Book excerpt: Books Can Take You Anywhere will create vivid and colorful imagery through expressive rhymes and pictures, while encouraging the desire to read. About the Author Vicky M. Van Dan-Pletsch taught music in the public schools for thirty-seven years, retiring in June 2017. She currently teaches private music lessons to students of all ages, plays the clarinet in the Bloomington Normal Community Band, is a member of the Clarinet Choir, plays trumpet for military funerals in the American Legion, and is a church organist and pianist. She belongs to and is a member of NAfME, TRS, IRTA, IEA/NEA, AARP, the Ladies Auxiliary Knights of Columbus, and has been active with Special Olympics, Relay for Life, and Habitat for Humanity. Her hobbies include music, baking, cooking, crafting, landscaping, taekwondo, walking, and writing. She collects music boxes, music of all genres, snowmen, spoons from around the world, teddy bears, Green Bay Packers paraphernalia, and has a sweet tooth with her love of dark chocolate. Vicky has been married to her husband, Daniel, for thirty-five years. They have two sons Justin, who is married to Emily, and Jared. Justin and Emily gave birth to Vicky's first grandchild, Mary-Margaret, in April 2018.