"I spend a lot of time trying to hope that I'll remember little things and how a certain simple thing felt. … Writing is one way of trying to capture that feeling, even if I'm fictionalizing it still.” - Nina LaCour If Nina LaCour were a drink, she would be a cozy cup of tea. You’re not rushing to finish a conversation with Nina. Rather, you are spending time exploring the details. And that is exactly what we did in this episode. The world moves fast. Usually faster than we’d like it to. But writing can gift us the ability to slow a moment down, to digest and analyze at a more intentional pace. For Nina LaCour, writing starts with observing the world around you, getting ready to break it down into words and unravel the meaning on a page. As a new writer, Nina found it best to share those observations through young adult literature after falling in love with it in college. She has since written a picture book, “Mama, Mommy and Me in the Middle,” and returned to an adult novel she shelved early in her career (“Yerba Buena”). More recently, she released "The Apartment House on Poppy Hill," the sweetest chapter book. Nina’s work is notably thoughtful and gentle. Her complex topics have resonated deeply with young readers and adults alike (including our own recent guest, Mark Oshiro). She’s best known for her novels such as “Hold Still,” "Everything Leads to You," and "We Are Okay," which received the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. In this episode, she shares her journey to falling in love with young adult literature and how Virginia Woolf helped her find the love of her life. She also explores writing's capacity to uncover the depth within every moment and discusses the importance of queer family representation in literature. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In her reading challenge, At the Intersection, Nina has curated a list of books at the intersection of queerness and family. You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com/nina-lacour This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Faith Rice Mills, librarian at Nelda Sullivan Middle School in Pasadena, Texas. She tells us a heartwarming story to remind librarians of the importance of their work, even when that impact isn't obvious. Contents Chapter 1 - The Outsider… Chapter 2 - …Becomes the Observer Chapter 3 - Mrs. Dalloway Chapter 4 - On Being Gentle Chapter 5 - Bang Bang Chapter 6 - At the Intersection Chapter 7 - Beanstack Featured Librarian Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Nina LaCour Nina LaCour (@nina_lacour) • Instagram photos and videos The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"There's something very lovely about feeling like, well, it's not my name, and it's not me, it's just the books.” - LeUyen Pham To listen to LeUyen Pham is to feel inspired. She is full of hope and ideas and sees potential everywhere and in everyone. In LeUyen’s ideal world, diverse representation is a natural outgrowth of art that truly reflects our world. Her career as an artist and writer has been her contribution to making that a reality. Her career as an artist and writer has been her contribution to making that a reality. If you have ever read a book that LeUyen illustrated, you already know this to be true. The diversity we see in LeUyen’s pages is at once realistic and aspirational. Her illustration credits include over 130 books, such as “Bear Came Along,” recognized with a Caldecott Honor, the popular “The Princess in Black” series, “Lunar New Year Love Story,” and my kids’ favorite when they were younger, “Grace for President.” She has also illustrated and written a few of her own, including the award-winning “Outside, Inside” and “Big Sister Little Sister.” In this episode, LeUyen tells us why she prefers to be an “art chameleon” (and how that led to challenges early in her career). She talks about how support from her teachers showed her that a career as an artist was even a possibility and how an accusation of cheating (well, not really) put her on the right path. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In her reading challenge, Chasing Home, LeUyen gets personal and invites us to explore the concept of what home means, especially from her perspective as a refugee. You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com/leuyen-pham This episode’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Marva Coney, a librarian at Jackson Intermediate in the Pasadena Independent School District. She shares a story about just how important books can be as kids start to grow and experience newer and harder parts of life for the first time. Contents Chapter 1 - Temple City and Bill Peet (2:06) Chapter 2 - From Wynne to LeUyen (8:16) Chapter 3 - The Witch of Blackbird Pond (10:01) Chapter 4 - Art Chameleon (18:51) Chapter 5 - Incidental Diversity (24:55) Chapter 6 - The Artist Shows Herself (31:05) Chapter 7 - Chasing Home (36:52) Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (38:18) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup LEUYEN PHAM (@uyenloseordraw) • Instagram photos and videos LeUyen Pham (she/her) - The Author Village The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"Love is risky. Love always ends. Should you do it anyway?” - Nicola Yoon Love is a feeling that never exists solely on its own, and those likely companions to love (anxiety, grief) often bring questions such as, is this worth it? It’s this question and others like it that Nicola Yoon explores in each of her novels. Nicola is a hopeless romantic. The affliction began in childhood after the discovery of her aunt’s harlequin romance collection. From then on, Nicola’s love of love would only grow stronger. But while her passion for romance was a love at first sight, her passion for writing was more of a slow burn. Today, Nicola Yoon boasts an impressive resume as a two-time New York Times bestselling author, a finalist for the National Book Award, a recipient of the Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and a winner of the Coretta Scott King New Talent Award. Notably, her first two novels have been successfully adapted for the big screen. In this episode, she’ll tell us why she fell in love with the romance genre, and how she found her way to writing as a career after 15 years in finance. She also shares her own ridiculously cute, out-of-a-movie love story about how she ended up with her husband and fellow writer, David Yoon. