It is an absolutely yucky day out in Boston today, with tons of snow, and rain and flooding galore, so judson and I are staying indoors, and staying warm and relaxing and editing books. After all what better thing to do on a flooding day than to sit and read. So... two easy validations for you. Carver By Ruth Yaffe Radin For eight of his ten years, ever since the accident that killed his father, Jon has been blind. It wasn't a problem in Washington, where he went to special schools, but now Jon and his mother are back in Kellam's Landing, his birthplace, and Jon has to prove he can get along as well as any kid-in public school. Already Jon has one strike against him: His teacher resents having a blind boy in her class. At least Jon has a new friend, Matt, and Matt has promised to help Jon fulfill his lifelong dream of carving wood, something his father did. Together the boys will find a way for Jon to meet the best local sculptor. But Carver is an angry man, a recluse. And because of the painful memories of his father that sculpting would revive, Jon's mother would never allow her son to try it. Can Jon get Carver to teach him? Can he keep it a secret until he has something good to show his mother? And can a blind boy carve? Beautifully crafted by Ruth Yaffe Radin, Carver was inspired by the accomplished Curtis Merritt, one of whose many skills was carving. Blinded at age three by cancer and killed by it at twenty-five, Curtis Merritt once said: "Probably the only real handicap a blind person has is the people who think he can't do anything at all." RUTH YAFFE RADIN is the author of two other books for middle-grade readers, Tac's Island and Tac's Turn, as well as two picture books, High in the Mountains, illustrated by Ed Young, and A Winter Place, illustrated by Mattie Lou O'Kelley. She and her husband have three children and live in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. KARL SWANSON has produced artwork for advertising and has illustrated numerous paperback and hardcover book jackets. This is his first illustrated book. Trained at the Art Students' League in New York City, he now lives with his wife in North Carolina. And Dog-faced Baths Which is a really easy simple book on bats. Enjoy. Shelley L. Rhodes B.S. Ed, CTVI and Judson, guiding golden juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc. Graduate Alumni Association Board www.guidedogs.com Dog ownership is like a rainbow. Puppies are the joy at one end. Old dogs are the treasure at the other. Carolyn Alexander To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.