A long long time ago, in a land far away – or so it seems, when I think of Phoenix in the late 1950s – a man would take his barely-teenage son to the library on Central and McDowell, and allow him to wander until they happened to run into each other again. It was a magical world, and I still remember some of the book-friends I made. Hesiod’s Theogony was one. I don’t believe I’d ever heard of him, although I knew his fellow poet Homer well. I regularly visited the art room to look at the tiny shrunken head from… Peru? And my mother took us to the bookmobiles in our northwest part of town, where we stepped off a baking sidewalk in what seemed to be an uninteresting neighborhood, and stepped into a world of adventure. Sir Walter Scott’s Rob Roy was one of those adventures. Those visits and that parental care meant so much to that much younger me. I hope that many children today and their parents have that same experience. Thanks for asking!

I work extremely hard in everything I do and always strive to do my absolute best! My parents have always taught me to give back to my community and I actually really love it! Before I have done quite a few things with the homeless. I do a lot of community service with my clubs in high school. I love giving back and helping my community any way I possibly can! I’m in STUGO, NHS, BSU, Track, Cheerleading, Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy, the ACE program at South Mountain Community college, and I am a baseball trainer. I’m also in a book club with NFL Cardinals player Corey Peters. I love being active and I especially love helping out everyone and everything in my community!

My name is Mychaeltodd Robinson-Hokerk, I’m a local published author known as MYCHAELTODD. The book I wrote is entitled: HEY PUDDIN! Some Thing’s Just Don’t Change. It’s part one of my life as a young black boy growing up in Ohio, Arizona, California and the pitstops along the way. It’s about my connection to the Goldwater legacy, a landmark law suit Robinson v. Louie, and domestic violence. I talk about my life in Hollywood and how the 70’s and 80’s effected my life and those around me. Now that I am a senior citizen I want to leave my legacy through my writing, hopefully it will help a young person dealing with LGBTQ issues, a single mother with domestic violence questions, a man who is hiding sexual abuse, and people in need of a higher power. HEY PUDDIN! covers a lot and many people are involved in my book from my living, Sarah Vaugh, Tony Bennett, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Smokie Robinson and Sylvester- and many more. Part two has not been completed, because I have decided to write a childrens book entitled: Hey Mommy! I want to write a book. I have one issue with Phoenix public library, when I requested to have my book brought into the library, I was given a denial because they need at least 50 reviews and a site that they use to order it (not available) I was clear when I told the clerk at the desk I would donate two copies. I have donated copies before to other libraries in the Untied States, what’s the issue now?- Mychaeltodd

EXOTIC NEUROTIC By: Kenneth Jarrett Singleton


Overview


SYNOPSIS


Exotic Neurotic is a book of poetry which involves subject matter such as depression, imbalance within one’s personal self, angst, frustration, youthfulness, antisocial behavior, and violence. In addition, many of Exotic Neurotic’s thematic properties also pertain to love, illness, death, human anatomy, physical deformities, elimination, birth, and abortion.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exotic-neurotic-kenneth-k-jarrett-j-singleton/1123468351?ean=9781500951962

EXOTIC NEUROTIC By: Kenneth Jarrett Singleton


Overview


SYNOPSIS


Exotic Neurotic is a book of poetry which involves subject matter such as depression, imbalance within one’s personal self, angst, frustration, youthfulness, antisocial behavior, and violence. In addition, many of Exotic Neurotic’s thematic properties also pertain to love, illness, death, human anatomy, physical deformities, elimination, birth, and abortion.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exotic-neurotic-kenneth-k-jarrett-j-singleton/1123468351?ean=9781500951962

I currently work at the Vista Grande Library in Casa Grande; however, after seven years I am now considering retirement in August of 2016. I am also the Vice President of the Friends of the Casa Grande Library and will consequently be President from 2017 to 2019. I am looking forward to attending the Conference in May.

When I was 7 years old I went to live with my Grandmother. The Library was just down the hill from her house. She had to go with me because it was across a busy street. She held my hand and walked me across and into the building. I had to stop. I was in awe. I was like a kid in a candy store. I took 5 books home. Next week I took 5 more. By the time of 2 years I had read all the children’s books. What a wonderful place that was. The Librarian introduced me to Sherlock Holms. I will never forget that first day. I am 73 years old and it seems like yesterday.

The Ironwood Library is build on land that was once my father’s farm! How special is that!

This will sound negative at first . . . but one day while sharing the Central library’s elevator with a few teenage boys, I heard one of them curse. It wasn’t an especially bad swearword and I didn’t react to it at all. But the boy who said it noticed me and apologized. I accepted the apology and left the elevator thinking that simply being in the library brings out the best in people.

Hello…I taught my children and many others to read between the ages of three and five in a very fun and natural way. Sixty six % of children over all groups in the fourth grade do not read up to grade level….Starting early at home is my answer. I even wrote a book about it…Go to childrensreadingsuccess.com…..to see what I mean…..Louise