Elfins in San Francisco (AuthorHouse, 24 pages, $11.49, Paperback) is a picture book about two elfins, Amrin and Jaya, who go on an adventure through San Francisco and learn about many of its famous sites. Mainly for three-to-eight year olds, San Francisco author, Sarbjit Rai, wanted a way parents and teachers can teach children about the city she loves as well as inspire imagination. Rai also donates the royalties of her book to Room to Read, a nonprofit global children’s charity that helps to build libraries and schools in developing countries.

In a beautiful dedication to her mother’s life work, San Francisco resident, Larissa Archer has put together a visually stimulating picture book titled, The Ritual of the Eye: The Art and Design of Masha Archer (Blurb Inc., 191 pages, Hardcover). Showcasing her mother’s love for fashion and jewelry over the past forty years, this book represents the skill and creative craftsmanship Masha has dedicated her life to mastering.

Considered to be one of the most interesting and unique minds of our time, John Waters has penned a smart and amusing self-portrait through discussing the people who have inspired him over the years in his newly published, Role Models (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 320 pages, $25.00, Hardcover). With a menagerie of some well-known and some unknown people making the list, this book gives readers a glimpse into the strategically crafted life of a cult icon.

Turtle in Paradise (Random House Books for Young Readers, 208 pages, $16.99, Hardcover) is an endearing tale inspired by Bay Area author Jennifer L. Holm’s maternal great-great-grandmother’s stories. Combining history and humor, Holm’s tells the story of a little girl sent to Key West, Florida unexpectedly and faces new beginnings that bring her out of a shell she has spent her whole life hiding in.