Do you have plans for Banned Books Week in your library or classroom? It’s coming up October 5-11. I hope you’ll check out the helpful resources at this website and talk about the issues discussed there with the young readers in your life. Banned Book Week resources: bannedbooksweek.org

Time and again, children’s books are the books that adults remember most. My article: avi-writer.com/blog/2025/09...

Have I had the chance to post this thoughtful review of my newest novel from the Ms. Yingling Reads blog? She says, in part: “Young readers should know about this period of history, and Lost in the Empire City is a great choice for making this an engaging topic.” Thanks Mrs. Yingling! bit.ly/3VUia8Z

Beginnings, then, are always important to me, and perhaps among the most important beginnings are the first lines of a story, the ones I write and the ones I read. Read my article, which includes a question for you: bit.ly/42tiDCL

If you work with writing students, you might find this past post useful, “Reading Out Loud,” as it provides suggestions to help young writers with revising their work or when they’re feeling stuck. #readingaloud #takeabreak #walkaway My article: bit.ly/4poBGHX (Photo: Mary Salen, Dreamstime)

Since I write fiction, I am delighted that research has shown that one of the most powerful ways to learn, gain, and practice empathy is by reading fiction. avi-writer.com/blog/2025/09...

My website features clips of me reading from many of the Poppy books, a great way to introduce the stories to your students. There's also a Readers’ Theater script for Ereth’s Birthday. bit.ly/4gsj06g and bit.ly/4gjqjx1

Breakfast Serials, at its peak in 2005, gave 33 million readers access to 17 stories written by 27 celebrated writers, with art by top-notch illustrators. The serialized story held the attention of a large number of dedicated readers. Learn the history of Breakfast Serials: bit.ly/4pf7G13

Looking to introduce your students to a working writer? I enjoy meeting young readers via virtual visits, sharing my triumphs and struggles as someone who deals with a writing disorder. Cost-effective way to bring an author to your classroom. Details on my “Virtual Visits” page: www.avi-writer.com

This past summer I asked my writer friends / colleagues to answer this question: “What’s your favorite strategy for encouraging young people to read?” Here's my sense of what I felt each author suggests. Avi's Summer Summary: bit.ly/4p0ZJws Summer Blog Series: bit.ly/4p1X45M

19th century, serial novelization made the cost of book reading lower for the public. It transformed reading from an individual endeavor to a social phenomenon. Serialized books today? Try Breakfast Serials! My article: bit.ly/4lMYjCY Breakfast Serials: bit.ly/4oWW0Qp

Kekla Magoon: "One of the most gratifying things that’s ever happened to me in my career occurred after a school author visit. As a young man held out his book for me to sign, he said quietly, 'This is the first book I ever finished.'” #reading #diversity #recognition #characters bit.ly/45BpYlB

My time machine travels to CO 1925, with a duo of novels that focus on high-spirited Ida’s huge desire to move on from her one-room schoolhouse so she can fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher herself. Both books bring this time just before the Great Depression humorously to life. bit.ly/43Xcaij

Deborah Hopkinson: "When writing nonfiction I try to keep in mind that many young readers prefer fantasy, realistic fiction, mysteries, or science fiction. I try to use the tools of fiction to engage readers of all ages, even when the subject matter is challenging or disturbing." bit.ly/45Svd0d

My time machine jumps ahead this week—first to a 1910 story of immigrants in New York City, with Lost in the Empire City. Then we jump to The Button War, set in 1914, which Publishers Weekly’s starred review calls a “powerfully evocative WWI novel set in Poland.”

From author Bruce Coville: "Whatever your aspirations for a book or story are, it will not have any effect if you can’t get kids to read it! To make that happen, you need to start where the readers are, not where you want them to end up." #humor #fantasy @brucecoville.bsky.social bit.ly/4lnRnMe

Last week, I met virtually with a book club in Indiana to discuss Poppy. They asked some astute questions. Here are some photos of the crafts their book club leaders provided to go along with the book. Thanks for reading the Poppy books, kids.

