Well, well, well. Where do I begin? With the storming of the Capitol? The stunning fact that a bare-chested man wearing horns on his head and some sort of weird warrior outfit was arrested and his mom talked to the press about how he couldn’t eat because the jail would not serve him vegan meals? Perhaps he should have considered that before breaking and entering the Senate Chamber.

Or perhaps I should spend some time on Rudy Giuliani, once known as America’s Mayor after helping the country mend following the 9/11 attacks. He held two bizarre press conferences. One in front of the Four Seasons Landscaping Business, which we were to believe was always the plan and not the Four Seasons Hotel; another where the poor guy started sweating and his hair color dripped down his cheeks, ensuring he could never be taken seriously again and causing many of us to wonder what exactly he was using to cover those gray hairs.

And then I thought, I should start out a bit slower and stick with a topic I’ve always wanted to explore: the origin of Velveeta. Why does this cheese not have to be refrigerated, and why does it leave a film on the top of your mouth after you eat it? Why am I thinking about this now? Velveeta is the king of cheese for the Super Bowl.

But fortunately for you, my friend Rachel informed me that her new children’s book is about to hit the shelves. And to be honest, in the midst of an insurrection, the crazy world of politics, my weird obsession with cheese and a pandemic that won’t end, maybe I should tell you about something that will warm your heart instead of cause you to scratch your head.

Rachel Nolen and Maria Price are two friends who have written a book about a cow named Truman. Years ago, Maria was on a trip with her kids, and her daughter asked what a bale of hay was. Her son replied it was a cow cocoon. Hmm. What an interesting way to think of a bale of hay! An idea was born, and these two friends used their experiences to create a book about the comfort they received from their very own cocoons.

In The Cow Cocoon, Truman learns all about nature and the safe places animals go when they are frightened. Where will Truman go? With the help of his friends and Mooma, Truman finds his very own special, safe place. The book is beautifully illustrated, and its message is one that also will resonate with parents: It’s much easier to handle situations when we aren’t alone. To get your hands on a copy, each of which comes with a plush Truman, visit cowcocoon.com. Everyone needs an extra cocoon these days.

So, I’m sorry I didn’t get to the other topics, but there’s always next time. Remember to shop local; our St. Louis businesses depend on it!