One summer day in late 2020, I was sitting outside of Evergreen Park Library (IL) and witnessed a small boy (about 3 & 1/2 years) with a “white cane” (a cane used by the blind). He was navigating the entry to the library with the help of his mom. She said, “Do you hear the water fountain? That’s your clue that you are close to the front door.” That little boy touched my heart that day. Fast forward to Jan. 2025, I sat next to a man on a plane to Miami. He was about 40, blind, and on his way to Cuba - alone. For a brief moment, I imagined the little boy from 5 years earlier, flying solo to a cool vacay someday. For sure, I imagine that little boy reading and learning about science or math or history! And maybe, just maybe, he’ll want to learn about volcanoes. Thanks to the Washington State Talking Books & Braille Library (TBBL), someday he’ll be able to read a braille version of “A Hero on Mount St. Helens,” which is in the works. This book comes recommended by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), and it’s exciting to realize that it will reach audiences in braille. When I started noodling around the internet to see how to get the book made into braille, I had no idea where to look. But writers are part bloodhound, and I found my way to Washington’s TBBL. Big thanks to them, and also to Angela B. at UIP (my publisher).

Melanie Holmes