Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum

Mean Moms: a Novel
by Emma Rosenblum

MEAN MOMS is about the quintessential group of super-wealthy moms huddled outside the doors of a prestigious school in the middle of Manhattan. Mom's: Belle, Frost, and Morgan, welcome recently divorced Miami transplant Sofia Perez into their clique on the first day of school.  

Although these four friends are heavily involved in each other's lives, as well as events surrounding their children's school, Atherton Academy, they begin to feel they are being targeted when giant obstacles present themselves at events hosted by each of the women. Is someone out to ruin this group of women, one grand opening at a time? If so, why?

Catalogued as a thriller, I feel a psychological thriller would be more appropriate, as there are sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies portrayed, which make the dynamic of the group of moms interesting, complex, and quite possibly deadly. It reminds me of a mix of MEAN GIRLS and BIG LITTLE LIES.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Flatiron Books has provided a complimentary copy of Mean Moms. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.*

Family

 I am an only child, but I didn't grow up without chosen siblings. I was lucky enough to have two wonderful cousins who, although I didn't see them as much as I wanted, it felt like we were as close as a sister. Of my cousins Cynthia and Charlotte (Cynthia always came first, although of the two she was the younger) I was closest to Cynthia because she and I were only five months apart in age. I so fondly remember our time at our Granny and PaPa's home on the coast of Texas. We were always running and playing. We loved to go to the beach and play in the treehouse our PaPa made for us. We could watch the Purple Martins fly to the houses he built for them.

I believe it was the summer of 2005 I got a call from Cynthia. She told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In my heart, I knew she could be cured or would go into remission, but that didn't happen. On August 8, 2007, as our family stood at her side and prayed, our Lord called her home. 

I cried and cried. I lost my cousin, my chosen sister. Charlotte and I held each other and cried together. We held each other during her funeral and grew closer as we went through this time of losing our Cynthia. However, true grief hit me hardest on October 19, 2008. I turned 38 years old. Of the three of us, I was ALWAYS the baby. On that day, I was no longer the baby. Cynthia would remain 37 in my eyes.

I was reminded of this time of loss and grief reading The Switch by Beth O'Leary. This book is not sad, it is a book of discovery. Leena, the main character, is forced to take a two-month sabbatical when she has a panic attack during a business presentation. She leaves London and goes back home to a small village to visit her grandmother, Eileen. Her mother also lives in this community, but she and Leena are somewhat estranged following her sister, Carla's death the prior year. While Leena and her grandmother are together they decide to switch lives. Leena stays in the small village and takes on all of the responsibilities of her grandmother and Eileen travels to London. While "living" each other's lives (Eileen only lives with Leena's flatmates. During this time, Eileen has romantic encounters, while Leena befriends her grandmother's friends and other members of the community. Leena begins to reconnect with her mother, but because of the events prior to and following Carla's death (from cancer), it is difficult. 

I enjoyed learning about the lives of Leena and Eileen. Their characters are well developed. The experiences and obstacles each have during their switch shows the vast difference between the generations. Beth O'Leary has been compared to Jojo Moyes, however, I have never read any of their books. Another book by O'Leary is The Flatshare (2019) and the anticipated The Roadtrip (2021). 

The audiobook is delightfully narrated by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. The two voices help the listener identify between the two main characters which are not always in the case of an audiobook. So many times one narrator is asked to alter their voice in order to show the distinction between characters.

I highly recommend The Switch. It is one of those books you will want to curl up with on a cold winter day and read through to the end. You will be involved in the lives of characters and will most likely relate to at least one no matter how small their part of the story. 

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Macmillan Audio has provided a complimentary copy of The Switch. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Macmillan Audio has provided me with a complimentary copy of The Switch. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Catching Up

I have read a few books since I last posted. I want to share with you three of them today.

• Athena's Choice by Adam Boomstrom
• Tomorrow Will Be Better by Betty Smith
• Leave the World Behind by Rumaan, Alam

Although when looking at the titles and reading the blurbs one would think these books have nothing in common, especially when you consider the Tomorrow Will Be Better (by the same author as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) was first published in 1948. This new edition was released in early May by Harper Perennial Modern Classics. However, after thinking about the three titles to review here, I realized they all are truly coming of age books but in very different manners and circumstances.

Tomorrow Will Be Better tells the story of Margy Shannon, a young woman growing up in Brooklyn in the 1920s. We learn of her early years in a small cramped apartment the only child of a hard-working yet stoic father and a mother, his complete opposite. Margy has found new friendships in a recently acquired job she enjoys and yearns for a husband and children of her own. The book begins with a young woman striving for independence and ends with a woman who has found everything she was ever wanted, but realizes it is not what she anticipated. 

I hate to admit it, but I have never read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943), but the descriptions I have read seem very similar to Margy's story. I truly enjoyed seeing the development of Margy from a young child playing with a clothespin in the corner of the cramped kitchen, to the good wife she desperately wants to be to her Franky. The setting, New York - specifically the Williamsburg and Bushwich sections of Brooklyn, in the 1920s, provides the reader historical context for which most readers will not have an understanding of the time frame or the area.

Athena's Choice by Adam Boostrom is a stark contrast. This dystopian novel takes place in 2099. All men have been eradicated from society by a virus known as the Y-Factor. The women in the current civilization are divided. One group strongly opposes the return of men because they believe the world to be more civilized without them, and the other (the Lonely Hearts) who are want to have men returned. The book centers around the stolen Lazarus Genome which will save the male species. Athena Vosh, a 19-year old living in the Algonquin Forest Zone of the North American Union, has been summoned to Chicago by the Public Safety Headquarters to assist in the investigation.

I was so intrigued by the manner in which Boostrom shared the history of the Union through Wikipedia entries. It was a very clever way to convey the timeline of the story. I also loved the many innovations he developed in the book. Those who love fashion will want to have the ability to choose the clothing for the next day and it will be designed specifically for them and ready to wear the next day. It can also be recycled so new outfits can be worn every day. Foodies will enjoy the food printer allowing you to select and print the food you want to eat. Although in order to have higher in foods, you must purchase a more expensive model.