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** Inspired by her own novel, "Instructions for Dancing,” in her reading challenge, Good Grief, Nicola invites us to explore the intersection of love and grief with a list of some of her favorite books. You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Nikki Hayter, a library manager with the Des Moines Public Library system. As summer inches closer, she tells us about a unique program her library started a couple of years ago with graphic novels. Contents Chapter 1 - Harlequin Romance (1:37) Chapter 2 - An Unrequited Love (6:36) Chapter 3 - The Great Gatsby (11:24) Chapter 4 - A Requited Love (16:26) Chapter 5 - The Airport Scene (19:02) Chapter 6 - Questions About Love (22:53) Chapter 7 - Not a Case of Love at First Sight (25:43) Chapter 8 - Expectations of Love (27:34) Chapter 9 - Don’t read this book! (applies to children) (31:21) Chapter 10 - Joy Revolution (33:40) Chapter 11 - Good Grief (36:45) Chapter 12 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (38:22) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Nicola Yoon EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING - Official Trailer 2 THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR - Official Trailer Joy Revolution, Imprint Led by Nicola Yoon and David Yoon, to Launch Inaugural List in Spring 2023 | Penguin Random House Joy Revolution Books (@joyrevbooks) • Instagram photos and videos The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"I'm putting every single ounce of who I am into every single book that I write, so y'all know to expect the blackest books you have ever read from yours truly.” - Derrick Barnes Derrick Barnes’ introduction to vulnerable storytelling was through the jazz and R&B records he found in his family’s collection. For young Derrick, reading the liner notes in albums was just as important as any other kind of reading. Eventually, artists like Prince, Rakim, and John Coltrane taught him about the power in simply and truly being yourself. Inspired, young Derrick began writing his own poetry and short stories, which served as the beginning of a long and fruitful writing career. A career that includes being the first black creative copywriter for Hallmark cards. In his work as an author, Derrick embodies the authenticity of his idols, being uncompromising in his goal to tell an array of black stories, for black kids. Although already an established writer, Derrick’s breakthrough picture book, "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut" brought him national attention and accolades such as the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, a Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Award. More recently he earned a National Book Award honor for the graphic novel “Victory Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice.” In this episode, Derrick tells the story of how music inspired him to write, how his idols taught him to never compromise his voice as a black man, and why he considers himself a freedom fighter. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In Derrick’s reading challenge, "Resistance and Resilience" he invited us to read powerful stories of resilience from America’s black history. You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Connie Sharp, a Librarian Training and Development Specialist at Metro Nashville Public Schools. She told us about how her district utilizes Beanstack with community partnerships to encourage students to read. Contents Chapter 1 - Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B (1:59) Chapter 2 - Literacy and Lyrics (6:31) Chapter 3 - A Hallmark Story (9:11) Chapter 4 - The Fresh Cut (12:52) Chapter 5 - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (19:22) Chapter 6 - Freedom Fighter (25:00) Chapter 7 - The Blackest Books (28:56) Chapter 8 - The Legacy of Derrick Barnes (31:29) Chapter 9 - Resistance and Resilience (35:31) Chapter 10 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (37:29) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Derrick Barnes Caleb McLaughlin Reads "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut" | Bookmarks | Netflix Jr Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist For Justice - National Book Foundation The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"I'm a bad liar. So I'm just like, I'm really good at telling the truth.” - Brandy Colbert Going down internet rabbit holes and discovering everything there is to know about random subjects is a relaxing way to spend an evening, according to Brandy Colbert. This passion for research is part of the secret sauce that helps her build such deep and believable characters in her fiction work. In her nonfiction writing, Brandy’s ability to bring humanity to the real “characters” in the story is what brings history to life. Brandy is a true acolyte of the writing craft. She spent her youth creating stories of her own and occasionally borrowing and reinterpreting tales from TV. After studying journalism in college she spent the early stages of her career contributing to niche magazines, where she honed her research prowess. Today, Brandy brings all those skills together to write gripping, detail-oriented, character-driven fiction and nonfiction stories. Brandy Colbert is known for works such as "Little & Lion," which won the Stonewall Book Award, "The Only Black Girls in Town," and "Pointe". Meanwhile, her nonfiction book about the Tulsa Race Massacre, "Black Birds in the Sky" won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. In this episode, she tells us where she developed and honed her research skills, how she brings characters to life, and why a character by any other name is just…. not the same character. