Book Nook - I Am Rare

Debut author Melissa White Boyer utilized her lived experiences to create her enlightening picture book "I Am Rare" (August 4, 2026, Yuni Press). After her son was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition known as Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome, Melissa was inspired to create a teaching tool that would help explain genetic differences to children. Her lyrical picture book doesn't focus on a singular diagnosis, instead it uses inclusive language that helps children better understand both themselves and others. 

“I Am Rare” is a lyrical picture book told in the voice of a boy with an ultra-rare genetic condition. As he explores what makes him unique, he discovers that rare doesn’t mean wrong — it just means few — and that even superheroes draw their powers from what makes them different. A heartfelt story about identity, belonging, and the light within us all.

I had a chance to interview the author to learn more.

Why is it important for children with rare diseases to see themselves reflected in children's books?

• Children gain their confidence and self-esteem through the books they read. Seeing a character they identify with in the pages they read gives them a sense of belonging in a world they are learning to navigate. When that character is portrayed positively, it further reinforces a positive sense of self. This also normalizes differences among all humans, increasing the likelihood of neutral interactions in real life. 
• In Children’s literature, there are so few books that portray a child with a disability, let alone a child with a rare disorder. I believe a common misconception is that rare diseases are uncommon. Despite the phrasing, rare diseases may be individually rare, but collectively many. Over 300 million people worldwide have a rare disorder, 80% of which are genetic in nature, and most begin in childhood. For children, that’s about one in every neighborhood or classroom. 

What are some things that families can encourage their kids to do to help support friends and classmates who may be struggling with a lesser-known medical condition?

• Even small differences can feel isolating from peers in childhood. That isolation is especially amplified when some of those differences make even ordinary things more difficult. What may seem like a big difference to one child is likely another child’s norm, so don’t shy away from asking questions about what might be obvious anyway. It’s okay to be curious. Ask questions about how someone else might experience their life. A deeper understanding of another human’s experience builds empathy, which only deepens the opportunity for connection. 
• One thing that is not unique to a child with a lesser-known medical condition is their desire to belong. Making a child feel included—not out of pity, but out of a genuine desire to connect with that human—is more powerful than you could ever imagine. One good day can turn into a good week, a good year, which could change the trajectory of a child’s life, socially and emotionally. Invite them to play at recess and include them in a conversation. If you want to make a real difference, invite them to a birthday party or include them in the picture. It is in those moments and at those milestones that we, as parents, hold our breath, hoping that someone’s child or parent might remember that our children have feelings, too. 

How can books help teach other kids what it's like to live with a rare disease?

• Books can teach people, through stories, what it's like to experience life differently. Some books may shape understanding of a particular rare disease, either individually or collectively, while others may highlight the similarities in our shared human experience, despite our differences. Some books may focus on the physical or cognitive aspect of a disease, while others may emphasize the emotional aspect of living with a rare disease. Different books serve different purposes, but all are written with the intent to entertain or teach, helping others grow in their understanding and empathy. Different tones, characters, lessons, and even story lines all speak to each child differently. You never know which will resonate, so the more stories written about life with a rare disease, the more opportunities there are for those differences to become understood and for those living with rare diseases to feel seen.

Book Nook - The Next Shiny Object

Award-winning author and illustrator Hudson Talbott (A Walk in the Words) offers a heartfelt, deeply personal perspective in the picture book, The Next Shiny Object.

 

Inspired by his own childhood, The Next Shiny Object follows a young boy as his attention bounces from one fascinating discovery to the next. While his boundless curiosity often makes it difficult to focus, he eventually learns that the very traits that set him apart can also fuel creativity, problem-solving, and big ideas.

 

Through warm, expressive illustrations and an honest, encouraging narrative, Talbott reminds readers that different ways of thinking deserve to be celebrated.

