The Book Whisperer Starts a Newsletter

Not that long ago, I spent my summers traveling to literacy and library conferences. I visited many friends and learned from a lot of people who I might not see in person otherwise. Without Scholastic Reading Summits, Nerd Camps, and other professional gatherings, I am searching for more opportunities to learn alongside colleagues and explore new books, resources, and instructional ideas. I miss these moments to connect with so many of you. 

When I have the opportunity to talk with folks at conferences and such, people express gratitude for the rare chance to spend the day in communion with others who appreciate the academic, social, and personal value of reading for pleasure. At a recent workshop, a librarian told me, “It feels good to spend the day with other bookish people—just learning about books and talking about all of the ways we can share these books with students. I don’t have to explain myself.”

Unfortunately, many teachers and librarians spend a great deal of time these days explaining why young people benefit from reading books at all. Book banning and other forms of censorship, the widespread adoption of scripted reading programs, legislation that narrows and defines how readers must be taught, and a host of other local, state, and national factors have pushed many teachers, librarians, authors, and other reading advocates to invest more time defending books and justifying reading than we spend promoting them. 

The negative and divisive conversations about books and reading taking place in many communities don’t accurately reflect the reality of many people’s joyful reading lives. Recent surveys show that most Americans resist book banning and trust librarians and teachers. Reading remains a popular pastime when readers have the access and resources they need, including a supportive reading community. Ten minutes on #BookTok reveals a vibrant reading culture of young people sharing book recommendations with their peers. Drop into a local Silent Book Club meeting and see readers of all ages and dispositions gathering to read the books they want. Readers everywhere seek communities where they do not have to explain themselves.

In spite of so much negativity around books and reading these days, I engage in more positive conversations than contentious ones. I learn about successful literacy programs serving their communities. I talk with teachers and librarians who are organizing literacy events and festivals. I hear from people who are tutoring readers, stocking Little Free Libraries, hosting book drives, or reading aloud to children. I talk with kids and families about their literacy activities at home. I know that there are a lot of positive stories about books and reading in our communities, but these are not the stories I see on the news or social media. In this newsletter, I will share good news whenever I can.

A few months ago, award-winning author and author-curator at Heartdrum Books, Cynthia Leitich Smith wrote, “We have to remember that it is as easy for us to speak in support of books and programs as it is for others to speak against them.” I am unapologetic about promoting books that represent the rich stories of our global humanity. I will recommend books and other media for all ages of readers here in this newsletter.

I am open-minded about how this newsletter will evolve and I appreciate any suggestions you might have. I will share book and resource recommendations, promote positive messages about books and reading, and explore ideas for increasing reading motivation.

While many of my suggestions will be useful for teachers and librarians, I will direct a lot of my thinking toward exploring reading habits and reading communities in general. Your reading life is important. I have studied readers’ habits for almost 20 years and there are many behaviors and attitudes that appear with engaged (and disengaged) readers of all ages.

If you follow me on social media, you know there will be a lot of dog, gardening, and brunch mentions, too! Here’s a photo of Goldie, the seven-month-old Chihuahua mix we adopted this winter. I wrote most of this while Goldie sat on my lap and tried to chew on my ponytail.

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Please let me know how this newsletter can be useful to your reading life. 

When you subscribe to my newsletter, you will receive bonus content every month, including book giveaways and extra posts. 

If you become a paid subscriber, you will also have the opportunity to attend four online webinars with me each year—one per quarter. If you want to meet other bookish educators and reading advocates and learn together, these quarterly gatherings will be fun opportunities to connect. Recordings will be provided for 30 days if you cannot attend live. There will be surprise monthly bonus content for paid subscribers, too!

Look for some book recommendations in my next newsletter.

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