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Today, with much whispering and plotting and scheming, the Quirk office threw a surprise baby shower for our very own Production Queen, Mandy! So what, you might ask, do a bunch of book-nerdy people bring to a baby shower?

Um…books? Yeah, books.

So what children's books do Quirkers love? Here's a roundup of what we brought to this adorable baby shower:

The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat

Paul Stevens: "Adorable art, and a fantasy story. I figured I couldn't choose a book that didn't have some science fiction or fantasy in it. It's also a Caldecott Award winner."

George and Martha by James Marshall

David Borgenicht: "Wonderful books, cleverly and succinctly written, with funny stories and great life lessons to boot!"

Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner

The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

Nicole De Jackmo: "The book is based in the city where Mandy will raise Baby Sampson, and it offers bright illustrations and a sweet story about the diversity of Philadelphia."

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld

Tumble Bumble by Felicia Bond

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

The Cat Who Walked across France by Kate Banks and Georg Hallensleben

Round Trip by Ann Jonas

Dinosaur vs. Mommy by Bob Shea

Anatole by Eve Titus

Suzanne Wallace: "It's a story about a French mouse who becomes a cheese-taster. Need I say more? It's delightful!"

The Man Who Lost His Head by Claire Huchet Bishop and Robert McCloskey

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

Kate McGuire: "Barbara Cooney was the first author I ever met when I was a wee little thing! I love her illustration style, it's set in my home state, and, cornball that I am, I love that the book teaches kids that everyone has a special way to make little contributions to making the world a better place."

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Brett Cohen: "I picked the book because it’s a fun read. My kids absolutely love it—especially when I give each crayon its own voice. (Hint: Pink is a british woman.)"

What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

What would you bring to a book-themed baby shower? Let us know!

image via Janet Cho

As fans of television and books there are things we’ve become accustomed to: the common book-to-TV/film adaptation and, sadly, the common “ratings game” that puts any and all of our favorite television shows on the cancellation plank. So what happens when we reverse the first model and attach it to the second? Our beloved characters come back to life nestled safely between a book’s covers! 

Here are 6 television shows that lived on as novels or comics, listed in order of cancelation date.

Let's talk about book clubs. If you're like me, an introverted former English student, you may have an aversion to book clubs because they still feel too much like class, except they have wine. And what if you'd just rather be at home in your pajamas?

Never fear! In comes the Letter Writers Alliance, a worldwide organization of letter writers that hosts broadcasted 'online socials' so people all over can write letters together. Kathy Zadrozny and Donovan Beeson started this club in 2007, but this year, they're finally diving into running a mail-themed virtual book club. Their first pick is 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. I wanted to find out more about the way a virtual book club can run – what does it have that a physical book club doesn't? How do you discuss the book? And most importantly, what do you eat? So here are some questions answered by Kathy & Donovan.

Whether it happened in your freshman year of high school or last week while you were waiting in the dentist’s office, when it happens, you just know. That moment you realize that after spending all of this time to time together, that this is the one. The one you’ll carry throughout your life, that will stand by you and help you define every major moment to come. This is the quote that will define who you are.

When you find that perfect quote while reading your newest favorite book, something magical happens, and if you’re lucky, it happens over and over again. So for the many quotes that have inspired you throughout the years, give them a place of honor: place them on the pretty frame that holds a photo of the one you love. Follow this simple tutorial, and you can make these fabulous, quotable frames.

In this week’s Top 10 Tuesday, hosted by Broke & the Bookish, we’re supposed to share inspiring quotations from books. Which I could do, but I’m not going to. Instead, I have ten inspiring books for book lovers because sometimes we need a little reading encouragement.