A Ton of Giveaways and a Sneak Peek at My New Children’s Book.

There’s something really special about a community coming together to promote literacy and the

shared joy of reading—and this past weekend, I had the honor of being part of such an event. I

was thrilled to be invited as a featured local author to participate in the Annual White Plains

Free Book Celebration in support of children’s literacy. This event brought readers of all ages

together to explore the power of books and storytelling.

A huge shout out and thank you to the organizer Jamie Lieber, the WPPTA and all the volunteers, for creating such an inclusive, welcoming space—and for shining a spotlight on local voices.

It was awesome to see so many families wandering about, from table to table, with children eagerly rummaging through sorted piles of hundreds of books. The wide-eyed excitement of young children falling in love with books—many for the first time—was truly heartening to see.

As a featured local author, I had the added treat of dialoging up close with several local librarians and literacy advocates, and the distinct honor of meeting the president of the White Plains School Board, Rosemarie Eller.

As a “Meet the Author” guest, I had the wonderful opportunity to do a live reading session, where I showcased my first publication, The Adventures of the Bureau of the Missing Socks and

shared an exclusive preview of my upcoming children’s book, The Misadventures of Minnie the

Monarch: Journey to the Butterfly Forest. This new book, set to release next month (June), follows the adventures of Minnie, a tiny misshaped butterfly, who becomes separated from her kaleidoscope family and sets out on a

3000-mile trek to find them. Along the way she discovers an inner strength she never imagined. It is a heartwarming story about friendship, resilience, perseverance and hope.

I was delighted to see the children’s enthusiasm and how much they connected with the story and its themes, even before its official release. It was very encouraging to have complimentary and positive feedback from parents and teachers as well.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support not only my work, but the joy of reading in general. I applaud the parents and guardians, educators and volunteers who are committed to ensuring that children gain the necessary critical reading skills to prepare them for academic success and to become productive and dutiful citizens of the world. Events such as the WPPTA Free Book Celebration highlights that commitment. I am already looking forward to returning next year and I’m sure I’ll have a few more stories to share!

Stay tuned for updates on the official launch of my new book, The Misadventures of Minnie the

Monarch: Journey to the Butterfly Forest.

—I can’t wait to share more with you soon.

Happy reading,

Millicent (Millie) Sutton