Book Nook - Croc

George “Boe” Boedecker Jr., the founder and creative force behind Crocs Inc., will release his debut book, Croc: How I Invented the World’s Most Popular Shoe, Became a Massive Success, and Nearly Destroyed Myself – in 15 Easy Lessons, with HarperCollins Leadership on September 15, 2026.

 

Croc details the true, larger-than-life story of George “Boe” Boedecker, his fire to succeed, his “don’t just break the rules but make up new ones” attitude, his business partners, his light-bulb moment, the ridiculous origin story (of both shoe and man), and then the explosion (in more ways than one) of Crocs.

 

This is a modern-day Big Fish tale of lovers and haters, rivals and thieves, hard partying, the almost strongest man in the world and the Mexican police, the fender bender with Fleetwood Mac and the enterprising way into the hearts of the San Francisco 49ers, the little boy lost turned Superman, the millions made and just as quickly given away, and how it all nearly destroyed him.

 

Everyone considered Crocs a fad when they went public two decades ago – and they’re bigger now than ever, on millions and millions of feet, in every corner of the world. More hated, more loved, never out of fashion; ugly as it gets—but sometimes ugly really is beautiful.

 

We’re not talking about the shoe anymore.

 

“I’ve been a writer all my life and I’ve been writing thousands of pages along the way since I was a child,” said Boe. “I wanted to give people a chance to get to know how I’ve gotten to this point in my life, and I’m as surprised as anyone I’m here. One piece of advice: save your credit card receipts.”

 

Strap in because it’s going to be a crazy ride, and you may not quite believe what you learn in the end. Funny, twisted, touching, exuberant. Sample lessons include:

• Do Not Listen to Anyone
• When to Not Follow the Rules
• Remember the Forgotten
• You Never Know When Opportunity Will Present Itself
• If You Threaten to Kill Your Brother-in-Law, Do Not Provide Time and Place
• Ugly is Beautiful 

Croc will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. You can pre-order today at: https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/9781400255429/croc/. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

George “Boe” Boedecker Jr. has lived at a speed that most of us don’t attempt even for a day, much less a lifetime. He is an entrepreneur and humanitarian as well as the founder and creative force behind Crocs, Inc., where he served as CEO for 2.5 years. During his tenure, Crocs grew from an eight-person startup into an industry giant. Once deemed the fastest-growing footwear company on the planet, George’s success at Crocs culminated in the largest IPO in the history of the shoe industry. The original Crocs model is still their best-selling product and has generated billions of dollars in sales and millions of units sold.

George takes particular pride in his philanthropic accomplishments, including the 2006 creation of the Anthony H. Kruse Foundation through an endowment left to him by his good friend and business partner. In 2009, George consolidated all of his charitable endeavors into one entity, The Boedecker Foundation, which helps fund nonprofit organizations that inspire positive change around the world. George’s personal wealth, derived from the formation of Crocs, Inc., and coupled with the estate left to him for philanthropic purposes, has allowed him to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

As if that’s the whole story…

 

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS LEADERSHIP:

HarperCollins Leadership publishes content from leaders who redefine or expand what a reader previously thought possible. Authors provide unique inspiration and experiences to those who seek to learn, make a difference, and find their own version of success. Learn more at https://www.harpercollinsleadership.com/.

Book Nook - Frog Face

Frog Face is a great read for all kids - introverts, extroverts, and all in-between - as it demonstrates true relationship building through acceptance of the things that make us different. It is also a perfect gift for a "resting frog-faced" friend, since it features a grumpy-looking - but still happy - character.

In Frog Face, Frog's negative encounters with neighbors highlight the importance of understanding and accepting differences, not making assumptions, and how (not) to build genuine connection with others. This super sweet picture book as a gentle reminder not to judge someone before you truly know them. And even though Frog might enjoy being alone, she could use at least one good friend who loves her exactly as she is.

Blythe Russo is the author-illustrator of Sloth Sleeps Over and has illustrated numerous children's titles, including A Flood of Kindness, the Drag and Rex series, and the Posie the Pika series. When she's not making books, you can find her sewing, building puppets, or in the kitchen on a never-ending quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Blythe is based just outside Cincinnati, OH.

Book Nook - Theodore the Hedgehog Finds a Friend

In the upcoming picture book, Theodore the Hedgehog Finds a Friend, young readers will discover the true spirit of friendship and acceptance from Theodore the hedgehog and Sofia the Tortoise.

