a little bit of this and that

Some fun commentary on the maps of my favorite childhood places.

In personal news, my son finished a book yesterday and then told his dad he should read it, because it was really good! Our work here is done. Except for the part where he reads the book. That's almost done, since it was pretty short.

The book was one of the "Zack Files" series by Dan Greenburg, which I find amusingly meta, because while I was pregnant, I read Greenburg's Confessions of a Pregnant Father, which was about the birth of his son, Zack.

The Monster at the End of this Nook

Partially thrilled, partially wondering if it can possibly work as well as the print book.

kindle users, act fast

Falcon's Dragon by Luli Gray is free today for the Kindle but probably won't be for long. This is two books in one: I don't think I ever read book 2 and I can't seem to dig up my review for book 1, but I remember thinking highly of it. The blurbs from review journals would seem to support that opinion.

best headline I've ever seen in my life

Whiny Tea Partiers feel threatened by Jane Yolen

DIane Duane Classic -- get it while you can

First the good news: a good deal on an ebook bundle of Diane Duane's "Young Wizards" series. See Books on the Knob for details.

Now the bad news: Duane will be updating the series. (The ebooks on sale are the originals.) I suppose there are some good arguments for doing this, but I hate it. Children who can only read the latest, most modern stories will have no problem at all finding what they like. Not all children need to be pandered to; some like to have their imaginations and outlook stretched. My life would have been much sadder without the "dated" books of E. Nesbit, Lousia May Alcott, Edward Eager, Frieda Friedman, Elizabeth Enright. My son is enjoying some of those books right now, 30+ years later.

For Those Who Don't Follow xkcd

An unexpected journey for The Magic Schoolbus.

on your marks...

The starting line is set for MotherReader's 6th Annual 48 hour book challenge! Hope that copy of Chime will get here in time. I plan to be prepared this year, with lots of juicy YA novels.

one of my son's favorites is in here

A mother posts some freaky images from her kid's bookshelves.

what your favorite childhood books say about you

Of this list, The Phantom Toolbooth... and I'd say, this is pretty accurate.

(I am also that lady who talks to her plants.)

It Was Bound to Happen Someday

Obviously, The Monster at the End of this Book should have been housed in the Unseen University library.

I never know what to say

Luckily, someone else said it all for me.

R.I.P. Diana Wynne Jones.

My husband is currently reading Charmed Life to our son; how wonderful that books live on.

a wicked good deal, that's lovely

Barnes and Noble is spotlighting Melissa Marr this month (March!) and has the Wicked Lovely ebook for $.99. The series has gone steadily downhill for me, but the first book is well worth a read. My review here

naw, it'll never happen

"2011 Books

These exciting, long-awaited, brand-new mashups will be released to an eager public:

* Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea – with a giant killer squid!
* The Tell-Tale heart – with a still-alive zombie body part!
* The Turn of the Screw – with ghosts!
* Moby Dick – with a giant killer sperm whale!"


See more 2011 predictions by Carolyn Crane at The Book Smugglers

awwww....

So darn cute I can't even stand it...

Do you like my blog post?

Yes, I do! I like that blog post!

droooool...

I need this!

EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Juster and Feiffer team up again. I don't know whether to be thrilled or scared.

Nancy as we'd like to see her

From Hank the Vagrant.

for those who love to devour a good book

Some very sweet reading over at Cake Wrecks.

where all the cool kids will be, June 4-6th

Reading. Yes, it's time for MotherReaders's 48 Hour Book Challenge! Now in its fifth year! (Good grief, have I really been blogging for more than five years?)