While I have never reproduced and have no plans on doing so (I am not like a lot of these other gay guys who wish to adopt children, I am not gonna pull an Elton-and-David), I need to say, I have been wooed lately, by some kids books that have emerged in our province in recent years. Marion Mutala's Baba's Babushka series is literally sweeping the country - the first book in the series, A Magical Ukrainian Christmas is now a national bestseller and I am sure the follow-up, A Magical Ukrainian Easter is close behind. I guess what struck me was the fact that the books take place in my hometown of Hafford, Sask! It's cool to see small-town Sask immortalized! The books have a lot of other elements going for them too - sharply-written stories, accurate history, alluring images and Mutala's lovable charm shining through in the text.

Well-known Sask author, artist and literacy poster-girl, Carey Rigby-Wilcox has taken the kids-book-world by storm as well - her best-known piece of work My Mummy Couldn't Read is enough to move a guy to tears. The fact that the story is her story told from a kids' point of view is clever. Also, the fact that the book deals with Carey's struggle with literacy and how she rose above not being able to read, to not only acquiring literacy skills, but to eventually becoming a published author! The fact that Rigby-Wilcox also illustrated the book herself only sweetens the pot! This is a brilliant read in many ways - no wonder it was nominated for Book-of-the-Year in the 2008 Sask Book Awards! Carey has also illustrated another very lovable book A Song to Sing, which was also penned by another down-home Sask girl named Shannon Wright. A person can check out both books on Wilcox's See-A-Book website.

I guess when a guy like me hosts the province's one-and-only book-themed talk-show (catch my program Lit Happens on Shaw TV), it's no wonder kids books are landing in my hands! I'm glad they are, these have truly moved me!