"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!"
—Shel Silverstein, from Where the Sidewalk Ends

KIDS' Q&A: JONATHAN STROUD
"Compared to adults," Jonathan Stroud says, "children are unimpressed by reputation, fashion, or pretension." Especially when it comes to the books they read. Of course, Stroud's own reputation as a writer of thrilling tales is spreading farther every day. With the recent release of Ptolemy's Gate, the third book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy, he continues to capture the attention of readers young and old. Here in our Kids' Q&A, the English writer reveals more about his life, his interests, and his thoughts on writing stories for all of us. Read more and save 30% on Ptolemy's Gate.

KIDS' Q&A: CHRIS RASCHKA
Chris Raschka didn't think he would grow up to be a creator of children's books, but thank goodness he did! Where would we be without Charlie Parker Played Be Bop? Or the excellent New York Is English, Chattanooga Is Creek? Not to mention his Caldecott Award winners, Yo! Yes? and The Hello, Goodbye Window. An amazing artist, a sparkling wit, and he can knit! Save 30% on The Hello, Goodbye Window, and do read our Q&A; you'll be glad you did.

VOCABULARY INTERMISSION
farrago n. a pastiche, a hodgepodge, a jumble, a disarray.

KIDS' Q&A: LANE SMITH
Perhaps best known for his illustrations in many of Jon Scieszka's books, such as The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Stinky Cheese Man, and The Time Warp Trio series, Smith has also written several books, including The Happy Hocky Family, a humorous take on Dick and Jane-style readers. His latest book is John, Paul, George and Ben, which mischievously explores our Founding Fathers as children. Read more about this quirky author and illustrator, and save 30% on John, Paul, George and Ben.

AUTHOR GUSH: SARAH STEWART AND DAVID SMALL
She writes lyrical, meaningful text, while he creates signature watercolors that partner with the words to tell the story. The husband and wife duo Sarah Stewart and David Small collaborate to produce some of our favorite picture books. Once a teacher, Sarah thinks any aspiring writer should study Latin, read great poetry, and have a quiet retreat. Her stories tend to have young spunky protagonists with a unique and positive vision of the world around them. She uses a variety of methods to tell her stories, including letters, diary entries, and rhymes. David received a Caldecott Honor for The Gardener in 1998, and later won the Caldecott Award for So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George. In addition to illustrating, David has written several books, including Imogene's Antlers. Explore their world of picture books here.

VOCABULARY INTERMISSION
imbroglio n. a confusing situation, a quandary; turmoil.

IT'S MARCH (OF THE PENGUINS)!
We love penguins. They’re fuzzy, they waddle in the most improbable way, their lives are remarkably difficult — what with living in Antarctica and all — and did we mention they're really cute? Fortunately, there are some really great penguin books for kids. Some are storybooks, like the marvelous new Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers, and some are factual, like those from dependable science series like Rookie Read-About Science and Let's Read and Find Out. And some are a lovely combination of fact and fiction, like And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson, which is inspired by real penguins and events at New York's Central Park Zoo. Check out our list of recommended penguin titles.

NEW ARRIVALS
Alexis was sitting in the picture book corner, minding her own business, when a little rabbit walked in and started browsing the shelves. "Hmm," she said to herself, "Can't remember the last time that happened." Just when she'd gotten accustomed to the bunny, a monkey in a very large, yellow hat started poking around in her coat pocket. "What a curious fellow," Alexis thought. "I wonder where he came from?" Then it dawned on her: New Arrivals! Kate DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Curious George the Movie: Touch and Feel. The gang's all here now: Bad Kitty, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, The Lioness and Her Knight, Spirit Walker, and more.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
March is Women's History Month, a time to take particular note of the contributions women have made to the world. Some of my favorite books recently have been picture books and novels illuminating the lives of some of the most famous women in history. Anne Frank, by Josephine Poole, is one of the most stunning depictions of the young woman's life I've ever seen. With poignant illustrations by Angela Barrett, readers of all ages will feel how real and tragic the Holocaust was. Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life, by Candace Fleming, reminds us exactly why this dedicated, passionate woman was known as "The First Lady of the World." Warrior Girl: A Novel of Joan of Arc, by Pauline Chandler, is a thrilling, detailed narrative about the teenager who rallied and led the French army against the English in the fifteenth century. And finally, a book to which I return again and again, Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, by Anne Rockwell, tells the story of the one-time slave and abolitionist using beautiful illustrations by Gregory Christie. With all the amazing books out there, it is simple and fun to celebrate the women who changed the course of human history.

VOCABULARY INTERMISSION
rhubarb n. a heated discussion, quarrel, fracas, or rumpus; or, a plant of the genus Rheum, also called "pie plant."

KIDS' BESTSELLERS

1. The Night before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing (General) 2. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey (Teen Issues) 3. The Giver by Lois Lowry (Newbery Award Winners) 4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Young Adult) 5. Wringer by Jerry Spinelli (Newbery Award Winners) 6. By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman (Middle Readers) 7. The King's Equal by Katherine Paterson (General) 8. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (Classics) 9. American Heritage Student Dictionary by Houghton Mifflin (Reference) 10. Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen (Young Adult)