I am usually not a fan of dystopian novels, but this one caught my attention and I simply could not wait to find out the ending. The coming of age part of this novel is about Athena and the choices she makes throughout the book which shows her growth from a free-spirited teenager to a young woman who must put her life on the line.

In a previous review of this book, I wrote that this is one of those books that makes you want to go "hmmmm". I am definitely stretching the theme of coming of age for this book, but I think once you finish reading, you will also see the growth, actually of more than one character. This book moves along very innocently and then it takes a very sharp turn and you are on a downhill rollercoaster you might not find stopping any time soon. I felt like I was watching (or listening to) an M. Night Shymalan movie. The characters are well developed and the plot very intriguing. Clay, Amanda, and their children experience the same isolation of those who are facing quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they are far outside of the city with no contact with the outside world.

All three of these books are VERY different but seem to have an underlying sense of a coming of age story. Again, like I said before, I might be stretching it a little, but I can see a small connection.

I highly recommend all three of these titles. They might not be for all readers, but for those who are open to different times, places, and incidents, I think you will enjoy them just as much. 

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, HarperCollins Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of the Tomorrow Will Be Better ebook. Thinker Books provided me with a complimentary copy of the ebook and the audiobook of Athena's Choice. Harper Audio provided me complimentary copies of the audiobooks of Tomorrow Will  Be Better and Leave the World Behind. These reviews are my opinion and are in no way influenced by the authors or publishers.

When No One is Watching

Over the past few months, I have read a lot about racism and anti-racism (Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds, I'm Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones, and White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism). I began to realize something I have had my entire life, but didn't actually know I possessed...white privilege. 

Peggy McIntosh says, "I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was 'meant' to remain oblivious," in a 1988 paper entitled White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences Through Work in Women's Studies". I have seen posts from black male and female friends on Facebook who have posted about teaching their sons how to interact with a police officer if pulled over while driving. My husband and I have never been concerned about our son's actions if he were to be pulled over, let alone how to speak or act during a traffice stop. I have never felt I was being watched as I shopped, or had someone cross the street as I walked down the sidewalk. This is white privilege. 

Some believe this privilege means affluent, however, it is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group".

Alyssa Cole's new book When No One is Watching portrays a very believable scenario in this psychological thriller. The first half of the book describes a Brooklyn neighborhood where the main character and one of the narrators, Sydney, has spent most of her life. Her neighbors are like her family, there to help each other at all times and at all cost. Now, as Sydney looks around her neighborhood, those "family" members are beginning to disappear. In the blink of an eye, it seems one neighbor after another is leaving the community.

New white neighbors are starting to take over the historic homes one by one. She begins to hear terms like "them" and "us", and she no longer feels a part of the community in which she grew up. Theo, one of Sydney's new neighbors and the second narrator, does not hold the same prejudice as the other recently relocated families. Together they discover how and why gentrification has come to this area of town. 

Theo does not understand why Sydney reacts the way she does to certain events in which they are both involved. He does not see his white privilege because it "tends to be unintentional, unconscious...but easy to take for granted," according to Christine Emba in an article published in The Washington Post (January 16, 2016). Theo sees Sydney as an equal, and not as one of "them". As they research the community's history they begin to wonder if they are being paranoid or is their community being taken over in order to conform to the "us" mentality.

I recommend this book not only because it is has a great storyline, but because it helps to step into the life of a young woman caught in a situation in which she has little to no control. When No One is Watching is a book to awaken those who will have an open mind to begin to understand that "privilege isn't about what you've gone through; it's about what you haven't had to go through" (Janaya Khan, Vogue, "Janaya Future Khan's Guide to Understanding White Privilege", June 3, 2020). This is an extremely relevant novel based on current events in our country, but also because racial issues need to be discussed and not ignored just because it is a difficult and uncomfortable topic.

When No One is Watching was published on September 1, 2020 by HarperCollins Publishing. There is also an audiobook narrated by Susan Dalian and Jay Aaseng. 

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, HarperCollins Publishing provided me with complimentary copies of the ebook and the audiobook for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

All quotes are from Juneau Empire, "Opinion: Acknowledging an 'invisible package of unearned assets", June 22, 2020.

True Crime, My Guilty Pleasure

One of my guilty pleasures is watching true crime shows on television. Forensics Files is my favorite, closely followed by Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. I have seen so many true crime shows, my family is convinced someday I might just pull off the perfect crime.s I might go crazy one day and actually commit the perfect crime. Trust me, this will never happen. I am interested in the manner in which the cases are solved, putting the puzzle together and following the science. Watching Benedict Cumberbach as Sherlock Holmes was wonderful because he walked you through the crime step by step. When I was a kid, I enjoyed watching Unsolved Mysteries (which has recently been remade and can be seen on Netflix), but I didn't like the "unsolved" part. Like Phil Collins sings in the Disney Tarzan  movie, "I wanna know, can you show me." Don't leave me hanging!

I loved reading and listening to The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard. It was fascinating to me how two books were intertwined in this true crime thriller (all fiction says the disclaimer at the end of the book). 

The book opens with a department store security guard discovering a book titled, The Nothing Man, in a large display of out facing books. He immediately begins to panic upon reading the title. From here the readers is then moved to the book within the book. Eve Black, the author, is the sole survivor of a home invasion by the man later dubbed the Nothing Man. Her father, mother, and younger sister were all murdered outside Cork (City), Ireland, by a man who was never captured. Now, eighteen years later, Eve's story is released in her book The Nothing Man.

The voices move back and forth between the narrative of Jim, the security guard, and Eve. Listening to the audiobook, the move was easily recognizable because of the wonderful narration performed by Alana Kerr-Collins and John Keating. Their accents allowed the listener to feel they were in Ireland.

If you look closely at the book's cover, you can see how one book is transformed into two with the cover torn. Eve's name has been removed to reveal Howard's name at the bottom. You can also see the notes and tabs. This is an ingenious way of giving a snippet of what is inside.

