Reading Guides: Getting to Know Kathleen

I’m happy to introduce our other outstanding Reading Guide, Kathleen!

Tell us a bit about yourself, Kathleen.

I am so excited to be a reading guide for Book Summer! I recently graduated with a degree in elementary education from Loyola Maryland. I am currently pursuing my M.Ed in learning, diversity, and urban studies specializing in language, literacy, and culture. I am super passionate about literacy and believe in the power, joy, and opportunities that reading has to offer. I am so excited about the Book Summer mission and am grateful to be part of this important program. 

One of the things that we’re excited about at Book Summer is the community that we are fostering. Can you tell our viewers a little bit more about that?

Community is so important in all aspects of life. I believe that community is especially important for tweens/teens. Everyone deserves to feel that their voice, thoughts, and feelings are valued. The reading community that Book Summer offers is an excellent space for kids to grow as readers, leaders, and people. We hope our community will connect our readers to a global network while providing a space to feel valued and important. Plus, the community is a great way to connect to a book in a deeper, more meaningful, and authentic way. Community also allows us to understand books through a perspective that may be different from our own. Community is key, and we’re so excited to GROW our community with our amazing Book Summer readers. 

Book Talk – Favorites 

Favorite book: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Favorite Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Why do you love to read? 

I love reading because I love stories! I love learning stories of other people, also thinking about the new pathways for learning, and thinking that reading can provide. 

I also love children’s literature and have a passion for multicultural children’s literature in particular. This is something I’m hoping to bring into my research on equitable literacy instruction for my master’s program! 

Favorite children’s books are The Day You Begin, I am Enough, and We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands.