Books are so much more than just a collection of words. They are lanterns that illuminate our lives in so many incredible ways.

Today, I want to share a story with you about a group of women who also believed in the power of books to transform lives. So much so, that they were willing to endure quite a lot of hardship to get books into the hands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to them during a difficult period of American history.

In this episode, I’m talking with Caroline Starr Rose, author of our newest Waxwing Books release, Books Up the Mountain: A Packhorse Librarian Story. Caroline is an author and editor of middle grade and picture books, and in our conversation she talks about the real-life program that inspired Books Up the Mountain, the scavenger hunt process of researching historical fiction, and writing stories that honor children and their experiences.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• About the Great Depression-era librarians whose work and communities inspired Caroline to create The Book Woman
• Why Caroline finds writing for children such lifegiving and compelling work
• The challenges presented by writing historical novels versus picture books, and what makes “picture book alchemy”

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
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Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/becoming-a-book-woman