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In Brandy’s reading challenge, "Powerful Nonfiction" she challenges us to read a list of nonfiction books that she says will, “open minds, challenge assumptions, and highlight the power of historical truth.” You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Cindy Philbeck, Teacher-Librarian at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She told us a heartwarming story about a student's discovery of Sabaa Tahir's All My Rage. Contents Chapter 1 - Reading in the Ozarks (1:47) Chapter 2 - Early heartbreaks (5:54) Chapter 3 - A Midwestern college experience (11:57) Chapter 4 - A Humanist View (14:00) Chapter 5 - Women’s muscles (17:43) Chapter 6 - Rejections (19:58) Chapter 7 - Write what you know research (23:55) Chapter 8 - A bad liar (27:37) Chapter 9 - Black Jewish Lesbians (exist) (30:19) Chapter 10 - Powerful Nonfiction (36:55) Chapter 11 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (37:44) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Brandy Colbert Brandy Colbert (@brandycolbert) • Instagram photos and videos TRANSCRIBED as PUBLIC SERVICE Toni Morrison at Portland State, May 30, 1975 Transcribed by Keisha E. McKenzie The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"Books can be the perfect prescriptions to let us know that we're going to be okay.” - John Schu John Schu’s entire life has been shaped by books. As a kid, he fell in love with Shel Silverstein; Emily Dickinson comforted him as he was battling an eating disorder, and “The One and Only Ivan,” well, that book changed his life. In fact, it nearly put him into debt (he tells that story in the episode!) The powerful impact books have had on his life inspired him to dedicate his life to sharing this power with everyone he can. His career as an educator led him to the library, the library led him across America, and now he has started a new career as a writer of stories himself. John made his debut with "This is a School," followed by "This is a Story" and "The Gift of Story." However, in his latest work, "Louder Than Hunger," he bravely delves into a new realm of vulnerability. This semi-autobiographical tale draws from the most challenging period in his life, navigating the depths of his battle with anorexia. In this episode, Mr. Schu, as in Mr.SchuReads, tells us about the transformative reads that shaped his life and explains how some of those stories helped him and some actually harmed him. We’ll hear how he became an author, and about the emotional toll it took to write “Louder Than Hunger.” *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In John’s reading challenge, Story Within a Story, he wants us to read the actual books found in the pages of his book, “This is a Story.” You can find his list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Amanda Maslanka, a 26-year veteran in education and an elementary school librarian in South Houston. She offered valuable advice for parents and caregivers to get kids excited about reading. Contents Chapter 1 - Mr.SchuReads’ Grandma (2:13) Chapter 2 - An Internal Struggle (5:37) Chapter 3 - Recovery and Emily Dickinson (9:29) Chapter 4 - Best Teacher Ever (11:00) Chapter 5 - Becoming a Writer (15:24) Chapter 6 - The One and Only Ivan (16:04) Chapter 7 - Power to Heal, Power to Harm (23:30) Chapter 8 - Ready to Share (28:27) Chapter 9 - Story Within a Story (34:17) Chapter 10 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (35:57) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup John Schu Mr. Schu Reads Louder Than Hunger by John Schu | Goodreads The One and Only Ivan The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

On Today's Show "It's practice. Vulnerability is practice. It is learning that you can do things and say things that seem scary, but ultimately know that you're safe.” - Mark Oshiro Mark Oshiro was taught to fear the world. To be someone they were not and to repress someone they were. But books were an escape. Books taught them that freedom was possible. Mark spent over a decade blogging about the stories they consumed, empathizing with characters, criticizing choices, and embracing every person's journey. But then they realized it was their turn to share, and in that sharing, they learned the transformative power of storytelling from the other side of the pages. They knew the healing power of vulnerability. Mark debuted on the YA scene with their 2018 novel “Anger is a Gift” and has since written titles such as “Each of Us a Desert" and the latest installment in the Percy Jackson universe, “The Sun and the Star.” But their recent semi-autobiographical novel, 'Into The Light,' represents their most ultimate and vulnerable storytelling to date. In this episode, Mark shares their life story and reflects on the refuge that books and libraries offered them as a youth from an abusive household. They also discuss how lowering their emotional defenses led them to discover the healing power of vulnerability. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In Mark’s reading challenge, "Stories of Vulnerability," they want us to explore other stories with the same rawness they bring to their work. You can find their list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Cindy Philbeck, a teacher librarian at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She told us about her library's lunchtime strategy that encourages students to visit and see the space as a refuge. Contents Chapter 1 - A Controlled Environment (2:34) Chapter 2 - Safety in Books (7:14) Chapter 3 - Losing Grip (11:13) Chapter 4 - We Are Okay (20:41) Chapter 5 - Mark Does Stuff (lots of stuff) (22:53) Chapter 6 - The Practice of Vulnerability (28:32) Chapter 7 - Closure? (33:40) Chapter 8 - Stories of Vulnerability (37:45) Chapter 9 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (38:58) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Mark Oshiro Mark Does Stuff Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro | Goodreads We Are Okay by Nina LaCour Cindy Phillbeck's Library (this week’s featured librarian) The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

