My writer’s group had an assignment to write about our favorite childhood book. I thought about it for a while, and despite my fondness for “Winnie the Pooh,” “Wind in the Willows” and “The Secret Garden,” I knew who my favorite children’s book author really was: Minnesota’s Kate DiCamillo.

She grew up mostly in Florida, and moved to Minnesota in 1994. She worked at Bookmen, a book distribution warehouse in Minneapolis, where she met a publisher’s rep. She gave him a manuscript of her first book, “Because of Winn-Dixie,” and it eventually was published. It was even made into an enchanting movie in 2006.

She has gone on to win MANY awards: two Newbery Medals, a Newbery honor. She has written 25 books for children, in addition to picture books.

Her newest book, “The Hotel Balzaar,” is the second in a loose series, following the “Puppets of Spelhorst” (The series is called the Norendy Tales). It takes place in an unnamed time and place, but there is a war on, and young Marta has moved into the attic of the Hotel Balzaar with her mother, who works there as a maid. Marta’s presence is supposed to be a secret, so her mother always reminds her to be quiet as a mouse, and not to be noticed.

However Marta loves the lobby of the hotel, and wanders there frequently looking at the unusual clock and the painting of an angel’s wing in some clouds. One day she notices an unusual elderly woman, the Countess, who enters the hotel with a parrot on her shoulder, and lots of luggage. She beckons to Marta, calling her “my little ray of light”. That was a phrase Marta’s missing father always used when talking to her. The Countess promises Marta seven stories. The stories seem unconnected, but are they?

This book is for ages 7-10, grades 2-5. My favorite phrases from the book: “war destroys everything,” “look for where the light seeps through,” and “be patient, wait for the light.” Words we all need in our shadowy uncertain times.

I am fortunate that all my grandchildren love reading and DiCamillo’s books! My oldest grandson used to carry one of her books to and from school, reading them on the bus, and he kept “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” with him always (in his locker in high school, and he took it to college with him).

I bought my youngest grandchildren ( 8 and 11) the two books in the Norendy series. Recently, when they spent the night, the oldest discovered “Flora and Ulysses” in my TBR (to be read) stack and could not put it down. He has read most of her books, and his favorites are “Tale of Desperaux” and “Miraculous Journey.”

I asked him why he knows he will like her books, and he replied, “The titles, the covers, and I just know I will like it.”

We watched the movie of “Because of Winn-Dixie” and he loved how sad and lonely Opal was able to make friends after moving to a new town with her preacher father, starting with the dog she named Winn-Dixie. The dog was excitedly rampaging through the local supermarket and Opal claimed him as her dog when he stopped and smiled at her.

Then that silly smiling dog helped her make new friends. Opal was able to learn a great deal from her new friends, Gloria Dump, Miss Franny the librarian, and Otis, who runs the pet store and loves music.

There is a squawking, talking parrot in “Because of Winn-Dixie,” and my grandson thinks she must really love parrots because they are fun characters in her  books. My youngest granddaughter (age 8) wanted to get the book for her teacher (for Teacher Appreciation Week) because “it is my favorite movie ever!”