This year's Wordwise weekend features Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of the Voodoo Dreams' series. The Voodoo Dreams' series draws from history, in this case on the history and legend of the 19th-century voodoo priestess Marie Laveau and her daughter of New Orleans.

    As the season of ice cream and cold desserts arrives, let's look at the attractions of chocolate.

       Since all of earth's residents seem to be getting some shaking lately, even Michiganians, an article listing some informative materials and recommendations seems appropriate. For general information on earthquakes in the United States, visit the US. Geological Survey website at earthquake.usgs.gov. If you want to see what preparations can be made, visit earthquake.usgs.gov/prepare.

    One of the great things about this year's Big Read selection, A wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin, is that there are three more books, equally enthralling, in the Earthsea series, plus Le Guin has written dozens of other wonderful books. If you have read this book with your children, there are numerous other authors in the children's section that both children and adults will enjoy.