Last week, Best-selling author James Patterson made a special appearance at the ALA’s American Association of School Librarians national conference, held in Charlotte, North Carolina. In his speech, he called for all librarians to fight hard to get more kids hooked on reading. “It’s time for librarians to start making a lot more noise,” Patterson urged. “School libraries are not a luxury, they are a necessity. … When you turn kids on to reading, it is the most satisfying thing that you can do on the planet.” The writer’s passion for literacy has inspired him to create a new website, ReadKiddoRead.com, that assists librarians, educators and parents in finding quality books for children. The site, aimed at kids of all ages, reading and interest levels, features book recommendations, reviews and Patterson’s interviews with prominent authors.

Though best known for his thriller novels, Patterson has also written several young adult books including Daniel X: Watch the Skies and the Maximum Ride series. His drive to foster young readers was evident in his conference address, as he emphasized the importance of not only librarians, but also parents, encouraging children to read. “It is the parents responsibility to find books that will turn their kids on,” Patterson stated. … “Right now, there are millions of kids in this country that have never read a book and that is a national tragedy. The good news is that it is fixable and the people who can help are right here.”

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