us this morning to present their new book and teach us a bit about the fascinating lives of turtles!
The Book of Turtles is available to order on our website or in store!

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05/03/2023

Thank you to everyone at the Harris Center as well as and for a great event last night!
We can’t wait to host Sy and Matt this Saturday at 11am for a reading of this wonderful new book all about our favorite reptile friends.

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04/28/2023

A field guide to the amphibian booksellers of the Toadstool

If you come into the Toadstool Bookshop and see a tall man in Birkensocks (birkenstocks + socks), it’s probably Peter Bascom — bookseller and music specialist. His connection with the store began way back when he was a little one and would peruse the children’s section with his mom. His interest eventually turned to hunting down good science finds. When we asked Peter what book he wishes he could read again for the first time, he responded with The Circular Ruins by Jorge Luis Borges. He also likes coffee table books of all types.

Pete believes the Toadstool to be a positive community where individuals can explore new interests. He loves recommending new books and music and hearing browsers come back and say, “That was so good!!”
We appreciate Peter’s kindness and the attention he is able to give to people. You may find him grooving to the following musical artists: Kashmere Stage Band, Tyler Childers and Gojira.

04/27/2023

We have a correction to our previous post regarding the Teacher Appreciation Sale- We will be offering 25% off to all the wonderful teachers who dedicate their time and energy toward educating both young and old minds! We are also excited to offer this discount to all Library staff as a thank you for helping to make reading accessable to all.
This discount will be available on everything in-store during the first week of May!

04/26/2023

Our annual Teacher Appreciation Sale is back! All of us at Toadstool Bookshop want to thank those wonderful teachers who dedicate their time and energy to the young people of the world with 20% off everything in store during the first week of May!
Thank you for all you do!

04/22/2023

Thank you for a wonderful event this morning! If you weren’t able to make it to the reading, stop by the Toadstool to check out Lita’s adorable new book, Dogs! 🐶

04/20/2023

Join us this Saturday for Record Store Day! Hundreds of new and used records will be available in our music department all day long!

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04/19/2023

A field guide to the amphibian booksellers of The Toadstool

This is Anna Schroeder. Her friendly and calm demeanor flows naturally into her roles as bookseller and social media coordinator at Toadstool Bookshop. When asked to speak on her interests outside of The Toad she responded, “Well, does reading count?”Anna loves books and believes they’re the best way to learn about experiences and cultures different than our own. As a bookseller, she enjoys giving out reading suggestions to folks of all ages and interests. Thank you Anna for helping make Toadstool Bookshop a welcoming place!

Second picture: Anna holds the third novel in the trilogy The Poppy War by R.F Kuang. Kuang is one of her all time favorite writers.

You may find Anna fueling up on coffee, listening to Rainbow Kitten Surprise or snacking on Pringles… a good book will probably be somewhere in the mix as well.

04/18/2023

NEW BOOK ALERT! We are very excited for David Grann’s newest book, The Wager!
This true story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, written by the bestselling author of The Lost City of Z and Killers of the Flower Moon, is a study in the lengths humans will go to when faced with starvation, desperation and death.
Don’t miss this one, we only have 1 signed copy left!

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04/06/2023

It’s April and the new Indie Picks are out! Today we are highlighting Hang the Moon by Jeanette Walls.
This historical novel takes place in Virginia during Prohibition and follows fearless, young, Sallie Kincaid as she navigates life as a woman during the turn of the 20th century.
This book has family fueds, scandals, and plenty of mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. 20% off at Toadstool through the end of April!

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03/28/2023

Happy Dog Man Day! Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea, Dav Pilkey’s newest addition to this hilarious middle grade series, is finally here! Grab your copy today 🐶

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03/25/2023

A big thanks to Satya for a wonderful event this morning! Copies of Hare and the Hedge Woman are available in store for those who weren’t able to make it to the reading.

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03/22/2023

Please join us this Saturday the 25th at 11a.m. for a reading with Satya Moses as he presents his debut novel Hare & the Hedge Woman.
This beautifully hand-illustrated book by a young, local author is a story you can’t miss!

03/18/2023

Today we are highlighting one of our 20% off Indie Picks for March: The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill.
This is a beautiful, contemporary retelling of “The Crane Wife” folktale. This novella is a quick but deep and riveting read. Come grab a copy while it is still available!

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03/15/2023

Yesterday was a winter wonderland here in Depot Square!

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03/09/2023

We are VERY excited to highlight A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon today! It is an indie pick, so we are offering this title at 20% off through March.
This epic fantasy is a standalone prequel to New York Times bestselling novel The Priory of the Orange Tree. This book has everything you could ask for from a fantasy novel: dragons, epic battles, love and betrayal. Plus, all the main characters are women, a rare find in this genre!
Stop by to pick up a copy of this must-read or place an order online at toadbooks.com.

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03/07/2023