I would highly recommend The Nothing Man which was published by Blackstone Publishing in June 2020.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Blackstone Publishing provided complimentary digital copies of the eBook and audiobook for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Villains All the Way

When I started reading (and listening to) Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots I would be writing my second blog post review with a comparison to Disney. I have always been a fan of the Disney villains. My favorite is Ursula the octopus, from The Little Mermaid. because she reminds me of myself. If you have not seen Button Poetry's video of Melissa May performing "Dear Ursula", it is very powerful (be aware of some foul language).

Hench is not a book I would typically choose to read, however, the description  (and my love of villains) swayed my decision. In this debut novel, Walschots creates a world of heroes and villains. When the main character, Anna, goes to a temp agency, she is sent to the Electrophorous Industries (part of the villainous world), where her talents working with data and spreadsheets turn into a life-changing event. Hench is the story of power, revenge, and relationships. It is the best combination of Disney villains and the Marvel superheroes. 

Alex McKenna pulls off great narration for the audiobook by successfully creating voices for all of the book characters and brings them to life. Full disclosure, I listened and read along with the eBook for the first half of the book. I then began to simply listen. I was engrossed in the narration and felt I was able to picture the action better in my mind. 

Even if you are not a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, or graphic novel-like books, you should give this book a chance. I never read comic books growing up (yes, I am old enough to call them comic books), but I did watch Batman on TV, and I absolutely love the Marvel movies (Deadpool is my favorite). This is a combination of the best parts of all of these. 

Hench is expected to be released on September 22, 2020. 

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Harper Collins and Harper Audio have provided digital complimentary copies of the eBook and audiobook for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Disney World, No Cemeteries

When I was growing up, my family went on road trips each summer. We didn't drive off to visit Mickey at Disneyland or Disney World. We didn't drive off to go camping or a cruise. No, our family vacations all centered around cemeteries, courthouses, and libraries. We would go to the states in which my ancestors were buried, or where my dad could locate information about them. You see, my dad was "searching for his old dead grandfathers". He has been a genealogist for over 60 years.

I learned to read wills, deeds, birth and death certificates as a teenager, but I have to say books were actually my favorites. So, you see why I was drawn to S. C. Perkins's Ancestry Detective series, it brings those two together perfectly.

I was immediately drawn to Murder Once Removed (2019) by the cover when I was browsing the Pop Reads section of the Mary Couts Burnett Library at Texas Christian University - one of my favorite places to read. I sat down with this cozy mystery and read through half of the book before it was time to go home. I was intrigued by how this Texas girl (like me) could solve mysteries in the past and the present - with no time travel involved. Well, leave it to a genealogist to find out a family's deepest and darkest secrets, through research. Lucy Lancaster, the Ancestry Detective, helps her clients by solving their family mysteries. If she happens to solve a local mystery along the way, so much better for her Yelp review.

Murder Once Removed is centered around an Austin billionaire and the murder of his grandfather in 1849. With the discovery of an old daguerreotype and a journal, Lucy is able to narrow the killer down to two suspects. While working the case and trying to protect the evidence, another murder takes place. Lucy is tasked with trying to solve both murders simultaneously. Remember, Lucy is not a detective. She is a genealogist who was hired to research the family history of Gus Halloran. It is through her skills as a genealogist she is able to solve the murders.

Lineage Most Lethal has Lucy searching for the lineage of hotel heiress, Pippa Sutton. Again this book is set in Austin around Lady Bird Lake. I am not from Austin but have visited many times. I could picture a few of the places referenced in the book, but the Sutton Hotel is a fictional location. I won't give away any of the plots, but I will say, Lucy once again is involved in solving a murder.

I recommend these books for those who love cozy mysteries and those who enjoy searching for their family's story. You can only hope your story does not include a murder or two.

Lineage Most Lethal and Murder Once Removed are both now available for sale.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Minotaur Books has provided a complimentary digital edition of Lineage Most Lethal for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

A Return to Whistle Stop

I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I read an entire book (except picture or YA books) in one day.  Fannie Flagg's The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop is one of those books.

I remember seeing Fried Green Tomatoes in 1991. I was engrossed in the characters and storyline from the very beginning of the movie. I had no idea it was a book until the credits. I'm one of those people who have to read a book before seeing the movie because I want to have my own movie in my mind. After watching the movie, I had to find the book. I knew even as good as the movie was, the book had to be better. But because Flagg co-wrote the screenplay for the movie, she made sure it was as close as possible to the book. Jessica Tandy will always be Ninny, Mary Stuart Masterson will always be Idgie Threadgoode, and Kathy Bates will always be Evelyn Couch. How could you make any of these characters look any different in your mind?

For those who loved Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (book-published in 1987), Fried Green Tomatoes (movie), or both, this is a MUST read! Fannie Flagg does not disappoint in her continuation of Buddy Threadgood, Ruth's son's life. You will fall back in love with the original characters and in love with the new ones.

As soon as I started reading The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop, I was immediately back in Whistle Stop. I knew the one-armed boy referenced in the first few pages. I could clearly hear Jessica Tandy's voice narrating the words as I read. Like the chapters in the previous book, these jump around in time (just like the movie).If you know the characters, you will easily be able to follow along with the storyline. Flagg picks up where the previous book ended  as if we never left.

I have seen reviews from readers who have not read the original book. For those readers, all I can say is you have to read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe to truly appreciate the return of these great characters.

Again, I will say, this return to Whistle Stop is a MUST read for lovers of Idgie and her family. I wonder what will happen next. Will there be another return? I can only hope.

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop is expected to be released on October 27, 2020, by Random House.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Random House has provided a complimentary digital edition of The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

A History of Absolutely Everything

Christopher Lloyd’s Absolutely Everything!: A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots, and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention was published in 2018. However, the wonderful audiobook was recently released. Christopher Lloyd narrates his own book, and the audio storytelling of this rather large book is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the history of some many things I have heard of in the past, but never realized the timeline in which the events occurred. Lloyd presented a moment in history and then told other events going on in various parts of the world occurring at the same time.  I was especially intrigued by the way Lloyd compared the creation of the Earth to a clock and what a huge amount of time occurred prior to humans roaming our planet.

