By Bob and Melinda Blanchard. I checked this out from the library, but it will be a purchase after we get settled in after the move. So…with all the free recipes online, why would I need to buy cookbooks? (Why? asks Lee. Whyyyyyyy?) The authors address this question in the introduction, and I agree with

(Age 3-4 on up.) I like Tim Egan’s kids’ books. They aren’t spectacular. They aren’t a delight to read (not the way books by Dr. Seuss or Maurice Sendak are). What they are is literate. They are, in fact, the most “literate” kids’ books I’ve ever come across. Most kids’ books assume kids can’t assimilate

Disney has made all kinds of sequels and tie-in videos for the movie Beauty and the Beast, but all of them show the Beast as a Beast, and not a man. Apparently, the man isn’t interesting enough to be a character.

I’m not sure what the train of thought was, but I was thinking about some of the many books that show unreal or distorted houses. No, wait–I’m reading Mountain of Black Glass at work, and one of the character groups was travelling through a VR world consisting of a single, unending house. Anyway, I made

Not! What can I say without spoiling the plot for my beloved spouse, who hasn’t read the previous book in the series, Issola. Auuuuggghhh! Give me back my husband, you foul MMORPGs! He isn’t reading enough books anymore! And Issola is in a box somewhere, waiting for the big move! Double aaaaaaauuuuuuggggghhhhh! I’m hoping the

1. The book nearest me: TONKA (R) MIGHTY CRANE…It’s big. It’s tall. It’s the TONKA crane! 2. Stretch out your left arm; what do you touch? Lee’s desk. 3. Last thing watched on television: Probably something on MTV with my siblings when they were in town. 4. Without looking, what time is it? 5:07 p.m.

…or maybe some good mac-n-cheese. Click here for a moderately safe-for-work quiz challenge: Porn Star or Famous Chef? (Via Grow-a-Brain.)

Nordicware has the best Bundt Pans…. (Via BoingBoing.)

Monday: Appraisal done (no results back yet) and loan (finally) in. Tuesday: HOI done.

1. Who let the owls out?Who? Who? Who? Who?Who let the owls out?Who? Who? Who? Who? 2. Hey, what’s this?[Pinches her lips together and blows a raspberry through them.]A balloon fart! –Age 4 1/2