I loved making sand castles as a kid ... you know ... the ones where you packed your pail with sand and then turned it upside down? This is not that! Sandcastles Made Simple: Step-by-Step Instructions, Tips, and Tricks for Building Sensational Sand Creations, by Lucinda "sandy feet" Wierenga is full of wonderful designs for amazing sand structures.

The recommendation for this book, about a most unusual family, came from Constant Reader: The Lotterys Plus One, by Emma Donoghue. It is a chapter book with illustrations by Caroline Hadilaksono. Four parents, seven kids, and a variety of animals live in a large Victorian house. This is possible because of a large win in, yup, the Lottery! (That's when their name changed, too). Live is happy chaos. It all changes when the father of one of the dads needs a place to live. Estranged from his son for years, this will not be an easy transition. The adjustment makes for a lively and entertaining story. :-)

Looking for that perfect name for a baby (or pet)? Tired of ordinary, frequently used names? Look no further, that special name is in Hello, My Name is Pabst: Baby Names for Nonconformist, Indie, Geeky, DIY, Hipster,and Alterna-Parents of Every Kind, by Miek Brunoand Kerry Sparks! Granted, there are a lot of names that I don't think anyone would use, there are some great names and some clever ideas on how to create a unique name. Food for thought, good for a laugh or two. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog