One of the characters, Susan Mayer, on “Desperate Housewives” (new this fall at 8 central on ABC) is a children’s book illustrator. She’s played by Teri Hatcher, best known for her role as “Lois” in “Lois & Clark.” I adore TH and so far the character is likable, sympathetic.

One writing nitpick: the character minimizes herself as “big with the under five set.” Generally speaking, people in the business don’t think less of themselves because their audience is younger. Also picture book illustrators are usually big with the under seven set.

The book I’m reading now: The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn (Houghton, 2004).

Haemi Balgassi’s friendship garden refers to me as “beautiful” (she’s too kind and beautiful herself) and Greg as… Well, go see for yourself.

Really Boring Books for Children by Melissa Bell.