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WORK TITLE: The Riding Lesson
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BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.jenniferkmann.com/
CITY: Bainbridge Island
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COUNTRY: United States
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LAST VOLUME: SATA 362
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PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, children’s author, and illustrator. Worked for many years as an architect in Seattle. Lecturer and presenter at schools.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
AWARDS:Western Washington Annual Conference Portfolio Showcase, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Grand Prize, 2009; Don Freeman Grant in Aid for Illustrators, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, 2010.
WRITINGS
Contributor to the blog, the Whatsits.
SIDELIGHTS
Children’s author and illustrator Jennifer K. Mann is a former architect who spent several years designing retail stores for an architectural firm in Seattle. She became a children’s author and illustrator after having children of her own and started reading picture books to them. “I realized then that what I really wanted was to be a picture book author and illustrator,” she stated on her website. Mann now lives and works on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a community in Puget Sound near Seattle. In an interview with Joanna Marple on the Miss Marple’s Musings website, Mann discussed common themes in her works. She stated, “I seem to return to tender hearts and friendship in many of my books. I love stories that tug on my heart by illuminating the real and delicate work of being human, and I strive for that in my own work.”
Ginger, the main character of Two Speckled Eggs, is looking forward to her upcoming birthday party. She wants all of her friends from her class at school to attend except Lyla Browning, an unpopular girl she thinks is weird. Her mother makes it clear, however: invite everyone, including Lyla, or invite no one, so Ginger is forced to invite Lyla, too. At the party, Ginger quickly discovers that the girls she wanted to attend aren’t behaving properly and are making her party unpleasant. Some of them cheat at the games, such as by peeking at Blind Man’s Bluff. Two others stick all the tails from the Pin the Tail on the Donkey game on each other. Worst of all, they don’t like Ginger’s special birthday cake. All the time, Lyla has been in the background, quietly observing. When Ginger gets Lyla’s gift, she discovers it is the most thoughtful and artistic of all: a beautiful handmade bird’s nest, with two speckled malted-milk eggs in the center. It doesn’t take her long to realize that maybe Lyla isn’t so weird after all and could become a good friend. “Mann understands well how peers can disappoint and parties can go wrong,” commented a Publishers Weekly writer. Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan called Two Speckled Eggs a “fine picture book for reading aloud.”
A youngster’s struggles with meeting classroom standards feature in I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard. In Mrs. Benson’s elementary school class, children who do well and follow all the rules are recognized by having a star placed by their names on the blackboard. Rose, however, doesn’t think she will ever be able to do anything that earns her a star. She daydreams, her desk is usually untidy, she does the wrong math problem at the board, and she would rather doodle than pay attention. When Rose makes a creative thank-you card for a painter who visited the class, she finally earns her star, even though her desk is still a mess. With this book, Mann shows that she is “becoming a champion portrayer of those who color outside the lines or march to a different drum,” commented a Publishers Weekly writer.
In Sam and Jump, Sam is a young boy who goes everywhere with his beloved stuffed rabbit, Jump. During a day at the beach, however, Sam meets Thomas, another boy near his age. The two spend their time playing together, and Sam is so excited and distracted that he leaves Jump behind. When he realizes what he’s done, Sam is upset and worried about Jump. When he and his mother go back to the beach the next day, they find that thoughtful Thomas saved Jump and has brought him back for Sam. A Publishers Weekly contributor observed that Mann’s story “raises some powerful and provocative questions about loyalty, responsibility, and friendship.”
In Josie’s Lost Tooth, the title character loves to be first, so she is frustrated when all of her classmates at Blueberry Hill Elementary School begin losing their teeth before her. Even her best friend, Richard, loses a tooth first. After trying unsuccessfully to pull her loose tooth, Josie and Richard play a game of chase. Josie’s tooth falls out during the game, and she is unable to find it. Because she is not in possession of the tooth, Josie writes a letter to the Tooth Fairy, telling her what happened and pleading to still be rewarded for her lost tooth. The Tooth Fairy answers by giving her an unconventional gift. A Kirkus Reviews writer commented, “The realistic dialogue, effective use of italics, and simple, kidlike vocabulary work well with the illustrations to create a satisfying tale.”