With the 2023 year coming to a close (our first full year in production!), we wanted to celebrate. And what better way to do that than high school yearbook superlative style? Welcome to a special edition of The Reading Culture podcast – "The Reading Culture: Yearbook." In this episode, we're rolling out the red carpet to unveil "The Readies," an award show of sorts, to remember the standout moments and stories from the show this year. Yes, it's a clip show. We'll relive the "Most Hilarious Admission," "Most Moving Parenting Story," and "Most Emo Moment," and we'll hand out the "I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying" and name the author "Most Likely to Build a Functional Spaceship." Think you know who gets that one? And there's even more than those! Join us as we reflect back on some of the best moments of The Reading Culture. Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"It's not like I haven't experienced pain or tragedy or grief in my life, and it's not like I want to deny that. I don't think that that's the entirety of my song. When I want to look back on my life, I want to look at all the amazing things and experiences I had because that's what makes the time we have in this world so incredibly special, is that we have these connections, we have these experiences with people.” - Oge Mora Life is full of small pleasures, bits of magic in ordinary moments that so often go underappreciated. Oge Mora wants to draw attention to those small things and show us the true depth and meaning those moments have in our lives. In her work as a collage artist, she takes bits and pieces of scrap material and shows us their beauty when all put together. Much like her stories, we are shown that small things are what make the big things, like a Saturday spent with a loved one, or the enticing aroma of an old family recipe. Oge Mora burst onto the kid lit scene with her picture book “Thank You, Omu!”, a book that earned her a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award, and a host of other accolades. She was also a 2021 Forbes 303 Under 30 lister. In this episode, Oge tells us about the community support that built the foundation for her career, the art school epiphany that shifted her perspective from shame to pride, and why she wants her books to feel like a cup of hot cocoa. If you're looking for a moment of joy, you have found it here. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In Oge’s reading challenge, "Story Collage" she shares some of her favorite picture books with collage illustrations. You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Alli Buffington, Library Media Specialist at Holley Navarre Intermediate School in Santa Rosa County, Florida. She’ll tell us about the most successful reading challenge she’s run at her school. Contents Chapter 1 - Repeat Renewals (2:31) Chapter 2 - Sister Catherine and The Doodler (7:13) Chapter 3 - A Street Called Home (14:27) Chapter 4 - That Little Bit of Shift (18:40) Chapter 5 - An Homage to Connection With Others (25:28) Chapter 6 - More of Less, and More (32:12) Chapter 7 - Collage of Stories (32:57) Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (34:15) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Oge Mora Forbes 30 Under 30 - Oge Mora Oge Mora (@oge_mora) • Instagram photos and videos Columbus Public Library King Arts Complex “A Street Called Home” Mural – 2005 – Kristine Schramer Aminah Robinson Romare Bearden Alli Buffington's Library (this week’s featured librarian) The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"There's these universal truths [...] specific details, but universal feelings and universal experiences that people hopefully can relate to. And that's what I go for in all of my books. Common humanity.” - Hena Khan Hena Khan didn’t believe her perspective mattered. As a Pakistani-American Muslim, she grew up not seeing her or her family reflected in the media she was consuming. As any kid might do, she concluded that it was simply because her experience was not important, a realization that became clearer in hindsight. Recalling her childhood writing, she discovered she had unintentionally white-washed her own homemade family newspaper. Building confidence in her perspective was a gradual process, extending into adulthood. Initially lacking self-assurance, she began writing while toning down her cultural identity to conform to perceived publisher expectations. Over time, her confidence grew, and today, she is recognized for authentically portraying stories rooted in her culture and religion. Reflecting on her own reading experiences, Hena values shared human experiences that transcend cultural backgrounds. She aims to demonstrate that these relatable moments exist in stories featuring non-white characters and diverse cultures. Renowned for works such as "Amina's Voice," its sequel "Amina's Song," the "Zara's Rules" series, and "More to the Story," Hena Khan shares her journey of grappling with invisibility as a young reader and the evolution of her faith in herself and her unique perspective. She also recounts the unexpected connection to a book about Christian white sisters in the 1800s in her unconscious quest for stories reflecting her Muslim immigrant family. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In Hena’s reading challenge, "Read Desi" she encourages us to celebrate South Asian American writers. You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Allie Buffington, Library Media Specialist at Holley Navarre Intermediate School in Santa Rosa County, Florida. She tells us about the importance of making the library a space that kids want to come back to. Contents Chapter 1 - “Religious Holiday” (2:38) Chapter 2 - Gogol Search (6:16) Chapter 3 - Little Women (and the Khanicles) (9:43) Chapter 4 - Three Cheers From Andrea (18:17) Chapter 5 - Just Living (22:18) Chapter 6 - Common Humanity (30:20) Chapter 7 - Curious About Curious George (33:50) Chapter 8 - The Door is Open (35:31) Chapter 9 - Read Desi (37:28) Chapter 10 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (38:54) Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup (for bonus content) Hena Khan Little Women by Louisa May Alcott | Goodreads Hena Khan's More to the Story is a Love Letter to Little Women | School Library Journal Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin The Salam School for Girls Alli Buffington's Library (this week’s featured librarian) The Reading Culture on Instagram (to see reels of author conversations) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"Don't follow your dreams if that's the only thing you're doing. Ask yourself, what will make you most useful? What will make you most, in terms of a purpose, help you do meaningful work?” - Daniel Nayeri You want Daniel Nayeri at your dinner party. Always with a story or an insightful question, it turns out he is also the person you want on your podcast! The Iranian-American author of the Printz Award-winning “Everything Sad is Untrue,” and the more recent “The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams,” offered up fresh conversation and a good deal of humor. As a writer, Daniel Nayeri is deeply aware of the impact his writing has on readers. As he noted in our conversation, there is perhaps no more intimate power than becoming the dialogue in one’s head. And Daniel feels strongly about using that power to have a positive impact on those who read his words. Part of his purpose, or obligation, he believes, is to “remystify the world.” Just wait until we talk about why cherries grow in pairs! In this episode, Daniel explains what he means by remystifying the world, talks about the roadside storyteller that initiated his storytelling journey, and shares his views on purpose (why he takes his so seriously). From his life-changing experience with the Junior Great Books program in elementary school to his current film and book projects, Daniel delves deep into his role as storyteller. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In Daniel’s reading challenge, "Wise Shorts" he keeps our work and life load in mind offering a curated selection of short stories, reminding us that even the smallest things can have a major impact. You can find his list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. Today’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Nikki Hayter, Library Manager at Franklin Avenue Library in Des Moines, Iowa. Nikki tells us about a program that highlights the deep impact libraries have on communities. Contents Chapter 1 - The Ferris Wheel and The Storyteller (2:15) Chapter 2 - A Retired Conan the Barbarian (6:43) Chapter 3 - Alberic The Wise (11:30) Chapter 4 - Remystifying the world (7:18) Chapter 5 - You get a memoir! And you get a memoir! And… (25:25) Chapter 6 - How to be interesting (28:20) Chapter 7 - Wise Shorts (33:31) Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (34:32) Links The Reading Culture Daniel Nayeri Alberic the Wise by Norton Juster | Goodreads The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

We revisit our Halloween special episode with Lamar Giles. ****** On Today's Show "The fear is like the ramp on the roller coaster. It's that build-up of adrenaline intention that you're having in that moment when that roller coaster is cranking. It's not the same fear of you walking through a dark alley at night and you sense someone's behind you in real life. That's a different type of fear that I don't know that anybody really wants. This is controlled fear. This is me going into it saying, Okay, I know this part's gonna be scary, but this part's gonna be fun and I want all of it." - Lamar Giles Lamar Giles says horror is a pressure valve. It has the ability to release pent-up anxiety and fear in a controlled, safe, and fun environment. That's why he'll watch Hellraiser at 4 a.m. to comfort himself when he can't sleep. While the genre isn't for everyone, he knows there are other young readers that will resonate with it the same way he did when he first read Stephen King at 11 years old. Giles' career has been full of mystery and thriller stories, but with the 2022 release of The Getaway, he has finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of writing a true horror novel. He tells us more about how the genre has helped him in his life and why he thinks kids resonate with his writing. Contents Chapter 1 - Growing Up as Lamar Giles (3:16) Chapter 2 - The Dinosaur in the Cereal Box (5:48) Chapter 3 - The Draw to Horror (8:26) Chapter 4 - It (9:30) Chapter 5 - The Pressure Valve (13:54) Chapter 6 - Connecting with Young Readers (17:23) Chapter 7 - Writing Black Characters (16:19) Chapter 8 - Publishing Horror (20:19) Chapter 9 - The Getaway (22:07) Chapter 10 - A Vehicle for Social Commentary (23:59) Chapter 11 - Fear On Screen (25:10) Chapter 12 - Scary Good Stories (27:18) Chapter 13 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (27:53) This episode's Beanstack featured librarian is Christopher Parker, a media specialist at Blue Ridge Elementary in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Today he shares with us more about his most successful library program, 'Book Buddies'. Links Lamar Giles Don Cheadle & Sony Pictures TV Developing YA Book ‘The Getaway’ For TV – Deadline The Reading Culture Podcast Beanstack Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

