One of the greatest gifts my brother and I received from my mother was her love of literature and language. With their boundless energy, libraries open the door to these worlds and so many others. I urge young and old alike to embrace all that libraries have to offer.

It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul.

I know my mother so well, so it's hard for me to remember that people have a certain image of her, but they don't really know her personality.

We need a President who is not afraid of complexity, who believes in an open and tolerant society, and who knows that the world can be made new again - and that President is Al Gore.

There's so much to think about when you're becoming an adult, and there's so many great poems about that apprehension and excitement.

I am, you know, a Democrat through and through. I've always voted Democratic. You know, that is where my heart lies.

I grew up in a household where reading was encouraged. My mother believed in the power of words, and my father obviously did too.