Author #129: Dorothy Hinshaw Patent with how much dogs can smell

From Searching and Saving to Helping Planet Earth to Medical Alert Dogs, dogs of all breeds, sizes, and backgrounds are helping people around the world.    In Super Sniffers: Dog Detectives On The Job, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent takes us on a journey in pictures and text covering all the amazing things dogs can be trained to detect and locate from bombs to cancer to water contamination and more in between!  You can find out more about other animals and more about other dogs serving people at Dorothy's website: http://www.dorothyhinshawpatent.com/index.html

Author #128: Wonders in your own city with Sarah S. Brannen

Madame Martine written and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen tells of a woman who lives the same way every day until a little dog named Max comes into her life and she discovers something new-the Eiffel Tower.  From Max leading her to the wonders of the Eiffel Tower, she decides to do some things the same and some things new.  View more of Ms.Brannen's wonderful illustrations at: http://sarahbrannen.yellapalooza.com/    We have a number of wonderful things in our neighborhoods, towns and cities from fall colors and farmer's markets to Christmas lights and holiday productions to baby animals in the spring along with beautiful blossoms to parks with splash pads and shaved ice stands in the summer.  What wonders are found where you live?

Sunday Randomness #18: The Obsolescence of Steam Rollers

So, um, yeah.  I've had these steam rollers (specifically Mist Condition Dry Hairsetter from General Electric GE) for several decades yet I was only using them about every 4-6 years.  Finally decided it was time to send them off to better pastures-especially since I'm leery about the safety and overheating issues that seemed to arise the last time I used them.

Thank you to my Aunts with long hair back in the day (whom I will not disclose to protect from age discrimination) who inspired me to get this unit and use it in the first place.  It did get used fairly frequently during the first part of its life with me but then that use dwindled as styles changed and other demands took the place of having time to put my hair up in rollers.

Farewell little rollers-my curls stayed in longer with more body and bounce when I used you vs. the curling iron.  The curling iron will never match up to the beauty and glamour you imparted, but now comes the day when I can no longer justify your storage space in the back of a drawer when you have aging issues and are no longer safe to use.  May you know that you were used and loved and appreciated and well fulfilled your role as an instrument of hair manipulation.

Author #127: Gabrielle Wang with The Race for the Chinese Zodiac

Gabrielle Wang wrote this version of the Chinese Zodiac story titled: The Race for the Chinese Zodiac with illustrations by Sally Rippin.  The pictures are done in Chinese Ink, linocuts, and digital media.  With beautiful earth tones and bold lines in the illustrations, this simply executed story flows smoothly from one animal to another as they reach the emperor and their designated year on the zodiac in the text accompanying the pictures.  Included are the Chinese characters for each of the animals.  For more about Gabrielle Wang and her other books, visit her website at: http://gabriellewang.com/

Author #126: What Scares Monsters with Adam Rubin

Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin with pictures by Daniel Salmieri

Just a cute book about a little monster fear and how to overcome that fear.  Has a surprise ending.