New Ponys song: Double Vision (mp3)

If you didn't see the latest McSweeneys, you may have missed the "Letters to Ray (Charles)" that were inserted between stories. This site has those letters and more.

NY Times Notable Children's Books.

(info from NY Times, with my comments)

THE END. A Series of Unfortunate Events: Book the Thirteenth. By Lemony Snicket. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. HarperCollins. $12.99. (Ages 10 and up)
Of course I liked this one.

OWEN & MZEE: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship. By Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Photographs by Peter Greste. Scholastic. $16.99. (Ages 4 to 8)
Think it's too texty for most 4 year olds. A nice nonfictiony book.

THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE. By Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Candlewick. $18.99. (Ages 7 and up)
Didn't read it. Doesn't look like my kind of thing.

GOOD BOY, FERGUS! Written and illustrated by David Shannon. Blue Sky/Scholastic. $15.99. (Ages 3 to 6)
Like No, David! but a dog. It makes me a little sad when authors/illustrators/publishers milk a thing to death. This is nice, but not especially "notable" to me.

RASH. By Pete Hautman. Simon & Schuster. $15.95. (Ages 12 and up)
Haven't read it. Put in a request at NYPL.

JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE & BEN. Written and illustrated by Lane Smith. Hyperion. $16.99. (Ages 5 and up)
I like the look and tone of this, but most of that is lost on 5 year olds.

THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING. Traitor to the Nation. Volume I: The Pox Party. By M. T. Anderson. Candlewick. $17.99. (Ages 14 and up)
Very good, my favorite MT Anderson so far.