Kidsburgh is excited to be a partner in the Won’t You Be a Reader? regional literacy campaign. As part of this year-long celebration of reading, we invite kids and adults throughout the region to share about their reading experiences.
Throughout the coming months, we’ll share their responses. (Click here to submit your answers to the questions you see below. We’d love to publish your responses!)
Here are answers from one of Pittsburgh’s literacy leaders, Andrew Medlar, president and director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
1. What do you love about reading? Tell us about your reading experiences as a child, as an adult or both.
I’ve been a library kid for as long as I can remember. My mom was a librarian, so libraries always felt like home. Some of my earliest memories are of summer reading, and my first job was shelving books at the Dayton Metro Library when I was 16. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine a life that wasn’t shaped by libraries and books.
What I love most about reading is that it expands your world. Books help us understand people whose lives are different from our own, introduce us to new ideas and remind us we’re never alone in what we’re feeling or experiencing. Reading opens doors to learning, to opportunity and to possibilities we may never have imagined. That’s why I believe reading is a superpower. It has the power to change lives.
2. Tell us about a book you are currently reading, a book you are excited to read or a book you loved as a child.
I’m looking forward to reading “All the Blues in the Sky” by Renée Watson, this year’s Newbery Medal winner. Renée Watson has a remarkable ability to write honestly and beautifully about the emotions young people experience, and I’m eager to read this story about grief, resilience and healing.
I’m also excited by “Fireworks,” this year’s Caldecott Medal winner illustrated by Cátia Chien. Picture books are works of art, and this one captures the joy and wonder of a summer day in a way that reminds readers of all ages to slow down and appreciate everyday moments. Especially in a city like ours that loves fireworks so much! And earlier this summer I especially looked forward to re-reading “A Garden for Lili” by Melissa Iwai before welcoming her to the Library’s Summer Reading Extravaganza on Aug. 9. It’s a joyful story about gardening, family and community — perfect for this year’s Summer Reading theme, Grow!
3. If there are books on your nightstand at the moment, what are they?
Like many librarians, I always have a stack of books going! Right now, my nightstand includes books by Pittsburgh Book Festival authors Steven Rowley, Daniel Kraus, Rachel Ekstrom Courage and Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie. I love mixing fiction and nonfiction and discovering new voices. One of the greatest perks of my job is meeting authors and finding books I might never have picked up otherwise.
4. What reading tips do you have for other families and kids?
A few simple habits can make a big difference:
Get a library card and use it often.
Keep books around your home, so they’re always within reach.
Let children see you reading. Kids notice what the adults in their lives value.
Read together every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes
Those small moments add up. Reading together builds vocabulary and confidence, but just as importantly, it creates lasting memories and strengthens family connections. Every child deserves the chance to discover a story that sparks their imagination, and every family has the power to nurture a lifelong love of reading.