Editor’s Note: You Can Go Home Again

Abstract

I was thrilled to reconnect with old friend, and CCBC librarian, Merri Lindgren, at the library on the campus at UW-Madison.

On a crisp Friday in late November, I was supposed to be visiting the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) in Madison, WI, to peruse the starred books of 2023. And I did—tables full of them.

But two things distracted me; first was the amazing historic collection of books, which includes original books and artwork from Wisconsin native Ellen Raskin, author of the Newbery Award–winning The Westing Game. Her illustrations were bold, with in-your-face colors and funky typefaces—definitely a force ahead of her time.