A girl named Ernestine goes camping for the first time with her cousin and aunt in The Camping Trip. For Ernestine, who lives in the city, spending time in nature is a new experience. She marvels at the fish in the lake, the tall trees, and the stars in the sky. “This delightful trip will be savored again and again,” predicted a Kirkus Reviews critic. Maryann Owen, a contributor to Booklist, praised the format of the book, stating, “Beginning readers will enjoy being able to look at a picture and read the camping word placed nearby.”
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After The Camping Trip, Mann focused on illustrating the works of other authors, including Alison James’s Maple & Rosemary and Curtis Manley’s Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku. Mann’s next self-illustrated work was The Riding Lesson, which some readers noticed was a kind of companion to The Camping Trip. As Mann described in an interview with Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, “Like The Camping Trip, it’s a story about trying new things, even when the reality of the experience does not match one’s expectations.”
Mann has spoken before about her love of horses, and The Riding Lesson was inspired by her own first lesson as a young girl, including giving the horse in the story the same name: Snowball. In the book, Frances loves horses and cannot wait to have her first ride and show off what she knows. She quickly learns, however, that there is a lot she does not know. Some of that includes what barns smell like and how long it takes to brush a horse. When she finally has a chance to ride one, she is surprised at how far off the ground she is. The ride itself is also different from what she imagines, a little scarier but even more enjoyable.
Reviewers appreciated this self-illustrated work. A writer in Kirkus Reviews praised Mann for how she “captures the flavor of stable life” and for the “whimsically childlike, loose-lined illustrations.” Kit Ballenger, in Booklist, enjoyed the “gently humorous and emotionally tactful plot.” Ballenger suggested it as reading material for those who might be looking forward to their first riding lesson.
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In addition to illustrating her own work, Mann has been the illustrator of books by other authors. In Turkey Tot, written by George Shannon, young Turkey Tot uses creative thinking to succeed at getting some high-growing blackberries that his friends Chick, Pig, and Hen have given up on. Percy, Dog of Destiny, written by Alison McGhee, tells the story of Percy and his day at the dog park with his canine friends Molly, Fluffy, and Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. When a misbehaving squirrel steals Percy’s favorite ball, it takes a heroic effort from an unexpected source to recover the toy.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 1, 2014, Carolyn Phelan, review of Two Speckled Eggs, p. 95; January 1, 2017, Julia Smith, review of Percy, Dog of Destiny, p. 103; April 1, 2020, Maryann Owen, review of The Camping Trip, p. 79; January 1, 2024, Kay Weisman, review of Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku, p. 74; June, 2025, Kit Ballenger, review of The Riding Lesson, p. 93.
Horn Book, January-February, 2014, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Turkey Tot, p. 79.
Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2013, review of Turkey Tot; February 15, 2014, review of Two Speckled Eggs; June 1, 2015, review of I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard; March 1, 2016, review of Sam and Jump; January 15, 2017, review of Percy, Dog of Destiny; July 15, 2018, review of Josie’s Lost Tooth; March 15, 2020, review of The Camping Trip; April 15, 2025, review of The Riding Lesson.
Publishers Weekly, January 27, 2014, review of Two Speckled Eggs, p. 191; April 13, 2015, review of I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard, p. 80; December 2, 2015, review of I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard, p. 13; March 7, 2016, review of Sam and Jump, p. 65; December 2, 2016, review of Sam and Jump, p. 24; January 23, 2017, review of Percy, Dog of Destiny. p. 79; August 16, 2021, review of Best Friends-ish, pp. 86+; December 5, 2022, review of Maple & Rosemary, p. 125.
School Library Journal, August, 2013. Alyson Low, review of Turkey Tot, p. 90; April, 2014, Joanna K. Fabicon, review of Two Speckled Eggs, p. 128; August, 2015, Etta Anton, review of I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard, p. 60; May, 2016, Megan McGinnis, review of Sam and Jump, p. 72; February, 2017, Mary Elam, review of Percy, Dog of Destiny, p. 72;
ONLINE
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/ (September 13, 2025), Deborah Kalb, author interview.
I Love Kids Books, http://www.ilovekidsbooks.com/ (July 10, 2015), author interview.
Jennifer K. Mann website, http://www.jenniferkmann.com (December 5, 2025).
Miss Marple’s Musings, http://joannamarple.com/ (May 29, 2018), Joanna Marple, author interview.
Pippin Properties, http://www.pippinproperties.com/ (December 19, 2017), biography of Jennifer K. Mann.
