The Reading Culture

“This is what awe always does: it’s the zoom out. All of a sudden, you can see how tiny and insignificant you are, and you plug into that bigger thing” - Kate DiCamilloWhen was the last time you were so captivated by the beauty of the world around you that it stopped you in your tracks? Kate DiCamillo intentionally has those moments daily. In a world that can feel dark and hopeless, she maintains a sense of awe. It’s the force that helps her move through both joy and loss. It’s what allows her to keep noticing the miraculous in the ordinary.One of the most beloved voices in children’s literature, Kate is a two-time Newbery medal winner and author of more than 25 books—from Because of Winn-Dixie to The Tale of Despereaux to The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.In this episode, Tender Heart: Kate DiCamillo on Awe and Grief, Kate returns to the show for the first of “The Second Chapter” conversations with previous guests. This time, Kate reflects on awe, grief, and the beauty that connects them. She shares the moments that have gobsmacked her across decades—from childhood discoveries of “protective coloration” to the painting she has revisited at every stage of her life. Kate also opens up about coping with tragedy and how the best way through those moments in life is “the doing of it.” Settle in for an honest, hard, and still uplifting conversation with one of the most cherished voices of a generation.  ***https://www.thereadingculturepod.com/kate-dicamillo-second-chapterThis week's Beanstack Featured librarian is Chelsea Pisani, a rockstar children's librarian at Maple Valley Branch Library in Akron, Ohio. She returns to share her secret sauce for igniting a love of reading in all kids. Show ChaptersChapter 1: The Art of Noticing Chapter 2: The Hem of the GarmentChapter 3: Charlotte’s Web Chapter 4: Ramona the Great Chapter 5: Then and Now Chapter 6: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Kate DiCamilloRepast in a Garden PaintingCharlotte’s WebThe Accidental Tourist Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"I don’t want to be whatever version of masculinity y’all keep telling me I have to be. Why are all the benchmarks violent and aggressive? I don’t wanna do it. I’m not interested” — Jason ReynoldsWe all inherit scripts about who we’re supposed to be. For boys, they often center on toughness, aggression, and hiding their emotions. Jason Reynolds has spent his life questioning those scripts, carving out space for tenderness and love, honoring friendships that offered freedom, and exploring what masculinity might mean beyond the narrow definitions passed down to us. Jason Reynolds is a national treasure. A Newbery Medal winner, a National Book Award finalist, a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and a two-time National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, he is the beloved author of “Ghost,” “Long Way Down,” “Look Both Ways,” “Twenty-four Seconds From Now,” and so many more. Jason brings expansiveness to his books, illuminating the gentleness, humor, and vulnerability too often left out of stories of boyhood. In this episode, Jason shares his thoughts on masculinity: the good, the bad, and the beautiful. He explains why everyone needs to have a 'tuning fork' friend, reveals how Saturn flipped his life around at age 30, and pays an incredible tribute to the tattooed biker badass who was his loving father.Settle in for a vulnerable, revelatory conversation with an icon of American literature. ***For his reading challenge, Challenging Conventions, Jason has curated a collection of books that push back against the narrow definitions of boyhood and girlhood many of us have come to live by. Peruse selected titles and Jason’s full reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/jason-reynolds.***This week's Beanstack Featured Librarians are not actually librarians, but they are integral members of the literary community who are pioneers when it comes to student voice and writing. They happen to be friends of Jason Reynolds. Kathy Crutcher and Sasa Aakil – from Shout Mouse Press – share about their upcoming book, “Bright Before Us Like a Flame,” which Jason Reynolds called “a gift,” and for which a previous guest of the podcast, Elizabeth Acevedo, wrote the foreword.Show ChaptersChapter 1: AaronChapter 2: It’s OK to Say I Love YouChapter 3: It’s ComplicatedChapter 4: Growing PainsChapter 5: GirlChapter 6: Cultivating What MattersChapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianShow LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Jason ReynoldsJason Reynolds on InstagramGirl by Jamaica KincaidThe Cosby ShowGood TimesBright Before Us, Like a FlameShout Mouse PressBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“When you're a kid, you have so little control over things. To be the big entity controlling the smaller entity, whether it's dolls or [toy] soldiers or whatever it is, they do what you tell them to do. They become the story you are making.” — Brian SelznickWe all want to feel in control, mold our lives and experiences, and shape the world into something we can hold. But control is slippery; one moment, it can steady us, the next, it slips away. Brian Selznick—#1 New York Times bestselling author, illustrator, and Caldecott Medal winner—has spent his career playing with this tension. From "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" to "Wonderstruck" and, most recently, "Run Away With Me," Brian believes that it's his job as the author to control the reader's experience, forcing page turns and placing illustrations in a particular order, all while acknowledging that control is ceded to the reader once a book is in their hands.In this episode, Under My Thumb: Brian Selznick on Control, Brian reflects on his lifelong pull toward control in life and art—what drives it, how it shapes his work, and when the need to let go becomes inevitable. He shares his fascination with all things miniature and opens up with unflinching honesty about his complicated relationship with his father, spanning life and loss. He also reveals a formative influence you might not expect, and a most extraordinary afternoon with Ray Bradbury.Settle in for a fascinating, moving episode with one of the great creators of our time.