I highly recommend this audiobook for middle school readers through adults. I have seen a portion of the book via Amazon preview and believe the illustrations would be an excellent resource, but the size of the book and text might be daunting to younger readers.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, the publisher has provided a complimentary copy of the audiobook of Absolutely Everything!: A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots, and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention (Spotlight Audio) for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Authors Rock Out

In 2006, I was a participant in the Texas Library Association's TALL Texans (Texas Accelerated Library Leaders) leadership retreat. During the week-long program, we were emersed in a variety of leadership sessions (advocacy, career planning, coaching, strategic planning, etc.). It was during this time I met Steve Brown. He was the incoming president of the Texas Library Association.

In the weeks that followed, Steve put together the Dallas area local arrangements committee for the 2007 annual conference. I was asked to chair the Entertainment portion of the conference (average attendance 6000). I knew I could not pull this off alone, so I asked my dear friend Terry (and she remains my friend to this day), to help me plan for the following events:

• Opening General Session Entertainment
• group or band to play while attendees arrive
• Conference Welcome Party
• locate a venue, schedule musicians to play, order food, etc.
• Book Cart Drill Team Competition
• recruit, register, organize teams for competition, enlist judges (3) and an emcee, etc.
• President's All-Conference Party
• locate a venue, hire a band or group for entertainment, plan food, decorations, etc.

Think of the planning for these events like you are planning four (yes FOUR) weddings which will all happen within a matter of three days. Do you see why I am SO happy Terry is still my friend?

Well it was during this time I was trying to book a band I discovered the Rock Bottom Remainders. I knew as soon as I heard them and saw the members it would be an amazing fit for our conference. Well, when I contacted them, it was a no. They were still active at that time, but we were not a good fit for them. I guess in hindsight it would have been difficult to pull all of these amazing authors together to come to Dallas for a one night gig. I do have to say, I was crushed.

When my husband served as the president of TLA in 2016-17, I would have loved to have them perform during his annual conference, but by then the band had active since 2015 when they reunited for a special performance in Tucson.

I still love to watch their videos and see some of my favorite authors in interesting costumes perform their hearts out. 

Last night, I discovered this supergroup, also know as the Remainders, came back together - COVID-19 style - to perform a variation of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" to support the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC). This is such a great way for these authors to help those who sell their books during this very difficult time in our country.

Please, watch the video and donate to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. These funds "will assist booksellers affected by COVID-19 with serious medical expenses, eviction prevention, funeral expenses" and more. 

Here are the links again. Enjoy and please Donate.

Rock Bottom Remainders Video

DONATE

Choices

Death Doula Dawn Edelstein finds herself in line with her clients when she hears a flight attendant announce a "planned emergency".

Once again, I am amazed by Jodi Picoult's talent. In The Book of Two Ways, she not only teaches the reader about Egyptology but also quantum mechanics. Now, don't let these two subjects force you to put the book back on the shelf. They are only a small portion of this dual timeline novel. Picoult makes the reader contemplate how one tiny decision can change a life dramatically.

Dawn Edelstein is a Death Doula (a person who supports another during the end stages of life, similar to a midwife (or doula) who supports and guides during birth). She was also once a graduate student at Yale pursuing her doctorate in Egyptology. 

Not only is The Book of Two Ways referencing the most detailed graphical compilation of coffin text found in ancient Egypt, but it also eludes to the premise of a multiverse and parallel realities. For example, one life where you are pursuing a career in a job for which you are extremely passionate, another where you are working in a mindless 9 to 5 - thus two ways of life through a variety of paths (choices) taken (made) along your journey.

I never close a Picoult book without keeping the narrative in my head. She is constantly making me think, analyze, and contemplate how the characters have changed my life and encouraged me to start a conversation. Each time I see she has a new book, it goes straight to the top of my To Be Read list.

This book does not disappoint and I highly recommend the education and the expedition in The Book of Two Ways.

The Book of Two Ways is expected to be on sale on September 22, 2020, and is published by Ballantine Books, a division of Random House Publishing Group.

〜～〜〜～〜～〜〜～〜～〜〜～

When reading The Book of Two Ways, I was reminded of another book about choices. One I read in late spring. Since it was before I started sharing my reviews on my blog again, I've decided to share my thoughts on The Midnight Library. 

〜～〜〜～〜～〜〜～〜～〜〜～

Being a librarian, I am always drawn to books about libraries. When I was introduced to the Midnight Library, I was intrigued. This is not a library I would have ever envisioned - a library between life and death. A library where the books go on and on forever. The books are filled with the choices (whether satisfying or regretful) made throughout life - parallel realities. An added bonus, the books are guarded by a favorite librarian from your past.

Choices can drastically change the trajectory of one's life. How many decisions do we make every day? How does each of these options completely change the course of our life? Nora Seed discovers the answer to these questions and others in Matt Haig's The Midnight Library.

The options you are given while in The Library (albeit for a very limited time) allow you to see what could have been, if only for a slight variance. Stepping into the book of your life as it follows a different path can be daunting. Seeing how the grass is not always greener, allows you to appreciate the life you have and the people who share the journey with you.

Although this book is dark, it makes you step back and look at your own life. It made me truly appreciate the choices I have made, even if they were not always the easiest or the most likely. Would I go back and change anything? Maybe, if allowed to visit The Library, but I think I'm good where I am right now.

The Midnight Library is expected to be on sale on September 29, 2020, and is published by Viking Press an imprint of Penguin Group.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, the publishers have provided a complimentary electronic copy of The Book of Two Ways (Ballatine Books) and The Midnight Library (Viking Press) for review purposes. These reviews are my opinion and are in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Collection Obsession

If you have a passion for something tangible it is understandable to want to acquire items to fill a need or desire. For one who loves books, as I do, you are considered a bibliophile. A numismatist is a collector of coins. If you collect stamps, you are called a philatelist. But if you are an art collector, you are referred to as a buyer.

 

The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowe is about a woman whose obsession with art occurs by happenstance when she walks into a building to use the restroom not knowing it was the art building on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. She wanders around the museum- gallery and is immediately in awe of one of the pieces. The piece which will later be the first in her collection.