On Today's Show "It (TV) was my junk food, but also it was my in with the kids to be able to talk about pop culture, to know all the little nuances and jokes about the cultural zeitgeist things.” - Dan Santat Media and stories around us around us are more than just entertainment. They provide a common space, a piece of the world around us that connects us to others. We learn from these stories, shape our own views and ideas, and listen to and share these ideas with others. Dan Santat, a son of Thai immigrants in rural SoCal, found solace and belonging in the storytelling of 80's TV shows and movies, connecting with others' experiences and perspectives. His fascination with storytelling coupled with his talent for drawing led him on a journey of self-discovery that would ultimately diverge from the career path his parents had urged him to pursue. In this episode, Dan shares openly about his fraught relationship with his dad. Dan’s honesty is humorous and nostalgic and real all at once. He talks about the freedoms and limitations of growing up in the 1980s and how they helped him discover a passion for storytelling as a means of communicating. Dan also tells us about his experience of embracing art, despite his parents' differing expectations, and how his journey has impacted the messages he imparts to students he meets today. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In his reading challenge, "Profound Panels" Dan wants listeners to embrace the hidden wisdom in the medium that first sparked his love of storytelling: comics. You can find his list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. This episode’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Connie Sharpe from Metro Nashville Public Schools. She told us about the importance of the connection between administrators and librarians. Contents Chapter 1 - Thai in SoCal (2:25) Chapter 2 - Crime Fighting (vehicle here) (6:55) Chapter 3 - The Trial and Death of Socrates (12:59) Chapter 4 - A Book About Dan (21:04) Chapter 5 - Passing on Heritage (and advice) (24:09) Chapter 6 - A Storyteller’s Legacy (31:03) Chapter 7 - Profound Panels (34:17) Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (35:40) Links The Reading Culture Dan Santat Dan Santat | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Longlist for National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Shane (movie) - Dan’s dad’s favorite movie before moving to America X-Men (comics that changed Dan’s life) Flowers in the Attic (how were we allowed to read this at such a young age?!) The Trial and Death of Socrates (a critical book for Dan) The Replacements (Dan’s show on Disney) Kung Fu: The Movie (starring David Carradine…hmmm) Dan’s acceptance speech at Caldecott-Newbery banquet A conversation about “Drawn Together” by Dan and Minh Lê American Born Chinese (a book that is very important for Dan) Dan Santat Dan Santat | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree Connie Sharp at MNPS (this week’s featured librarian) The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

On Today's Show "I think that has a lot to do with why I was so interested in writing for children. It's like, I was trying to heal. I was trying to heal my childhood experiences through writing, through these characters.” - Kacen Callender Just as books provide readers with a space to learn, see themselves, reflect, and cope with their inner thoughts, writing has served as a means for Kacen Callender to process and heal from their own trauma. Throughout their writing journey, Kacen has traversed the various stages and ages of their life, opening wounds and finding ways to heal them through fiction. This transformative process began with their debut novel “Hurricane Child” in 2018 which not only earned Kacen critical acclaim but also accolades such as the Stonewall Book Award and Lambda Literary Award. Since then, Kacen has authored other titles such as “Felix Ever After” and “King and the Dragonflies”, the latter of which won a National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Now, Kacen is entering the next phase in their writing journey, delving into the enduring adult repercussions of childhood trauma. Kacen’s vulnerable and emotional storytelling has had profound impacts on readers around the world, particularly Queer readers who often find their own journeys reflected in Kacen’s work. In this episode, Kacen shares more about their personal journey of processing trauma through writing. They also discuss how fanfiction played a pivotal role in inspiring their creative path and how the fictional storyline within a Canadian teen drama that helped them come to terms with their own identity. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In their reading challenge, "Trans YA Spec" Kacen wants readers to imagine freedom for the trans community through works of speculative fiction. You can find their list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. This episode’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Meredith Derrick, library coordinator for Klein Independent School District outside of Houston, Texas. She shares a funny story about a student’s attempt at a thoughtful teacher appreciation surprise. Contents Chapter 1 - Reckoning with Trauma Chapter 2 - Annie John Chapter 3 - Fiction in Our Own Hands Chapter 4 - Honest Representation Chapter 5 - The Journey Continues Chapter 6 - Dream State Chapter 7 - Diversity on the Shelves Chapter 8 - Trans YA Spec Chapter 9 - Beanstack Featured Librarian Links The Reading Culture Kacen Callender Fan Fiction Adam Torres (Degrassi) Annie John Stonewall Book Award | Kacen Callender Klein ISD The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

On Today's Show "I'm just being real. I'm telling my story. I think Nikki Giovanni calls it dancing naked on the floor. I am unafraid and I'm doing my dance… I don't feel like I can go wrong if I'm just being me.” - Kwame Alexander Exciting reluctant middle school kids about reading (or really, anything) can be a battle. Getting them to think reading is cool is another. Kwame Alexander excels at both. His ability to authentically relate to his readers is a skill around which he has built his career. Kwame is beloved by parents, educators, and students, for his ability to ignite a love of reading (especially middle school boys) through poetry and characters who reflect their real experiences. But his impact extends beyond just an introduction to books, he also opens the door for readers to explore their own emotional depths. As he tells us, “I think part of my job is just to show a different side of masculinity.” Kwame is best known "The Crossover," "The Undefeated," "The Door of No Return," and numerous other novels and poetry collections. He also recently authored his memoir "Why Fathers Cry at Night." He won the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Book Award among many other awards, and this year "The Crossover" was adapted into a Disney Plus original TV series. In this episode, he tells us about his own upbringing surrounded by Black storytelling and literature, reveals his secret to making middle-schoolers think he’s “cool”, and shares about a letter he received (which was “not fan mail”) that inspired a surprise visit to an unsuspecting kid. