The 2022 Texas Great Read is “Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards” by Meghan P. Browne, illustrated by Carlynn Whitt

Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Austin, TX

Austin, TX – The Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission has chosen Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards by Meghan P. Browne, illustrated by Carlynn Whitt, as the Texas Great Read for 2022.

Every year, the Library of Congress asks each state Center for the Book to select a title that represents the state’s literary landscape to highlight at the National Book Festival. The event showcases the importance of books and reading. The 22nd Library of Congress National Book Festival will take place on September 3 in Washington, D.C., with varied offerings online. Check out the Library of Congress website (https://www.loc.gov/events/2022-national-book-festival/) for details. 

The Texas Center for the Book invites Texans to read Indelible Ann and to take part in a statewide book club by using the hashtag #TXGreatRead on social media. For more information on the 2022 Texas Great Read program, visit www.tsl.texas.gov/greatreadtexas

About the Book
This picture book is a folksy, larger-than-life biography about Ann Richards, the late governor of Texas who has inspired countless women in politics today.

Dorothy Ann Willis hailed from a small Texas town, but early on, she found her voice and the guts to use it. Ann discovered a spark and passion for civic duty during her childhood in San Diego and her high school years back in Texas. It led her to Washington, D.C., where she, along with other girls from around the country, learned about the business of politics. Fast forward to Ann taking on the political boys' club: becoming county commissioner, state treasurer and finally Governor of Texas. In this stunning picture book biography, full of vim, vigor and charm, two Texan creators take us through the life of the legendary "big mouth, big hair" governor, originally inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt; she, in turn, became an inspiration to countless others.

About the Author
Meghan P. Browne grew up in Austin during the time Gov. Richards was at the helm of Texas government. Meghan is also the author of Dorothy the Brave, the picture book biography of WWII Aviator Dorothy Lucas, and the forthcoming The Bees of Notre Dame. She currently lives in far south Austin with her family and their goats, chickens, honeybees, barn kitty and blue heeler. For more information about Meghan, please visit www.meghanpbrowne.com.

About the Illustrator
Award-winning illustrator Carlynn Whitt grew up in East Texas and counts Ann Richards as the first Texas governor she remembers. A graduate of UT Austin, Harvard Divinity School and RISD, Carlynn is the illustrator of several children’s picture books, including There’s a Baby in There! and Ballpark. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards was published by Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House in 2021.

Established in 1987, the Texas Center for the Book seeks to stimulate public interest in books, reading, literacy and libraries. The Center builds partnerships with library professionals, educators, authors, publishers and booksellers who provide support to our shared mission of promoting a love of literature throughout the Lone Star State. The Texas Center for the Book is under the direction of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission at the Lorenzo De Zavala State Archives and Library Building in Austin, Texas.

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The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information they need to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit tsl.texas.gov.
 

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Rebekah Manley
Texas Center for the Book Coordinator
512-463-5514
tcfb@tsl.texas.gov
Page last modified: August 17, 2022