Young explorers, unite for nature

Things everyone loves this time of year: rediscovering that there is life outside, enjoying said life outside, adventures. For the tiny people around, this isn't always a "rediscovery" so much as a first time discovery. But how can we interest them in the great outdoors while secretly educating them?

This list of nature focused picture books is the equivalent of hiding carrots in cookies. They'll never know that education has hit them square between the eyes.

Penguins with sweet tats

Penguin is putting out a number of titles with covers made to look like tattoos. They look pretty sweet, but as one commenter wrote:

those are cool looking covers, but im not wowed by the book choices….bridget jones diary????

Librarians and comedians: They have some books for you

If you are looking for a good Thursday afternoon read (admit it, you're not working anymore), a bunch of comedians recommend books, and here's a list of the best books by librarians.

Your weekend could start tonight, and the weekend is for reading! And drinking! Sometimes simultaneously. 

If the Christmas chapbook is back, I would like a Hess truck

Although the holiday season is over, there are still some things we need to talk through. Yes, homemade gifts can be very nice, especially if you are good at doing something (if you're interested, I can knit hideous, hideous scarves, pocket squares, kitty blankets...basically anything ugly and square, I can do). Yet the handwritten holiday chapbook remains one of the things that I don't think needs a comeback, although some would disagree. The reasoning?

It's a hugely egotistical exercise, I admit, but no more so than hoping people you know will shell out hard cash for a properly-published piece of fiction. Chapbooks of this kind are homemade, personal and inexpensive - and have an illustrious literary history.

Listen. Neil Gaiman has a short story in Smoke and Mirrors that he originally sent in Christmas cards, but I'd bet he still gave other presents that year. And I've given my share of crappy gifts (sorry family!), but I think a present should be specific to the recipient, not the spam e-mail of gifts to showcase my dubious knitting and writing talents.

I'd be happy to read a chapbook as an addition to a thoughtful (potentially small and inexpensive) gift, but I'd prefer your re-gifted scented candles from Aunt Myrna or a bottle of Andre from the corner bodega if it's that or a chapbook. Plus, the "my only gift to you is my glorious writing and you damn well better appreciate it" move is one that rhymes with "rasturbatory," and that is an icky thing to gift.

More importantly: for those of you who were worried, yes, I did get a waffle iron during the holiday season (I restrained myself from posting photos only through sheer will. You're welcome!). I now only eat waffle shaped things. Soups are difficult.

Graphing literacy

I am an avid follower of GraphJam (you should be too!). And so, as we end our week together, I thought I'd share a reading venn diagram with you all.

Holiday shopping lists, from people more famous than you

It's getting to be the uniquely American, month long (at least) holiday season. How do I know this? Because ABC Family has already started showing Christmas movies, even though their 25 Days of Christmas thing hasn't technically started yet. Have you started shopping for yours truly? Slash your family and friends?

Never fret, fellow procrastinators. Penguin has put together a massive list of books to give and get suggested by a massive list of authors, including Elizabeth Gilbert, Patricia Cornwall, Sue Grafton, Nick Hornby, Sue Monk Kidd, Mark Kurlansky, and Frank Bruni, among others.

The Observer also has a similar list of baller books,with lists from Kazuo Ishiguro, Hari Kunzru, Sam Mendes, Curtis Sittenfeld, Malcolm Gladwell, Vivienne Westwood, Colum McCann, and Nick Hornby (again).

I am very happy to recieve any presents. You can address them to:
Laura C. Ombreviations
c/o The Internet