Why I Love This Job

Did you see this week’s New York Times article about the plight of Florida’s coral reefs? My family learned of this threat 3 years ago, thanks to a book we read to my five-year-old son. Great kids’ books do that - they allow us to educate ourselves while engaging with our children. And they succeed for three reasons:

#1 Masterful authors inhabit the KidLit space

Take The Brilliant Deep: a talented storyteller and a gorgeous illustrator describe Ken Nedimyer’s mind-blowing efforts to rescue critically endangered corals in Florida and beyond.

The book’s fascinating facts, mix of worry and inspiration, and call to action minus “child-speak” or “cuteness” mesmerize my whole family time and again.

#2 Great books make reading with kids magical

The Brilliant Deep is the TLC we parents need:

• Brain is enriched with brief, well chosen language (like in this newsletter!)

• Limbs rest during semi-meditative bonding with a small human

• Eyes feast on glorious illustrations

What could be better? Well, it’s perhaps this -

#3 Unlike the news, smart children’s books do not deflate us

After finishing The Brilliant Deep, my family began donating to Nedimyer’s Coral Restoration Foundation. It may be a fools’ errand but this small act of support helped me survive the NYT article. Hopefully it has also built some agency in my children.

So I keep reading kids’ books and celebrating the ones that offer our children (and us) stable footing in a shaky world. It beats the alternative. Will you join me?

Learn more about The Brilliant Deep from my Insta, read and discuss it with your child, and email me your thoughts summarized in two emojis!