Living

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) always needs volunteers but especially now. The mentoring agency currently needs 372 volunteers throughout the Lower Mainland (including 32 in the Tri-Cities) and the need is urgent.

Last year brought many great times - including the time I spent reading. I would like to share some of the favourite books I read in 2011. I hope that these titles will help to give you a good start to your new reading year.

Dormant spraying is one of the most important winter tasks to keep most of our deciduous trees and shrubs clean. Moss, algae, fungus, overwintering insects and disease will all take their toll during the growing season unless we take some action now.

This winter there are excellent opportunities to see snowy owls around Boundary Bay in Delta.

When we arrived on Christmas day, there was a big, black truck parked in front of the house. This truck, I was told, belonged to my cousin, Jack.

What will 2012 bring? Nobody knows but we do know it can bring us a year of books for children. Warm winter blankets call upon us in January and Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer is a good book to cozy up with.

Books Plus runs in The Tri-City News each Friday to highlight programs and happenings in the Tri-Cities' three libraries: Coquitlam Public Library, Port Moody Public Library and Terry Fox Library in Port Coquitlam.

Wordless picture books are stories told entirely with pictures. These unusual titles use sophisticated art and visual design standards to communicate complex ideas and plots without any text at all.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth This song, dating from the 1940s, is one that probably most of us have sung or, more likely, listened to some annoying little "chipmunks" singing.

Books Plus runs in The Tri-City News each Friday to highlight programs and happenings in the Tri-Cities' three libraries: Coquitlam Public Library , Port Moody Public Library and Terry Fox Library in Port Coquitlam.