Haiku

Alberic the Wise And Other Journeys Norton Juster, illustrated by Domenico Gnoli Random House/Yearling, $5.99, ages 8-12 Idiosyncratic tales of adventure in mythic lands from the author of "The Phantom Tollbooth," with lots of curious ideas to chew over. Bats at the Ballgame Brian Lies Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99, ages 3-7 When night falls, bats go to the ballpark ? and they're quite versed in baseball esoterica.

Before you watch HBO's new miniseries "Parade's End," here's a little advice. Close your eyes and imagine Benedict Cumberbatch's icy hot "Sherlock" and all the good folks at "Downton Abbey. " Now picture them disintegrating, down to the molecular level. A love for them may have drawn you to this five-part adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's Edwardian-period novels in which Cumberbatch stars, but any preconception of this television viewing experience will only send you down the wrong path, where you may flounder among the greenery and miss something important and possibly wonderful happening on screen.

Is life black and white? It's many shades of color. Time to get it right. EDWARD DYKSTRA Ojai

You solved the color Registration conundrum You don't print color DON KUMFERMAN Ridgecrest

Poems made with Magnetic Poetry at a Minneapolis office: Whisper bitter honey languid in the sun chanting dreams together when the shadows fall I am here beneath my skin please be sweet I will let you in Worship delicate beauty moon goddess crying girl tiny one play Poems made by children at the Mall of America: Embrace time in peace and desire explore slow change The free wild cat born in a tree sees a sad old dog My little sister is a good friend and a blue flower I love the end