If you were given a limit of 50 items what would you pick to represent the state of Washington? Harriet Baskas did just that in Washington Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Evergreen State. Did you know that Father's Day started here? Or the slinky pull toy? From apples to orca whales, the Peace Arch to the Columbia, see if you agree with her choices.

Washington is a state with strong, outspoken, stubborn women and you can read about many of them in Extraordinary Women Conservationists of Washington: Mothers of Nature, by Dee Arntz. They stood up against big business, big corporations, and, well, a lot of men to save forests (some of the oldest left in the lower 48), to keep our water and air clean, and to cleanup or prevent hazardous conditions. I'll admit, it gets a bit political for this reader, but I'm sure glad they were out there fighting!

Reading Hermit With Dog