Issue 09 · September 2026 · Fall In Love With Reading
September occupies an odd space in my mind. The idea of September is so cozy, conjuring images of crisp apples, plaid blankets and sweaters, and freshly sharpened pencils. But the reality of September in Southern California is sitting directly in front of a fan while blow-drying my hair in the most sweltering heat of the year. Even as we step into "locals summer", I can't escape that "back-to-school" feeling; the urge to buy new pens and fresh notebooks, and the sense that I'm standing at the start of a year of learning and possibility. Whether you're in dire need of an iced-coffee or ready to dive head first into pumpkin spice, I wishing you a very happy start to the Fall season. In this issue:
The Privilege and Power of Literacy- Celebrating National Literacy Month One of my favorite memories growing up is reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my dad before bed. I was completely enthralled by the twists and turns of the plot, the loathsome and lovable characters, and the mouth-watering descriptions of Willie Wonka's chocolate factory. My dad would read a section or two, and just when the plot thickened he would insist that I read a page. Of course I struggled with some of the words, and this practice significantly lengthened our bedtime routine, but this is how I fell in love with reading. At school, we focused on phonics readers and leveled texts, which were useful in teaching how to read, but it was Charlie and Willie, Nancy Drew, the Boxcar Children, and this precious time with my dad that opened me up to a world of ideas and alternate realities that changed my life, and in many ways saved my life. Today, 54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level. That number may feel far from you, but it impacts all of us. Literacy is one of the quiet foundations of a fair and functioning society, tied to everything from equal opportunity to how well people can participate in their own communities and the broader world. To me, that number tells the story of thousands of kids who never got the chance to fall in love with reading in the first place. Reading success isn't built in a single lesson, but rather through what Fonetti calls "reading miles," the steady accumulation of a regular reading practice that grows vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency over time. Whether you have kids who are reading averse, or maybe you've lost your love of reading along the way, allow me to recommend a few books that may help you rediscover this truly transportive technology. For Early Readers: |
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 
Dog Man 
Ivy + Bean 
The Boxcar Children
For Middle Grade: |
The Ghost Rules 
Wishtree
For Teens/YA: |
The Hate U Give 
Speak
For Adults: |
Tuesdays with Morrie 
The Kite Runner
Little Star Starts to Shine Little Star is officially open for preorder through my website (with books shipping the first week of November) and is now available through Amazon too (with books shipping December 8). If you've been waiting to get your copy, now is the time! Thank you so much to those of you who have already purchased a copy- truly, it means SO much to me. Something else I'm excited to share, I've started booking speaking engagements built around the idea at the heart of this book: the power of imagination and what it looks like to coauthor your story with your Creator. Not just the story ahead of you, but the story behind you too. This talk is born out of my own experience writing Little Star. It started as the story I needed to hear as a little girl, and somewhere along the way, it became something bigger... a realization of how God saw my story, allowing me to fully step into my identity and embrace my community and calling in a way I hadn't before. If you know of a group, church, classroom, or any kind of gathering where this message would be helpful, I'd love to hear about it, just hit reply!  Until next time, Cathi |
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