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In his reading challenge, "Blackout," Kwame wants listeners to utilize their favourite books to look inward and make some art of their own. You can find his list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. This episode’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kirsten, the programming specialist for the Indianapolis Public Library. She shares some moving stories about a book club she runs for teens at a residential treatment facility. *** Contents Chapter 1 - Glasses first (2:10) Chapter 2 - Mom’s stories, dad’s garage (3:53) Chapter 3 - Love After Love (9:11) Chapter 4 - The “Reluctant” Readers (14:01) Chapter 5 - Kwame Shows Up (17:50) Chapter 6 - America’s Next Great Authors (24:18) Chapter 7 - Blackout (27:34) Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (28:09) Links The Reading Culture Kwame Alexander Folly Island NYT article by Teddy Wayne about the potential benefits of clutter Beef, No Chicken Love After Love by Derek Walcott Kwame’s Newbery Banquet Speech Why Fathers Cry: The Podcast | Kwame Alexander #KwameShowsUp Nikki Giovanni Collected Poems, 1948-1984 - Derek Walcott The Crossover | Official Trailer | Disney+ America's Next Great Author The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

On Today's Show "I think it comes down to caring about the characters. When you care about the characters, you care about the world that they live in.” - Neal Shusterman When Neal Shusterman was in college, he was told to stop building worlds and start building characters. He listened. And from then on, his worlds became more magical and deep than ever before, because, as he says, when you care about characters, you care about the world they live in. Neal’s career has revolved around incredible and fantastical lands of his own creation. In these worlds, he builds rules and structures that he sticks to rigidly, even if that means following a story arc he had no intention of writing to begin with (he tells us that story in the episode). Getting immersed in settings unlike – but not far from – our own provides crucial lessons about perspective. This outside perspective allows us to shed our preconceptions and witness characters and events in a way we would be unable to otherwise. It’s an incredibly impactful storytelling style for young readers just learning these skills, and Neal is a master at it. Neal Shusterman is best known for his "Unwind Dystology" series, his Printz-winning "Scythe" trilogy, and "Challenger Deep," which won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2015. In this episode, Neal shares how getting immersed in his favorite fictional worlds inspired him to create some of his own, he’ll talk about how and why he prioritizes characters to enhance immersion, and how seriously he takes sticking to the rules of his world. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In his reading challenge, "The Nature of Consciousness," Neal wants to send us into various fictional worlds to challenge our perception of a prevailing debate in our own world: A.I. You can find his list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. This episode’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Danielle Masterson, assistant director at the Wilmington Public Library in Massachusetts. Danielle shares some wisdom to settle the debate of what “qualifies” as reading. Contents Chapter 1 - The Trouble with Star Trek Blueprints (2:11) Chapter 2 - The Jaws of (Neal’s) Life (9:02) Chapter 3 - Desktop Quotes (10:32) Chapter 4 - Stories From the Cabin (15:14) Chapter 5 - No Characters, No World (18:02) Chapter 6 - A Sense of Hope (24:10) Chapter 7 - The Power of a Teacher (27:12) Chapter 8 - The Nature of Consciousness (30:30) Chapter 9 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (31:23) Links The Reading Culture Neal Shusterman Neal’s National Book Award Speech for “Challenger Deep” Jaws movie trailer The Talmud Neal’s Upcoming Graphic Novel, “Courage to Dream” The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and extra content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Challenger Deep - National Book Foundation Wilmington Memorial Library The world of Scythe - An interview with Neal Shusterman Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

On Today's Show "That's still my trick too, never tell them how they're feeling. Never begin to even show how they're feeling. They'll get it anyway. You're describing negative space and the negative space you can't even get at.” - Jon Klassen Where there is empty space, our brains will fill in the blanks, and often, the way in which we personally fill those blank spaces is far more potent than anything that can be written in words or shown in an image. That’s why despite being gifted in both illustrating and writing, Jon Klassen always intentionally restrains himself from specificity. Jon is a Caldecott Medal winner author and illustrator known for his distinctive minimalistic art style and quirky but profound writing. His work includes his Hat Trilogy, starting with "I Want My Hat Back", along with newer works such as "The Rock from the Sky," “The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale” and many collaborations with his longtime friend and author Mac Barnett. In this episode, Jon tells us the story of how he learned to embrace the unspoken through a “gunshot moment” in his youth. He’ll talk about how he intentionally incorporates negative space into his work and why that is so impactful for young readers in particular, and we’ll hear about the SNL classics that inspired his coy sense of comedy. *** Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. *** In his reading challenge, "A Tale to Remember," Jon invites readers to follow a process that for him emerged