When I was a kid, I read mysteries, folktales, belly-laugh stories, biographies, comic books, classics, even the sides of cereal boxes if a book wasn’t handy. I loved living in the adventures of books. I write for kids so they can live those adventures, too. I hope my books will give them joy, but I also hope books will help them grow to be compassionate, empathetic human beings, to think of heart before harm, to know that strength comes from wise and thoughtful action. We live in an ever-challenging world. Books can help kids navigate those challenges. So…read to them. Read with them. Give a kid a book!