Scaredy Squirrel and Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watt ("fun picture books even for 5th graders")

An Egg Is Quiet and A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Aston ("gorgeous literary/poetic science books")

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo ("great story, fabulous conversation-starter")

Gossamer by Lois Lowry ("another great story and conversation-starter")

Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Lynn Carbone ("historical fiction with primary source material included")

Want to sell articles to magazines? Write copy for businesses? Author Michael Stelzner, who produces the blog Writing White Papers, recently compiled a list of his top ten books for writers, including these guides to freelance writing:

The Renegade Writer. "Achieve freelance writing success the unconventional way."

The Well-Fed Writer. "Put more food on the table with proven methods for freelancers."

The Elements of Copywriting. "THE guide for writing copy intended to sell."

The Copywriter's Handbook. "Techniques for freelance copywriters."

Drama, comedy or something in between? If you want to get your act(s) together, check out these books on playwriting:

I Ain't Sorry for Nothin' I Done: August Wilson's Process of Playwriting by Joan Herrington

Naked Playwriting: The Art, The Craft, And The Life Laid Bare by William Missouri Downs and Robin U. Russin

The Elements of Playwriting by Louis E. Catron

Playwriting In Process: Thinking and Working Theatrically by Michael Wright

Playwriting: The Structure of Action, Revised and Expanded Edition by Sam Smiley and Norman Bert

Indiana University professor and communications consultant Dr. Ken Davis authors a terrific website called Manage Your Writing. On it, he lists these ground-breaking books about communications for business:

What to Say to Get What You Want

On Communicating

Leading Out Loud: Inspiring Change Through Authentic Communications

Information Anxiety 2

The Brand You 50

Prizewinning poet Hal Sirowitz, who we interview in this week's "Word Count" feature, recommends these books of poetry and teaching poetry:

"For new haiku enthusiasts, read Basho and Issa. After you read them you'll understand why they only had one name. Michelangelo only needed one name, too. Need I say more? I also recommend Kenneth Koch's book Wishes, Lies, and Dreams for teaching poetry."

These blogs talk about books, publishers, writers and more:

The Litblog Co-op

Book Square

Conversational Reading

Shaken & Stirred

The Reading Experience