I think the thing about kids who are reluctant to pick up books, to read, I think it's two-fold.
I think the thing about kids who are reluctant to pick up books, to read, I think it's two-fold.

I was a slow reader.
I was a slow reader.

I struggled as a reader, and I think part of it was I didn't care about the books that
I struggled as a reader, and I think part of it was I didn't care about the books that

people were giving me to read.
people were giving me to read.

Growing up in the 1970s and trying to find myself on the page was not happening.
Growing up in the 1970s and trying to find myself on the page was not happening.

There was Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Phyllis Wheatley, and everyone had been a slave, or
There was Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Phyllis Wheatley, and everyone had been a slave, or

escaped slavery, or learned to read during slavery, or, like, beat up someone during
escaped slavery, or learned to read during slavery, or, like, beat up someone during

slavery.
slavery.

I was like, OK, this is the 1970s, have my people done anything since then?
I was like, OK, this is the 1970s, have my people done anything since then?

Of course I didn't know how to ask those questions, I was in the 2nd grade.
Of course I didn't know how to ask those questions, I was in the 2nd grade.

When finally I discovered John Steptoe's book Stevie, and it was a book where the people
When finally I discovered John Steptoe's book Stevie, and it was a book where the people

spoke like me, the people look like me, they probably lived in New York City, their apartment
spoke like me, the people look like me, they probably lived in New York City, their apartment

looked like my house.
looked like my house.

It was eye-opening and it got me excited about reading.
It was eye-opening and it got me excited about reading.

I went on from there to The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde and to Hans Christian Anderson's
I went on from there to The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde and to Hans Christian Anderson's

The Little Match Girl.
The Little Match Girl.

I could begin to find parts of myself in books that seemingly had nothing to do with me.
I could begin to find parts of myself in books that seemingly had nothing to do with me.

I think we have to be respectful of the young people and say where are you in this book.
I think we have to be respectful of the young people and say where are you in this book.

I think that's the first thing to get them to see themselves in the literature.
I think that's the first thing to get them to see themselves in the literature.

In Locomotion there are so many kids, black, white, Latino, Chicano, who live like Lonnie
In Locomotion there are so many kids, black, white, Latino, Chicano, who live like Lonnie

lives.
lives.

There are so many kids who don't but who know what it means to have been away from someone
There are so many kids who don't but who know what it means to have been away from someone

they loved, to know what it means to kind of have this story that you're eager to tell
they loved, to know what it means to kind of have this story that you're eager to tell

and no one has ever said to you you have a right to tell it as his teacher finally says
and no one has ever said to you you have a right to tell it as his teacher finally says

to him.
to him.

Many kids have some kind of longing for home, for a certain kind of family, for food, whatever
Many kids have some kind of longing for home, for a certain kind of family, for food, whatever

it is, and find themselves on the pages.
it is, and find themselves on the pages.

I think the other thing if I think if you're a struggling reader, reading can be really
I think the other thing if I think if you're a struggling reader, reading can be really

overwhelming to you.
overwhelming to you.

The idea of someone handing you a book that's 50 pages, that's 100 pages, that's 150 pages,
The idea of someone handing you a book that's 50 pages, that's 100 pages, that's 150 pages,

it's like, where do you even begin?
it's like, where do you even begin?

I always think it's important to give kids one paragraph, and let them expound about
I always think it's important to give kids one paragraph, and let them expound about

that paragraph.
that paragraph.

Let that paragraph make them hungry for more.
Let that paragraph make them hungry for more.

You give them small portions of things, and you let them grow to be hungry for more and
You give them small portions of things, and you let them grow to be hungry for more and

more, and eventually they are.
more, and eventually they are.

Then there are the kids who might not be reading fiction, who are looking for non-fiction,
Then there are the kids who might not be reading fiction, who are looking for non-fiction,

who are looking for poetry, who are looking for spoken word, whose way of understanding
who are looking for poetry, who are looking for spoken word, whose way of understanding

their move toward comprehension is more oral, so a book on tape is probably the way to go
their move toward comprehension is more oral, so a book on tape is probably the way to go

or an excerpt from a book on tape.
or an excerpt from a book on tape.

On my website I have a video of Feathers, and it's a visual description of what the
On my website I have a video of Feathers, and it's a visual description of what the

girl is talking about because some people need that.
girl is talking about because some people need that.

They need to see the picture in order to understand the words.
They need to see the picture in order to understand the words.

I think that shift from picture books to non-illustrated books is fast.
I think that shift from picture books to non-illustrated books is fast.

All of a sudden you've comprehended something, and the pictures disappear, and whoa, I'm
All of a sudden you've comprehended something, and the pictures disappear, and whoa, I'm

not supposed to be reading those anymore.
not supposed to be reading those anymore.

I think it's important for middle graders, for high schoolers, to be able to go back
I think it's important for middle graders, for high schoolers, to be able to go back

to picture books and to learn how to read and understand and write.
to picture books and to learn how to read and understand and write.

When I'm stuck as a writer, I go right back to the picture books because the language
When I'm stuck as a writer, I go right back to the picture books because the language

is simple, deceptively simple, and it's immediate, and it's not overwhelming.
is simple, deceptively simple, and it's immediate, and it's not overwhelming.

I think so much of it is how we get overwhelmed.
I think so much of it is how we get overwhelmed.