Rebecca (Becky / Reba) Farwell was a mathematician at an early age. She was completing the homework of schoolmates for money, even pre-calculus as a freshman. Her math teacher, Ms. Marner, challenged and encouraged her abilities. Through her math skills and manipulation of the books in her unincorporated community of Pierson, Illinois, Becky can build a wealth of funds to feed Reba's art addiction. Miss Farwell builds a double life: one as the young woman who has moved up from a bookkeeper to the comptroller of her hometown, and the other as a successful buyer/collector of art in Chicago and New York. 

Throughout the book, Miss Farwell's character is developed with contradictory traits. She is a thief. She is a philanthropist. She is a buyer of art. She is a collector of art. She is a seller of art. She is caring. She is cold. At times you don't know whether to love her or hate her for what she does to the people in her community who see her as a local hero. 

I was fortunate enough to listen (and read) this story of a diabolic woman who pulled off a multi-decade facade. I was so intrigued by this book I could not stop until the last page. 

Thank you to Harper Collins for allowing me the opportunity to review the audiobook and the e-book copy of The Talented Miss Farwell. I read the text while listening to the wonderful narration of Allyson Ryan. Whether listening, reading, or both, you will be drawn into the world of Becky / Reba, not knowing which, if either, you will cheer for in the end.

I recommend this title for public libraries. 

The Talented Miss Farwell is expected to be on sale on September 29, 2020, and is published by HarperCollins.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, HarperCollins has provided a complimentary electronic copy and a digital audio download of The Talented Miss Farwell for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Your Strange Brain

I have been thinking about my brain a great deal over the past year.

I was officially diagnosed with Epilepsy exactly one year ago today, although I had been dealing with symptoms for over ten months. I spent the previous three days in an EMU (Epilepsy Monitoring Unit) with electrodes attached to my head. The electrodes were part of an EEG (Electroencephalogram) which monitored the electrical activity in my brain. I was not allowed to sleep, cameras were constantly monitoring my moves, and every few hours an EEG technician would visit to perform several tests (the only one I remember was the one with the flashing lights). It was not a pleasant experience, but it helped my doctor answer many questions we had about my crazy brain.

A lot has changed for me in the last year. Some good. Some bad. I have learned (or am learning for some things) how to live my new normal. It is not always easy, especially on a hard day when I have had a seizure (I suffer from absences seizures as well as what most people think of as regular seizures). I also have migraines (which is connected to my Epilepsy). Now, I did not intend for this post to be about my strange brain, but about the book You and Your Strange Brain: A Book of Brains, How They Work, and Sometimes Don't written by Clive Gifford and illustrated by Anne Wilson.

 

The infographic design allows the reader to move about the pages reading small chunks of information separated by boxes, lines, illustrations, and/or font. The brightly colored drawings easily grab the reader's attention and draw them into the descriptive text. I especially love the pictures and experiments throughout the book which challenge or trick the brain. At the end of the book is a section titled "Brain Games". These are "think outside the box" riddles, logic problems, and visual puzzles. (I was able to solve 10.5 of the 14 correctly!) There is also a section of additional resources that includes books (with a separate list for older teens), websites, videos, online experiments, and activities; as well as an index. 

Although the target audience for this book is preteens (11-13; grades 6-8), it is a very informative book for older readers. As an adult learning, something new can be daunting, especially when it is a complicated subject, like the brain. For some, I included, it is easiest to begin your learning journey through a children's or young adult book. One should feel no stigma for reading this book. When you need information go to the source, no matter where it may be located in the library! 

I would recommend this title for middle school and public libraries.

You and Your Strange Brain is expected to on sale on May 8, 2021, and is published by Quarto Publishing Group - QEB Publishing.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Quarto Publishing Group has provided a complimentary electronic copy of You and Your Strange Brain for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

It's Been Awhile...Let's Talk Science

Yes, it has been a while. Why you ask? Well, life happened. I have been dealing with medical issues for the past two years. I am still learning my new normal. For a while, I was not able to read. Now that issue has been resolved, I am returning to sharing my passion. Enough about me, let's get to some really great books.

A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhold Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About) by Spike Carlsen

Have you ever been asked why manhole covers are round? Have you ever asked yourself why are stop signs red octagons, but railroad crossing signs are yellow circles? To be honest, these two questions never crossed my mind, but for Spike Carlsen, they were merely a few of the questions he had as he took a walk around his neighborhood.

A Walk Around the Block is really a collection of research-based (but easily read) field trips Carlsen takes based on his observations in and around his neighborhood. He is first challenged when he ponders where the water in his bathroom sink comes from, so he finds an expert - a manager at his local City Water Department. A variety of "things" we see, use, and generally take for granted around our home and community are the focus of this non-fiction text. 

When you walk out of your front door, where are you? Is there a small slab of concrete beneath your feet, or are you standing on wooden planks (or maybe HPDE - High-Density Polyethylene lumber - better known as recycled milk jugs or laundry detergent bottles) which have been used to create a porch? I'm sure your porch or entry doesn't sound too exciting, but when reading the first chapter of Carlsen's book, you begin to learn the history and functionality of the area around your front door.

Each part is broken up into categories: Incoming, Outgoing, Surfaces, Nature, and Signs, Lines, and Lights. Under the parts are chapters about the "things" we generally take for granted:  telephone wires, sewers, asphalt, parks, and street names. These are just a few of the interesting topics covered in this 336-page book filled with expert information the author has gathered as he has visited the people and places making up the infrastructure of society.

I highly recommend this book for high school and public libraries. The subjects are not ones you might usually read about, but it is not only interesting to learn about the things around you every day, but also about the people behind the scenes who operate and maintains they large facilities and resources we generally take for granted. You will never look at road construction or a front porch the same.

A Walk Around the Block is expected to be on sale on October 20, 2020, and is published by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins.

While reading the chapter "Roadkill (and Litter): Squished, Plucked, and Plogged. I learned about Who Gives a Poop?: Surprising Science from One End to the Other by Heather L. Montgomery, written for budding scientists from ages 10 and up.

