As the cult of celebrity takes firmer hold on our culture, it's refreshing to find someone who is able to give young readers a powerful message while offering them some spectacular entertainment. Because he is an author of extraordinary talents and a man of great compassion who cherishes all children, we thought it fitting that we focus this month on T.A. Barron.

T.A. Barron was with us recently in Middleburg, and he left us with some wonderful treasures—signed copies of his books. In 'The Hero's Trail' he shows us that we need our heroes, today more than ever. Not just celebrities, but real heroes—people whose character enables them to triumph over great obstacles, and to make a genuine difference to our world. That is the core of this powerful, ground-breaking book. Combining moving profiles of heroic young people with insightful commentary, T.A. Barron eloquently shows that heroes can be lasting inspirations—trail guides on our journeys through life. Best of all, anyone can be a hero. Yes—anyone. Whatever your gender, race, age, or background, you can find heroic qualities inside yourself. You can make a difference. And you can inspire others along the way. That's a message we are proud to share with our readers. T.A. Barron also brings us 'Merlin's Dragon,' the first book in a new epic trilogy. Long ago, at the dawn of Merlin's world, a strange little creature appeared. Part lizard, part bat, his eyes glowed with mysterious light. Meet Basil—someone very small in size but very large in destiny. When Basil discovers a terrible new threat to his world and the great wizard Merlin, he begins an epic journey that takes him from the Great Tree of Avalon to the outermost edge of the spirit realm. But his boldest journey by far will be to face his own deepest fears. Only if he survives will he be able to save Merlin—and find a future as great as his heart. You could also join the great wizard Merlin—the great mage of Camelot and mentor to King Arthur—as he reveals at last the secrets of his lost youth. The 5-book epic, 'The Lost Years of Merlin' begins when a young boy washes ashore, nearly drowned, on page one of Book One and finally concludes when that same young man, now a wizard, makes the most agonizing choice of his life in the final pages of Book Five. By the end, Merlin has come a long way from that boy who washed ashore: He has grown into the greatest wizard of all times. Other young readers may also want to start with the author's three novels about a heroic young woman named Kate Gordon. The New York Times Book Review said about 'The Ancient One': "Mortality, in all its splendor and sadness, is T.A. Barron's subject." Perhaps so, but Kate's three adventures concern other subjects, as well, and she travels far and wide in these books: back in time to a lost Native American tribe, to a distant galaxy to save the life of her astronomer grandfather and down to the very bottom of the sea. There are books for young children, as well. 'The Day The Stones Walked' is about one of the most remote and mysterious places on the planet—Easter Island. 'High as a Hawk is based on an extraordinary page out of American history. It's the story of how a brave eight-year-old girl and a famous mountain guide climbed Longs Peak in Colorado in 1905. These are just some memorable books in this author's wonderful body of work. Wrap up a few in a ribbon for Christmas, and you have the perfect gift. You can also rest assured that you are giving the young readers in your life books that have a compelling, positive message. They'll put aside those video games once they're hooked on T.A. Barron's terrific stories. The silence that ensues in your home will be delightful—it's the sound of young minds at work. T.A. Barron has also established the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. He created the prize in honor of his mother, who he says was his first hero. The prize honors outstanding young leaders who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Their leadership and courage make them true heroes and inspirations to us all. Each year, the Barron Prize selects ten winners nationwide. Half of the winners have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings; half have focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment. These young people reflect the great diversity of America. They are female and male, urban and rural, and from many backgrounds. Examples are Michaella, who organized a rodeo for disabled kids; Carter, who led the effort to conserve a local river; Ashley, who created a scholarship fund for African girls; Kyle, who organized a reading mentorship program; Joying, who cleaned up South Carolina's beaches; Ryan, who helped provide clean drinking water to more than 70 African villages; and Barbara, who created a successful oil recycling project in Texas. The goal of the Barron Prize is to celebrate such heroic young people and inspire others to do their part. We're proud to be associated with a writer of such power and integrity.