Plotting and Scheming, http://dawnvandermeer.blogspot.com/ (April 26, 2014), “Interview with Author and Illustrator Jennifer K. Mann.”
Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast, http://www.blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/ (June 28, 2016), “Seven Questions over Breakfast with Jennifer K. Mann.”*
I am an award winning children’s book author and illustrator who lives on an island in beautiful Puget Sound with my husband, two cats named Tiny and Jack, and one goofy dog named Zephyr. I have young adult children who come and go.
I once was an architect, and spent many years designing stores for a big architecture firm in Seattle. Then I had children, and started reading beautiful picture books to them. I realized then that what I really wanted was to be a picture book author and illustrator.
I find inspiration for my stories and art from memories of childhood, my children’s antics and adventures, and the often silly goings-on of our domestic menagerie.
I have written and illustrated Two Speckled Eggs which won the 2015 Washington State Book Award, I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson's Blackboard, Sam and Jump, Josies’s Lost Tooth, and The Camping Trip, which won the 2020 Washington State Book Award, all from Candlewick Press. I have illustrated Maple and Rosemary, by Alison James, and Climbing the Volcano, by Curtis Manley, both published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, as well as Percy, Dog of Destiny, written by Alison McGhee, published by Boyds Mill Press, and Turkey Tot, written by George Shannon, published by Holiday House.
I am also the illustrator of the wonderful Audrey L and Audrey W chapter books by Carter Higgins, published by Chronicle Books.
Coming Spring of 2025 is The Riding Lesson, written and illustrated by me, and published by Candlewick Press.
You can learn quite a lot about me and my process by reading this wonderful interview with Julie Danielson over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=4088
I am represented by Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties Inc., www.pippinproperties.com, 212-338-9310.
Jennifer K Mann lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest where she tends chickens, dogs, cats, and her kids and husband, when they aren't tending her. She once was an architect, but turned to picture books full time when after her first book was published. Jennifer draws many of her ideas from her own life experiences, or those of her children--and yes, some of her characters are quite autobiographical.
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Q&A with Jennifer K. Mann
Jennifer K. Mann is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book The Riding Lesson. Her other books include The Camping Trip. She lives on an island near Seattle.
Q: What inspired you to create The Riding Lesson, and how did you create your characters Frances and Mae?
A: I grew up riding horses, and my Candlewick editor Kate Fletcher is an avid horsewoman, so we’ve talked about doing a horse book for years!
I wanted to write a book about riding horses that would feel accessible to all kids, even those who aren’t sure they love horses, or who have never had a chance to be near a horse. No matter how you happen to spend time in the presence of horses, it is always a privilege.
My very first riding lesson was on a round white pony named Snowball. I don’t remember if I was excited or scared to ride before that first time, but I do remember that Snowball had a mind of her own, puffed up her belly when I tightened the girth, and exited the ring we were in when I lost control of the reins.
All ended well, but my nerve-racking Snowball experience stayed with me and definitely was the genesis of this book.
Frances and Mae are made entirely of me, my dear friend Polly who was my childhood horse-shenanigans pal (and still operates in the world of hoses) and every kid who has ever found that reality does not exactly match their dreams. Sometimes reality is even better.
Q: The Booklist review of the book says, “The gently humorous and emotionally tactful plot packs in helpful horse-care information that’s visually supported by cartoonish mixed-media illustrations....it will better equip eager hippophiles anticipating their own riding lessons.” What do you think of that description?
A: It made me chuckle! Fortunately I didn’t have to look up the word hippophile because I was able to deduce its definition from the context!
But also, I feel like Booklist got it. For this book, I wanted to create a good story with an emotional punch combined with practical, fun, and funny information about horses and riding. This is a book for me—because I adore all things horse, and I miss the many years I spent in their magnificent company.
But more importantly, this is a book for kids who love horses, those who aren’t sure they love horses, and especially those who may not have had a chance to be anywhere near a horse.
Q: How would you compare this book with your book The Camping Trip, which we talked about in a previous interview?
A: The Riding Lesson is sort of a companion to The Camping Trip, in that it is the same trim size and comic format, with new characters in a new adventure.
Like The Camping Trip, it’s a story about trying new things, even when the reality of the experience does not match one’s expectations. Both books are also about not giving up when things are a little scary or challenging. And like The Camping Trip, this is a story about the value of a supportive and empathic friend.
