FIRST OFF, A SPECIAL THANK-YOU to my awesome editor, Alyson Heller, and the entire team at Aladdin for believing in me and helping me take this book from imagination to bookstore shelf—and, most important, into the hands of readers. I couldn’t do it without your support!
And to agent extraordinaire Mandy Hubbard at Emerald City Literary. This was our first book together, but definitely not our last! Your enthusiasm and passion make this sometimes tough job not only bearable, but actually fun!
To Jill and Greg Murphy, my very first babysitting charges way back in the day. You were definitely better behaved than any of the kids in this book! And you’ve grown up to be amazing adults, too. Love to you and your family.
To my husband, Jacob, who is always understanding when I’m on deadline. (And hates when people compare dad parenting to “babysitting.”) And to Avalon, my darling girl—you were a major inspiration for this book. I’m only sorry your glow stick “adventure” didn’t make the final cut!
To all the awesome librarians out there—both here in Texas and all over the country. You continually blow me away with your passion and enthusiasm and love for your kids. They are so lucky to have you, and I know their lives will be better for it. Keep that love of reading alive!
And to all you real-life princesses, pirates, babysitters, future authors, YouTube stars, and all the rest—keep following your dreams, wherever they may take you. And don’t be afraid to fail sometimes. It only makes success that much sweeter in the end.