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Red is still read
N Magazine. Naples, Florida
April, 2002
Naples is home to countless people who have made important contributions to business, the arts and our culture in general. One such person is Dorothy Jane Mills, the author of several books ranging from historical fiction to vegetarian cooking. Among her list of works are a number of beloved children's books. In particluar, Mills' book Ann Likes Red has been a children's favorite for decades. The book was originally published in 1965 and was designed to help very young children learn to read. It describes how a strong-willed little girl only wants to wear clothes that are "Red! Red! Red!"
Like so many great children's books, Ann Likes Red developed a life ot its own through the fond memories of the children - now adults - who read it. But the author didn't realize the power of her simple work. Recently, Mills was able to connect to some of these new readers and original readers alike at a book signing at Mr. Toad's Toy Company. "Not until 2000," Mills says, "did I learn that Ann Likes Red deeply affected a generation of young readers." A testament to its popularity is that Mills found the book selling on a used book website for as much as $60 a copy. Today, reprinted and republished, Ann Likes Red is reaching a new audience - the children of the children who first read the book.
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