Last week, something brand new and astounding happened: I received my first fan letter from a  student. Now, I know I wrote a middle grade novel, and that it’s full of awkward moments and first crush flutters and bathroom humor, but seriously, I wasn’t prepared for letters from kids!

Side note: physical letters are AWESOME. I’m one of those moms who makes her kids write thank-you’s (just like the mom in Counting Thyme), so I really appreciate the effort that it takes to get a letter in the mail these days. But letters are special. They are worth it.

This experience has got me thinking about why we are so passionate about books, outside of our own identity as readers. I think we do it for the kids. There is nothing greater than watching this happen:

Or this:

Although this is pretty great, too:

But seriously, as I schedule my first school visits (including Skypes on WRAD!), I am so grateful for the opportunity to talk books with kids. Some of those kids are already book nerds; the rest of them just don’t know it yet. But one day, there will come that magical moment when they lose themselves inside of a book. It’s a moment fueled by the passion of teachers, librarians, and parents–it’s the faith that unites us: Our belief that our lives are enriched by story.

Stories created civilization. Stories bind us together through our common experiences as human beings. It is story that builds knowledge and grows empathy, so that we can all evolve together. We who write and share and love books are doing the work of the ages. What could be more exciting?

The books shown above include: THE RIVERMAN from Aaron Starmer. My older son is obsessed with this magical trilogy about a world where stories are born. Then there’s I CAN’T WAIT, by Amy Schwartz, a funny picture book about waiting for something amazing to happen, and BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT by Silvia Borando, about finding friendship by expanding your comfort zone.