Katie Venit

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Chris Ferguson

A close-up of Katie Venit.

Katie Venit

In her debut picture book, Forts, Eau Claire-based author Katie Venit assures readers young and old that it’s okay to need time alone. A “fort” can be a “hideout behind a waterfall,” a “kingdom under the kitchen table” or other “tiny worlds within this world, safe as coat pockets.” Venit’s boo­k — richly illustrated by Kenard Pak — follows a creative young girl who finds forts just about anywhere. In the end, she lets in someone special to share the magic. This might be the kind of perfect family outing you’re looking for on a fall Saturday morning.