Our Blog

Everyone knows the fifty nifty united states—but what about the hundreds of other statehood proposals that never came to pass? Lost States is a tribute to such great unrealized dreams as West Florida, Texlahoma, Montezuma, Rough and Ready, and Yazoo. Some of these states came remarkably close to joining the Union. Others never had a chance. Many are still trying. Consider:
 
     •  Frontier legend Daniel Boone once proposed a state of Transylvania in the Appalachian
        wilderness (his plan was resurrected a few years later with the new name of Kentucky).
     •  Residents of bucolic South Jersey wanted to secede from their urban north Jersey
        neighbors and form the fifty-first state.
     •  The Gold Rush territory of Nataqua could have made a fine state—but since no women
         were willing to live there, the settlers gave up and joined California.
 
Each story offers a fascinating glimpse at the nation we might have become—along with plenty of absurd characters, bureaucratic red tape, and political gamesmanship. Accompanying these tales are beautifully rendered maps detailing the proposed state boundaries, plus images of real-life artifacts and ephemera. Welcome to the world of Lost States!

Tired of spending $5 on cheesy get well cards? Too lazy to make chicken soup? The Little Cold Book is the perfect gift for anyone feeling under the weather-and it’s guaranteed to keep readers amused and entertained for the duration of an average cold.

In concise and humorous chapters, The Little Cold Book explores:

the science of colds
the amazing health benefits of chocolate
time-tested home remedies
great movies to watch when you’re sick
and plenty of other topics bound to amuse anyone feeling ill.

With The Little Cold Book-and plenty of fluids, of course-your sniffly friend will feel better in no time!

JUSTIN SPRING is a biographer, art historian, and journalist whose humorous essays and articles have appeared in the New York Times, Artforum International, and more. This is the first book he has written in bed.

Remember the ’90s? Who could forget?!? The glory of grunge! The beauty of Baywatch! The awesomeness of Arsenio! It’s all here in Let’s Paint the ’90s, a coloring/activity book with paint set and brush. Now you can create stunning color portraits of all your favorite moments:

• April 8, 1991: Vice President Dan Quayle misspells potato in a classroom spelling bee.
• February 25, 1994: Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan battle it out on the ice.
• November 10, 1994: Jennifer Aniston debuts the Rachel Haircut on Friends.

And solve exciting ’90s puzzles and activities:

• O. J. Simpson High-Speed Pursuit Freeway Maze: Paint a path and steer O. J. to safety!
• Macarena Dance Challenge: Identify the dancers with all the right moves.
• Y2K Computer Codebreaker Challenge: Can you prevent a Y2K disaster?
• Plus Milli Vanilli, Titanic, Ace of Base, Beverly Hills 90210, Sinead O’Connor, Kris Kross, Mike Tyson, Dolly the Sheep, and much, much more!

JASON REKULAK still listens to his old M.C. Hammer tapes. He lives in Philadelphia.

With the Kitchen Garden Box, gardeners will learn how to collect, store, use, and replant seeds of their favorite tried-and-true vegetables, from squash and cucumbers to peppers, peas, and heirloom tomatoes.

Over the course of 55 conveniently organized cards, gardening guru Mike McGrath provides simple step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and delicious recipes for each veggie. Also included are 10 reusable seed storage envelopes and a coupon redeemable for two free seed packets from Gardens Alive! Gardeners of all ages will enjoy discovering this time-honored, eco-friendly practice and creating something tangible from their labor of love.

Mike McGrath is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show “You Bet Your Garden,®” former editor of Organic Gardening magazine, and author of numerous books on vegetables, gardening, and composting. He grows his own peppers, tomatoes, and other delicious edibles at his home in Pennsylvania.

What makes French kissing “French”? Who played the first game of Spin the Bottle? What compels millions of tourists to kiss the Blarney Stone? And-most importantly-what does Julia Roberts look for in a good kisser?

The answers to these questions can be found in Kiss and Tell-an irreverent miscellany of trivia drawn from science, art, ancient history, pop culture, and more. Here’s everything you ever wondered about kissing, including:

    * Why do princesses kiss frogs, anyway?
    * Who made “XO” shorthand for “hugs and kisses”?
    * Why do people kiss under mistletoe?
    * Is mononucleosis really spread by kissing?

Best of all, Kiss and Tell features illustrations and photographs of famous kisses through history-everyone from the ancient Egyptians to Spider-Man and Mary Jane. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the know-it-all in your life-and also a terrific bedside reader when there’s no one around to smooch.

KEVIN DWYER is a freelance writer living in Long Island, New York.

This pocket-sized gift book is packed with hilarious jokes every guy needs in his repertoire.

This little black book has everything aspiring cut-ups, comedians, and reformed class clowns need to win at comedy. Covering everything from roasts and toasts to historical footnotes to alternate versions of beloved old chestnuts, this indispensable reference is great for any occasion. Plus tips on telling jokes and much, much more:

• Nine Jokes about Heaven and Hell
• Eight Jokes Just for Kids
• Nineteen Jokes Definitely Not for Kids
• Six Jokes about Lightbulbs
• Seven Jokes about Bars
• The World’s Only Funny Knock-Knock Joke