From the Desk of Author Jan Brett

As a child, I spent many hours reading and treasured the quiet of days when I felt I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. As an author and illustrator, I work to recreate this experience of engaging stories, and understand the importance of reading and imagination in a child's life. While summer often represents a carefree time for youth, it is also a time when children from lower income families can lose up to three months of learning gained during the school year.

 I was thrilled to learn of United Way's Summer Learning Collaborative that, as United Way's President Michael Durkin noted, will help children avoid the typical summer learning loss with effective enrichment activities to ensure they stay on track to graduate. I hope you will join us to support this worthwhile cause that will help our city's children have bright and successful futures.

Sincerely,

Jan Brett