To share a little bit of what's going into the latest season of our micropodcast "Bookmarks," I recently gave a talk as a part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s online lecture series “Badger Talks.” Coming this fall, season three — “What We Read When We Were Young” — feels especially pertinent as our nation struggles with achieving racial justice and our world struggles with a deadly pandemic. There are scary times for sure. But they are also times of hope.
The talk gave me an excuse to talk at length about my favorite childhood book, “Watership Down,” and what it meant to me then (the child reading under a tree) and what it meant and means to me as an adult (a shifting allegory of my changing beliefs and priorities).
I'm clearly not the only one eager to share, since for nearly the full thirty minute stream, viewers eagerly shared their own formative reads in the chat. I read them one by one and was struck by the power of our shared experiences. Suddenly the fears and triumphs of a band of misfit rabbits once again filled my soul and imagination.
From time to time here at TTBOOK we take the time to consider what we believe in. What is core to our mission? And how do we convey that in our work? We frequently come back to two concepts — "intelligent optimism" and "awe and wonder." And that's what this online discussion about childhood reading was all about. That’s what magic is all about.
I think it can be really hard for us grown-ups to remember the power of enchanted forests. Black girl magic. Impossible journeys. Defeating the bad guy. So, I challenge you to invite a few friends to a books-you-read-as-a-child Zoom night. You won’t regret it.
That child can make it through this challenge today. That child can change the world today. You just need the company of an armored polar bear.
— Charles