  I see a trend of year-end top 10s of this year, so I am going with the flow and creating my "book of the week", hopefully day, but we shall see how busy I am pretending to be at work (actually, I am quite busy these days, so I have shed my wolf costume!).
As you may know, I am a children's literacy coordinator, so I will be reporting on children's books. perhaps this will only provide immediate assistance to Jenny, but the rest of you can refer to this when you have your own bundle of joy (to babysit, raise, whatever). Week/day one: I Love Guinea Pigs by Dick King-Smith (hee hee Dick King) and illustrated by Anita Jeram I find this book especially poignant since, while in New Zealand, Brett and I were doing what we do best one night: sitting around with a doobie chatting about nonsense while Jenny and John hid from us. Now you might know the silliness that comes from these kinds of conversations, but this is classic. we are talking about guinea pigs and I suggested that somewhere, there is a wild guinea pig. The Good Lord did not just create the guinea pig in an aquarium lined with wood chips and an annoyingly loud water bottle, no, there are wild guinea pigs. Can you imagine hiking along and hearing the rustling of bushes by your feet and out runs a wild guinea pig? So we had many a laugh and were sharing our joy with Jenny and John the next day at dinner. The icing on the cake was Jenny getting all serious and saying, "Well yes, there are wild guinea pigs. I had to write a report for Joyce and John Tarbox about guinea pigs before I could own one. " Ah, the Tarbox family.... At a recent book sale, I spotted "I Love Guinea Pigs" and had to buy it. In case you were wondering, there are wild guinea pigs. They were first introduced to North America by Spanish sailors about 400 years ago. Their origin was from a country in South America called Dutch Auiana, hence "Guiana Pigs. " Also, guinea pigs do not have tails and are not actually pigs.
some other interesting guinea pigs facts: • The latin name for guinea pig is cavia porcellus (it means piggy-looking cavy) • Guinea pigs enjoy a variety in their diet, so include cabbage, carrots, apples, and clover as well as pellets • If you "handle them regularly, and carry them around, stroke them, talk to them....they bcome really fond of you" • Some things a guinea pig might say: "putt", "chut", "tweet", and "drr" • Baby guinea pigs are born fully furred, eyes open, and with teeth!
If you would like to find out more, read "I Love Guinea Pigs. " It includes little references about guinea pigs previously owned by the author. His two favorites were King Arthur and Beach Boy, both Abyssinians. Touching stories, I tell you. You should already own this book! 
