I had a great time at the Cabrillo Park Neighborhood Association LITERACY FESTIVAL! I spent the day sharing book joy, reading stories, and meeting amazing authors and fellow literacy advocates! Big Thank you to Cabrillo Neighborhood Association Meadow View Park Association @CMMaiVang and @officialSCUSD for organizing and sponsoring such a wonderful event! Shoutout to @KimberlyBiddle4 - it was great meeting you! I heard something important today from a parent- “We have to know how to read to read instructions.” #literacyadvocate #sacramento #readingworld #kindnesa

BANNED BOOKS WEEK is a time for us to step up, engage in conversations, and find ways to stand up and speak out against censorship and book bans. I was fortunate enough to welcome back NYT bestselling author @SteveSheinkin to my show, and we touched on some important issues surrounding book banning and censorship. I’ll be sharing the full interview on October 10th, so be sure to check it out on my YouTube channel. Kids not only need to see themselves in the stories they read, but they also deserve to learn about the true stories that have shaped the world we live in. History teaches us what to do, and what not to do. It helps us understand the mistakes of past generations while giving us a roadmap for navigating the future. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me Steve!

It was an honor having Newbery Medal-Winner Meg Medina on E Train Talks. We spoke at this time last year about the importance of pushback against book bans and making sure young readers have access to books that help them feel seen and heard. Meg Medina is one of the most inspiring voices in children’s literature. She’s a Newberry metal-winning Author, a former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and an incredible writer. I’m so happy I had the chance to speak with Meg. If you’re interested in watching the full interview, here’s the link 👉🏼 youtu.be/_XH1IUKIUlE?is=7vYr… #etraintalks #literacyadvocate #bannedbooksweek #megmedina #readingcommunity #kidlit