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Mary Bowser is not the only one who can keep a secret.


Remember that trip to Minneapolis I took recently? It wasn't just there to do my Mary Richards impersonation.

Actually, Mary Bowser did her own Mary Richards impersonation, long ago.

I was in Minneapolis to meet these wonderful people:

Lots of people are in book clubs. Lots of 'em are in book clubs with co-workers. But this group of co-workers belongs to an especially important book club. Because the selections they choose to discuss become the Club Pick at every Target store in the country.

I already loved Target for their generous support of arts and education. But when I found out that they'd picked The Secrets of Mary Bowser as the featured book for August, I was over the moon. Why? Because August is when families are doing their back-to-school shopping . . . at Target. What better place and time to share a story about the power of education to change a person's life. And to change the course of history.

I love bookstores. But I know not everyone spends as much time in them as I do. In fact, more and more communities don't even have a bookstore. Target will bring Mary Bowser to people who would never have found her otherwise. Including people who will find her a role model for themselves and their daughters. That can really make a nothing day suddenly seem worthwhile.

So yes, I've been over the moon. In a very long leap. Because my wonderful team at HarperCollins/William Morrow learned the Target news way back when. Which is why I've been practicing my very best Bowser for a long while, keeping this wonderful secret until the news was officially announced.