Here at the turn of the year I find myself celebrating both endings and beginnings. I’m honored to find my picture book The Stuff of Stars appearing on several year-end “best of” lists, including these from the Washington Post, Kirkus, BookPage, and bookseller Liesl Freudenstein of Boulder Bookstore.

Thebook itself focuses on beginnings: the awesome beginnings of the universe, ourplanet, an individual child. I also look forward to beginning another new yearfull of writing and continued creativity. Happy New Year to all of you who makebooks a priority in your classrooms, in your homes, and in your lives. May youfind a chance to celebrate both some endings and beginnings of your own.