The long days of sunshine and the greening of the landscape here in the northeast have been so welcome after a long gray winter. I feel like there is a real spring in my step!

Earlier this month, I learned some very frustrating news about libraries. In an effort to reduce budgets and save money, many town governments across the country are seriously considering cutting funding and resources for libraries, or even closing them. My mother recently attended a town meeting where this topic was put on the table in my hometown, and it immediately got a lot of people up in arms.

April showers bring May flowers...and the 2010 Children's Choice Book Awards! It's almost time to tally the votes. Have you had your say yet? Nominees are broken down by grade, and polls close on Monday, May 3rd. So what are you waiting for? Click here to vote and show some love for your favorite books of 2009.

April showers bring May flowers...and the 2010 Children's Choice Book Awards! It's almost time to tally the votes. Have your kids, students or patrons had their say yet? Nominees are broken down by grade, and polls close on Monday, May 3rd. They can click here to vote for their favorite books of 2009.

As I write this, I’m sitting in a coffee shop in Barcelona, in the midst of one of the greatest vacations of my life. I’ve journeyed here with five very good friends, all of whom are some of the best and most delightful people I know. We’re here to celebrate my 40th birthday, an occasion we all more or less decided needed to be recognized somewhere far away where we could just have fun. Hence, Barcelona, a place I have never been to before but have grown to love in the past several days.