I intentionally used some of the same devices found in The Camping Trip to tell this story and share helpful information: lists, how-tos and details of what it really can be like when having that very first riding lesson.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I hope that kids find this story fun and funny, and informational. I hope they find it to be a window into a world they may be unfamiliar with, but one that can be available to all. I hope they will be inspired to try something new, even when it’s smelly, messy, or challenging.
And I hope they come away with a little bit of tenderness for a round, stubborn, dirty pony named Snowball.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I recently finished the artwork for a picture book by Maya Meyers that comes out from Neal Porter Books/Holiday House next spring. It’s called Good Morning, Morning! and I love it.
It was a privilege to illustrate this love poem to dawn, nature, and the joy of a child experiencing the magic of an early morning, alone, except for trees, fungii, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and perhaps even fairies.
This summer I have been refilling my creative well with some experimental art and writing, and I am working hard on a couple new picture books that are secret projects at the moment.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I was recently lucky enough to celebrate the publication of The Riding Lesson at a really wonderful horse rescue called Toni’s Ponies Horse Rescue. At Toni’s Ponies they lovingly care for 27 rescued horses in various stages of their lives.
The work they do is therapeutic for the horses, and for the humans lucky enough to spend time around these beautiful animals. Check out their beautiful website at https://www.tonisponies.org/size
Best Friends-ish (Audrey L and Audrey W #1)
Carter Higgins, illus. by Jennifer K. Mann. Chronicle, $14.99 (184p) ISBN 978-1-4521-8394-7
A rapport develops between two second graders in search of belonging in this crisply written chapter book debut, a seties starter by Higgins (Circle Under Berry). Audrey Locke thought second grade would be "twice as fun as first," but all the newness soon proves overwhelming, and she quesrions whether she can be best at anything. Complicating matters, her old pal Diego seems to have moved on to a different friend group. When a transfer student shows up with the same name, newly dubbed Audrey "L" is made Welcome Ambassador to Audrey "W" Predictably, her efforts are not without mishap and embarrassment, and yet a "best friends-ish" camaraderie forms between the duo, who are clearly linked by their bigheartedness and sense of humor, not to mention a love of the color purple and alicorns (unicorns with wings). A minor crisis involving a hermit crab and a major meltdown by Audrey L add some easily resolved tension. Straightforward plotting emphasizes Audrey L's emotional journey and the classroom dynamics, while sketchlike b&w illustrations by Mann (The Camping Trip) break up the chapters. The Audreys make a winsome pair, and Higgins's empathic approach to storytelling promises more gentle hijinks as they navigate school and friendship. Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Rubin Pfeffer. Rubin Pfeffer Content. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee. Pippin Properties. (Oct.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"Best Friends-ish (Audrey L and Audrey W #1)." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 33, 16 Aug. 2021, pp. 86+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A673346461/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5a67a075. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Maple and Rosemary
Alison James, illus. by Jennifer K. Mann.
Holiday House/Porter, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-8234-4967-5
The familiar premise of two outsiders forging a lifetime bond takes an unexpected turn in this The Giving Trte-tinged picture book. Maple is the lone deciduous figure among snooty cedars and pines who "didn't have time for a tree that was all bark and no leaf for half the year," writes James (The Drums of Noto Hando) in emotional prose. When child Rosemary, portrayed with light skin and pink cheeks, seeks refuge in Maple's leafy branches ("Everybody hates me," she declares), rhe tree, anthropomorphized via the text, eagerly agrees to be her friend ("The tree's branches trembled, and all her leaves shook. Her wish had been granted!"). Rosemary initially visits regularly, but when she stays gone for many years with no explanation, scribbly mixed-media illustrations by Mann (The Camping Trip) evoke both the passing of time and Maple's lonely resignation. Happily, Rosemary does return--as a schoolteacher with an entire class to befriend Maple--and the two friends grow old together in a relationship that's "as real as roots." Emotionally honest and visually aware of life's seasons, this book acknowledges that cherished bonds don't always follow a simple script. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Jennifer Weltz. Jean V. Naggar Literary. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Feb.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"Maple and Rosemary." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 51, 5 Dec. 2022, p. 125. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A731124008/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5a332441. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
* Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku. By Curtis Manley. Illus. by Jennifer K. Mann. Jan. 2024. 48p. Holiday/Neal Porter, $18.99 (9780823451661). PreS-Gr. 3.