***For his reading challenge, Brian has curated two lists: one exploring queerness in literature over time and the other celebrating the power of the page turn. The latter is about his commitment to books, experimenting with form, and the balance of control between writer and reader.Peruse selected titles and Brian's complete reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/brian-selznickThis week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Chelsea Pisani, a rockstar children's librarian at Maple Valley Branch Library in Akron, Ohio. She shares the story of how one student, also with a keen ability to take control, is spreading his passion for reading among his peers by setting up his own book club. Show ChaptersChapter 1: Who Holds the Reins?Chapter 2: Size MattersChapter 3: It's All Under ControlChapter 4: Merwin and LouiseChapter 5: The Martian ChroniclesChapter 6: A Most Extraordinary AfternoonChapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (check here for a video that will show off Brian's incredible miniature collection)Brian SelznickBrian Selznick InstagramWhere the Wild Things AreGuernicaThe BorrowersRay BradburyThe Martian ChroniclesDandelion Wine The Houdini Box (read aloud - check out the page turns)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyAkron Summit Public LibraryCase Study about Akron Summit Public Library and featured librarian Chelsea PisaniHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Ryan Sutton, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Ryan Sutton, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

”Why are some people treated differently? Why are some people chosen ones for no particular reason? And why do some people get to have that extra shine?” — Victoria AveyardUnfairness is a pervasive theme in a lot of fantasy fiction. With battles between good and evil dominating title after title, these tales appear to have a tight grasp on fairness and justice. But for Victoria Aveyard, the world of fantasy frequently falls short on these promises. Even in some of her favorite works, the light may ultimately overcome the darkness, but not every character is given a fair chance to shine. Victoria Aveyard is the number one New York Times bestselling author of The Red Queen series and the Realm Breaker series. In her work, she creates epic fantasy landscapes where women loom large and conventions around chosen characters are challenged.In this episode, Victoria opens up about why her sense of fairness took shape early, shares which undersized movie character is her icon, and reflects on why there’s no escaping politics in literature. Settle in for a fast-paced episode filled with humor and a variety of Victoria’s hot takes. ***For her reading challenge, Chosen/Unchosen, Victoria encourages readers to question the trope of “the chosen one.” She asks us to challenge why some are handed the quest, the crown, or the magic…and what happens to everyone else.Peruse selected titles and Victoria’s complete reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/victoria-aveyard***This week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Camille Perez, a former media specialist at the elementary and high school levels in Osceola County, Florida, and now a Beanstack team member. Today, Camille shares her hot takes on the modern school library and why shush culture should be a thing of the past.Show ChaptersChapter 1: Rotten With the Need for JusticeChapter 2: Hell Yeah, There’s My PersonalityChapter 3: The Invisible WomenChapter 4: Six of CrowsChapter 5: Everything is PoliticalChapter 6: Whipped Cream ShireChapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Victoria AveyardVictoria Aveyard InstagramRed QueenRealm BreakerNumber the StarsA New Hope opening sceneSamuel DelaneySix of Crows by Leigh BardugoBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Josia Lamberto-Egan, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“Whenever I think of people who have gone through something, I'm always like, but they were human before this. Before they were monsters, they were human. Before they were zombies, they were human.” — Tiffany D. JacksonSome of the most unsettling monsters don’t come from nightmares or ghost stories. They walk among us in daylight, smiling widely and blending in. They can be shaped by our environments, our circumstances, or people’s choices—and in stories, as in life, they challenge us to look closer and see the human before the horror.Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Allegedly, The Weight of Blood, Blood in the Water, and many more. She received of the Margaret E. Edwards Award, honoring her significant and lasting contribution to teen literature. She blends real-world horrors with the sharp tension of a thriller, always keeping our emotions and nerves on edge!In this episode, Tiffany shares how her own encounters with “unintentional monsters” have shaped her writing. She opens up about how growing up between Brooklyn and Westchester sharpened her view of the world and the people in it. Tiffany also talks about finding her voice in film school, why stories like Monday’s Not Coming are drawn from real-life cases, and how fiction is her way of building empathy where the headlines fall short. Buckle up for a gripping episode from Tiffany’s very first anecdote about a childhood horror.