Hi this is Betsy from Otto's. When Melinda Wentzel, otherwise known as The Web's "Planet Mom," approached me about a signing on First Friday for the second volume of A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers, I started to think how I could make more of an event out of it. And I thought of the SPCA and how we could include them. And I thought of my friend Louisa Stone and her dog, Nick. And I remembered the signed copy of Waggit Again, by Peter Howe, a great story about dogs for middle school kids. And this is what I came up with: Melinda will be signing her book and 20% of the purchase price will be donated to the SPCA who will have a volunteer on hand to explain the needs of their organization and the resources available for dog owners. Louisa and Nick will show you how to get your dog certified as a therapy dog. "Sit Happens" will demonstrate dog training. And you can register (Friday only) for a drawing to win Waggit Again. (Need not be present to win.) Sound like a plan? See you. First Friday from 5 to 8 at Otto's, 'a booklover's paradise in the heart of downtown Williamsport.'

Hi this is Betsy from Otto’s.  As our local library has so effectively pointed out, the summer vacation from school can mean “a Summer Slide” from learning.  Reading skills, especially, get rusty if not used on a daily basis.  I was struck by a recent author’s statement about the way his mother encouraged him to read by offering TV only if he and his brother read two books a week.  And I’ve heard my own grandkids offered the treat of time on the Xbox as a reward for reading.  What’s wrong with this picture?  Are TV and the Xbox rewards?  While books are the task to be accomplished to earn the rewards of TV or the Xbox?  Come on folks, find another task (making your bed, picking up your room, sweeping the sidewalks) as the task –not reading books!  And make getting a new book or a trip to the library as the reward!  To make the reward even more special, offer to read the same book, alternating the read aloud or just whenever you can each find time and then talk about it together.  We have lots of books you’ll both enjoy at Otto’s, a booklover’s paradise in the heart of downtown Williamsport.