When was the last time someone read you a bedtime story, complete with sound effects, jokes, and the story’s backstory? I’m guessing you were under 10 and that was probably a very long time ago. Do you remember how much you anticipated the story each night, even if you made your parents read the same story to you every single night?
For me, being read to as a kid was magical. My mom invented voices for the various characters in my books and my dad read me the same story no fewer than 9,768 times without complaining. He’d read me A Visit from St. Nicholas (aka Twas the Night Before Christmas) so many times by the time I was two, that one night he caught me reading it out loud to myself and turning the pages appropriately and became convinced that I was nothing short of a genius who could read before she could speak in complete sentences. It turned out that I’d simply memorized the story and couldn’t actually read yet. I’m still a genius though. But I digress. Being read to made me feel loved, comforted, and safe. Much like Sheldon Cooper feels when someone sings Soft Kitty to him. It was probably my favorite part the day, not that it meant I actually went to sleep after the story.
A dad and his son enjoying Story Time with Brad Meltzer. Photo posted on Brad Meltzer’s Facebook page by a fan and used with permission of Brad Meltzer.
Last night, all of those feelings of warmth, comfort, safety, and love came flooding back when New York Times Best-Selling Author Brad Meltzer took to Facebook to read the world a bedtime story in a live broadcast and over 5,000 people joined in (the video has been viewed more than 33,000 times in the first 24 hours). Knowing Brad the way I do, I had high expectations for story time with Brad and, let me tell you, he did not disappoint.
At 7:00 p.m. CT, I sat in front of my computer in my pi’s with all of Brad children’s books open in front of me, waiting for Brad to announce his choice for story time. After a brief introduction, Brad read, I turned the pages, and I was a kid all over again. Story time was over by 7:20 p.m. and just like when I was little, I didn’t go to bed when it was over.
Brad read I am Amelia Earhart, which kicked off his Ordinary People Change the World series of children’s books in January 2014. He told jokes, was self-deprecating, interacted with fans via shout-outs, and told us the backstory of his children’s series.
Two kids watching Story Time with Brad Meltzer. Photo posted on Brad Meltzer’s Facebook page by a fan and used with permission of Brad Meltzer.
The series, which has grown to seven books and counting, was created because he was shopping for his daughter and could only find clothing with princesses on them. Brad’s immediate thought was that fictional princesses were not the heroes he wanted his daughter to focus on. From all of his historical research, he knew of far better heroes so he asked a friend to draw a cartoon of Amelia Earhart. Brad took that cartoon, put it on a t-shirt and wrote “I am Amelia Earhart” on the front and “I know no bounds” on the back. The shirt was a hit. His daughter loved it. His wife loved it. Friends loved it. Brad began telling the stories of Amelia Earhart and his kids were hooked. And a series of books was born.
Based upon the comments and pictures on Brad’s Facebook page, fans were rivited and are eagerly anticipating the next story time with Brad. There are rumors that Brad will be reading I am Abraham Lincoln next on a date still to be determined. Follow Brad on Facebook or Twitter to learn about his upcoming events and book releases, including future story times.
Check out last night’s story time with Brad.
Storytime With Brad – LIVE right now
Posted by Brad Meltzer on Sunday, November 8, 2015
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Filed under: Childhood Memories, Inspiration, Life Lessons
Tags: books, Brad Meltzer, heroes, inspiration, life lessons, reading is fundamental