***Tiffany’s reading challenge celebrates African-American horrors and thrillers, genres she’s been questioned for writing.Peruse selected titles and Tiffany’s full reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/tiffany-d-jacksonThis week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is once again Kelly Shelton, an elementary librarian for Garland ISD in Garland, Texas. She shares how building a strong reading culture goes beyond the library—into the hallways, the bus line, and even your students' plays!Show ChaptersChapter 1: Unintentional MonstersChapter 2: Take Me Back to Brooklyn Chapter 3: What Happened to You?Chapter 4: A Safe HarborChapter 5: Their Eyes Were Watching GodChapter 6: Core MemoriesChapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Tiffany D. JacksonTiffany D. Jackson InstagramTheir Eyes Were Watching GodSister SouljahLockdown TV SeriesBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“There were kind of always like two simultaneous stories happening with my coming out. One was the realization and breaking through some of that denial and repression, seeing kind of what was right there in front of me, and I gave that story to Imogen.” – Becky AlbertalliWhat if there were two stories running through your life: the one you’re telling the world, and the one you haven’t even admitted to yourself? That’s the kind of truth Becky Albertalli explores in her writing, and that she’s lived in her own life. Becky is the bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Leah on the Offbeat, Imogen, Obviously, and many more. Her books capture the awkward, earnest, messy work of figuring out who you are–and remind us that coming out, growing up, and becoming yourself rarely happen all at once. In this episode, Becky opens up about growing up and fitting (or not fitting) in a conservative suburb, finding refuge in theater, and The Babysitters Club. She also reflects on how writing helped her work through parts of herself she hadn’t yet named, discusses why queer-coming-of-age stories still matter, and reminds us of the power of Rent. ***For her reading challenge, Queer Coming of Age Stories, Becky has curated a list packed with queer stories, identity shifts, big feelings, and characters trying to make sense of themselves, one awkward moment at a time.Peruse selected titles and Becky’s complete reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/becky-albertalli.This week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kelly Shelton, an elementary librarian for Garland ISD in Garland, Texas. She’s been an educator for 26 years, and in the library for nearly a decade. She shares how unlocking a love of reading can start with dinosaurs, Dog Man, or a well-timed Taylor Swift Break. Show ChaptersChapter 1: Georgia PeachChapter 2: I Hate School, But I’m Very Good At ItChapter 3: Proud Member of the Babysitter’s ClubChapter 4: The Year of Secret AssignmentsChapter 5: Hindsight 20/20Chapter 6: Best Friends ForeverChapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Becky AlbertalliBecky Albertalli InstagramLove, Simon filmThe Babysitters Club ScholasticThe Babysitters Club Netflix seriesRent musicalThe Year of Secret AssignmentsWesleyan UniversityBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

This week, we revisit our episode with Kwame Alexander while we take a quick summer break!Kwame Alexander recently interviewed the esteemed and now former Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, for the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia. They talked about the power of poetry, the role of libraries in creating access and imagination, how Dr. Hayden remains hopeful and positive in this moment, and of course, how books can help kids be better humans and dreamers. It was such an inspiring conversation that we wanted to re-air this much earlier episode with the bestselling, beloved author (and apparently incredible interviewer!) Kwame Alexander.  Summer Reading GiveawayEnter our summer reading giveaway for your chance to win a book by any author we've featured on the show, plus the special reading culture mug that Jordan sends to every guest.To enter, just like and comment on our summer reading giveaway post on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter at the reading culture pod.com/newsletter. Better yet, if you tag a friend, you can win together. ***"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 AlexanderExciting 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 for "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+ 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. ***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. ChaptersChapter 1: Glasses firstChapter 2: Mom’s stories, dad’s garageChapter 3: Love After LoveChapter 4: The “Reluctant” ReadersChapter 5: Kwame Shows UpChapter 6: America’s Next Great AuthorsChapter 7: BlackoutChapter 8: Beanstack Featured Librarian Chapter 9: Hidden TrackLinksThe Reading CultureKwame AlexanderFolly IslandNYT article by Teddy Wayne about the potential benefits of clutterBeef, No ChickenLove After Love by Derek WalcottKwame’s Newbery Banquet SpeechWhy Fathers Cry: The Podcast | Kwame Alexander#KwameShowsUpNikki GiovanniCollected Poems, 1948-1984 -  Derek WalcottThe Crossover | Official Trailer | Disney+America's Next Great AuthorThe Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"We all need to have radical hope. I have my really hopeless days too, but… it’s such a privilege to get to live and to survive. Our job is to live, and I think that’s a really amazing thing.” - Jasmine WargaWe all want to make the most of our time here. Not just survive, but dream big and live fully. For Jasmine Warga, that means carrying forward the strength of those before her while creating space for joy, curiosity, and self-discovery. It means letting go of perfection, holding on to radical hope, and writing stories that reflect kids’ realities. Jasmine Warga is a Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author of Other Words for Home, The Shape of Thunder, A Rover’s Story, and more. Her work explores identity, belonging, and how being different can be what unites us. In this episode, Our Job is to Live: Jasmine Warga on Belonging and Radical Hope, Jasmine shares what it was like growing up as a mixed kid and daughter of an immigrant in Ohio, her lightbulb moment while teaching sixth grade, and how Animorphs, surrealist art and a dash of Virginia Woolf shaped not only her voice as a writer, but also her commitment to living joyfully, and spreading joy to others.