This is the first Monday of my Summer Vacation. My school was closed last week, but what with meetings, projects to complete and numerous demands, it was anything but a vacation so I've decided it doesn't count.

Now I'm thinking about Summer Reading, something I encourage all my students to do. If you're looking for reading material, you'll find reviews for some very interesting titles at:

• A Year of Reading
• The Booknosher
• The Brown Bookshelf

Here is the answer to Friday's Famous First: "Jim Webb's luck was running muddy when Bass Reeves rode into town," is from the 2010 Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner -- Bad News for Outlaws: the remarkable life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.