Natalie Bright

Probably so ….

This children's favorite began it's humble beginnings in the 1940s, amid the challenges of World War II and the Great Depression. At the time Simon & Schuster teamed with Western Printing to create something that would become beloved by children the world over! Little Golden Books. Launched in the fall of 1942, these sturdy, colorful 42-page storybooks were priced at just twenty-five cents and sold in grocery stores, drugstores, and five-and-dimes. The very first dozen titles flew off the shelves and managed to sell 1.5 million copies in just five months! It turned bedtime stories into an everyday staple for millions of families. One of those original books, The Poky Little Puppy, quickly became the star of the series and became one of the best-selling children’s hardcover of all time, with nearly 15 million copies sold in the U.S. alone. Written by Janette Sebring Lowrey and illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren (fresh from Disney’s Snow White and Bambi), its gentle tale of curiosity and gentle consequences captured hearts across generations. Just two years later, in 1944, the Little Golden Books line officially partnered with Disney, bringing beloved characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck into bedrooms everywhere and cementing the series’ place in childhood nostalgia. Today, more than 1,400 separate Little Golden Books titles have been published since that first golden autumn, with roughly 821 still active in the catalog. From the 1960s and ’70s onward, these little treasures filled nightstands in homes across America, proving that affordable, beautifully told stories could democratize reading and create lifelong memories. More than two billion copies later, the magic endures. Did you have any Little Golden Books as a child? Do you remember them?

Good News: After 20 years of declining numbers, indie booksellers have come "roaring back." There are about 70% more bookstores now than there were in 2020. The American Booksellers Association membership has grown from 1,900 to 3,200.

Traces of Texas reader Tom Madden was turkey hunting with his friend Todd Scott last weekend near Bronte, Texas, when they came across this big ol' beautiful horned frog, which as any good Texan knows is actually a horny toad. While we all call them horny toads and at TCU they call them horned frogs, they are neither toads nor frogs. The popular names come from the lizard's rounded body and blunt snout, which give it a decidedly frog/toadlike appearance. Phrynosoma literally means "toad-bodied" and cornutum means "horned". The Texas horned lizard's horns are extensions of its cranium and contain true bone. We used to see them all over the place when I was a kid and my beating Texas heart is always glad to see one in the wild. Isn't he gorgeous? When's the last time you saw one out in nature?

🚨 BREAKING: In a stunning vindication of President Trump's tariff strategy, American tomato farmers are seeing the positive benefits of tariffing Mexican tomatoes. Who would've guessed...the experts were wrong again. "It's only been 2 days now and we've actually had a lot more calls of people having an interest in doing business!" "And the process hasn't even changed. Food security is national security and we need to be able to produce our own food here in the United States."

“The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” -William Wordsworth

🇺🇸📖 As America approaches her 250th birthday, we are reminded that our nation’s story, like Amazing Grace, is one of redemption, perseverance, and hope. Written by John Newton after a life transformed by God’s mercy, the hymn became an anthem of grace after brokenness. For 250 years, United States has faced trials, victories, failures, and renewal. Yet through every generation, God’s grace has carried us. “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come…” As we look to the next 250 years, may America be strengthened by faith, humbled by gratitude, and guided by truth. Amazing grace indeed. 🇺🇸

Dirty water doesn't stop plants from growing, so don't let negative words stop your progress.

Every new car in the U.S. will be required by law to have tech that puts constant surveillance on the driver by 2027. AI in your car will determine if you're sober and fit to drive, automatically turning off the vehicle if it determines you're a danger on the road.

The Big Bang Theory is getting a new post-apocalyptic spinoff series called 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe'. It stars comic book shop owner Stuart accidentally triggering a multiversal armageddon and meeting Big Bang Theory characters in alternate dimensions.

After spotting the fire, a farmer rushed home for his gear and stepped in to save his neighbor’s field 🔥🚜

A river runs wild through the heart of the woods, its water rushing over smooth stones in a restless, endless song. The current chatters and splashes, weaving through fallen branches and moss-covered banks.

Happy to see more cornflowers blooming…💙

🚨 MUST WATCH: Johnny Carson (a Democrat) opens the 1981 Oscars, a day after the assassination attempt on President Reagan, with genuine class and respect. The entire liberal Hollywood crowd erupts in applause. Today? Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Melania Trump becoming a widow.

A sentence from a commencement speech that I actually do call to mind often: “You don't ever have to do anything sensational in order to love or to be loved.” (Fred Rogers at Marquette in May 2001)

Imagine what the American prairie was like before westward expansion!

Here’s what’s happening across Texas this week 📍📚 . Save the date, meet the author, find your next favorite read. ❤️ #WeeklyEvents #BookishTexas View the full list of events here: bit.ly/m/lonestarlit

🚨 King George Strait singing “Amarillo by Morning” The dude is a LEGEND!

A mix of influences that came together to create something truly one of a kind 🤠🌎 From language to traditions, you can see the blend in everyday life across the state. #TexasCulture #LoneStarState #CulturalBlend #TexasHistory #UniquePlaces #Heritage #TexasLife

So proud of Michael Boes. He is the new Chief MAHA officer at Steak N’ Shake + reports sales went up 10% when they switched to REAL FOOD. Michael drove the Food Pyramid, and now he’s leading the charge to make these principles a reality. Other companies should follow!

U.S. State Flowers