I don't remember which I encountered first: Helene Hanff's book, 84 Charing Cross Road, or the Anne Bancroft / Anthony Hopkins movie of the same name. All I know is that decades later the title's ... [+]
Three cats -- Rumkin, Mist, and Flop Ear -- followed Jenny along the rocky shore, dancing away from the incoming tide."This will make a good soup," said Jenny, dropping a glistening clump of sea moss ... [+]
Everyone receives gifts they neither need nor want—bath salts for people who only shower, a frilly nightgown wrapped up for someone who sleeps in sweatpants, that 27th tie . . . Sometimes we ... [+]
Wind chimes ring behind our house in random harmony, riffing with each passing bird and thrumming ... [+]
In a small cottage in a deep valley, an old woman lived with her goats and sheep, chickens and dog, a sway-backed horse and one ginger cat.Each morning, she collected eggs while the dog led the sheep ... [+]
If you ever met a dragon and asked him in for tea, he'd rave about the apple scones with great civility. He'd be the perfect guest for anyone to host, unless the dragon hiccuped and flamed the scones ... [+]
Ice cream at bedtime,Aunt Betty's the best!She knows in the summerit's hard to find restwhen faced with hot sheets,hot pillows, hot bed,no place cool enoughto lay a hot head.Instead, we escape,my aunt ... [+]
"Baa, baa, baaaaa" bleated Sally. "Life on the Renaud farm is blah, blah, blaaaah," she complained. "Nothing ever changes. Same sheep. Same hill. Same rocks... WHOOPS!" The stone beneath Sally's hoof ... [+]
Autumn's here—Happy New Year! Not for me, that pallid substitute in January with its noisemakers and forgotten resolutions. My calendar resets annually with the opening of classroom doors, no matte ... [+]
Sarah bounced as the SUV hit another rough patch on the dirt road into Silver City. "Just look at this place!" her dad exclaimed, taking photos of one rundown building after another. "You wanted the ... [+]
Who can walk today when leaves leapfrog across the boulevard and swirl recklessly round each passing ... [+]
Billie scuffed her flip flops through the dry needles scattered over the Christmas tree lot. Pine scent filled the air. But it felt too hot for Christmas."How about this one?" Her mom turned a spruce ... [+]
The rain had dried up – every drip, every puddle – but Hillie couldn't go out while her room was a muddle. Mom had been clear, and her dad had agreed, "First, clean up this room!" ... [+]
There are mountains hidden downstairs in my grandpa's country house with craggy granite boulders no bigger than a mouse. Little trees of twigs and moss hug miniature ravines, where compact wooden ... [+]
When witches walk and goblins stalk and all the ghosts convene, then please draw near so you can hear new rhymes for Halloween! Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey, when ... [+]