Capturing both the challenges and rewards of having a super-active imagination, this empowering story encourages us all—neurodivergent and neurotypical thinkers alike—to embrace our perceived limitations and enjoy the journey of learning how to turn them to our advantage.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hudson Talbott (HudsonTalbott.com) also wrote and illustrated Schneider Family Honor winner A Walk in the Words, as well as Picturing America, River of Dreams, From Wolf to Woof, United Tweets of America, and It’s All About Me-ow, and illustrated numerous picture books, including Newbery Honor winner Show Way (by Jacqueline Woodson) and Leonardo’s Horse (by Jean Fritz), an ALA Notable and VOYA Honor Book.

Movie Minute - Middle Life

Middle Life follows Andie, a perfectionist wedding planner in her mid-thirties and a new mother, who has meticulously crafted her life but still feels unfulfilled. Fresh off maternity leave, she saves Ryan, a blue-collar plumber, from a roadside accident. As their paths intertwine over the next year, her craving for change and his newfound perspective on life spark an unexpected connection, leading her to discover that life could be great. 

Middle Life is a throwback romantic dramedy inspired by the character-driven relationship films of the 1970s and '80s, like An Unmarried Woman (Mazursky), Broadcast News (Brooks), When Harry Met Sally (Reiner), and Crossing Delancey (Silver). It explores the idea that two people can become incredibly important to each other before either understands exactly what their relationship is. A lot of the tension comes from what isn't said, where the expectation of a big romantic gesture is instead the characters sitting with a feeling. At its core, the movie is about the possibility that your life can always still surprise you. It's about friendship, reinvention, getting older and realizing that you don't necessarily have everything figured out. Funny, romantic and hopeful without pretending life is simple. 

Travel Tidbits - Celebrating New Year's Eve...Twice!

Two parties are better than one! Looking to go on a New Year's Eve adventure? Double the fun by throwing out these ideas! VALENCA, PORTUGAL + TUI, SPAIN: One of my personal favorites. Valença and Tui are essentially one continuous medieval town split by a river and connected by a beautiful iron bridge. On New Year's Eve you celebrate at midnight in Valença, then walk across the bridge into Tui and do the whole thing again an hour later, complete with a second countdown, second fireworks, and second glass of something sparkling. The setting is extraordinary: both towns are fortified, medieval, and photogenic in a way that makes the experience feel cinematic. LLOYDMINSTER, ALBERTA + SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA: This is perhaps the world's most legit double New Year's town. Lloydminster literally sits on the provincial border, and Saskatchewan doesn't observe daylight saving time, meaning the two sides of the same city ring in the new year at different times. Main Street is the time zone line. You can stand in one year and look across the street into another. BAARLE-HERTOG / BAARLE-NASSAU- BELGIUM + NETHERLANDS: This might be the most delightfully quirky border town on earth, border runs through houses, restaurants, and shops, with brass lines embedded in the floors and pavements marking where one country ends and another begins. Both are in the same time zone, it's more about the novelty of celebrating in two countries simultaneously rather than twice but restaurants literally straddle the border and it's extraordinary. CORDOBA, ARGENTINA + SANTANA DO LIVRAMENTO, BRAZIL: The Argentina-Brazil border runs through several small towns where you can cross and gain or lose an hour depending on the season, since Brazil observes daylight saving and Argentina doesn't consistently. This Brazilian border town is a particularly good one a single continuous city split by a line, 2 countries, 2 celebrations, 1 party street. GREENWICH, UK: A little less dramatic but historically irresistible, standing on the Prime Meridian line at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich with one foot in the Eastern and one in the Western Hemisphere on New Year's Eve is one of those things that's completely meaningless and yet completely wonderful. It's a bucket list moment. KIRIBATI + SAMOA + AMERICAN SAMOA: For the most dramatic date line experience anywhere: Samoa and American Samoa are about 120 kilometers apart but on opposite sides of the International Date Line so when it's New Year's Eve in American Samoa, Samoa has already been in the New Year for 24 hours. Kiribati's Caroline Island is the first inhabited place on earth to greet each new year, and it does so while places to its west are still in yesterday.

