The Oxford County Educators Association-Retired (OCEA-R) is excited to announce this year’s choice of a book. The book is to be distributed this fall to all the libraries in the county that have a children’s collection. The selection is It Only Takes One Friend by Robin Taylor-Chiarello.  She is a three time winner of the OCEA-R’s selection committee. Previously chosen was her book “Limbo, From African Slave to Honored Grave”, a children's story about the true life of a slave who lived in Fryeburg, Maine. All Robin’s books take place in Maine, adding a fun local twist for the kids.

The story It Only Takes One Friend is about a young bison called “Little Chief” moving up to a bigger ranch from his home farm, he is very nervous about leaving everything familiar to him. Luckily, a very nice chicken named “Abigail Frizzle” is there to help him through the new changes. By the end of the story, Little Chief already feels at home thanks to his friend Abigail and he is ready to help a newest member joining the farm as Abigail once helped him. Abigail states, “He will not know anyone here who can play… so,please remember what its like to be new, and do for him as I did for you.” It Only Takes One Friend can be a helpful book to any child transitioning through scary new changes in their life. It is no question why It Only Takes One Friend wins OCEA-R’s Book of 2018!

Robin graduated from Finch College and Harvard Graduate School of Design. She pursued a career as a primary school art and art history teacher.  As an author, she has won a number of awards for her children’s books. She was a winner of the “Mom’s Choice Awards” for her books. Mom’s Choice Awards honor excellence in family-friendly media, products and services Additional accolades include the Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and New York Book Festivals. In addition, she won the book festival in Paris, France in 2014.  Among her many endeavors, she designed health care environments for hospitals and served as president of United Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey. 

Other titles of children’s books by Robin Taylor-Chiarello include The Blue Lobster’s, The Blue Lobster’s Holiday and Broken Wing.  After reading her books, it is easy to see why they are so popular, they help young people deal with various struggles so many young people face. We congratulate our fellow Mainer, Robin Taylor-Chiarello on her accomplishment!  You can find It Only Takes One Friend and Robin’s other children’s books at Harvest Gold Gallery on Main Street in Lovell Maine.  Stop in and support Robin and our local economy.