In Chicago on Saturday at an event hosted by The Book Stall, a young man came through the line clutching paperback copies of Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, The Tale of Despereaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
Young man: My third grade teacher read all four of these books out loud to the class.
Me: And now you’re a grown up.
Young man: Yep. I just graduated from college.
Me: Do you want me to sign those books?
Young man: Yes. I want you to sign them for the third-grade me. Getting these stories read to me made me feel safe.
Me: You’re going to make me cry.
Young man: It’s okay. You can cry.
I did cry.
And I signed the books.
And I thanked the young man.
And I thank all you teachers and librarians and parents who read aloud to your kids and make them feel safe.

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