June 30, 2006 "His Dark Materials" film makers find their Lyra
An unknown British schoolgirl will play Lyra Belacqua, the heroine of Philip Pullman's "Dark Materials" trilogy. The first film in the trilogy is scheduled for release in late 2007. More information about the films, the 2003 stage play, and the wonderful books can be found at Bridge totheStars.net or at the author's own website.

June 30, 2006 Winston Graham born on this day in 1908

June 25, 2006 Royal Birthday party
and Kids take over Buckingham Palace
In celebration of the queen's 80th birthday a garden party for 1,000 lucky children was held at Buckingham Palace. In attendance were charcters from Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Wind in the Willows, and Peter Rabbit. Harry Potter and his creator J.K. Rowling were also at the festivities as were authors Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson.

The focus of the party was to highlight a campaign to bring literature into the lives of disadvantaged and hospitalised children. "Twelve thousand books have been donated by publishers to a book pool established through the National Literacy Trust, and some of the writers who read to youngsters in the authors' tent during the party will give readings in hospitals and schools."

June 19, 2006 More floating books
A company in the Netherlands has a whimsical floating bookshelf with the shelf disguised as the bottom book in the stack. Its title? "Ceci ne pas un livre" or "This is not a book" 'written' by S.E.L.F. Shelf.

June 13, 2006 Dorothy L. Sayers born on this day in 1893
Here is an excellent article written by Jerri Chase Comparing the Lives and Works of Dorothy L. Sayers, D.E. Stevenson and Georgette Heyer with Angela Thirkell It is available on the web site with her kind permission.

June 12, 2006 Which book would you memorize a la "Fahrenheit 451"?
Betty Stein, a retired teacher who writes a column titled “By The Way” for the Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel wants to know. We'd be interested in your answers as well.

June 9, 2006 E.M. Delafield born on this day in 1890
Our E.M. Delafield page has a link to our books in stock which includes copies of the book by Delafield's daughter, titled "Provincial Daughter". It also has a link to the wonderful Delafield web site linked above which has a short excerpt from "Diary of a Provincial Lady" as well as lots of biographical information. Nicholas has added some recollections of of EMD by her daughter.

June 7, 2006
Are we the last Elizabeth Goudge admirers to learn that an Australian film of one of our favourite EG books, The Little White Horse, is in the works? This magical children's book, winner of the Carnegie Medal, seems to have been 'rediscovered' in the past few years, perhaps due to JK Rowlings saying it was one of her favourite books as a child.

"When orphan Maria arrives at Moonacre Manor, her ancestral home in an enchanted village in England's West Country, she feels as if she's come home. Her new guardian is kind and funny, and everyone there is like an old friend. But beneath the beauty and comfort lies a tragedy. Maria is determined to find out about it, change it, and give her own life story a happy ending."

June 7, 2006 National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
Do we really need an excuse to enjoy the US's favorite ice cream flavor?? The link (you may need the free 'Flash' plug-in to view) takes you to a fun and informative site about a flavor we recently discovered on a trip home. Yumm, Mayan Chocolate from Haagen-Dazs. Thanks, Mom!

June 5, 2006 Margaret Drabble born on this day in 1907
We have in stock several books by this author that are not yet listed on the web site. Please contact us for a current title list.

June 4, 2006 National Hug Your Cat Day
I've been told by reliable sources (um, yes, I do have cats, why do you ask?) that this should be done every day. Don't have a cat? No problem, June is "Adopt a Cat Month".

June 2, 2006 Barbara Pym born on this day in 1913
Our Barbara Pym page has a link to our books in stock and a link to the Barbara Pym Society in North America.