Celina Needs Books

Celina is one of the many towns recently devastated by the record-breaking string of tornados that ripped through Ohio on Memorial Day. In Celina alone, more than 50 families lost their homes – completely. Immediate needs are being taken care of, but there are still ways we in the kidlit community can help – primarily with BOOKS.

One of our MUF contributors, Michelle Houts, lives in Celina, and she is collecting NEW children’s BOOKS–Board books, Picture Books, MG, and YA–and working with the local school principal to identify recipients and distribute books to homes that lost favorite books and entire home libraries.

One of Michelle’s friends found two pages from a picture book inside the bushes of a damaged home–Water Dance by Thomas Locker.

Michelle says, “Please help my community find their rainbow. Thank you in advance. #KidlitForCelina”

HOW TO HELP:

* For instructions on where to send your contributions, please message Michelle here:  michelle@michellehouts.com.
* Any book contributions that don’t find an individual reader will go to Celina school libraries.
* Books will be distributed mid-late July. The displaced families don’t have much space or storage right now.

If you are an author or illustrator sending your own books: Please sign your book/books!

Heather Murphy Capps

Heather Murphy Capps has always had a deep appreciation for comfort and elegance. She and Claudia would have run out of money quickly together but would absolutely have been on the same page about taxis and nice restaurants. And of course, solving mysteries about beautiful art. That said, Heather also appreciates Jamie’s love of complication, which is why she spent several years living in rural Kenya and then became a television news reporter, which involved standing for hours in the middle of hurricanes and political battles. Now she’s raising middle-grade readers and writing for them. She loves to read and write books with lots of great science, magic, mystery, and adventure. Heather is the communications coordinator for Mixed-Up Files, as well as creator/curator for our We Need Diverse MG series. She is committed to creating more diversity in publishing.