A young boy and his family awaken at their campsite and prepare to hike Oregon's South Sister, a dormant volcano. In a series of haiku, the child recounts his memories of this trek: annoying mosquitoes that swarm his face, tiny toads found on the forest floor, glaciers with snow that sometimes obscures the path, a mountain lake and a pumice desert, a marmot sunning on a boulder, a trail-mix snack, soaring ravens and colorful butterflies, and the amazing view from the summit. The verses are succinct yet very effective in conveying a sense of the trip: "how to stay warm / in the forest shade: / swat mosquitoes" and "is this the trail? / a line of pawprints / from a bobcat." Mann's colorful mixed-media artwork captures the majesty of the Cascade Mountain range ("boulders as big / as buildings") as well as the flora and fauna to be found there ("hawk floats on a thermal / looking for prey"). She makes use of varied panel sizes, enabling her to capture the essence of each haiku. Her double-page spreads depict wide vistas, while smaller close-ups portray intimate family moments. With generous back matter (geologic history, hiking necessities, haiku information, flora and fauna details, bibliography), this makes a great read-aloud or prelude to a family adventure.--Kay Weisman
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Weisman, Kay. "Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 9-10, 1 Jan. 2024, p. 74. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A780973553/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fa28d30f. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
Mann, Jennifer K. THE RIDING LESSON Candlewick (Children's None) $18.99 6, 17 ISBN: 9781536235265
An aspiring equestrian learns what horsemanship is really like.
Frances is visiting her friend Mae, who has a stable, for her first riding lesson. She fantasizes about clearing obstacles while atop a noble steed like her favorite toy horse, Excalibur--only to meet an adorably round, filthy horse named Snowball. As Mae gives her a grounding in horse care, Frances discovers that the realities of horsemanship aren't quite as glamorous as she had anticipated: She notices Mae's mother mucking out the stables, and horse care entails scraping the dirt out of Snowball's hooves. When it's finally time to mount Snowball, she's a bit nervous. But Mae eases her into things by joining her for a tandem ride. Frances is finally ready for a solo ride, and she ends her visit eager for her next lesson and still daydreaming about riding--though now fantasizing about a considerably rounder mount. While this title isn't a sequel to Mann'sThe Camping Trip (2020), the books share the same reader-friendly text and deceptively simple artwork. Divided into graphic novel-esque panels, whimsically childlike, loose-lined illustrations, rendered in an appropriately muddy palette, offer accurate depictions of equipment. Mann captures the flavor of stable life as she infuses the narrative with well-chosen details, such as the clouds of dirt and horse hair knocked loose as the girls brush Snowball. Frances is light-skinned; Mae and her mother are brown-skinned.
Readers will eagerly saddle up for this enchanting ride.(Picture book. 5-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Mann, Jennifer K.: THE RIDING LESSON." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A835106413/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f285e07c. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
The Riding Lesson. By Jennifer K. Mann. Illus. by the author. June 2025. 56p. Candlewick, $18.99 (9781536235265). PreS-Gr. 2.
Horse-infatuated Frances is offered a "very first riding lesson" when invited to her friend Mae's house, but she quickly learns that the equestrian experience isn't quite what she had envisioned. The barn smells, the clothing and gear prove daunting, and Snowball isn't the stately beast Frances had imagined. When the encounter turns intimidating, Frances willingly faces her fears and proves endearingly open to the challenges of the new experiences. Similarly formatted and paced to the author-illustrator's overnight-adventure story, The Camping Trip (2020), the gently humorous and emotionally tactful plot packs in helpful horse-care information that's visually supported by cartoonish mixed-media illustrations: for example, "'Was your mom picking up poop with that big fork?' 'Yup! It's called a pitchfork. That's how you clean the horses' stalls.'" Not everyone who loves horses has the opportunity/pleasure/responsibility/terror of actually riding one. This instructive guide harnesses the same spirit as Amy Novesky's If You Want to Ride a Horse (2024), and it will better equip eager hippophiles anticipating their own riding lessons.--Kit Ballenger
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Ballenger, Kit. "The Riding Lesson." Booklist, vol. 121, no. 19-20, June 2025, p. 93. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A847198152/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=31aad403. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.