One of the most exciting things about getting more involved in the kidlit community is the number of people I know who I count as friends and mentors whose books are sitting on bookstore shelves. Going into a bookstore is a completely different experience now, because the books are truly like friends.
For example, amazing mentors in the Nevada SCBWI mentor program:
Jim Averbeck (his new MG thriller A HITCH AT THE FAIRMONT):