SIMONS' LIST BOOK

Soon we'll be able to list the list books. Unlike the Wallechinsky/ Wallace effort (p. 274), which seemed to have breakfast-table origins, this was spawned on a family cross-country trip. Simons, Managing Editor of the Washington Post, offers the kind of Americana that accumulates during such journeys--brand name gasolines, national parks, ferries, names of cities found in more than eight states, notable trout streams--which backseat fidgeters can check off. Also included are Pulitzer Prize winners, NBA teams, leading actors, actresses, and directors, and a few offbeat entries: ""Odd Festivals and Fairs"" suggests a Cow Chip Throwing Contest in Oklahoma and the Armadillo Races in Texas. More stimulating than a geography game or license plate tally--a travel companion to consider.