Movie Minute - The Shadow of the Sun

In The Shadow of the Sun (Streaming August 4th on Apple, Amazon, Fandango, Google), Leo (Carlos Manuel Gonzalez) is a blue collar worker with a musical past living in the remote city of Acarigua, nestled in the Venezuelan inland empire. Haunted by financial debt and problems at home, he does anything to stay afloat. One day, his younger brother Alex (Anyelo Lopez) who has been deaf since birth, offers him a solution: to participate in a musical contest in the capital, Caracas, performing a song that he has written himself because the first prize may solve all his economic problems. Forced by circumstance, Leo must take a leap of faith, unearth his dormant musical talent and do the impossible to change his and his brother's future by joining their voices in an unforgettable journey.

Going Green - The Hidden Costs of Lawn Chemicals

Americans use a combined 170 million pounds of fertilizers and pesticides in their yards each year.

However, evolving local policies and issues with water supplies are reshaping consumer interests as “green industries” like landscaping actually go green with electric lawn care equipment and eco-friendly methods.

To mark Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week (July 26 to Aug. 1), LawnStarter looked into the most recent data related to Organic Lawn Care and The Hidden Costs of Lawn Chemicals.


Key Stats: 

• 10X more chemical pesticides are used by homeowners per acre than farmers use on crops, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Agricultural research suggests that only 30-50% of synthetic nitrogen is actually absorbed by the plants, with the remaining 50-70% lost to the environment. Wind, rain, and lawn irrigation spread these chemical residues, reducing soil quality and impacting local waterways. 

• A study provided early evidence that lawn fertilizer bans help improve water quality, finding that phosphorus fertilizer restrictions in Ann Arbor, Michigan, reduced phosphorus levels by an average of 28% in the nearby Huron River. 

• Interest in organic lawn care is highest in the District of Columbia, followed by Vermont, Wyoming, and Hawaii, based on local Google searches. D.C. residents are about 4X more interested in this topic than Arizona residents, who demonstrate the lowest interest in organic lawn care.

Read through more stats, consumer trends, and expert insights in the full story here: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/organic-lawn-fertilizer-pest-control/ 

 

Other helpful links:

• Their Impacts: What Lawn Chemicals Leave Behind
• Organic Turf Management: Demand, Access, and Cost
• Ask the Experts
• Shifting Toward Greener Pastures: Options for Homeowners

 

What is considered organic lawn care? 

“One big misconception about organic lawn care is that it means ‘no chemicals,’ but really, it just means avoiding synthetic ones where possible,” says Heather Kirk-Ballard, an assistant professor and extension specialist at the University of Georgia.

“Organic practices, such as increasing soil organic matter, reduce chemical runoff into waterways and promote biodiversity compared to synthetic, high-chemical lawns.”

More from LawnStarter: 

• What is Organic Fertilizer?
• Organic Pest Control for Your Garden That Really Works
• Organic vs. Synthetic Fertilizer: Which Is Best for Your Lawn?
• 9 Types of Organic Mulch for Your Landscape: How to Choose
• Organic Herbicides: A Comprehensive Guide
• Beyond the Bin: Composting Stats, Policies, and Roadblocks

Travel Tidbits - Regional Airports

Last-minute summer travel plans often come down to one question: is it cheaper to fly out of a smaller airport? That's why Only In Your State analyzed DOT airfare data for more than 100 U.S. regional airports to find where travelers are paying the most and least for departing flights. 

A few key findings:

• Concord Padgett Regional (USA) in North Carolina is the most affordable regional airport at $117 a ticket.
• Small airports near major cities average under $200. Remote ones near oilfields or ski resorts run closer to $600.
• Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) in Tennessee was one of only two regional airports where airfare jumped by at least $50 last year.

Access it here: The Most (and Least) Expensive Regional Airports Across America. 

The cheapest major airports still average $150 more than the most affordable regional hubs — so if you have options, it pays to compare both.

