Thought you all might enjoy this: Dave Gomberg ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- This is not strictly on subject, but it might interest all of us who are dredging up favorite books from childhood. The latest issue of AMerican Libraries has a report on a poll of all 100 senators, taken by soime literacy group...alas I don`t have it in front of me. The question was: What book most influenced you as a young child? The most common reply was Huck Finn (13 senators, 13%) followed by Tom Sawyer with 11, putting Mark Twain in a remarkable position. I don't believe there were any mysteries on the list, but I could have forgotten. (You could make a case for Twain being a mystery, because of Injun Joe's thefts and because of the "stealing" of Jim, but we all know that would be pushing it). Other books included Charlotte's Web and WInnie-the-Pooh (I give those two pride of place because my choice would be either one), The Lorax (can any Senator be young enought o have been a young child when that came out?), Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose, Wind in the Willows, Little House on the Prairie, etc etc etc. THen there were the Senators who solemnly told us that as young children they were most influenced by CHurchill`s autobiography and Plutarch's essays. I'm afraid this tells us more about the senators' current state then there childhood, but maybe I`m just cynical. Cheers Robert Lopresti Wilson Library Western Washington University