Allyson, I know a lot of kids who like Rosemary Wells stuff: [link]

Sekret message to Sparky1: hey, I didn't say how old the "kids" were.

Okay. My sister-in-law broke my heart and told me the only books my nephew has are the ones I buy him... Any good suggestions?

Yes: steal him and see to it that he's raised among people who regard reading as a good thing.

Skipped literally thousands of messages to say Happy New Year to all!!! Back from a visit to mom. Best accomplishments of the visit? Got mom to get rid of horrible white melamine cofee tables by sneakily pointing out lovely wood ones on sale while at Ikea for her to get a new couch. Got taken out to fab NYE dinner by little brother to a lovely restaurant in an old restored mill. read and loved "Middlesex," by Jeffrey Eugenides (thanks, Kat!). Last and best, talked my mom into going without her wig at the reception she threw for my brother--so she revealed her fuzzy post-chemo head to 50 people at once, all of whom thought she looked terrific.

Now, how the hell are all of you?

Tell her it will start looking like real hair in a month or so, although the weird fuzzy stuff stays on the ends. How's she doing otherwise, Robin?

Happy ita day!

The George and Martha books were among my favorites when I was a kid. I would go through and second the recs for all the kids' book I loved that have already been mentioned, but it would be a really long list. Oh, but I have to say that I also loved Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine, which are both by Robert McCloskey, who was mentioned above because he wrote Make Way for Ducklings, which any Boston-area child must own.

I think Coke is OK to drink wherever -- the company makes sure the water is OK.

Heh. I copied this quote HOURS ago and am just now getting around to the end of the thread, and I'm amused to see it is still the last thing I copied. Anyway, um, yes, Coke is always a safe bet. Which is unfortunate when you are very thirsty, lost in Botswana, and really fucking sick of Coke.

edit:

Last and best, talked my mom into going without her wig at the reception she threw for my brother--so she revealed her fuzzy post-chemo head to 50 people at once, all of whom thought she looked terrific.

Way to go!

Skipping mightily to say happiest of happies to ita!!!!! I thought of you this AM as I headed South on the 405 while the N-bound lanes were all clear and pretty. Curses!

Ginger--she is feeling MUCH better, thanks. Her old spark is finally back. I also saw at the reception my second boyfriend ever, who I remember as a great kisser and that we had long walks in the moonlight and talked for hours on the phone. He has been happily married for 18 years and is a very nice adult, although he, um, forgot we ever dated. FORGOT!

he, um, forgot we ever dated.

What kind of insane wacko could ever forget dating Robin???

I'm with ChiKat on that one. How could anyone forget Robin?

Her old spark is finally back.

I have felt much better for some time, but I don't seem to have the stamina I did before all this started. Tell her not to expect too much of herself.

Yay for Robin and Robin's mom!

Happy Birthday, ita!

You guys mentioned all the good kids' books. Any and all of them are great, and still fun to read, either to a littlie, or just as a guilty pleasure for oneself.