My new favorite.

I keep an ongoing list of books I'd like to read, and I love the summer because no school means I have a chance to scratch some of them off the list. I have recently added: The Time Traveler's Wife, The Bridges of Madison County, and The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. There are so many works I want to indulge in, that I sometimes find myself overwhelmed. I'm always thinking: If only my job were to read, read, and read some more. What a profession!

I made a trip to the library last week, picked up a couple of the books listed above (along with Michael Parker's If You Want Me to Stay), and dropped off one of my new favorites, The Prince of Tides. This was my first reading and I will say, like so many others have before me, I felt as if I was reading poetry, rather than prose. I felt, so many times, that I should stop and record Conroy's lines, that I absolutely could not live without them tucked safely away, where I might return to them. I fell in love with the language and the story. I must say I was a bit sad as I sent the old, heavy hardback clunking down the cold, metal book return. I wanted to hold it in my hands, place it carefully on my bookshelf. A book like that doesn't belong in a dark box, waiting for someone to return it to its place. I cannot say I have ever felt this way about a novel before--poetry yes, but fiction? Nope.

What book makes you want to hold on forever?

Skippyjon is back... and we're loving him!

Every night before sleepy time, we (my sons: Connor-5, Brett-10 months, husband: Andrew, and myself) all snuggle into Connor's tiny twin bed. Connor insist that both Brett and he "be in the middle," even on nights when it's just the three of us (because Daddy's busy) and there can only really be one little boy in the middle. Naturally, though, I agree because as Connor says, "It is more snugly bugly that way."

When we're finally settled and squished together in the most snugly way, I ask Connor which story he'd like to read. He has quite the library--all of my children's books, his uncle's, even some of his Mimi's childhood favorites, not to mention the many treasures resulting from my fast pass to the Scholastic warehouse sale (FABULOUS!). With so many options, it seems Connor can never choose just one book. Thus, every evening I have the privilege of making the choice myself, pulling my favorites from the shelves, fingering their pages, and smiling at the opportunity to share those favorites with my two little guys.

We have certainly acquired some new favorites (thanks to that fast pass) recently. We love all things Mo Willems and David Shannon. As of late, though, Judy Schachner's silly kitty, Skippyjon Jones, has once again topped our list. He's back in Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones. Who wouldn't adore a tiny Siamese kitten with humongous ears, who aspires to be Skippito the chihuahua of his day dreams? Clever names, playful alliteration, and a sing-song beat make this story enjoyable for kids and grown-ups, too. You'll be on the edge of your bed as you seek to determine the fate of Skippito Friskito in his closet adventures. No spoilers here, though! You'll have to check it out yourself. I will warn you; it has life-altering potential. We are seriously considering changing Don Diego's (more to come on our family's very own chihuahua soon) name to Skippito Friskito. Yes, it's just that good. You'll see.