Few songs have captured the contradictions and ambiguities of the 1960s as memorably as “California Dreamin’,” the iconic folk music single that catapulted the Mamas & the Papas into rock and roll history. In All the Leaves Are Brown, author Scott Shea details how John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Michelle Phillips, and “Mama Cass” Elliot became standard-bearers for California counterculture, following their transformation from folk music wannabes to rock sensations and chronicling the tumultuous events that followed their unexpected success. Shea gives a definitive account of the group’s short time together, from their hitmaking approach with legendary producer Lou Adler to John’s unique songwriting to tours and friendships with other musicians riding the folk-rock wave. He explores the emotional vicissitudes that came with being in the Mamas & the Papas, from Cass’s unrequited love for Denny, his affair with Michelle, and the ebb and flow of dysfunction in John and Michelle’s marriage. And he explains how it all came to a crashing end with John’s brainchild, the Monterey Pop Festival, which should have launched the group even further into the musical stratosphere, but only served to be their undoing. Drawing on new interviews with former bandmates, session musicians, family members, and many others, All the Leaves Are Brown is a layered, revelatory tale of overnight stardom and its many pitfalls.

As the autumn season sets in, Fletcher is very worried his beautiful tree has begun to loose all of its leaves. Whatever Fletcher attempts to do to save them, it's simply no use. When the final leaf falls, Fletcher feels hopeless... until he returns the next day to a glorious sight. A tender, uplifting tale about acceptance and hope for the future.'Captivating' Publishers Weekly'Preschoolers will love being in on the joke, even as they marvel at the bright petals that herald the astonishing beauty of spring' ALA Booklist

California Dreamin' from Pénélope Bagieu depicts Mama Cass as you've never known her, in this poignant graphic novel about the remarkable vocalist who rocketed The Mamas & the Papas to stardom. Before she was the legendary Mama Cass of the folk group The Mamas and the Papas, Ellen Cohen was a teen girl from Baltimore with an incredible voice, incredible confidence, and incredible dreams. She dreamed of being not just a singer but a star. Not just a star—a superstar. So, at the age of nineteen, at the dawn of the sixties, Ellen left her hometown and became Cass Elliot. At her size, Cass was never going to be the kind of girl that record producers wanted on album covers. But she found an unlikely group of co-conspirators, and in their short time together this bizarre and dysfunctional band recorded some of the most memorable songs of their era. Through the whirlwind of drugs, war, love, and music, Cass struggled to keep sight of her dreams, of who she loved, and—most importantly—who she was.

Michelle Phillips evokes the heady atmosphere of creativity and meteoric success, and the destructive, drug-filled lifestyle that characterized the West Coast music scene in the sixties

This nonfiction picture book, written and illustrated by Mia Posada, beautifully explains why leaves change color in fall. It highlights both the eye-catching colors of the season and the science behind the colors. Back matter offers additional scientific details for curious readers as well as suggested further reading and links to hands-on activities.

Novello Choral Showtunes contains five decade-defining hits, each newly arranged for SATB Choir with Piano accompaniment. The songs included are: California Dreamin’: The Mamas & The Papas’ hymn to the West Coast state, actually written in chilly New York City by John and Michelle Phillips before they even formed the band that made them famous. Feelin’ Groovy: Simon & Garfunkel were New York through and through and Simon’s jaunty song about the Queensboro Bridge uses its local colloquial name. The End Of The World: Skeeter Davis, born Mary Frances Penick, was the survivor of a car crash that killed her singing partner Betty Jack Davis. They had enjoyed some success as The Davis Sisters but this was the biggest hit of Skeeter’s subsequent solo career. In My Room: The Beach Boys moved indoors from all that sun and sand to record one of their most reflective and lovely songs. Can’t Buy Me Love: The British invasion was threatening the pop status quo in America and, from the film ‘Hard Day’s Night’, The Beatles claimed yet another number one in the US charts with this song.

ON THE WATERS The best stories from FINS & FEATHERS To read these short essays of fishing adventures by Ray Kucharski you come to appreciate the joy he gets from each fishing day and each cast he makes. The stories are not only charming but also informative about ways of catching the wily fish. Each story describes the delight that an avid fisherman like Ray feels for the sport of fishing. One gains many insights and some important learning lessons for life that this sport gives to all those who do it. Ray has been writing these stories for over ten years for the small Waterville community paper, The Waterville Wig Wag. He also has written for American Angler and Flyfishing & Tying Journal magazines. My husband David and I, editors of the small paper encouraged Ray to put these many stories together as a group of essays. I am sure you will enjoy these tales of New Hampshire and New England fishing as our readers have. Even if you are not a fisherman you will not be bored. I never was. Birdie Britton Editor of the Wig Wag