***For her reading challenge, Read Global, Jasmine invites adult readers to step outside the familiar and read more broadly, beyond their own borders.Peruse selected titles and Jasmine’s full reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/jasmine-wargaThis week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Cassie Owens Moore, a middle school librarian in South Carolina at Seneca Middle School. She shares how a group of fired-up sixth graders convinced her that Marvel and manga deserved their own sections of her library, and why building a great library means working for your students.Show ChaptersChapter 1: Where Are You From?Chapter 2: The Other Side of HomeChapter 3: So Many QuestionsChapter 4: The HoursChapter 5: I Am The Mars RoverChapter 6: No One’s Gonna Read This BookChapter 7: Radical HopeChapter 8: Reading ChallengeChapter 9: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Jasmine Warga Jasmine Warga InstagramMr. Schu (Jasmine’s neighbor)Palestinians in JordanAnimorphsThe HoursCamille ClaudelBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“Those moments of connection when you can have them with people who seem so different from you on the outside, I really do think that it braids a level of connectiveness and empathy, and it is much harder to harden your heart.” — Gayle FormanWhat does it mean to rise to the occasion, not once, but over and over again? Sometimes it means reckoning with grief. Other times it means stumbling forward, messing up, and trying again. And sometimes it means simply showing up, imperfect, but still trying to be better.Gayle Forman is the bestselling author of If I Stay, Frankie & Bug, Not Nothing, Afterlife and more. Whether it’s Mia in If I Stay, Alex in Not Nothing, or Amber in Afterlife, her characters often walk a jagged path toward healing, falling short, trying again, and inching closer to the people they hope to become.In this episode, Gayle talks about growing up as a self-described “odd duck,” the Ramona books that shaped her childhood and parenting, and the formative years she spent traveling solo. She opens up about why she is so drawn to flawed characters and how fiction became a way to survive grief and stay connected to the people she has lost.***For her reading challenge, Flawed, Gayle is going to bat for the prickly, messy, not-here-to-be-liked protagonists. She points out that kids are used to reading about heroes, but it can be just as powerful, maybe even more so, to read about characters who fall short and grow anyway. Peruse selected titles and Gayle’s full reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/gayle-forman.This week’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Lori Shallio, media specialist at Heritage Intermediate School in Middlebury, Indiana. She shares how a Hot Ones-style challenge involving her principal and spicy nuggets helped students smash their community reading goal.Show ChaptersChapter 1: What We CarryChapter 2: Odd DucksChapter 3: Top School, Bottom MarksChapter 4: Beezus and RamonaChapter 5: University of LifeChapter 6: What We ShareChapter 7: Mind the GapChapter 8: Embrace ItChapter 9: Rise to the OccasionChapter 10: Reading ChallengeChapter 11: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Gayle FormanGayle Forman InstagramBeezus and RamonaCountesthorpe AcademyIf I Stay (film)Sassy MagazineYom KippurBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“As my own mother is aging, she's telling me … before I take this to my grave, here is something you should know. So the secrets are coming out. And as more and more secrets are revealed, I'm learning more about myself.” - Ibi Zoboi Ibi Zoboi writes to remember—her own story, her family’s legacy, and the long history of migration, myth, and memory that shaped them both. For Ibi, storytelling is a form of resistance and reclamation. It’s how she makes sense of the secrets that shaped her life and gives voice to those left out of the narrative. A National Book Award finalist and the bestselling author of American Street, Pride, Star Child, and (S)Kin, Ibi’s work blurs the line between folklore and futurism. In this episode, Stories Left Untold: Ibi Zoboi on Secrets Lost and Found, she opens up about growing up Haitian in 1980s Brooklyn, discovering a half-sister decades later, and finding her way to writing through soap operas, Stephen King, and the voices of women who came before her. She also shares how a Vodou ceremony in Brooklyn changed her relationship to her culture, why she always sought out elders and activists, and how she’s still learning to push back against the pressure to fit a mold—on the page and off.Ibi’s reading challenge, Haitian Creations, celebrates stories of migration and identity from first-generation and immigrant voices—stories that, like hers, speak to the truths we inherit and the ones we uncover for ourselves.Download Ibi’s reading challenge at thereadingculturepod.com/ibi-zoboiAnd this week’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is once again William Shaller, the librarian at Hoffman Middle School in Houston, Texas. This time, he shares how a surprise resurgence of Twilight led to an unforgettable moment of joy and connection in his school library.Show ChaptersChapter 1: Under The TableChapter 2: Danny BoyChapter 3: Two Thousand Suns Chapter 4: Brooklyn VodouChapter 5: GhostedChapter 6: Reading ChallengeChapter 7: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Ibi ZoboiIbi Zoboi InstagramTwo Thousand SeasonsBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“I tell kids that books are not there to torment you. The author has to get you in the first ten pages. If they do not, they fail, because a book is like a lawnmower—you pull it, and either it starts or it doesn't start.” –Soman ChainaiSoman Chainani wants reading to feel irresistible. The bestselling author of "The School for Good and Evil," series and the recently released graphic novel, "Coven," shares how his own reading life began—powered by Anne Rice, Michael Crichton, and a complete lack of adult supervision—and how those early obsessions shaped his belief that stories should be bold, boundary-pushing, and personal.In this episode, Soman explains why middle grade books can (and should) feel dangerous, how his grandmother’s glamorous storytelling shaped his imagination, and what a book needs to do in its first ten pages to hook a reader. He also unpacks the “moral grayness” that defines his favorite novels and his own writing, and makes a compelling case for why kids need more honesty, not less, in the stories we give them.Tune in for a fast-paced episode that includes Madonna, hot takes, and tips for breaking (all) the rules. ***Soman’s reading challenge, Immersive, is all about getting lost in a story. The books he curated blur the line between fiction and reality, pulling the reader in so completely you forget the world around you. Learn more and download Soman’s recommended reading list at threadingculturepod.com/soman-chainani***This week’s featured librarian is Jasmine Haverly from Aldine Independent School District in Texas. Jasmine shares how competitions and “book tastings” are growing the reading culture in her library.Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Florida Man Chapter 2 - Well, That Escalated Quickly Chapter 3 - The Picture of Dorian GrayChapter 4 - The Rules Are Made UpChapter 5 - Main Character Energy Chapter 6 - Use Your ImaginationChapter 7 - Express YourselfChapter 8 - Reading ChallengeChapter 9 - Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupSoman ChainaiSoman Chainani SubstackSoman Chainani Instagram“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar WildeFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"I think all of us had the experience after reading the book of looking in maybe our grandparents' wardrobe, our parents' wardrobe, and like knocking on the back of the wardrobe and being like, maybe this is my time. Maybe they're gonna call me in here."— Mychal ThreetsFor this week’s episode, we are testing out a slightly different format, something we have named a “Mixtape” episode. Rather than making the reading challenge the last bit of an author’s show, we have made the reading challenge the show itself.  We could not be more excited to welcome the biggest spot of joy on the web, Mychal Threets, to the podcast. In this episode, we learn about Mychal’s playlist, the books that shaped him, and when he was a young library kid. As someone who grew up in the stacks and eventually made his calling his career, Mychal walks us through the books that sparked what he calls his "book joy."As it happens, Jordan will be doing a full interview with Mychal during a live recording at the upcoming American Association of School Librarians meeting (AASL) in St. Louis this October. But who wants to wait for the joy that Mychal brings? Nobody! Content Note: This episode includes discussion of mental health and suicide, which come up in Mychal’s reading passage. If you’d prefer to skip this portion, it runs from [19:50-23:35].Tune in for an episode that will brighten your day and give you insight into the early life and times of someone who has shined a light on the joy and importance of libraries (and librarians!).We have set up Mychal’s mixtape “playlist” as a reading challenge that can be downloaded for free or activated on your Beanstack site. Learn more and download Mychal’s reading challenge at thereadingculturepod.com/mychal-threetsShow ChaptersChapter 1 - Holes by Louis SacharChapter 2 - Henry Huggins by Beverly ClearyChapter 3 - Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine PatersonChapter 4 - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. LewisChapter 5 - Son of the Mob by Gordon KormanChapter 6 - The Giver by Lois LowryChapter 7 - Love Among the Walnuts by Jean FerrisChapter 8 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsChapter 9 - Letters to You by Jazz ThorntonLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Mychal Threets InstagramMychal Threets TikTok2025 AASL National ConferenceBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“And I think that’s what reading is… It’s a personal interpretation of the story, and it may not be the same as somebody else's. That’s the whole idea of a good teacher. There should be different interpretations, and sometimes a student will come up with something that I never thought of.” —Sharon M. Draper  Give a story to twenty kids, and you might get twenty different takeaways. Some will catch the details you didn’t even notice. Others will pull out meaning that wasn’t intentionally placed, but rings true all the same. Sharon M. Draper writes for everyone and fiercely advocates for students’ right to read for themselves.Sharon knows the capacity of a book to transport and transform kids; she was the kid who maxed out her library card every Saturday at the Cleveland Public Library. She then became the teacher who read aloud to even the most skeptical students, and the writer whose bestselling novel "Out of My Mind," which was adapted into a film for Disney+ and remains requisite reading for many middle schoolers year after year. A two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner, Sharon is the author of "Stella by Starlight," "Blended," "Tears of a Tiger," and many, many more.In this episode, "Good Luck, They’re Yours: Sharon Draper on Giving Students Room to Read," Sharon discusses what it means to trust readers, how her students helped guide her first book, and seeing her stories banned in classrooms. We also talk about church music, spiked lemonade, and how she ended up with a special library card that gave her access to the library's adult section, even as a child.When we asked Sharon to come up with a reading challenge, she was reluctant to give us a list of must-reads. Maybe that’s not surprising, given her past frustrations with inflexible required reading lists. In true teacher fashion, she flipped the assignment and gave us a lesson plan. This week’s Beanstack featured Librarian is William Schaller, the middle school librarian at Hoffman Middle School in Houston, Texas, for the past seven years! William shares his secret sauce for getting kids excited about reading. Show ChaptersChapter 1 - The Reader KidChapter 2 - Spike Lemonade and Porch StoriesChapter 3 - Shut Up and Say You Like ItChapter 4 - We Never Say That in the Locker RoomChapter 5 - Student TeachersChapter 6 - Reading ChallengeChapter 7 - Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Sharon DraperSharon Draper InstagramCleveland Public LibraryUp the Down StaircaseSharon M. Draper receiving the National Teacher of the Year AwardBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