Music Minute - Sessions on 3rd (Nashville)

This August, two iconic names in Music City, 3rd & Lindsley and Gruhn Guitars, will launch Sessions on 3rd, a first-of-its-kind live music series celebrating the extraordinary musicians behind some of the world's most beloved recordings. Fans are encouraged to visit the Musicians tab on the website for the latest updates, biographies, and performance dates featuring the extraordinary lineup of musicians participating in Sessions on 3rd. The roster includes Adam Schoenfeld, Brent Mason, Chris McHugh, Danny Rader, Fred Eltringham, Glenn Worf, Gordon Mote, Greg Morrow, Jeff King, Jerry Roe, Jim "Moose" Brown, Jimmy Lee Sloas, Jonathan Brown, Kenny Greenberg, Kris Donegan, Mark Hill, Michael Rojas, Mike Brignardello, Nick Buda, Rob McNelley, Tom Bukovac, and Tony Lucido. The page will be updated regularly with new artist announcements, schedules, and additional information, giving fans an opportunity to learn more about the acclaimed musicians whose talents have helped shape countless hit recordings.

Taking place on Tuesday, Aug. 18, Tuesday, Aug. 25, and Tuesday, Sept. 1, Sessions on 3rd offers audiences an authentic Nashville experience by bringing together the city's most accomplished session musicians, touring sidemen, and special guests for an intimate evening of stories, music, and unforgettable performances.

Tickets to these special events are on sale now at 3rd & Lindsley, with doors at 6 PM and the show from 7:30 - 10:00 PM. General admission tickets are available for $20 and a reserved table for four is $120.
 

Follow Sessions on 3rd on social platforms below:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Ron Brice, Founder and Owner of 3rd & Lindsley Nashville, shared, "Sessions on 3rd is about celebrating the musicians behind the music. These are the players who helped create the soundtrack of our lives. We want to give audiences a chance to hear their stories, experience their artistry up close, and create what we believe will become the best Tuesday night hang in Nashville."

Unlike a traditional songwriter round, Sessions on 3rd pulls back the curtain on the recording process, giving audiences a rare opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from the musicians who performed on countless hit records. Throughout the evening, guests will hear stories from legendary recording sessions and life on the road before experiencing those songs performed live by the musicians who helped create them.

Each event will also feature Gruhn's Vintage Vibes, an exclusive presentation by legendary vintage instrument authority George Gruhn, founder of Gruhn Guitars. Gruhn will showcase rare and historic guitars, mandolins, and banjos while sharing the history, craftsmanship, and remarkable stories behind each instrument before introducing the evening's featured performers.

Adding another unique dimension to the experience is On The Spot, an interactive segment where one audience member will be invited onstage to participate in a live songwriting demonstration alongside some of Nashville's premier musicians, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process as it unfolds in real time.

Each evening begins with a featured opening artist, an emerging performer personally selected or mentored by the night's featured musicians, before transitioning into an unforgettable showcase highlighting some of Nashville's most accomplished recording and touring talent.

Whether visiting Music City for the first time or calling Nashville home, audiences will experience an evening unlike any other, where legendary musicians, historic instruments, and unforgettable stories come together to celebrate the music and the people behind the songs that have shaped generations.

About Sessions On 3rd:
Sessions on 3rd is a live music series presented by 3rd & Lindsley and Gruhn Guitars that celebrates Nashville's world-renowned session musicians, touring sidemen, and the stories behind the songs they helped create. Combining live performances, behind-the-scenes storytelling, vintage instrument showcases, and interactive audience experiences, Sessions on 3rd offers a truly authentic look inside Music City's rich musical heritage.

About George Gruhn:
George Gruhn is one of the world's leading authorities on vintage guitars and fretted instruments. Founder of Nashville's legendary Gruhn Guitars, established in 1970, he is an acclaimed author, historian, appraiser, and educator whose expertise has influenced musicians, collectors, and the vintage instrument industry worldwide for more than five decades.

Book Nook - Growing Minds: The Science of Raising Thriving Teens

Parents have never had more advice on how to help their children succeed. From exam preparation and revision techniques to extracurricular activities and university applications, the pressure to help our children achieve can feel relentless. But Katy Granville-Chapman believes that we may be overlooking something even more important.


In her new book, Growing Minds, Katy explains that while academic success has its place, raising healthy, resilient and emotionally secure young people should be our ultimate goal.

"Every parent wants their child to succeed," she says. "But success is only one part of the picture. If we focus solely on outcomes we risk neglecting the conditions that allow young people to flourish, not just at school, but throughout life."

