Dear Horn Book Reader: 

I am writing here to let you know what we are doing to keep the Horn Book and its publications going through this miserable era (eon???) of COVID-19 and the quarantine, in whatever form that takes for you. At the Horn Book, we are all working at home, and I shudder to think what piles of packages await us when we return to the office after weeks (months???) away. 

We are managing, and I hope you are too. One tip? Read a book that has absolutely nothing to do with work. I have mainly two going this week: Chris Bohjalian’s thriller The Red Lotus (maybe a bit too on-the-nose for the circumstances!) and, for my bedtime story, Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island. Oh, to be in Engl—never mind. If you need help choosing something, well, by virtue of receiving this email you either are a librarian or know one, so start asking around. 

Although the print edition of our just-closed May/June issue of the Horn Book Magazine will be snail-mailed as usual, we are also now publishing the Magazine in its entirety online, for free. I hope you read and like it: it’s our annual special issue, this year devoted to the theme of “Breaking the Rules.” It has a great cover (and surprise fold-out!) by Jarrett rhymes-with-Oscah Krosoczka; a look back at some famous rule-breakers by yours truly and Betsy Hearne; and the Horn Book’s editors’ response to books that resist classification (you’ll have to imagine the teeth-gnashing). And throughout, a clutch of authors and illustrators each relive a memorable moment when they broke the rules. 

And please take a wander through our website, which highlights reviews of the week, author/illustrator interviews, and tips for Family Reading (and peacekeeping), among other browsable goodness. I for one am keeping myself entertained by asking various friends and colleagues: What are you wearing? 

Our ad guy Al once told me that our librarian subscribers are more likely to take the Horn Book home to read than they are to read it at the office. I’m very glad we can still reach you there.

With all best wishes,

Roger Sutton 
Editor in Chief 
The Horn Book, Inc.