unintentionally in the creation of his latest book, "The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale." You can find his list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com. This episode’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Ellen Clark, the Children's Outreach Librarian for Kokomo Howard County Public Library in Indiana. Ellen shares an experience she recently had that highlights the emotional impact librarians have not just on a community writ large, but on each individual reader. Contents Chapter 1 - Seventies University Guy Reads (2:25) Chapter 2 - Sketch Book Art Kids (not Jon) (7:51) Chapter 3 - Waiting For Godot (13:10) Chapter 4 - The Existential Gun Shot (19:40) Chapter 5 - No Sad Bears (21:47) Chapter 6 - Part 2 (28:34) Chapter 7 - A Girl and Her Skull (30:37) Chapter 8 - A Tale to Remember (34:51) Chapter 9 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (36:12) Show Links The Reading Culture Jon Klassen The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and extra content) Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Elm Trees of Manitoba P.D. Eastman Mac Barnett Jon’s Ghost Story The Hat Trilogy Waiting for Godot For Whom the Bell Tolls Jack Handy - Fuzzy Memories George and Martha by James Marshall Book Review: ‘The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale,’ by Jon Klassen - The New York Times The Far Side Comics Bill Watterson Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy The Children’s Book Podcast KHCPL.org Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

Grace Lin (The Year of the Dog, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon) shares her thoughts on the value art provides to those who experience it and those who create it, and how it contributes to getting us in touch with our own humanity. **** On Today's Show "Maybe if they haven't been in that situation, they know someone who has, or they have friends who have really struggled with losing loved ones. That all helps build empathy." - Karina Yan Glaser Karina Yan Glaser is always emotionally honest in her stories. Pulling largely from her own experiences, she lets her feelings seep onto the pages in a way that makes it impossible not to feel as a reader. But despite writing for children, she doesn't hide any of those hard emotions such as anger, sadness, and grief. She believes in the power of stories to help kids practice empathy and be prepared for the tough situations we all face in life. Her takes on community, diversity, and hardship are what make her series The Vanderbeekers such a success. In this episode of The Reading Culture, she joins to share how her own reading journey has shaped who she is as a writer and how she approaches building empathy into her stories. Karina has also developed a reading challenge in partnership with Beanstack for listeners and Beanstack partners. Her theme is books where New York City is a character. You can learn more about the challenge here. Contents Chapter 1 - Getting to know Karina (3:53) Chapter 2 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (8:22) Chapter 3 - Becoming a Writer (16:36) Chapter 4 - Empathy in Stories (20:16) Chapter 5 - The Culture of Reading in Schools (28:59) Chapter 6 - A Question From a Reader (33:35) Chapter 7 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (36:41) This episode's Beanstack featured librarian is Megan Wilson, a librarian at Aggieland High School in College Station, Texas, which is part of the International Leadership of Texas charter schools network. Today, Megan shares with us a book she loves to recommend to her students. Show Links Karina Yan Glaser Only in New York reading challenge Only in New York reading challenge on Bookshop.org (all proceeds go to fighting book bans) Karina’s Episode The Vanderbeekers final installement A Tree Grows in Brooklyn All of a Kind Family The Moffats The Saturdays Claudia Kishi (The Babysitters Club) Linda Sue Park Grace Lin Jacqueline Woodson Homes for the Homeless Columbus School for Girls Aggieland High School Lovely War by Julie Berry Beanstack

We revisit our episode with Renée Watson. **** On Today's Show "There's just something about literally raising your voice and letting these words come out of you. That's powerful." - Renée Watson Maya Angelou was mute for six years. After a traumatizing childhood experience, the famous poet and activist retreated inward and lost her voice. In Renée Watson's kid-friendly but unflinching retelling of her story in "Maya's Song", Watson shows how poetry was the means to Maya finding her voice and going on to use it in unforgettable ways. That's the power of poetry. And that power is something that Renée is passionate about giving to kids. From incorporating poetic elements in her stories to writing entire stories in verse, Renée utilizes poetry in her writing frequently. In this episode, she joins to tell us more about how she came to believe in the power of poetry, how she makes it accessible to children, why she thinks it's so important for youth, and more. Contents Chapter 1 - Intro to Reneé (2:43) Chapter 2 - 1619 project (5:24) Chapter 3 - Knoxville, Tennessee (10:36) Chapter 4 - Telling Maya's Story (14:11) Chapter 5 - Teaching Youth Poetry (19:37) Chapter 6 - Music as a Gateway to Poetry (22:42) Chapter 7 - Writing About Portland (27:26) Chapter 8 - Sharing Joy With Ryan Hart (29:39) Chapter 9 - Library visits (32:02) Chapter 10 - Voice Through Voice (33:02) Chapter 11 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (33:54) Links https://www.reneewatson.net/ https://www.beanstack.com https://thereadingculturepod.com/renee-watson

Exciting news! We are hosting a big summer reading giveaway in which you can choose any three titles by any three authors who have been on our podcast. Three books each for three winners. The magic number really is three, y’all! We will select our three winners on August 11, so make sure that you have done a few things to get maximum entries! Follow The Reading Culture pod on Instagram Comment on our post about this giveaway Subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter