THE BUZZ: JUNE 2026

TEACHER’S PET PROJECT

When Jen Bobay, a Lake Forest teacher and founder of Jar Bar Makeup, became an empty nester, she traded lip gloss for a literary challenge. Her debut children’s book, Dishwashers, Sneezes, and Flies—inspired by her chocolate Lab, Charlie—aims to help kids tackle worries with courage. Illustrated by Lake Forest High School alum Paige Halminiak and designed with colleague Nicole Graham, this sweet story makes the perfect summer read for the whole family. Now available at The Lake Forest Book Store. lakeforestbookstore.com

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PROOF IS IN THE PAGES

Huge congrats to Lake Bluff’s own Bernie’s Book Bank! A landmark five-year study just confirmed what they’ve known all along—book ownership works. Students in Bernie’s Book Bank schools showed significant reading gains compared to their peers in control schools, with kids who received about seven free books a year gaining up to 65 percent of a school year in literacy growth—for less than $16 per child. With 31 million books distributed and an exciting expansion ahead, the momentum is real. Want to be part of something that genuinely changes lives? Donate or volunteer today at berniesbookbank.org.