Yesterday Everett and I stopped at a bookstore to browse and play while my husband ran an errand. I thought I was just wasting time, until I started opening new books with amazing and intriguing covers.

The most precious treasure I unearthed was The Mighty Asparagus by Vladimir Radunsky. It is the tale of a king, a queen, a princess, their subjects and advisors, and of course, the king's mom. A gigantic asparagus grows up in the king's backyard and he decides, with consult from his advisors, that he must remove it. "I hate that stinky asparagus!" he cries.

Illustrated with Renaissance-inspired figures, charming quips and asides clearly directed at the parent, and dialogue to keep even the wiggliest child entertained, this one is a winner.