Dear friends:

Today is my sixty-fifth birthday, and my present to myself (and maybe some of you!) is my retirement from the role of Editor in Chief of the Horn Book, Inc., effective December 31 of this year. Why? Because I’ve been at it for more than twenty-five years and it’s time for someone else to have a turn. (A job listing is forthcoming from the brass.) However, I will not be leaving your inboxes anytime soon, as I will continue with my pal Al to conduct the Talks with Roger and Publishers’ Previews advertorial interviews, AND I’m helping to get the Horn Book ready for its centenary celebrations in 2024.

While I’m sure that in the next two months I will come to bore you all mightily with reminiscences about the last quarter-century (heh; back in 1996 I told Duncan Todd I would stay at the Horn Book no more than five years), let’s keep our focus for now on today. We are wrapping up our celebration of the 2021 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards; Calling Caldecott is holding forth (with two tributes last week to the great Jerry Pinkney, RIP); Kitty is beavering away at her Book Bundles; and Halloween is upon us. Grab some of the good candy (no “fun size,” pfft) and read a book. I’m currently in the middle of My President and Birthday Twin Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny’s State of Terror and having a ball. May you find something just as fun. (SEE? Two months from semi-retirement and already my grammar is shot.)

Love,

Roger