Today I checked my Things To Do List and there it was: Library. Wheee! I love to go to the library!

So, off I went to pick up my books at my local branch. Plus, I had a little library business in mind. Namely, A to Zoo: Subject Access to Children’s Picture Books. Happily, my favorite library had a copy of this reference book on hand. Unhappily, I couldn’t check it out. So I had a little sit down to peruse the fairy tales section.

I do so enjoy fairy tales, and many of my manuscripts deal with fairy tales. But working, working, working on a manuscript only to find out that Betty Boopsidoo has written the exact same story (and had it published)…well, that I do not enjoy so much.

So when I heard about this awesome reference book, listing authors, illustrators, and a (very) brief synopsis of just about every children’s book published out there, I knew it was worth a trip to the library to make a couple notes.

And so I opened the (very) fat book and started writing. But do you have any idea how many books are out there about fairy tales? I don’t know, either, but I can tell you that it’s a lot. Quite a lot.

So I made copies of the pertinent pages. I mean, I love the library and all that, but I could’ve been there all day.

P.S. If you click on A to Zoo here, you’ll find yourself in WorldCat, which, once you type in your zip code, will let you know what library near you carries this awesome reference book. But be prepared. Bring plenty of change, and maybe smelling salts. You are not going to believe how many children’s books there are out there!