As I write this note folks are rushing around to get ready for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. I love three-day weekends as they give me more time to spend with my family --- and read. My children know that mom always allows them to have friends over to swim since she can then sit poolside and lifeguard. Mom reads. The boys swim. It's a terrific combo.

School finally ended at our house today. I have to say I am ready to lobby for a MUCH shorter school year. It seems like most of June is just a waste at school. My vote: Assign five extra books for required reading and wrap things up the first week in June and then reconvene right after Labor Day! My younger son won a prize for "Introducing His Teacher to the Most New Books and Authors." Needless to say, this award made me smile!

School's out and you have at least 10 weeks to move to a new schedule --- or no schedule at all. I love summer for just this reason. There is time to explore, dream and think. May we suggest that you spend some of these next weeks reading books? We love the way you can travel with a book without leaving your own backyard.

School is out and you have at least 10 weeks to move to a new schedule --- or no schedule at all. I love summer for just this reason. There is time to explore, dream and think. May we suggest that you spend some of these next weeks reading books? We love the way you can travel with a book without leaving your own backyard.

We talk about food in our office --- a lot. Joan, Sunil and I love to cook and we frequently exchange recipes and ideas for meals. Often our microwave is heating up great leftovers. We have had debates about great chili recipes, grilling, baking and just about everything else to do with culinary arts. Sunil is a trained chef so the bar is pretty high at Bookreporter.com. Thus when we got Wolfgang Puck's latest book, MAKES IT EASY, in the office this week there was a lot of discussion about it.