You can research doctors and hospitals almost as easily as you can check contractors, lawyers and retailers.

Your state's department of health provides online resources for searching a doctor's education, hospital privileges and disciplinary history. State health departments also typically provide links to researching hospitals and nursing homes which operate in the state. Google your state's name with the words "health department" to find your state's site.

The federal General Services Administration recommends these sites for further research or statistics on medical facilities:

* The Agency for Health Care Research & Quality. GSA said this is a free online query system for national, regional and state health statistics.

* USA.gov. Ratings/reviews of health facilities in your area as well as by age group.

International award winning children's book author and former Memphian, Kelly Fischer, is in town for several book signings.

Fischer grew up in Memphis. She moved to Switzerland to attend school and ended up getting married.

Fischer's four children are her inspiration for her entertaining and educational books.

You can meet Fischer Thursday at The Knowledge Tree in Germantown between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and on Saturday at the Summer Avenue store between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

March is "Read Across America" month. To celebrate, schools and stores across the Mid-South are marking the occasion by encouraging children to read and dressing up like Dr. Seuss.

Laurelwood Booksellers noted the special time with a big even on March 1 that also kicked off Literacy Mid-South's Read Across America month-long celebration.

Laurelwood and Literacy Mid-South picked the book "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio as their book of choice for Friday's event.

The book, published a year ago is for readers 8 and up (that includes adults), and it's been praised by every name in the book, including The New York Times, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.

Literacy Mid-South is on board too. Executive director Kevin Dean and his staff have chosen Wonder for its lesson in kindness and its call against bullying.