Theodore wants nothing more than to be friends with the other animals in the forest, but they are scared of him because of his prickly spines. He is so lonely that he’s willing to do anything to make the other animals like him – even turn himself inside out…literally!

Soon he meets Sofia, and with her help, he discovers that a true friend appreciates you for who you are—and that we all have a unique place in the world. Theodore the Hedgehog Finds a Friend is the perfect conversation starter with youngsters about both self-acceptance and acceptance of others. 

I had a chance to learn more in this interview with author Nastya Ryabtseva.

What was the inspiration behind this book?

I came up with a song about a hedgehog. Somewhere in the process of creating my song, a story appeared about a hedgehog turning itself inside out because of something hurting inside it.

I think another influence may have been the fact that, at the time, I had a job in workshops employing people with special mental needs. While working there, I witnessed this feeling of being different, of being somehow unlike everyone else. I noticed it often.

Why are books with animal characters appealing to kids?

Animals are beautiful!

But there is something else I love about them. They remind us that everything in the world is alive, that everything has its own feelings and qualities. You can find a way to communicate with anyone, even when you have no idea (at first) how to do it.

I think this can help children develop a sense of trust in the world. When you are a child, trust is absolutely essential. You need trust to grow, to explore, and make sense of things.

Why is it important for kids to learn both how to accept others and how to accept themselves?

To be honest, I think adults need to keep learning how to accept others too.

When we accept someone, we are already on their side. We don’t have to spend our energy fighting against them anymore. That energy becomes available. We can use it for discovery, for support, and for expanding our view of the world and gaining new perspectives.

The same is true when it comes to ourselves. Accepting yourself often means that you no longer have to be at war with yourself. You are no longer at war, so now you are free to use that newfound energy to grow, to discover, and to truly become yourself.

Book Nook - The Night Riders: A Magical Rescue

Flying donkeys, talking animals, secret adventures, and a magical necklace that only works for children are at the heart of The Night Riders, a new fantasy adventure series by debut author A.J. Priest. In the first instalment, A Magical Rescue, young Ashleigh discovers a mysterious star-shaped necklace that unlocks a hidden world of wonder, where her loyal dog Nelson and four extraordinary donkeys join her on a daring Christmas adventure.

 

Together known as The Night Riders, the unlikely team sets out on a dangerous late-night mission after Ashleigh’s beloved teddy bear, Molly, is accidentally left behind at school just days before Christmas. But what begins as a simple rescue soon turns into something far more dangerous. Before the night is over, Ashleigh will learn that some adventures change everything.

 

Synopsis:

Five days before Christmas, young Ashleigh discovers a mysterious star-shaped necklace that changes everything. Suddenly, animals can talk, donkeys can fly, and the quiet countryside is filled with secrets only children can see.

 

When her beloved teddy bear, Molly, is accidentally left behind at school, Ashleigh sets out on a daring late-night adventure alongside her loyal dog Nelson and four extraordinary flying donkeys known as The Night Riders.

 

Filled with adventure, humour, heart, and festive magic, The Night Riders: A Magical Rescue is a story about courage, friendship, and the unforgettable adventures that begin after bedtime.

 

Book one is set five days before Christmas with books two and three continuing the story over the Christmas period.

 

“What started as simple bedtime stories slowly became something much bigger,” says Priest. “Night after night, the adventures grew alongside my children’s imaginations. Those stories became a source of comfort, laughter, escapism, and family connection during difficult times, and eventually I realised there might be other families who would want to step into that world too. I wanted to create the kind of story children look forward to returning to at bedtime, filled with adventure, mystery, humour, and characters that feel like loyal friends.”

 

Continuing, “I’ve spent much of my life working in environments where you see both the best and hardest parts of people, first in the Royal Air Force and now within the ambulance service. Writing these stories reminded me how important imagination, kindness, courage, and wonder are, especially for children growing up in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming. At its heart, The Night Riders is about friendship, bravery, and believing that magic can still exist in ordinary places. Ashleigh is not a perfect hero; she’s an ordinary young girl who finds herself facing extraordinary situations, and readers grow alongside her as the series becomes bigger, darker, and more mysterious with each adventure.”

 

Planned as a seven-book fantasy adventure series, The Night Riders is designed for family bedtime reading and independent readers aged 8+. Blending magical adventure, humour, mystery, and emotional warmth, the illustrated series features its first three stories set during the Christmas season, creating a festive world filled with hidden secrets, snowy adventures, and unforgettable journeys after dark.