I never thought I would read an interesting book on poop, but I have to say, this was not only interesting but made me think of excrement in a whole new manner.

Who Gives a Poop is filled with scientific experiments done by the author (a biologist) and an array of other scientists she meets as she researches this book. It is amazing what can be learned from the scat (a term for wild animal droppings) there are specific terms for excrement based on the animal, and they are listed in the back of the book.

The book begins with the discovery of a coyote carcass on the interstate. When the author comes upon a carcass she removes them from the road to prevent other animals from scavenging the body for food. Near the coyote was the last deposit made before their untimely death. The author picks up the turd (making a careful note to say she was wearing latex gloves) and discovers a variety of interesting facts based on what she sees. There are seeds, a small paw, and hair in the sample. This tells her the animal ate fruit and meat.

This is just the beginning of the information which can be learned from the droppings, dingleberries, guano, etc. discovered, described, and experimented upon in this book. When young readers begin to read, I believe their scientific interests will be peaked and they will want to dive into some of the mention of the task at the end of the book.

Who Gives a Poop! is expected to be on sale on September 8, 2020, and is published by Bloomsbury.

**To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, HarperOne and Bloomsbury have provided a complimentary electronic copy of A Walk Around the Block and Who Gives a Poop for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Bull

I remember when I was a child, probably around 10, I found a blue paperback book with a beautiful image on the cover. The title was in gold and I was so taken by the cover, I had to have the book. It was a collection of Greek Mythology. Did I ever read the book? No. When I tried to read the text, it was, well, Greek to me. I still have the book. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure where it is, but I know I still have it in my vast collection of books.

It wasn't until I heard storyteller Barbara McBride-Smith tell her Texas version of the Greek myths, It's Not Easy Being a Goddess: A Yellow Rose of Texas Tells the Greek Myths in her Native Tongue, that I even thought about that paperback book again. Did I read it then? Heavens no. I had purchased McBride-Smith's recording. I knew it was going to be much easier to understand. We're both Texans! We speak the same language, which is NOT Greek!

The next time the Greek Gods came into my life, it was through Percy Jackson. My son was then nine when my husband and I brought home an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of The Lightning Thief following the Texas Library Association's Annual Conference. He devoured the book and couldn't wait for me. I have to admit, I also enjoyed the book and read the next two as well.

A few weeks ago, I had the awesome pleasure of hearing Newbery medal winning author Kwame Alexander speak during the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. (He was actually speaking while the Atlanta Falcons were playing the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Conference Championship game. We all know how that ended. It was quite a spectacular evening in Atlanta, unless you are a Cheesehead!) While speaking, he creatively promoted his, and other author's books by using the titles. (The only exception for his recent or upcoming titles was Animal Ark. He said he just didn't know how to incorporate it without blatantly doing a promo.) One of the books which was splashed across the big screen was Bull by David Elliott.

Bull
by David Elliott

The image was up on the screen so quickly I really did not have a chance to fully grasp what I was seeing. The same evening (after watching the celebrations in the rain soaked streets) my husband and I attended a dinner hosted by HMH Books for Young Readers. As each of the editors introduced their upcoming titles, I made notes on my handout to remember which ones I wanted to read, review, and (if appropriate for my school) order. I was taken aback when I was the cover of Bull. This time, I had the opportunity to read the cover in its entirety while being introduced to this retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur.

I was thrilled when I was able to obtain a digital copy of the book for review. I started reading it alone, but was soon so taken with the poetry, I had to share it aloud with my husband. I felt I couldn't read it fast enough. I wanted to see how each character was going to be developed and the format in which they would shape their words. Since it was so late in the evening when we began this story time session, I sadly had to stop at the end of Book II. I felt let down by my husband's need for sleep. I wanted to keep reading. This was a story I had not heard before and I wanted to know the ending. Thankfully the next evening we got to read. It was incredible to see how each of the character's was "assigned" a poetic form which was carried throughout the book. The break down of each character's specific form and the manner in which they were chosen by the author.

This is a phenomenal book and should be included in public and university libraries. It should also be purchased for school libraries with the knowledge that this retelling of the Greek myth incorporates language of today's youth (no matter how much we wish to think everyone has a clean mouth). Some will be offended by the language, but the verse wouldn't flow or have the impact without those most obvious of profane words.

I have to say when reading the praise for the book on the back cover of the uncorrected, I knew I was going to be hooked when I saw the words of Allan Wolf (author of The Watch That Ends the Night and New Found Land), "Bull does for mythology what Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton has done for U.S. history." I could not have provided greater accolades myself. This was truly a wonderful book and I hope and pray Mr. Elliott presents us with more myths in his brilliant verse in the years to come.

Bull will be released for publication by HMH Books for Young Readers on March 28, 2017.

**To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, HMH Books for Young Readers has provided a complimentary electronic copy of Bull for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Books About Books

I am a lover of books. I am comforted when surrounded by books. I love talking about books, although my taste in books rarely aligns with those of my friends. I started the year by reading books about books. This is very different for me as I have not been an avid reader of non-fiction. I prefer the psychological thrillers, mysteries, or time travel novels.

Will Schwalbe's Books for Living captured my attention when browsing through upcoming book releases on NetGalley. I requested the book, but sadly never got a response from the publisher. Once the book was released, I immediately placed a hold on it through my local public library. I was so excited when I got the text message to pick up the book I left immediately to check it out. It didn't take me long to become completely engrossed in the book. I found a number of quotes which rang as true to me and my love of books and reading as it did for the author. This is one of my favorite quotes from Books for Living (page 175)

"When I most enjoy reading, I'm not really conscious that I'm reading It's at the moments when I'm so wrapped up in a book, so engrossed, so moved, so obsessed, or so fascinated, that the part of my mind that is watching me read - maybe keeping track of the pages or trying to decide how much longer I should keep on reading - that part of my mind has gone away. This is what I hope for every time I open a book. It's something of a paradox. To love reading is to want to achieve the state where you don't know you are reading, where your communion with what you are reading is absolute."

