I love sites that encourage kids to become lifetime readers and here's a new one http://www.twentybyjenny.com/.

The site is cute and clean and crisp and offers the top 20 books for children in four age categories, including those tough to get to reads teens.

You can also sign up to get the newsletter.

Well, I already know what I'm getting mami this year - she asked for a rocking chair and a copy of Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Galeano (the Spanish edition) but here are some other cool ideas:

- Cookbook:
Daisy Cooks: Latin Flavors That Will Rock Your World by Daisy Martinez or
A Taste of Latino Cultures Un Toque de Sabor Latino: A Bilingual, Educational Cookbook Un Libro de Cocina Bilingue y Educativo by George Kunzel,
or Cuisine a Latina: Fresh Tastes and a World of Flavors from Michy's Miami Kitchen by Michelle Bernstein and Andrew Friedman

- Film:
Viva Pedro - Pedro Almodovar Classics Collection: (Talk To Her/ Bad Education/ All About My Mother/ Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown/ Live Flesh/ Flower Of My Secret / Matador / Law Of Desire) (1988) (Dvd) or
Pan'S Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series) (2006) (Dvd)

- Wall Art:
Heart with Silver Tinted Milagros or
Madre y Patria - A Paining by Alberto Ongay

- Chef:
Traditional Paella Kit with Paella Cookbook - Packed in Gift Box
or (love the name) Saffron by Princesa de Minaya, D.O. La Mancha

- Place to browse: Gifts-for-mom.novica.com

I can't wait!



Besos for Bill!

"Common recently launched the Corner Book Club, an interactive book club for teens, on the Web site of his charity, the Common Ground Foundation."

Now, that's what's up!

Read more here

Common is also an author: I Like You but I Love Me by Common; Lorraine West, nominated for a NAACP Image Award, and The Mirror and Me Illustrated by Lonnie R. Lynn,

What's the world coming to? It's enough to make a geek girl very happy!


Those of you in the research world will be very happy to note that the Library of Congress launched their own YouTube Channel where you can view videos from the National Book Festival and more.


Meanwhile the folks at PBS bring us their own branded video portal where users can view a range of full length & clips of PBS shows like FRONTLINE The Hugo Chavez Show or NOVA Cracking the Maya Code and more.


Another great find: The World Digital Library (WDL) offers "free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world." There's enought to spend hours just browsing pictures of Brazilian princesses, Chilean ranchers, maps and more.

I spotted this recently on Shinyshiny.tv and thought it was a wondrous new product!

The breastlight is a new gadget that allows women to pass or shine a red light on and through their breast tissue to get an idea of what's normal and what might be a new or worrisome mass.

Since it works pretty much like flashlight there is no invasiveness or pain and it seems like a flawless way to regularly do a self breast exam.

Commercially it's only available in Europe and Canada right now but the Breastlight is currently under review by FDA for the US market. I hope it passes scrutiny because it seems like the perfect gadget for any woman in your life.


Learn more here: breastlight.com

Sandra Cisneros and Friends: A 25th Anniversary Celebration of The House on Mango Street

Sandra Cisneros will be appearing with Julia Alvarez, Maria Hinojosa, John Phillip Santos, Jessica Hagedorn, and her editor from Knopf, Robin Desser.

Reading: Thursday, April 23, 6:30pm

Cooper Union: The Great Hall

7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue in Greenwich Village, NYC Free and open to the general public.

http://www.sandracisneros.com/

from www.wnyc.org

Mark your calendars!




Writers I am really looking forward to: Nawal El Saadawi, Edwidge Danticat, Jaime Manrique, Walter Mosley, A.M. Homes,

See the complete list of 2009 Festival participants

Some of the events are free and open to the public but some require seat reservation

Via: Orli Yakuel

Also of interest The 50 most significant moments of Internet history.

Discovered a cool blog for librarians and avid readers: www.earlyword.com

If you have a book club or belong to one make sure you take the ReadingGroupGuides.com 2009 Book Group Survey.

And, if you haven't participated in my survey on Latinos and book buying, please do so now.

* Image via Modish from Paloma's Nest shop

Cafe Bustelo: free downloads of their iTunes Playlist (currently 10 tunes)

Cafe Bustelo Cuban Cafe con Leche in a can - offers you ten free iTunes downloads from their custom playlist:You give them your email and they give a you a code to use on iTunes for their downloads

http://www.bustelocool.com/

If you click on "Wake me Up" you can also set up to get free wake-up calls from them.

Finally, if you click on SIGN UP, there is an offer to get some Cafe Bustelo for free if you tell them something cool about their coffee drink and they use it on their site.

The ten songs are:

1. Cut Copy - "Lights & Music"

2. Pacifika - "Me Cai"

3. Sonates - "Quilombo to espera"

4. The Jealous Girlfriends - "Robuxulla"

5. Alegbra - "Run & Hide"

6. Ben Jelen - "Wreckage"

7. Trin-i-tee - "Listen"

8. J*Davey - "Mr.Mister"

9. Crystal Castles - "Crimewave"

10. Arthur Hanlon - "Mujer Mistica"

I recently read B as in Beauty By Alberto Ferreras and have to tell you it's one of the most touching, intelligent, funny, and best books I've read all year!

I hope you pick a copy up. It will definitely amaze you!




* Quote from Kahlil Gibran

I would love to post my Google Followers but unfortunately few have add me so here's a sincere request to please add my blog to the blogs you follow.

TIA!

Speaking on ereaders...Word online is Barnes & Noble might be working on their own eReader device in conjuction with Sprint or perhaps Verizon. Kindle Killer? We shall see.

Read more: on TheStreet

I recently spotted the Demy Kitchen Safe Touchscreen Recipe Reader and although it reminds me of a picture frame (a very plain, simple one - yes, it's bulky too) I have to admit the display is sort of cool.


If only eReaders could all have a color display and be as 'pretty' as this I think many eReader owners would be happy. Imagine an ereader with colors and skins and apps you could download...

Right now, we have this:













Don't forget to take part in my poll: Where do you buy your books?


* Images via Outblush and Thedigitalist

I came across a really interesting post on White Authors, Ethnic Characters
via www.racialicious.co/ today that left me deep in thought and reflection. It reminded me a lot of issues of the Other and particpant-observer v. outside observer in anthropology.



What are your thoughts on this? <

Via GalleyCat: Barnes & Noble Launches Local Initiative

Nike Ad: A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

Perfectly haunting love poem for a rainy Friday evening!

Kicking off National Poetry Month: