Jayashree Anderson (she/her)
Gift & Toy Buyer
Coordinator for Bookshop in a Box, Consignments, and Merchandising
Jaya joined the Red Balloon after moving to the Twin Cities from Florida in October 2018. She has been working in bookstores since 2005, and strongly believes in the magic they provide the community. An avid reader since childhood, Jaya always loved to read and can often be found with a book in hand. When not working at Red Balloon, she is probably painting, writing her novels, reading the latest fantasy, or going to concerts with her husband, Jeff.
Jaya's favorite picture books tend to be funny and fun to read aloud. She enjoys reading YA and Adult books that have magical or fantasical elements, high and traditional fantasy, or scifi with heart. And, every once in a while she'll grab a romcom when the world feels a little too rough.
A Few Favorites:
I just adore Oona's stories, and this new one is just as delightful! Oona in the Arctic is beautifully illustrated and full of adventure. Oona and Otto help a baby beluga whale find her way back home with the assistance of many arctic animals. A fun read-aloud, this book is perfect for families looking for excellent visuals and narrative storytelling!
Perfect for Star Wars fans! Delightful! Enjoy it you will!
A gorgeous book! A combination of illustrations and text, Brian Selznick weaves a beautiful story. If you enjoyed the film, Hugo, I recommend getting this to share with the whole family.
The first book of my favorite fantasy series, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Each book features a new chracter, and this one is Cimorene's - she's a princess who's bored, so she convinces a dragon to let her be their assistant. Full of adventure and magic! A great alternative to more well known series.
The perfect Cinderella retelling! Creative and adventurous, I've reread this fun story many times. Full of great characters and magical beings.
This squad of misfits is trying to save the universe. Alternating POV's, and full of space excitement. Perfect for fans of Star Wars and Firefly.
Video game championships are treated like they're the Olympics, but someone is hacking into the game. This book was so much fun! Great for gamers, who are fans of D&D, World of Warcraft, and Final Fantasy.
A folktale for adults and kids 9+. Reminescent of Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz, and beautifully written.
A beautiful, feminist story about an empress and her rise to power. Quick, but powerful read. Calm and lyrical yet haunting and emotional.