It is a launch more reminiscent of a Harry Potter book than a lengthy, difficult novel by a Japanese author, but bookshops in the US are planning to stay open until midnight to cope with the demand for the translation of Haruki Murakami's 1,000-page trilogy, 1Q84.

There is a video trailer on YouTube and Spotify song lists of music associated with the jazz-loving author. Others have put up their own sections of translation on the internet for fans unwilling to wait the two years it has taken since the book was first published in Japan, selling an extraordinary 1m copies in two months.

This book presents a selection of 40 recipes adapted from The Silver Spoon, the best-selling bible of Italian cooking. The recipes have been chosen for their simple instructions, fresh and healthy ingredients and delicious flavour, and are guaranteed to appeal to the fussiest of children. Each recipe has clear step-by-step instructions, fascinating facts about the ingredients, and basic cooking techniques.

A specialist in the field of children's food and nutrition has selected the recipes to ensure they are well balanced, safe and perfect for children to use.
The book is fully illustrated throughout, using specially commissioned illustrations to add a lively and charming feel, and there are photographs of the finished dish.

Most people love eating Italian food, and this book presents simple, authentic and delicious recipes for children to cook.

This year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards finalists provide a feast of Kiwi experience, reflecting a growing and confident awareness of our unique place in the world, says Judging panel convenor and Te Reo Māori Advisor for the New Zealand Post Book Awards, Paul Diamond.

The New Zealand Post Book Awards are the highlight of the literary calendar, eagerly awaited by writers, publishers, booksellers and the media, and recognised by the New Zealand public as the gold standard; honouring the cream of this country’s literary talent.

Diamond, a past judge of the New Zealand Post Book Awards, broadcaster, writer and historian, said that all four categories were strong this year.

‘The Māori World was also significant in the work of many finalists, reflecting the reality of life in 21st century New Zealand.’

One of the nice things about winter is getting cosy and settling down with a good book. We've got some great reads instore at the moment that are well worth snuggling down with!

The Reading Promise - Alice Ozma

The Independent newspaper in the UK recently published an article listing 'The 50 Books Every Child Should Read' which makes for interesting reading. How many of them have you read? Any books that are missing? We loved 'The Owl Service' by Alan Garner and had forgotten what a great read it was, time to re-read it I think.

Click here to read the full article.

The highly anticipated sixth book of Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children® series, The Land of Painted Caves, is the culmination fans have been waiting for. Continuing the story of Ayla and Jondalar, Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived more than 25,000 years ago.

Three decades in the telling. The epic journey that began with The Clan of The Cave Bear continues as Ayla becomes the woman she was meant to be.

Here are some of our picks hot off the presses...

Serious But Good

The Fear The Last Days of Robert Mugabe Peter Godwin Picdor $43
Followin on from his compelling and moving memoirs Mukiwa and When the Crocodile Eats the Sun, this new book is a personal journey through the country Peter Godwin grew up in and knows so well- a landscape and a people grotesquelyaltered and laid waste by a raging despot.

Alone in Berlin and Every Man Dies Alone Hans Fallada Penguin $31 and $34
Named as best books by newspapers around the world These novels based on true stories by Hans Fallada who died in 1947. Listed as the most compelling novels of World War ll.

Bird Cloud Annie Proulx Harper Collins $35
Bird Cloud is where Annie Proulx Lives and in this memoir she describes discovering this special piece of Wyoming and how she has made her home in the wilderness.Annie Proulx will be in New Zealand as a guest of the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival later this year.

‘I can imagine you at forty,’ she said, a hint of malice in her voice. ‘I can picture it right now.’

He smiled without opening his eyes. ‘Go on then.’

15th July 1988. Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.

So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year which follows?

One Day is a funny/sad love story spanning twenty years, a book about growing up – how we change, how we stay the same.

‘One Day is a wonderful, wonderful book: wise, funny, perceptive, compassionate and often unbearably sad. It’s also, with its subtly political focus on changing habits and mores, the best British social novel since Jonathan Coe’s What A Carve Up. – John O’Connell, The Times.

‘The funniest, loveliest book I’ve read in ages. Most of all it is horribly, cringingly, absolutely 100% honest and true to life. I lived every page.’ – Jenny Colgan.

Over the summer we've been indulging in some crafty past-times thanks to some great books. One of our favorites has to be from the queen of crafts Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts : An A-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration is a how to book of everything from candle making to etching glass, we love the tissue and crepe paper flowers! Sew, La, Tea, Do by Pip Lincolne is full of wonderful quirky clothes to sew which comes complete with patterns, the Suprise Party Wrap Skirt looks great (and easy!) to make. And how can we go past Cath Kidston?

Arcadia Bookshop is very pleased to announce that the wonderful Darina Allen of the world-reknown Ballymaloe Cookery School will be instore on Friday the 17th of December at 1pm. Darina will be signing her wonderful books, Forgotten Skills of Cooking, A Year At Ballymaloe Cookery School and Irish Traditional Cooking. Also joining Darina is our lovely friend, Lauraine Jacobs who was lucky enough to spend some time at Ballymaloe. Lauraine will be signing and chatting about her latest books The New Zealand Vegetable Cookbook and Comfort: Food for Sharing. We look forward to seeing you there.