"It's very rare for a person to just be one thing. Most issues, most things that matter, are not so black and white." – Debbie LevyWe all want to believe in heroes and villains, right and wrong, and clear-cut answers. But history and life are rarely that simple. Debbie Levy has spent her career exploring the gray areas, challenging readers to see multiple perspectives and embrace complexity. A former lawyer, journalist, and now award-winning children’s author, Debbie has written books like “I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark,” “The Year of Goodbyes,” and “A Dangerous Idea: The Scopes Trial, the Original Fight Over Science in Schools.” Her work invites readers to think critically, recognize misinformation, and understand that even those we disagree with are still human.   In this episode, We Contain Multitudes: Debbie Levy on the Dangers of Reductionist Thinking, Debbie reflects on what rabbis and Supreme Court justices have in common, why she’s optimistic about students’ ability to deal with disinformation, and how books can help kids hold space for complexity. Plus, a book so sad it was sold with tissues in it, a surprising childhood obsession with Superman, and why her mom taught her that being too good wasn't always a good thing. We also have a special hidden track at the end of the show. Debbie reflected on our conversation and shared a special story about her dad’s unbelievable but real wartime experience that we saved for the very end.Tune in for an episode that will make you re-think your perspectives and let you settle into some delightful storytime moments!***Jewish identities vary across families, experiences, places, and so much more. In short, they are not one-size-fits-all. Debbie’s reading challenge, Illuminating the Jewish Experience, highlights books that capture its richness and diversity. Learn more and download Debbie’s reading challenge at thereadingculturepod.com/debbie-levy.*** This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is once again Amy McMichael, the media specialist at Dutchman Creek Middle School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and the lead librarian for all secondary schools in her district. In this episode, Amy shares about the biggest impact Beanstack has had on the reading culture in her library and school.Show ChaptersChapter 1: Marbles on the Sewer TopChapter 2: Schoolyard Fist FightsChapter 3: The Funny GuyChapter 4: Tearjerker of the MonthChapter 5: Dissenting Opinions WelcomeChapter 6: It’s ComplicatedChapter 7: The Art of Being WrongChapter 8: Reading ChallengeChapter 9: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Debbie LevyDebbie Levy InstagramThe Funny GuyBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“I lean on my community. I lean on the power of the pen. I lean on remembering who my ancestors are and what they endured, the colonization that they survived in the Americas, I think, ‘we've been here before, and the lineage from which I come is one that is powerful and resistant.’ I would be dishonoring that legacy and that lineage if I didn't step up in this moment.” — Aida SalazarAida Salazar believes deeply in the power of words to change the world. For Aida, writing isn’t just a creative act; it’s a responsibility—an act of honoring her ancestors, healing personal wounds, and empowering her young readers. Her stories like The Moon Within, Land of the Cranes, Jovita Wore Pants, and Ultraviolet center on identity, social justice, and healing, with a particular focus on the immigrant experience. As a poet, novelist, activist, and mother, Aida discusses how writing helped her process grief, how Latin American literature gave her the permission to dream, how growing up in a mixed-status household shaped her, and how motherhood steered her toward children’s literature.In this episode, she shares how the act of writing itself has been a huge part of helping her heal and survive difficult chapters in her own story. Plus, she reflects on how a fart poem, a Parker pen, and a punk rock-inspired zine all had unique roles in shaping her journey as a writer.Tune in for an episode that moves from gut-wrenching stories to gut-splitting laughs, the best kind of listening roller coaster!***For her reading challenge, Banned in Middle Grade, Aida curated a list of banned middle-grade books that reflect themes of identity, social justice, and the experiences of young readers navigating complex worlds. Aida is devoted to middle grade literature and wants to amplify the important stories that are so important for those readers. From Melissa by Alex Gino to Ghost Boys by Jewel Parker Rhodes, these titles spark essential conversations. Learn more and download Aida’s reading challenge below.Download Aida’s reading challenge at https://www.thereadingculturepod.com/aida-salazar.***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Amy McMichael. She is the media specialist at Dutchman Creek Middle School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and the lead librarian for all secondary schools in her district. She does it all! In this episode, she discusses her strategy for luring reluctant readers with an unconventional library setup.Show ChaptersChapter 1: Fart PoemsChapter 2: A Spark from Clark and a Parker PenChapter 3: Writing Through GriefChapter 4: Beneath the Shadow of the Freeway Chapter 5: Writing Through Grief. Again. Chapter 6: The Three Pillars of Poetry Chapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Aida SalazarAida Salazar InstagramZacatecas, MXPoema al Pedo ;)The Parker Pen!Sarah Cynthia Sylvia StoutBeneath the Shadow of the FreewayBeanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Pippa Johnstone, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“Their white classmates can read Harry Potter and relate to going to Hogwarts and flying on brooms. But a Black kid can't aspire to go to Paris, which can actually happen.” – Jerry CraftGrowing up, Jerry Craft did not enjoy reading. He says he simply never encountered a children's book that intrigued him enough or felt right. But Jerry loves defying expectations, and so naturally, the boy who rarely set foot in a library grew up to become a celebrated children’s book author and illustrator. He has made defying expectations—and breaking stereotypes—a guiding principle in his storytelling. Jerry Craft is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, best known for “New Kid,” the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal. “New Kid,” along with the subsequent books in the three-part series—“Class Act” and “School Trip”—were groundbreaking for middle-grade literature, especially the power of graphic novels. While many of us may know and love Jerry’s more recent graphic novels, his road to those books was winding and unexpected.  