My time machine visits an immigrant family in 1893 NYC. Kirkus starred review, City of Orphans, “Heroic deeds, narrow escapes, dastardly villains, amazing coincidences and a family rich in love and hope are all part of an intricate and endlessly entertaining adventure. Terrific!” bit.ly/3FWLkw3

Author Tina Cho shares, "To encourage kids to read, I deepen my relationship with each child to find out their interests and then pair them with books they will find irresistible." #readaloud #summerreading #encouragereading Read Tina Cho's full answer: bit.ly/3Ua7JgB

My time machine next turns to one of the most critical times in American history—the Civil War—with Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac, my novel that SLJ called an “exciting, fast-paced historical adventure.” #CivilWar #Monitor #Merrimac Iron Thunder: bit.ly/3VzAp0x

From Margarita Engle, How to Encourage Young People to Read Poetry: "Let young people reach their own answers to the question: how does this poem make you feel?" #poetry #encouragepoetry #youngreaders Read Margarita's advice: bit.ly/3U2LPMc

This week’s time machine jumps from Gold Rush Girl in 1848 California, to The Traitors’ Gate in 1849 London, to an 1851 journey from Ireland to America divided between the two books that make up Beyond the Western Sea: The Escape from Home and Into the Storm. More about the books: bit.ly/3xiczjY

Alan Gratz begins, "Teachers and parents often tell me that my novels are great for getting reluctant readers to love books. ... I have a lot of strategies for keeping even the most reluctant of readers on the edges of their seats." #encouragereading #reluctantreaders @alangratz.bsky.social

A tension-filled transatlantic journey sends my time machine ahead to the year 1832 for this week. SLJ’s starred review calls the title in question, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, "a breathtaking seafaring adventure." #CharlotteDoyle #sailing #bravegirls #novels bit.ly/3F0SuCK

Author and school librarian Jolene Gutiérrez shares her best tips for encouraging young learners to read. To start, she helps them find books that feel comfortable for them. #encouragereading #schoollibraries @writerjolene.bsky.social

My time machine is deeply immersed in the Revolutionary War this week, three novels providing different perspectives on that tumultuous time. Loyalty takes place in 1774 Massachusetts; Sophia’s War dives into New York in 1776; and The Fighting Ground is set in 1778 New Jersey. #AmericanRevolution

Author Pam Muñoz Ryan's recent book, El Niño, generated this starred review from SLJ: "Ryan’s latest is a whirlwind of emotions, a story that glistens like sunlight on waves and plunges deep into grief, identity, and destiny." What is her advice for encouraging young people to read? bit.ly/4lbyKfi

This week, my time machine lands in 1724 England for The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts, which Booklist’s starred review described as “an ingeniously plotted Dickensian story filled with suspense, surprises, and ultimately satisfaction." Learn more: bit.ly/3TVfQxc

From author Suzanne Supplee: Having been a high school and middle school writing and English teacher for decades, I’ve had an up-close view of students and their reading habits. I’ve taught kids who couldn’t stop reading. There were also students who proudly told me, “I hate to read.” bit.ly/46juGoI

This week my time machine jumps ahead to the 1480s-1490s. My novel The Player King features a riveting story about a boy who claims to be the rightful king of England while my set of historical mysteries take place in Renaissance Italy. bit.ly/40hxrD9 and bit.ly/4kZOCle

Dr. Padma Venkatraman: "As head teacher of a small school in England and as a volunteer working with children at an “asylum seekers center” in Germany, I created a safe harbor environment, where children could share the joy of reading together, without judgment." #encouragereading bit.ly/4ehL0bn

My time machine jumps ahead to England, 1381 AD, for the Crispin trilogy. Crispin: The Cross of Lead, brought me one of my writing-career highlights by winning a Newbery Medal. The story continues with Crispin: At the Edge of the World and then Crispin: The End of Time. bit.ly/4jRXqYT

From Gary D. Schmidt: "I was impressed and thrilled by the idea that one of our teachers was composing his own music and sending it in to become a published piece. I had never met anyone who would dare to do such a thing — he was that serious, that committed about his art." bit.ly/3HMN0wd

Sure, we can visit classrooms, chat online, and answer fan mail, but I think the most important thing we writers can do ... More from Karen Cushman: bit.ly/45mV1lv

Are you thinking ahead to Father’s Day on June 15? Check out my book The Most Important Thing, a collection of short stories that the BookPage blog says shines “a small, bright light on father-son love.” #FathersDay #shortstories BookPage: bit.ly/454EiDo Book: bit.ly/3qu5lFX

From author Dan Gutman: "I tell them this — If you read something you’re interested in, you’ll get interested in reading." bit.ly/4mKqWlY #summerreading #writing @dangutmanbooks.bsky.social

For this summer's blog series, I've asked other writers, "What is your favorite strategy for encouraging young people to read?" Here's my answer. #AviSummerBlogSeries2025 #summerreading #readingstrategies Avi, 2025 Summer Blog Series kickoff: bit.ly/4jpLjSL

What’s more wonderful than an old map? If you have a young reader who’s enjoying my historical novel Iron Thunder, be sure to direct them to this 1862 map illustrating the “Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimac.” #maps #CivilWar #ships Map: bit.ly/4duW5Wa Book: bit.ly/3VzAp0x

If you’re planning ahead for a summer family road trip, be sure to include some audiobooks to help make the miles zoom by! Many of my titles are available in this format, and it’s both fun and beneficial for building literacy skills when kids hear a book read out loud. #summerreading #listening

Have you read a good book lately? A cookbook? For many of us, this is the kind of book we read more often than not. Sometimes on a daily basis. But, in my experience, we rarely talk about them as books, how they are written, or if they are indeed readable. #cookbooks #reading #recipes bit.ly/3SbVgI8

Once in a while, I like to point back to one of my earlier blog posts. This time, it’s a post titled “Why write for children?” As I concluded then—and can still repeat today, “To change one child’s life for the better, even for an hour, is a rare privilege.” #writingforchildren bit.ly/4k7LPFO

Before I could make a living as a writer, I was a librarian. No surprise, books are in my home today. #bookshleves #bookshelf #reading Essay: bit.ly/4meqwE4

Another encouraging review for Lost in the Empire City, from the Redeemed Reader blog: “Readers will keep turning pages to find out if Santo will ever be reunited with his parents and siblings. … An engrossing historical novel of the immigrant experience.” review: bit.ly/4m0uOyL book: bit.ly/47f1Jsz

I was recently at a rare book fair, which was quite fascinating. People, for a great variety of reasons, wish to own first editions of books. A mix of compulsion, obsession, and, to be sure, a great love of books, was on display. #frankensteinbooks #rarebookcollecting Essay: bit.ly/3GFCoie

I do hope you'll say hello if you're attending the Capital Rare Book Fair this coming Saturday, May 3rd. My talk is at 2:00 pm at the University Club in Washington, DC. Enjoy perusing the antiquarian booksellers' booths. Lots to see and do from May 2nd to May 4th. finefairs.com/capital-rare...

Have the young readers in your life tried out Summer Reading Bingo? You can find some explanations of how it works and options for participating at the Chirping Moms site. You can also download a bingo card featuring my books at my website! #summerreading #bingo bit.ly/3YiKzqM

Since all the books in the Park Hill Community Bookstore must reflect the reading habits and interests of its local citizens, it fascinates me that the largest category of books to be found there is mystery and detective fiction. Crime. Read my essay: bit.ly/4jyTVau #mysteries #detectives #reading

Historical Novel Society: “This book will resonate with any reader who has ever come into conflict with an authority figure, either intentionally or not. Ida’s desire to make something of herself and not disappoint her family is infinitely relatable. … Highly recommended.” bit.ly/3YaBaRX

In April and October, I am paid the royalties for my books. I learn what half my income for the year is, based on the sales of my books over the previous six months. #writerslife #royalties #income bit.ly/3EBe28B

“Avi masterfully blends historical accuracy with a gripping narrative. Sophia’s War highlights the role of ordinary individuals in shaping history.” (Boo Radley Book Reviews). I encourage young readers to believe they have the potential to shape the world. bit.ly/4iccyzm