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If you're in Downtown Apex NC this week, you can hunt for critters made by artist, Ian Sands and his crew of High school Students. Yes, this art teach actually inspires kids to volunteer for projects over the summer. (you can read the article by clicking here.)

They made 500 foam board critters, each hidden around town and carrying instructions regarding which Downtown business the critter should be returned. When returned, the founder is rewarded with a sucker, a kit-kat or various other treats. This is an interactive public art project intended to promote local business.

Isn't that the most creative and fun thing you've ever heard of?!?

Anyway, since Ian is a friend and Critique buddy of mine, I have an idea to bring this interactive art to our blogs. I have to work out the details, but keep your eyes peeled. I'm thinking of calling it "Critter Around the World" or "Critter's Adventure in Blogland" or something like that. (much akin to a Flat Stanley kind of thing) I would need you blog owners to participate, or it wouldn't be any good.

Details to come. . . .

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Want to know a great way to sponsor a special needs skater? The tie, pictured above, will go up for auction and proceeds will go towards sponsoring a skater from the Triangle Special Hockey Association. Click here to find out more about the tie and its designer, Ian Sands. I hear turtle ties are all the rage this year!

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Bob and Barb Spear, owners of Leavenworth, Kansas independent book store The Book Barn, have created an online catalog of books for gifted and reluctant readers. The new catalog is called GRREAT BOOKS - Gifted Reluctant Readers Exploring Amazing Titles - and features carefully selected books for reluctant readers of all ages, as well as a section featuring books for gifted readers.* Bob and Barb have 28 years of experience as booksellers, and Bob has reviewed over 1200 books at his review site, Heartland Reviews. Bob has a special interest in discovering great books from independent and self-publishers.

Click here for the GRREAT BOOKS catalog

*(Disclaimer: my husband's books The Remin Chronicles are included in the catalog)

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The Mysterious Benedict Society
by Trenton Lee Stewart

Reynie Muldoon is gifted; he's advanced academically well beyond his peers. The orphanage where he lives won't allow him to go to an advanced school, but they do hire a tutor for him. Miss Perumal is more than a tutor; she's kind and understanding, and Reynie enjoys her company. She does her best to challenge Reynie, but he longs for more. He wishes that he could go someplace where he fits in, and where he can find real friends and real challenges. When Miss Perumal sees an ad in the paper for "special opportunities" for gifted children, she encourages him to apply. To qualify for the special opportunities, Reynie has to take a series of the strangest tests he's ever taken.

What Reynie finds at the end of the tests is more than he bargained for. He gains friends and finds challenges, but he also finds danger as he and his newfound friends are sent undercover on a secret mission. The fate of the world depends on Reynie and three other unusual children. Time is running out, and the four children must learn to work together before it's too late.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is an exciting and fun adventure with lots of surprises. Each of the children is gifted in a different way, and the unique way each one solves the tests highlights their different way of thinking and looking at the world. Gifted children especially will enjoy this book, not only for its variety of gifted protagonists, but for its creative wordplay, puzzles, and twists. Its audience isn't limited to gifted children, however, and ultimately the message is inclusionary: all the children on the team matter; even those whose talents aren't obvious are important to the success of the mission. The characters are interesting, and watching the four very different children learn to work together as a team is a delight. The pacing is good and keeps the reader hooked until the end.

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