Homeschooling in the 1980s typically called to mind white, middle class families who opted out of traditional district or private schools to focus on teaching their children through the lens of their religious faith.

In recent years, homeschooling has moved far beyond being the preferred learning method of a handful of American families, increasing in popularity as parents become less satisfied with more traditional choices. (redefineonline.org)

The intense fighting now raging between Israelis and Palestinians – in an area not much larger than New Jersey – may be the worst since 2014, but it’s part of a complex, bitter conflict that reaches back to the first World War. (USA Today)

The start of a new school year can be a source of stress for both parents and kids. But research shows that it’s moms who have the hardest time emotionally when school starts. (healthline.com) Schedules, meal-planning, and helping to manage their children’s anxieties contribute to a tough re-entry for some parents. 

The power of the backlist lies in titles that aren’t new to us, but may be to booksellers or consumers. Titles that were major bestsellers when they were published may fall off account inventory lists for various reasons, or newer booksellers may simply not be aware of them. 

In April, President Joe Biden said the war in Afghanistan was never meant to be multi-generational, as he officially announced the drawdown of all 2,500 U.S. troops in that country beginning May 1 and concluding by Sepember 11, the 20th anniversary of the war. (www.defense.gov)

The Taliban insurgency remains resilient nearly two decades after U.S.-led forces toppled its regime in what led to the United States’ longest war. (Council on Foreign Relations).

After many weddings were cancelled or postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic, this year’s wedding season is expected to be much busier. Nearly half of couples with weddings originally scheduled for 2020 opted to postpone part of their wedding. In fact, nearly 32% hosted a ceremony in 2020 but postponed their reception, in hopes of having the wedding celebration they always imagined (The Know 2020 Real Wedding Study).

After decades of public denial, the Pentagon now grudgingly acknowledges unidentified aerial phenomena (UFOs) exist. CBS’s “Sixty Minutes” reports that a U.S. Senate intelligence committee has ordered the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense to deliver a report on the mysterious sightings by next month.

The month of July sees more online searches for “addiction” than other times of year, so it may be a good time for booksellers to stock that section more heavily, or even remove books from the section to make them more findable for customers.

As consumers grapple with a potential fourth wave of COVID-19 and vaccinations ramp up *just* faster than variants are overtaking certain parts of the country, it’s also time for market to begin to see books on the subject. Larry Wright’s A PLAGUE YEAR goes on sale in early June, and Nina Burleigh’s VIRUS hits shelves even sooner. Other books about epidemics, pandemics, and diseases may see sales increases as they did early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reasons for giving back are too numerous to elucidate, but we can start with the basics: it connects us to the community by improving it, helps people gain experience and skills required for career advancement, and it makes you feel good. Volunteer work, donations, philanthropy of all kinds feed our need to give back.

The number of cyclists/bike riders in the U.S. has increased over the past three years from around 43 million to 47.5 million in 2017 (statista.com). With the Tour de France coming up in late June, cyclists may be more enthusiastic than ever. This title collection includes practical, inspirational, and historical titles about the sport. 

At a time when all Americans are looking for a better America, it’s useful to look to the past to remind ourselves of what earlier Americans thought about, fought for, and were motivated to accomplish. Several title lists can help booksellers curate thoughtful and enlightening title collections for promotions.