"Perhaps all the best books," wrote Robert Westall in Signal, "start by being written for only one child, and that child very close to you. They start when the child-within-the-author turns to the real child and says, 'Come away with me and I will show y...

THERE HAVE been several areas of serious concern for Californians this week. Would the price of petrol soar even more outrageously to pounds 1.25 a gallon? Could George W Bush correctly identify Britain's Prime Minister? And would Pete Sampras make it through the night?...

Look around. You will find shadows everywhere--indoors and outdoors. Lots of things make shadows--buildings, trees, clouds, and even you! Every object makes its own shadow shape. Have you ever played games with your shadow? It's fun to make shadow pictures with your hand...