Twincitiesdailyplanet.net has a nice article about St Paul's fantastic Red Balloon Bookshop. I hadn't realized until I read it that the bookstore is named for the popular French children's book (and movie) of the same name.--David E

In honor of its own fortieth anniversary, the folks at the Man Booker Prize have announced the shortlist of titles for the "Best of Booker" Prize. Six past winners made the cut: Midnight's Children by Salman RushdieDisgrace by J.M. CoetzeeThe Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. FarrellThe Conservationist by Nadine GordimerThe Ghost Road by Pat BarkerOscar … Continue reading DIY Booker

From the New York Times comes word that filming has begun on a revamped version of that staple of my childhood, The Electric Company; details are here. Now as then, the show aims to help struggling young readers--usually from low-income households. This time around, though, the show will be a multimedia extravaganza, including radio ads, … Continue reading It’s About Time