While reading Books for Living, I discovered Schwalbe's first book, The End of Your Life Book Club was available as an audio book through my libraries online book service Overdrive. I quickly checked it out and began listening as I sat in my massage chair twice a day and on my drives to and from work.  I felt a special kinship to Will's mother because I had a slight understanding of her illness, pancreatic cancer. I can in no way compare my experience with my pancreatic condition to her, but I felt a bond. I also felt a bond with her love of reading and books. I would feel completely inadequate to have had the chance to sit and talk with her about books and reading, but listening to the conversations between mother and son was fascinating. I was so sad when the book ended. Not only because of the death of Will's mother, this is really no spoiler - the title kind of gives it away, but also because the discussions ended. I wanted more, as I know did Will.

When I finished The End of Your Life Book Club, I had not finished reading Books for Living and he gave me more of what I was longing for from the book talks. I desperately wanted to write down each and every title I had not read and put them on my own "To Be Read" (TBR) list. I didn't. I know I will never read all of the books on my TBR list. There just isn't enough time. I think one of my worst nightmares is the episode of The Twilight Zone - "Time Enough at Last" where Burgess Meredith finally has the opportunity and time to read without interruption following an H-bomb explosion only to have his glasses shatter on the ground as he is surrounded by books. For most it probably seems silly to think you would be totally devastated by this incident, but for a reader, it is heartbreaking.

I have to admit I have not read most of the books discussed in Schwalbe's books. However, when he began talking about a book for which I had read, my pulse seemed to race a little because I felt a kinship with him. I wanted to cheer and begin my own conversation about each of those titles.

After finishing The End of Your Life Book Club, I went back to Overdrive to see what else I could find on the world of books and reading. I found Larry McMurtry's Books: a Memoir. As a Texas girl, born and raised, I have always known the name Larry McMurty ~ Lonesome Dove, Cadillac Jack, and Terms of Endearment, to name a few of his books. Have I ever read any of them, no, but I knew of his books and of him because he is also a Texan. Now, I can say I have read McMurty, well actually listened to McMurty, well listened to William Dufris narrate McMurty, to be perfectly honest. I was totally engrossed listening to the tales of his book scouting days. His discoveries of rare books, the buying and selling of libraries and collections. It was truly fascinating.

Each year I set a goal to read the number of books which correlates to my current ago. For 2017, my goal was to read 46 books. My Goodreads account already shows I have completed 30 of those books, and we are three days shy of the end of January. Of those 30 books, 21 of them are children's picture books. It's what I do as a professional children's librarian - read and review books. (In the past I have not included my review books on my Goodreads account. This is something I have recently started in order to maintain my online reviewing presence.) But, on the other hand 9 of those 30 books are adult books. I think I will have to alter my Goodreads goal this year to reflect the number of adult books I would like to read (keeping it at 46, but I will always aim higher) and an attainable goal for reading and review books for my professional responsibilities.

I will continue to be a reader. As Schwalbe said in Books for Living (page 7)

"...as the reader, I become influenced while I'm reading I'm not the same reader when I finished a book....Brains are tangles of pathways, and reading creates new ones. Every book changes your life."

I am a different reader now than I was 28 days ago when the new year began. I may not be an eloquent writer, but I will continue to read and share my love of books and reading as long as I am capable of doing so, if not for the one or two people who read my blog, but for me. This is my chance to reflect and thank the authors who have shared their story and our communal love of the written word.

A few more of my favorite quotes from Will Schwalbe:

"Your favorite books stay with you for your entire life, no matter how long since you turned the last page." - The End of Your Life Book Club

"The technology of a book is genius: the order of the words is fixed, whether on the page or on-screen, but the speed at which yourea dthem is entirely up to you. Sure, this allows you to skip ahead and jump around. But it also allows you to slow down, savor, and ponder." - Books for Living (page 15) 

Ending the year with Dumplin'

Reading the title of this post, you may think I am ending 2016 by eating dumplings. I do enjoy dumplings - old fashioned chicken and dumplings (my favorite meal each Wednesday evening served at church before GAs), as well as the Chinese variety, or pot stickers as they are sometimes known, but this is all about Willowdean Dickson, the main character in Julie Murphy's 2015 YA novel Dumplin'.

Dumplin'
by Julie Murphy

I wish Dumplin' had been written when I was a teen. I don't know if it would have significantly changed by life, but it might have made growing up a large girl easier. I was never a badass, but I have always been fat. Like all teens, you go through awkward stages where your peers tease you (now called bullying), but when you're a large person, it never seems to stop. Society does not accept large people. I say large, because I have always hated the word fat.

I remember the summer of 1990 driving up to my parent's house and seeing a tall, dark, and handsome young man sitting in the front yard of the house next door. He was playing with a huge rabbit. I'm not sure what prompted me to walk over, unless it was the rabbit. I didn't know this person, but I was brave enough to go over and introduce myself. I was instantly attracted to him, but I knew it would never be possible for someone like him to want to be with someone who looked like me. I saw him outside a few times over the summer, but knew nothing would come of it. He was older and so much more intelligent than me. Again, why would he want to have anything to do with me? I was silly teenager ~ and fat! There's that word again, but it accurately described me (and still does). Thankfully for me, Walter saw through the person I saw in the mirror. We will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary in May of this coming year.

Willowdean embodies the self conscious teen I was, as well as the middle aged adult woman I have become. I don't know if reading this book will help me to remove my own mental insecurities, but she has definitely put some things into perspective for me as we move into 2017. 

I love the quotation, "I think you gotta be who you want to be until you fee like you are whoever it is you're trying to become." To me, it seems like a great mantra moving forward as we open the door to wonderful opportunities and possibilities of a new year. I also need to remember "...half of doing something is pretending that you can". I hope I can embrace my inner Dolly Parton (and Willowdean) to make 2017 the best year yet, no matter what anyone else thinks, says, or does to stop me.

Dumplin' was published in September 2015 by Balzer + Bray. I would highly recommend this book for middle and high school readers. Although the book is listed as #1 in the Dumplin' series, I see no evidence of a subsequent book.

