Books bound in soft covers were first introduced in 1841 in Leipzig, Germany, by Christian Tauchnitz. However, the modern paperback revolution dates to the publication of the first Penguin paperback by Sir Allen Lane on July 30, 1935. Penguin Number 1 was "Ariel," a life of Shelley by Andre Maurois.

Sunday is the anniversary of the First United States Census in 1790. The first census revealed that there were 3,939,326 citizens in the 16 states and the Ohio Territory. The United States has conducted a census every 10 years since then.

Sunday is also Sisters' Day, which recognizes the special relationship sisters share. Send a card, make a phone call, share memories with your biological sisters and sisterly friends!

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

At Wednesday's 10:00 a.m. storytime, participants will learn what's good to eat and for how long it is good from Chaves County Extension Office experts who will present a program about nutrition and hygiene. At Wednesday afternoon's 3:30 storytime, the Chaves County Soil and Water Conservation will present facts and experiments about dirt! Piggies will be featured in stories, puppetry, and crafts at Saturday morning's 10:00 storytime

BOOK TALK

Most parents know that there are some new series of books being written for children these days. Some of the most highly advertised and popular are the Goosebumps and Baby-sitter series, which are written for 4th-8th grades. However, series literature has been around since the nineteenth century, and many of these have become classics that still hold the interest today.

An excellent source for parents, teachers, and children is "Reading in Series." This book lists many of the newest, as well as the older classic series, by title. Each series is annotated to guide the parent or child in selecting a series by topic and reading level, from K-8. A list of titles by date of publication is included so that the reader can begin reading with the first book and follow the series through in order. A genre/subject index also allows the reader to select similar series or branch out to new interests and reading levels.

DID YOU KNOW?

Speaking of nutrition, here's a summer thirst quencher from Suzanne Havala, author of "Good Foods, Bad Foods: What's Left to Eat?" Make ice cubes out of fruit juice. Drop the cubes into glasses of plain or seltzer water. They will make drinks look colorful and should provide enough flavor so that kids will enjoy the drink even though it does not contain much sugar.

According to Alan Hirsch, MD, director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, some smells make life better. For instance, garlic, particularly garlic bread, makes meals more pleasant. Lavender can help you get to sleep. The smell of green apples relieves some migraines. Mixed floral scent can improve learning speed.

If you're going camping, be sure to take along plenty of baking soda. According to Victoria Logue, who hiked the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail and authored "Camping in the 90s: Tips, Techniques & Secrets," it is a "must-have" camping supply. Baking soda can be used as toothpaste, to deodorize boots and sleeping bags, for a foot soak, as a deodorant, and as a fire extinguisher. To treat insect bites and poison ivy, she recommends making a paste from baking soda and a little water.