In this episode, Jerry tells us about the one teacher who finally found the secret to inspiring him, explains how being a Black comic strip creator was a lot like the movie Highlander, and ponders whether his dad’s night shifts might be the reason he still works best at 3 AM.Settle in for an episode filled with wry humor and the colorful stories of Jerry Craft’s journey to becoming a beloved author for students and teachers alike!***Jerry curated a group of graphic novels for his reading challenge, How It Started, How It’s Going. These graphic novels chronicle his own journey as a creator—from the books that inspired him to those that helped forge his path and finally to those for which he laid the groundwork. Learn more and download Jerry’s reading challenge at thereadingculturepod.com/jerry-craft***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Laurie Schalliol, media specialist at Heritage Intermediate School in Middlebury, Indiana. Laurie dishes about a spicy incentive that pushed her students’ reading to the next level.***Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Oh SnapChapter 2 - Stay HumbleChapter 3 - Xylem StripsChapter 4 - To One PersonChapter 5 - The HighlanderChapter 6 - That’s Not For YouChapter 7 - Reading Challenge Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupJerry CraftMomma’s BoyzTo the World… (Jerry’s Quote)Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“For every child that thinks something is wrong with them, my books are saying, ‘be you, even if others can’t see you. The people who don’t see your beauty, see your glory–they have a problem. Something is wrong with their eyes, their soul.’” – Jewell Parker RhodesRaised mainly by her grandmother on a steady diet of porch stories (and lots of bread), Jewell Parker Rhodes spent decades writing for adults, perfecting her craft in order to “be good enough” to write for kids. For Jewell, that has meant creating books that speak to a range of kids with different experiences and backgrounds (like her grandma used to refer to as a “mixed blood stew”) and to the educators and librarians supporting them.Jewell channels her inner Hamilton, as she notes, always writing like she is running out of time. And since she started writing for kids, she has indeed been prolific. Jewell is an award-winning author whose work spans adult and children's fiction. Her children’s books include her children’s debut, “Ninth Ward,” which won a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, “Bayou Magic,” “Towers Falling,” and “Ghost Boys,” a New York Times bestseller that continues to spark critical conversations about racial justice. And many, many more. In this episode, Jewell opens up about her tumultuous childhood, reflects on her grandmother’s wisdom, and recounts many of the surprising twists of her life. That includes Jewell’s amazement at living this long and what she’d tell her students if she ever returned as a ghost.Settle in for an episode you don’t want to miss with the exceptionally colorful stories of Jewell Parker Rhodes!***Jewell’s reading challenge, Comic Trips, celebrates timeless classics she adored as a child alongside today's graphic novels. It’s an opportunity to explore how the comic art form has grown and to challenge the misconception that graphic novels aren’t “real” books. Learn more and download Jewell’s recommended reading list at thereadingculturepod.com/jewell-parker-rhodes***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is once again Kat Gatcomb, previously a youth services supervisor at Nashua Public Library in New Hampshire and now in customer success at Beanstack! This week, she shared two key lessons she wished she had known earlier as a librarian. ***Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Bread Freak (03:27)Chapter 2 - Spellbound (09:53)Chapter 3 - Prince(ss) Valiant (15:13)Chapter 4 - The People Could Fly (17:50)Chapter 5 - Simply Complex (25:10)Chapter 6 - Schoolbound (32:32)Chapter 7 - You Can’t Pierce My Soul (35:25)Chapter 8 - Gunnin’ for 120 (41:49)Chapter 9 - Comic Trips, Jewell's Reading Challenge (45:10)LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupJewell Parker RhodesJewell Parker Rhodes Instagram“The People Could Fly” by Virginia HamiltonFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“Every time I read “Big” at a school, obviously I’m there to speak to kids about the story, and I hope they’re all connecting with it, but at every single reading there is always an adult woman that comes to me and says, this is my story, I needed this when I was young. And I just wish we all knew that we were all going through the same thing.” -Vashti HarrisonVashti Harrison burst onto the children’s book scene with her book, “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.” But to hear her tell it, Vashti still cannot believe that her entry point for kidlit was through nonfiction. Perhaps that is why she took such care and tenderness in creating her first fictional picture book, “Big.” In “Big,” we meet a young girl whose journey feels universally relatable, even if her story is uniquely hers. The book earned Vashti many accolades, including the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. But its profound effect on her personally was also a great gift and illuminating force for Vashti.  