A Pattern for Pepper

The first thing I noticed when I open this book was the amazing attention to detail. The title, A Pattern for Pepper has a two-fold meaning in this book. Pattern can mean "a model or design used as a guide in needlework and other crafts" as in to make a dress, or "a repeated decorative design" as would appear on material to make a dress.

Pepper and her mother visit Mr. Taylor's shop to have a very special dress made. After Pepper's measurements are taken, Mr. Taylor takes time to introduce Pepper to a variety of different patterns in the textiles she can choose from for her dress, including herringbone, seersucker, tartan, houndstooth, Ikat, Argyle, pinstripe, dotted swiss, toile, and paisley. This introduction to textiles is extremely child friendly and informative. Mr. Taylor points out the pattern, tells the name, shows an example, and gives a one sentence definition or explanation of the patterns history. It is a perfect amount of information to get the author's point across without providing too much detail.

The illustrations are amazing. Patterns are everywhere and we generally don't take the time to see them all around us. These patterns are very obvious throughout the book in the bolts of materials, the clothing, floor, and even the lamp shape in the shop.

This book will be available for purchase in August 2017.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Tundra Books has provided a complimentary electronic copy of A Pattern for Pepper for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Can You Find My Robot's Arm?

Can You Find My Robot's Arm?
by Chihiro Takuchi

Chihiro Takeuchi presents a fun story and amazing cut paper illustrations in Can You Find My Robots Arm? The intricately cut designs  force the reader to spend time looking to see if the robot's arm is in the picture or if we are merely supposed to reflect on the possibility of a substitute for the missing arm. Each subsequent page seems to get more complex and requires more scrutiny.

At the end, I came to the conclusion the robot's arm IS actually on each page, however since the arm is black and the background is also black you can't see the overlaying arm. :-) Amazing book to share with young readers.

This title will be available for purchase in July 2017.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Tundra Books, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of Can You Find My Robots Arm? for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

TLA Coloring Book - A Disaster Relief Fundraising Effort

This time last year an idea was planted. It took a few weeks for it to take root, but before I knew it a fundraising effort for the Texas Library Association's (TLA) Disaster Relief Fund was blossoming. The culmination of this year long project was revealed at the Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas on November 5, 2016.

TLA Coloring Book, Volume One & Volume Two

The TLA Coloring Book was unveiled and available for purchase on the first day of the festival at the TLA Booth. It was promoted with a huge coloring banner located in front of the state capitol.

Five images from the coloring book were displayed on the vinyl banner. Adults and children both loved using Sharpies to add their own personality to this collaborative coloring.

As the weekend progressed the backs of the banners were used by the festival attendees to show their own creativity and artistic expression. Even though the banner idea was not my own, I felt a great deal of pride seeing everyone having fun coloring together on images I brought together. The conversations of the young and old and the smiles were powerful to see as the weekend progressed. Everyone who colored on the banner walked away with a smile.

Of the sixty-six images in the two volume set, five were included on the coloring banner.

Image donated by Steve McDonald
(Chronicle Books)

Image donated by John Parra

Image donated by Nick Bruel

Image donated by Melissa Baker

Image donated by Betty Chapman

All of the images in the coloring book were graciously donated by the artists for inclusion in this fundraising effort for the Texas Library Association Disaster Relief Fund.  The fund started in 1999 with a raffle of the art work, The Bear Went Over the Mountain, donated by Rosemary Wells, who also donated a piece to the coloring book. Texas libraries impacted by disasters such as storms, fires, or flooding are encouraged to apply for financial support through the website. Over the years, funds have been used for a variety of reasons in libraries all across the state. Nine libraries received grants following the devastation of Hurricane Rita in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area in 2006 and eleven more grants were given to coastal libraries following Hurricane Ike three years later. In 2015 the Wimberley Village Library received a $2,000 grant to help with their photography recovery program following the devastating floods in the area.

The net proceeds from the sell of the coloring books go to the Texas Library Association Disaster Relief Fund. If you would like to purchase your own set of coloring books, they are now available online at the Texas Library Association website. The cost of the two-volume set is $20. However, if you purchase 4 sets, you will get 1 set free.

The coloring books will make a wonderful gift for all ages. In fact, it is two gifts in one because you are providing a one of a kind collection of images to color and you are helping Texas libraries who have been devastated by disaster.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of the talented artists who graciously donated their work for the coloring book. Here is a complete list of artists who contributed to the TLA Coloring Book.

• Melissa Ann Baker
• Winifred Barnum-Newman
• Heidi Berthiaume
• Sophie Blackall
• Susan Branch
• Lisa Powell Braun
• Nick Bruel
• Joe Cepeda
• Betty Chapman
• Sarah Cox
• Bill Crawford
• Christa Crawford
• Bill DeOre
• Tomie dePaola
• Christopher Eliopoulos
• Mary Ann Emerson
• Denise Fleming
• Brian Floca
• Carolyn Dee Flores
• Douglas Florian
• AG Ford
• Laura Freeman-Hines
• Shinji Fujioka
• Charlotte Garrett
• Xavier Garza
• Tad Hills
• Molly Idle
• CS Jennings
• Pamela Johnson
• Lita Judge
• G. Brian Karas
• Autumn Kinsey
• Jarrett J. Krosoczka
• Laura Logan
• Loren Long
• Rafael Lopez
• Jeff Mack
• Juana Martinez-Neal
• Steve McDonald
• Wendell Minor
• Roxie Munro
• Lisa Nowlain
• Jessica Palmer
• John Parra
• LeUyen Pham
• Rylie Philpot
• Ronel D. PIerre
• Lizzy Rockwell
• Lynn Rowe Reed
• Dan Santat
• Judy Schachner
• Maysa Sem
• Diane Stanley
• Elizabeth Rose Stanton
• Mary Sullivan
• Nicole Tadgell
• Don Tate
• Dan Thompson
• Suzy Toronto
• Evan Turk
• Laura Vaccaro Seeger
• Rosemary Wells
• Kate Wiant
• Salina Yoon
• Toni Yuly
• Paul O. Zelinsky