Author: Special to the MLN

“American Adventures: Westward Journeys” by Judy Young and Devin Scillian, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth, Chris Ellison, and Doris Ettlinger c.2013, Sleeping Bear Press $6.99 / $9.99 Canada 96 pages   The last time your...

Check, check and check. That sums up pretty much what you’ve been doing for the past few weeks: writing out checks, checking your plastic balance and checking your list – twice. But, inevitably, there’s someone on there to whom...

Doesn’t it seem like your gift list grows each year? One new member of the family by birth, three more by marriage. Two “adopted” kids who call you Mom or Dad just because. Friends who have become dear.  A new Secret Santa...

“The Dogs of Christmas” by W. Bruce Cameron c.2013, Forge $15.99 / $18.50 Canada 238 pages   This Christmas, you’re giving up a lot. You’re giving up a corner of your home for a Christmas tree. You’re giving up money to...

“Princesses Behaving Badly” by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie c.2013, Quirk Books $19.95 U.S. and Canada 288 pages There are no ugly princes in fairy tales. The princesses are all very beautiful, too. Nobody has bad skin or bad...