A reminder for your shopping list:

Most major U.S. cities have alternative weeklies. Here in Portland, it's the Willamette Week . It doesn't ordinarily cover kids books, because not many 11-year olds read alternative weeklies . . . which is why I was triply pleased to see that WW included my favorite bookstore, A Children's Place, in its Holiday Gift Guide.





Bonus: Didja see how it recommended The Big Book of Gross Stuff? Huh? Huh?