Book Birthday Blog with Karolyn Wallace

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Karolyn Wallace on the release of I Love It When We Read Together

 

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

I Love It When We Read Together grew out of fond memories of nightly reading with my own children. As an elementary school teacher, I can think of no greater gift than to encourage parents to do the same. Now a grandmother, I watch my children read with their children every night. I admire the dedication to storytelling, inquiry, and closeness that they nurture whenever and wherever they open a book.

What inspires you to write?

As a retired teacher, I wanted to find a way to give back. Writing about reading seemed like a great fit. I hope to encourage partnerships that make shared reading a deeper experience.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

It’s my wish that older readers will find the book instructive and notice some reading strategies that they can use. I hope younger readers will see themselves as partners that can also try out the same reading strategies. Younger readers may find it fun to notice the animals reading on each page as well.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

As you can imagine my favorite marketing plan is to go directly to children and visit schools and libraries. It is so much fun to show the original pictures of animals reading that I made and that Joey Wall skillfully incorporated into his illustrations.  So, I take books and collages on tour with me on school visits and bookstore events.

What's next for you?

It’s my hope to build a series of books around togetherness. Whether its cooking or fishing together, early readers can easily use the reading tools mentioned in I Love It When We Read Together while enjoying other  experiences with a companion. 

More about the book . . .

I Love It When We Read Together invites reading partners to create their own special rituals, with gentle prompts and charming illustrations that encourage kids to read along, spot animals and spark lively conversations. This book is perfect for building fluency and connection. Inspired by the literacy challenges of the pandemic, early childhood educator Karolyn Wallace crafts a cozy experience that helps families bring the joy of reading home.

Publisher: Mission Point Press

More about the author . . .

Karolyn Wallace is a seasoned educator with over twenty years of experience teaching in elementary classrooms across public and private schools in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New York. Before that, she was a broadcast journalist at local news affiliates in Los Angeles and Flint, Michigan. She is currently part of the team at The Children’s Learning Lab, where experienced educators connect with elementary students for online learning. She divides her time between Michigan and California, enjoying the company of her husband, children and grandchildren.   

Instagram: Togetherwithkarolyn