Drawing on the latest neuroscience, psychology and educational research, specifically by Harvard professional Sara Lazar, this book explores how the teenage brain develops and why everyday habits such as sleep, movement, relationships, nutrition and emotional connection have a profound influence on learning, wellbeing and resilience.

Katy believes that we've become so focused on achievement that we neglect the foundations of lasting success.

"Children don't flourish because every obstacle has been removed from their path," she explains. "They flourish when they develop the confidence, emotional regulation and resilience to navigate life's inevitable challenges. Those qualities deserve as much attention as grades and qualifications."

So, at a time when concern about children's mental health continues to grow and schools are grappling with rising levels of anxiety and disengagement, Growing Minds offers a hopeful alternative. Rather than adding to parents' sense of pressure, it provides practical, evidence-informed strategies that support healthy brain development and encourage families to prioritise long-term wellbeing alongside academic success.



Katy’s interest in the brain, flourishing, and leadership began in high-pressure environments early in her career, where she saw how relationships, mindsets, and character shape whether people struggle or thrive.

After serving in the British Army in Iraq, Europe, and the United States, she moved into school leadership roles focused on performance and development, and later, completed a Doctorate at Oxford University exploring leadership and flourishing.

She now teaches at Oxford, is a Senior Fellow of the Flourishing Network, hosted by the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, and is a Deputy Head at Wellington College.

Contest - Baby of the Year

Colossal, the nationally registered professional fundraiser powering some of the country's most successful purpose-driven online competitions, announces its third annual Baby of The Year® competition is open for registration! Baby of the Year is a fundraiser that celebrates the stories, milestones, and personalities that make every little one unique while helping generate charitable support for children and families in need. The little champion will take home $25,000 and appear in nationwide, multi-channel advertising campaigns.

Since 2024, funds generated through the Baby of the Year competition have resulted in more than $45 million in grants to national nonprofit Baby2Baby through Colossal's charity grantmaking partner, DTCare. The grants have helped Baby2Baby continue its large-scale distribution of essential items including diapers, formula, food and clothing to children in need in all 50 states, and helped support the organization's disaster response initiatives, and long-term infrastructure investments that strengthen its ability to serve children and families across the country.

Baby2Baby Ambassadors

Jessica Alba is a Golden Globe Award-nominated actress, advocate, bestselling author, Founder of The Honest Company, and longtime Baby2Baby Board Member. Her commitment to improving outcomes for women and children has made her one of the most influential voices in family advocacy.

Paris Hilton is an entrepreneur, advocate, global media icon, CEO of her next-gen media company, 11:11 Media and Baby2Baby Angel. Through her nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact, Hilton has leveraged her global platform to champion children's rights and wellbeing. Her advocacy work on institutional child abuse reform and child welfare has helped drive national awareness, advance meaningful policy change, and improve protections for more than 15 million children.

Jenna Dewan first captured audiences in Disney's Step Up and currently stars in The Rookie. Known for her work in Supergirl, Superman & Lois, and World of Dance, Dewan is also the bestselling author of Gracefully You and a longtime Baby2Baby Angel.

How the Competition Works

Parents submit a photo and short profile highlighting what makes their little one special. Friends, family members, and supporters then rally behind their favorite participants through several rounds. The competition culminates with one baby earning the title of Baby of the Year, receiving $25,000, and appearing in nationwide, multi-channel advertising campaigns reaching millions of consumers across digital, social, retail, and out-of-home media. This includes features on The Honest Company's social media channels and official website, as well as social media ads featuring Honest products run through Honest's channels. This also includes an appearance in a Variety Magazine advertorial.

Supporters may vote through free voting opportunities, and may also cast additional votes by donation as outlined in the official competition rules, where full eligibility, voting, donation, prize details are available.

Donation Funds

Votes by donation cast during the 2026 competition are received and managed by DTCare, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, which will issue a grant to designated grantee, Baby2Baby, following the competition to support its work providing diapers, clothing, formula, food, and other essential items to children in need across the United States. See the competition rules for more information on the donation process.

"We are enormously grateful for the support of the Baby of the Year competition for the third year in a row," said Baby2Baby Co-CEOs Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein. "We are proud to partner on this transformative campaign that raises critical funds for Baby2Baby's mission, ensuring that we can provide more than one million children across the country with the basic essentials they deserve for years to come."

National Partners Committed to Families

This year's competition is supported by a distinguished group of brands dedicated to helping families thrive.

The Honest Company: Founded in 2012 by Jessica Alba, The Honest Company is on a mission to create personal care that raises the standards of clean and brings joy to each and every moment. By combining thoughtful design with science-based innovation, the Company delivers cleanly-formulated and sustainably-designed personal care products for everyone from babies to adults – showing you don't have to compromise between performance and peace of mind.

Graco® 'The Safest Place Outside Your Arms': For more than 70 years, Graco has helped parents navigate the earliest moments of parenthood with trusted baby gear designed for safety, comfort, and peace of mind. From the first ride home to everyday snuggles and milestones, Graco products are built to meet the needs of growing families while exceeding industry safety standards, helping parents feel confident through every stage of the journey.

Shutterfly®: For more than 25 years, Shutterfly has helped millions transform cherished memories into lasting keepsakes through photo books, holiday cards, wall art, personalized gifts, and more. As families document every stage of childhood, Shutterfly helps preserve the moments that matter most.

Colossal's Trust & Safety Commitment

Baby of the Year is supported by Colossal's Trust & Safety framework, designed to help protect participants, supporters, and families throughout every stage of the competition.

• Photo Protection: Participant photos help verify identity and are submitted and managed exclusively by parents or legal guardians. Submission photos are used only for verification and competition profile pages and are never sold, repurposed, or shared with third parties, except as provided in the Official Rules for the Grand Prize Winner and eligible finalists, whose names, photos, videos, and likenesses may be used in connection with announcing the Competition.
• Privacy & Data Security: Participant information is used solely to operate the competition, support participants, maintain competition integrity, and fulfill legal requirements. Colossal does not sell personal information.

"Families deserve confidence that the platforms they engage with are taking participant protection seriously," said Colossal CEO Mary Hagen. "Trust, transparency, and accountability remain central to every Colossal competition."

Learn more at colossal.org/trust-safety.

Following in the Footprints of Previous Champions

The Baby of the Year title has already introduced audiences to unforgettable young ambassadors.

Luca, the 2025 champion, captured hearts nationwide with his fearless personality, adventurous spirit, and contagious smile. See Luca's story in a Variety advertorial here.

Sloane Maya, the 2024 champion affectionately known by her family as a "miracle baby," charmed supporters with her joyful energy, infectious laughter, and natural presence in front of the camera. See Sloane on Good Morning America here! 

Registration Is Open

The search for America's next Baby of the Year has officially begun. Parents and legal guardians can apply and learn more about the competition BabyOfTheYear.org.

About Colossal
Colossal is a professional fundraiser redefining modern philanthropy through purpose-driven online competitions that raise money for charity. With a mission to inspire people to advocate for themselves and those in need, Colossal empowers individuals to pursue their passions, rally their communities, and compete for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, all while driving meaningful charitable impact where giving wins. This Colossal competition serves as a fundraising campaign for DTCare, a United States 501(c)(3) public charity organization, which grants donation funds to the specified charity at the completion of the competition. Since 2022, Colossal has raised over $243 million to support charity. Learn more at colossal.org.

About Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby is a non-profit organization that provides children in need with diapers, formula, clothing, and the basic necessities that every child deserves, serving more than one million children across all 50 states. Led by Co-CEOs Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, the organization has distributed over half a billion items in the past 15 years to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care, hospitals and school districts as well as children who have lost everything in the wake of disaster. The organization's success has been propelled forward by its industry-leading model that is redefining what it means to operate a non-profit with a seamless integration of impact, innovation, and influence, which earned them praise from TIME Magazine as one of 2023's most influential companies and recognition as the #1 non-profit on Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies List. To learn more about Baby2Baby please visit www.baby2baby.org.