Author Stories

When did your writing make a difference in the life of a reader?

We invited authors to tell individual stories of a time when their writing made a difference in the life of a reader. In their videos, hear from the writers themselves about times their books helped children feel seen, valued, and empowered.

Writers who contributed videos to our "Author Stories" playlist include:

Mitali Perkins ("Bamboo People")
Matt de la Peña ("Mexican WhiteBoy")
Jamie Jo Hoang ("My Father, The Panda Killer")
Kim Johnson ("This is My America")
Adrianna Cuevas ("The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto")
Lily Williams ("Go With the Flow")
Elana K Arnold ("A Boy Named Bat")
Debbi Michiko Florence ("Jasmine Toguchi")
Dashka Slater ("The 57 Bus")

“Books do make a difference. It does make a difference for a young reader to see herself on the cover of a book, in the pages of a story – and it helps all readers to see characters like the faces around them in the classroom.”
- Debbi Michiko Florence

Author Stories

When did your writing make a difference in the life of a reader?

Writers who contributed videos to our "Author Stories" playlist include:

“Books do make a difference. It does make a difference for a young reader to see herself on the cover of a book, in the pages of a story – and it helps all readers to see characters like the faces around them in the classroom.” - Debbi Michiko Florence

“Books do make a difference. It does make a difference for a young reader to see herself on the cover of a book, in the pages of a story – and it helps all readers to see characters like the faces around them in the classroom.”
- Debbi Michiko Florence