Website: https://thenightridersbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorajpriest/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorajpriest/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorajpriest

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@authorajpriest

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorajpriest/

 

 

About the Author:

A.J. Priest is a former Royal Air Force serviceman who now works within the ambulance service. The Night Riders began as imaginative bedtime stories created for his children and has since evolved into a planned seven-book fantasy adventure series celebrating courage, friendship, family connection, and the wonder of childhood imagination. Through magical adventures and heartfelt storytelling, Priest hopes to create the kind of stories families return to night after night, because the journeys that stay with people long after childhood often begin after the lights go out and the world grows quiet.

 

 

 

Money Matters - Traffic Deaths Are Falling. The Insurance Risk After a Crash Is Rising.

Traffic deaths in the United States are moving in the right direction. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 36,640 people died in traffic crashes in 2025, down 6.7 percent from 2024. NHTSA says the fatality rate fell to 1.10 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, the second-lowest rate in its recorded history.

The latest complete injury data is less encouraging. An estimated 2.42 million people were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2024, down just 0.8 percent from the year before, a change NHTSA found was not statistically significant. Police-reported crashes also increased slightly, from 6.14 million to 6.18 million.

For crash survivors, those numbers raise a different question: How much insurance is actually available when someone gets hurt?

Missouri attorney Douglas R. Horn has focused his legal practice on personal injury cases involving motor vehicle collisions since 1991.

"When someone is seriously injured, the costs begin immediately," Horn says. "Emergency care and ongoing treatment can add up fast. Lost income can make it harder to cover everyday expenses, and vehicle damage can add another significant financial burden. If the at-fault driver has no insurance or only the minimum required by law, the injured person may be left without enough available insurance unless they have protection through their own policy."

One in three drivers is uninsured or underinsured

The Insurance Research Council found that 15.4 percent of U.S. drivers were uninsured in 2023. Another 18 percent were underinsured, meaning their liability limits were not enough to cover the injuries they caused. Together, that represents 33.4 percent of drivers nationwide.

The gap has grown considerably. In 2017, the combined uninsured and underinsured rate was 23 percent, more than 10 percentage points lower than in 2023.

Rates also vary widely by location. IRC found uninsured motorist rates ranging from 5.7 percent in Maine to 28.2 percent in Mississippi. Underinsured rates ranged from 4.6 percent in the District of Columbia to 49.7 percent in Colorado.

"Drivers may be one crash away from finding out the other driver does not have enough insurance," Horn says. "Many people assume the at-fault driver's policy will be enough to cover the loss, but that is not always the case. Drivers should know what protection they have against uninsured and underinsured motorists before a crash happens."

Injury claims are getting more expensive

The cost side of the equation is moving upward. CCC Intelligent Solutions reported that the average third-party bodily injury payment reached approximately $29,900 per injured person by the second quarter of 2025, up 32 percent from the same period in 2021.

State liability minimums vary. Missouri, where Horn practices, requires at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for one injured person and $50,000 per crash. The state also requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at those limits.

The comparison does not mean every claim will exceed a policy's limits. It does show how an injury can quickly put relatively low liability coverage to the test.

Uninsured motorist coverage generally protects a policyholder when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage can apply when the other driver's limits fall short of the losses from the crash. Requirements and policy terms vary by state.

Horn encourages drivers to look at their own limits before they ever need to use them.

"I always encourage people to ask questions before they need answers," Horn says.

Fewer traffic deaths are meaningful progress. But millions of people are still being hurt on American roads, injury claims are becoming more expensive, and a significant share of drivers have little or insufficient liability protection. For consumers, understanding what their own policy covers may be one of the few parts of that risk they can control.

About Douglas R. Horn

Douglas R. Horn is an attorney with The Horn Law Firm in Missouri. Since 1991, his practice has focused on plaintiff personal injury law, including cases involving motor vehicle collisions. He has also worked on highway safety and driver protection initiatives.

House & Home - Best & Worst Places to Retire and Retirement Survey

With inflated prices making retiring on a fixed income more difficult, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst Places to Retire in 2026, to help people find an ideal spot to enjoy their golden years without breaking the bank.

WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 45 key measures of affordability, quality of life, health care and recreational activities. 
 

Best Cities to Retire		Worst Cities to Retire
1. Orlando, FL		173. Fontana, CA
2. Miami, FL		174. Detroit, MI
3. Tampa, FL		175. Bridgeport, CT
4. Scottsdale, AZ		176. Tacoma, WA
5. Casper, WY		177. Bakersfield, CA
6. Atlanta, GA		178. Rancho Cucamonga, CA
7. Minneapolis, MN		179. Fresno, CA
8. Fort Lauderdale, FL		180. Newark, NJ
9. Charleston, SC		181. San Bernardino, CA
10. Pittsburgh, PA		182. Stockton, CA

 
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit: 
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-to-retire/6165

Retirement Savings Survey

• Pension preference. 7 in 10 people believe a pension is better than a 401(k).
   
• Americans worry about retirement. More than 1 in 3 Americans are not confident they will have enough money to retire.
   
• Benefit trade-off. More than half of Americans say they would prefer to pay a 12.4% Social Security tax to get double the benefits rather than a 6.2% tax and current benefits.
   
• Retirement doubt. 43% of people believe it is not realistic for the average American to expect to retire comfortably.
   
• Many people may never retire. 40% of people say they expect to work until they die.
   
• Debt takes precedence. More than 2 in 5 Americans think paying off debt is more important than making retirement contributions.

 
For the full survey, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/blog/retirement-savings-survey/133047/ 

“It’s important to choose wisely when picking where to retire, as many retirees are on a fixed income. As a result, the best cities for retired people are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as have good opportunities for retirees to continue paid work for extra income, if they choose to do so. In addition, the top cities provide high-quality health care and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees.”
–
“Orlando, FL, is the best place to retire, in part because it is one of the most tax-friendly cities and is located in a state without estate, inheritance or income taxes. In addition, while Orlando doesn’t have a particularly low cost of living, it is relatively inexpensive when it comes to homemaker services and adult day health care. On top of that, Orlando ranks as the second-best city for recreation, and it provides good access to quality health care.”

- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst 
 

More From WalletHub 

• Best & Worst States to Retire
• Best & Worst States for Military Retirees
• States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections
• Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities

Fun Freetime - Marsupilami 2: Salsa Palombia

Developer: Ocellus Studio

Publisher:  Microids

Genre: Action / Adventure 2D platformer

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, Switch

Help the Marsupilamis save Palombia from the Mummy Queen and her minions in this fast-paced 2D platformer! A strange melody has swept across Palombia… and all the animals have suddenly started dancing, leaving chaos in their wake!

Smart Safety - Baby Safety Month Interview

I recently had a chance to interview  Kiumars Haziq, MOBI Technologies, for September Baby Safety Month. MOBI Technologies is an award-winning consumer healthcare and smart family technology company focused on developing innovative solutions that help families live healthier, safer, and more connected lives.

What are some new advances in baby safety technology?

One of the biggest advances is the move from individual products to connected baby-care ecosystems. Cameras, thermometers, health monitors, nursery sensors, and other devices can increasingly work together and give parents a more complete picture of their baby's environment and well-being.

The next advancement is using long-term health and wellness data rather than looking at a single reading. Seeing changes and trends over time can help parents make more informed decisions and recognize when something may need attention.

At MOBI, this is a major part of our direction - connecting baby care, health monitoring, and nursery technology so parents can stay informed while still remaining in control of the decisions they make.

 

How is AI affecting baby products and their development?

AI has the potential to make the information collected by connected products more understandable and actionable for parents. Instead of simply displaying measurements or generating more alerts, AI can help identify patterns, explain changes, provide education, and help parents understand what information may be important.

We see the real value of AI as supporting parents rather than replacing their judgment or their healthcare professionals. Over time, responsible AI combined with longitudinal health data could help families distinguish between something they can continue monitoring at home and something that warrants professional attention-potentially reducing unnecessary anxiety and avoidable ER or urgent-care visits.

That combination of connected devices, longer-term data, and intelligent analysis is an area MOBI is actively developing toward.

 

How does smart tech help parents keep babies safe?

For me, the biggest benefit is visibility and peace of mind. Parents can't physically watch their baby every second, but connected technology can help them remain in touch with what's happening—from another room or even when they're away from home.

It can provide access to the baby's environment, temperature and other health information, historical trends, and meaningful notifications when something changes.

At MOBI, our goal is to bring more of those capabilities into a connected ecosystem rather than asking parents to manage many completely separate products and apps. The technology should make parenting simpler and more informed - not more complicated - while keeping parents at the center of their baby's lives.

Baby Safety Month in September is an annual awareness campaign founded in 1983 by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Baby Safety Alliance to educate parents and caregivers on infant safety, safe product use, and injury prevention. MOBI recently launched the Baby Health & Safety Kit, an all-in-one smart baby safety solution designed to help keep babies healthy, happy, and safe and relieve unnecessary stress for parents. The MOBI Baby Health & Safety Kit lets you give your little ones the best start with a thoughtfully curated bundle featuring smart essentials for baby monitoring, comfort, and everyday wellness. 

Kiumars Haziq is the VP of Sales & Operations of MOBI Technologies, an award-winning consumer healthcare and smart family technology company focused on developing innovative solutions that help families live healthier, safer, and more connected lives.

With extensive experience in product development, retail strategy, and consumer healthcare, Kiumars has led MOBI’s expansion across North America’s largest retailers, including Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, HEB, Kroger, Meijer, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, and other leading national retailers. His work spans both branded and private label programs, helping bring innovative healthcare technologies to millions of consumers.

Under his leadership, MOBI has evolved beyond traditional home healthcare devices into a connected wellness ecosystem that integrates smart diagnostics, AI-driven health insights, caregiver connectivity, and future-ready digital health solutions.

Kiumars is passionate about making healthcare more accessible to families through technology. His vision is to create a Smart Home Clinic, an ecosystem where parents can monitor, understand, and proactively manage their family's health from the comfort of home.

MOBI is a proud member of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and continues to invest in next-generation technologies that bridge consumer electronics and healthcare, helping shape the future of connected family wellness.

Enriching Education - National Financial Educators Council National Evaluation

The National Financial Educators Council has just released the first comprehensive national evaluation assessing state financial education requirements against the same baseline standards commonly expected in core academic areas.

The results are striking:

• Not a single state met parity with minimum core academic standards
• The national average alignment score was just 3.92%
• The best-performing state reached only 16.7%
• Only 2 out of 600 evaluated criteria across all 50 states met minimum expectations

The study examined 12 core criteria - including instructional time, educator qualifications, curriculum rigor, assessment, and accountability - and found that most mandates fall well short of minimum expectations.

These gaps can leave students underprepared for the money decisions they will face immediately after high school, including budgeting, debt management, credit, taxes, investing, and long-term planning.

Full state-by-state rankings and the complete report are available here. It also explains the scoring criteria and shows how each state performed against the standards.

Going Green - Eco-Friendly Lawn Care

In 1977, 9 gardeners in Milwaukee took a natural-landscaping workshop and started what's now a nationwide grassroots movement: Wild Ones now has local chapters in 204 of the nearly 500 U.S. cities.

That's the throughline in our new ranking of Where Eco-Friendly Lawn Care is Taking Root in 2026 — not top-down policy, but a slow build of community interest, native-plant access, and water-conscious landscaping choices. 

Across nearly 500 of the largest U.S. cities, we looked at access to native plant suppliers, local policies like incentives for upgrading to electric lawn care equipment, and community interest via organizations like Wild Ones, among 18 total metrics. Austin, Texas comes out on top, with the best access to local native plant suppliers.

A few numbers that might be useful for a story:

• 194 of nearly 500 of the largest U.S. cities (~39%) now offer rebates or incentives for electric lawn care equipment.

• 81 cities (16%) have an urban heat island mitigation program on the books.

• 204 cities (41%) have a local Wild Ones chapter.
   

Making your landscape more sustainable doesn’t have to cost a fortune. “It can be simpler and less costly to do it gradually,” says Dan Delventhal, founder of Mow Green in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “Often, removing invasive non native plants leads to native plants showing up. Or, choosing 1 or 2 native replacements here and there creates progress.”

Full ranking, city-by-city breakdowns, and an expert Q&A can be found here: https://lawnlove.com/blog/sustainable-lawn-care/ 



More from Lawn Love:

• The Native Plant Shortage Is Real — Here’s How to Find What You Need
• 12 Reasons You Should Grow Native Plants
• 17 Best Xeriscaping Plants for Your Landscape
• How to Install a Rain Barrel
• Top 9 Eco-Friendly Grass Alternatives for Sustainable Lawns
• How to Make the Switch to Organic Lawn Care This Spring