New Pinkalicious

Are you a Pinkalicious fan? Yes? Then you've got to check out the newest books, Pinkalicous and the Pink Drink (which came out Tuesday) and Pinkalicous, Tickled Pink (which comes out July 27th).

In Victoria Kann's Pinkalicous and the Pink Drink, Pinkalicious gets a pinkariffic idea: she'll start a lemonade stand! She quickly gets to work, but she has to figure out what ingredients she'll need to make the most perfectly pink lemonade.

In Pinkalicious, Tickled Pink, "Tiffany challenges Pinkalicious to a laugh-off. The pressure is on to create the most pinkerrifically funny joke of all time. Even if Pinkalicious doesn't win the contest, she's going to have a lot of fun trying!"

For more information on new books by Victoria Kann click here!

Modern Toilet

Ok, don't think I'm crazy, but ever since I heard about this restaurant a few months ago, I can't stop thinking about it (2 thumbs up for the Travel Channel). Anyway, I figured if it made such an impression on me, maybe it'll make an impression on all of you too... so I'm going to share it, but please, don't think I'm crazy.

It's called Modern Toilet and it's a bathroom-themed chain restaurant that is based in Taiwan, but expanding into China and other parts of Asia too (There are 12 branches in total, currently). The seats are toilets, fancy, stylish and acrylic with the lid down, of course. The tables are a layer of glass with a sink underneath. And the BEST part is that the food comes in a a mini toilet bowl and the drinks come in a mini urinal! Also, the REAL BEST part (and this is what started it all), the soft-serve ice cream comes to you in a dish shaped like a squat toilet!

Before Modern Toilet was a full restaurant, its owner, Wang Zi-wei, 29, had an ice cream shop that began selling chocolate ice cream swirls on paper squat toilets with tons of success. He got the idea for it from a Japanese robot cartoon character, Jichiwawa, who loved to play with poop. Grossly awesome, yes?

According to this article in TIME, the restaurant's menu includes curries, pasta, and fried chicken, as well as several shaved-ice desserts with gross names that are just a teeny bit too descriptive (read the article).

When I saw this on the Travel Channel I immediately thought, "If the dining room is full of toilets, what's in the bathroom?" Actually it made me a little bit anxious to think about, but luckily the restaurant does have proper bathrooms and they are, apparently, very well marked (so no mistakes). However don't think you'll get to wash your hands in a regular sink. Nope, their sinks are in toilets too.

Want to see more pictures? Here's some on Fun Fever, and here's some on Spot Cool Stuff Travel.

I hope one of these restaurants comes to New York! Otherwise, does anyone want to go to Taiwan?

Oh, and folding chairs and normal dishware are available if you really can't handle all the toilets. But what's the fun in that?!

Benny and Penny comics

Blog alert! Just a few weeks ago award-winning author and illustrator, Geoffrey Hayes created a blog for his graphic novel characters, Benny and Penny.

The all-original comics posted on this blog are specially designed for emerging readers, in terms of both vocabulary and content. Every Monday there will be a new story with Benny, Penny and their friends (you can print these out and color them). Plus every Wednesday there will be a new cartoon, where you'll get to suggest what Benny and Penny could be saying in the blank balloons, and Geoffrey will post his favorites!

You can even write to the author through the blog's in the comments and he’ll answer you personally!

Click here to put "Benny and Penny in Just Pretend: A Toon Book" on hold.

Or click here to put "Benny and Penny in The Big No-No!" on hold.

Meet the authors of the 39 Clues books!

Monday, May 24th!

Mark your calendars because the authors of the "39 Clues" books are coming the Barnes & Noble in Huntington Station! At 6:00pm, you'll have your chance to meet four of the award-winning authors: Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Jude Watson, and Peter Lerangis.

Bracelets for the event will be distributed Sunday, May 23rd at 10:00am. For more information, you can contact the store at 631-421-9886.

It should be exciting!

If you haven't read any of the 39 Clues books, click here to put a copy of the first one (Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan) on hold!

Novel-T Jerseys

Wearing a jersey is a good way to show your support for your favorite athletes. But what about showing support for your favorite authors and novel characters?

Welp, now there's a jersey for doing that too! With lost of famous names available such as Vonnegut, Sawyer, Poe, Thoreau, Quixote, Gatsby and more, you're sure to find a Novel-T, that fits your liking.

Novel-T, will donate $1 of each purchase to 826NYC, a nonprofit organization in New York City that helps students ages 6 to 18 with writing skills.

You can order them here!

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

Can you imagine Mo Willems' book, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale as a musical? Well, someone did!
The Kennedy Center in Washingon DC, has performances of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, and the people have spoken: It's good!

If you haven't read the Knuffly Bunny book, the story takes place in Brooklyn, "where Dad accepts the daunting task of taking his toddler daughter, Trixie, with him to the Laundromat... With all the excitement of putting the clothes in the machine, they unknowingly toss Trixie’s beloved stuffed animal, Knuffle (pronounced KA-nuff-ul) Bunny, in there, too. On their way home, Dad, who cannot interpret Trixie’s toddler babble, doesn’t know why Trixie is so upset, but once they get there, Mom immediately understands Trixie’s cries of anguish. They run back to the Laundromat where Dad heroically saves Knuffle Bunny and Trixie is inspired to say her first words."

This play's got humor, dancing, and songs (such as "Tricky with Trixie"). The script and lyrics are by Mo Willems and the music by Michael Silversher. It's directed by Rosemary Newcott, and recommended for ages 4 and up.

The show will be on a national tour beginning in October 2010 and running though May 2011. The first stop will be in Washingtonton DC. More info on the tour will be announced here.

Flipped is coming to theaters

Have you read Wendelin Van Draanen's novel Flipped? Did you love it? Welp, great news! It's being made into a movie!

The movie, starring Madeline Carroll as Juli Baker and Callan McAuliffe as Bryce Loski, is due out September 17th of this year.

If you haven't read the book yet (you have to read it before you see the movie) it's written in alternation perspective chapters between Bryce and Juli. The two young teens, while growing up, describe their feelings about themselves, their peers, family, and mostly, each other--even though they are complete opposites.

To read more about the movie click here.

To reserve a copy of the book click here.