This compilation of "my STUFF" (as George Carlin might have me refer to it) includes ruminations, essays and, frankly, spoofs that I wrote during the last decade of the twentieth century through the first decade of the twenty-first. Admittedly and predictably, some of the items betray my long-term affiliation with and dedication to the discipline of sociology. Throughout my career, I succeeded in ignoring Archibald MacLeish's warning not to "commit a social science," but I did manage to heed his other caution not to "sit with statisticians." Now, in items some of which bear an affinity to sociology, I am not above taking liberties that exceed the bounds imposed by professional sociological constraints. Thus, I commit value-judgments, I trifle with the ludicrous, and I allow myself to be opinionated!

Introducing Stuff and Nonsense, the first title in a new novelty series from David Pelham! In this book, kids can meet the adorable Stuff and Nonsense mice as they work hard to gather rough stuff, smooth stuff, shiny stuff, and more stuff! What could they be building? With touch-and-feel elements throughout, readers will delight as the final spread reveals, with the help of an elaborate pop-up, just what these little mice have been creating! This paper-over-board book includes cardstock pages with touch-and-feel elements and pop-ups. This book has been safety tested for all ages.

Combining the heart of her Newbery Honor-winning fiction and the spirit of her legendary Baby-Sitters Club series, Ann M. Martin introduces a timeless new series for girls. Flora and Ruby do not want to move to Camden Falls. But they don't really have a choice -- their parents are dead and their grandmother, Min, is taking them in. It's strange to be in a new place. But luckily, it's a very welcoming place.Min runs a sewing store, Needle & Thread, at the heart of Main Street in Camden Falls. There, Flora and Ruby become friends with Olivia, who likes to organize things, and Nikki, who lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Even if Flora and Ruby never expected it to, Camden Falls becomes their home . . . and its stories become a part of their stories.

Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki start their own summer book club when well-loved books start appearing on their doorsteps in the fifth of Ann Martin's wonderful Main Street books.Flora and Ruby are about to start their second summer in Camden Falls. An element of mystery is instantly added when someone -- the girls don't know who -- leaves copies of a very special book on their doorstop, with instructions to read and discuss it. Olivia and Nikki also get books, and soon the girls are starting their own book club -- with some very interesting ties between the books they're reading and the things they're facing over the summer. But who's their literary benefactor? The girls don't need to read Nancy Drew to track down the answer....

Autumn comes to Camden Falls -- bringing new friends, new teachers, new worries, and new challenges.It's autumn in Camden Falls, and Flora and Ruby are just starting to settle into the town. Flora is worried about spending the first Thanksgiving without their parents. Ruby is worried about getting a part in her school musical. And their new friends, Olivia and Nikki, are facing problems of their own. But the friendship that ties them together will also give them the strength to work things out -- one stitch at a time.