A New York Times bestselling author, illustrator, and filmmaker, Vashti’s words and artwork explore themes of identity, self-acceptance, and representation. In this episode, “Scratching the Surface: Vashti Harrison on Going Past Skin Deep,” Vashti reflects on how everyday magic and storytelling have shaped her life and work. She reflects on her childhood in "Only Lonely," Virginia, where she immersed herself in books and films and first thought of herself as a drawer. She also considers how she has navigated the complexities of beauty standards and body image over the years and shares the drawing contest she entered on a whim that led to a book deal in 24 hours!***Vashti’s reading challenge, The BIG Reading List, is a curated list of books that inspired and helped her write “Big.” The titles are all about understanding and dismantling anti-fat and adultification bias and celebrating Black girlhood. Learn more and download Vashti’s recommended reading list at thereadingculturepod.com/vashti-harrison***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kat Gatcomb. She was previously a youth services supervisor at The Nashua Public Library in New Hampshire and is now in customer success at Beanstack! Kat shares about an innovative program she facilitated that called upon a cross-section of her community. ***Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Lonely OnlyChapter 2 - Big Trouble in Little VashtiChapter 3 - Picking The WoundChapter 4 - The Secret GardenChapter 5 - Missing WinnieChapter 6 - Can You Be A Drawer? Chapter 7 - ReturningChapter 8 - Drawing In Little Readers Chapter 9 - Vashti’s Caldecott SpeechChapter 10 - Vashti’s BIG Reading ChallengeLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupVashti HarrisonVashti Harrison Instagram“The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Barnett“The Secret Garden” MovieVashti’s 2024 Caldecott Medal Acceptance SpeechFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

“Life is a wheel and humanity has been through countless cycles of ups and downs. The things that seem so dire now won't be this dire forever. Eventually, there is an upswing. I always needed that reminder, and it made me think that my young readers need that reminder as well.” - Yamile Saied MendezWith a storytelling style that radiates warmth and resilience, Yamile Saed Méndez’s work reflects the cycles of life’s challenges and triumphs. Born in Rosario, Argentina, in the midst and then long shadow of the Dictatorship years, she learned early on the power of hope and the enduring strength of the human spirit. From mastering a second language to embracing life in a new country, Yamile’s journey is one of transformation and connection to her roots. Yamile is a bestselling author whose work spans children’s, young adult, and adult fiction. Her novel “Furia”–a 2021 Pura Belpré winner and a Reese’s YA Book Club selection–earned her widespread recognition for its powerful storytelling and cultural resonance. Her other books include “Shaking Up the House,” “On These Magic Shores,” “The Beautiful Game,” “Where Are You From?” and “What the Moon Saw.” With accolades such as the Cybils Award and the Américas Award, Yamile has established herself as a beloved voice in contemporary literature.In this episode, Yamile reflects on the pivotal transitions that have shaped her life and work. She reflects on her experience as the eldest sister in a family facing constant scarcity of resources and on how her school life impacted her perspective on a young woman’s potential. Yamile shares how storytelling has grounded her through moments of turbulence and highlights how resilience has inspired the protagonists in her books. ***Yamile’s reading challenge, Indomitable Characters, celebrates protagonists who embody resilience and remind us all of the inevitable upswing in life’s wheel.Learn more and download Yamile’s recommended reading list at thereadingculturepod.com/yamile-saied-mendez***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is, once again, Billy Allen, the Branch Manager of Whitney Library in Las Vegas's Clarke County Library District, aka 3KingVisions, on YouTube. And most recently, he is featured on season 9 of Queer Eye. Billy tells us about a unique incentive that motivated the kids at his library to crush their summer reading goals.***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Women of ArgentinaChapter 2 - GibberishChapter 3 - The Angel’s GameChapter 4 - Full StopsChapter 5 - Indomitable CharactersChapter 6 - Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupYamile MendezYamile Mendez Instagram“The Angel’s Game” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón Monteiro LobatoHeidiMaría Elena WalshFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb Wilkinson, Jackie Lamport, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb Wilkinson, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

It’s official. Two years in a row makes it a tradition. The Reading Culture Yearbook is here. It’s the year-end celebratory episode where we look back and highlight some of our favorite moments in the form of awarding superlatives. Or, as we dubbed them last year and seemingly forgot, “The Readies.”This year’s edition features awards such as “Best [Not] Meet Cute,” the “Owning It Award,” the “Merriam-Webster Award” (alternatively titled “Most Likely to Know More Words than Merriam-Webster”), and “The Teen Whisperer Award."And just like last year, we promise to make you laugh and potentially cry depending on how quickly you reach for the tissues.***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Best Alter EgoChapter 2 - The Teen Whisperer AwardChapter 3 - Full Circle Moment Chapter 4 - Best [Not] Meet CuteChapter 5 - Citizen of the World AwardChapter 6 - Odd Couple AwardChapter 7 - The All-In AwardChapter 8 - Most Moving Dream Chapter 9 - Best Life Lesson From LiteratureChapter 10 - Owning It Award Chapter 11 - Most Likely to Rewrite the Stars Chapter 12 - Merriam-Webster AwardChapter 13 - Best Dinner Party GameLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey