Tom Bober

I’m happy I was able to share my version of what school librarians are doing every day across the country.

My afternoon today.

A HUGE thank you to Dave Eggers who saw us use Her Left Foot as a kickoff title for our 25 Stories for 250 Years and sent us these beautiful books and poster in celebration. Kids (and teachers) are loving them!

“Safe” if not a word we necessarily use in the library, but that doesn’t mean that students don’t feel it. I’m honored that I can oversee a safe space for this student.

If you love Darius the Great Is Not Okay or any of Adib Khorram's books, come join us this Sunday for a talk about his new book, One Word, Six Letters. It's a thought provoking YA read & I can't wait to talk with him about it! We'll be at the Commons on Delmar @3pm hosted by The Novel Neighbor.

Today’s laser engraving adventure was bringing in my own file, and engraving and cutting in the same set of commands. Tomorrow I move onto different materials!

First efforts with the laser engraver. Next is to design my own engraving or cutting and then teach students the process!

I’m honored to be up for this AASL position and while I’ll have more to say on it soon, I wanted to acknowledge and thank Amanda for her trust in me.

I’ve spent the last two days in DC talking to Missouri Congressional staffers about the importance of libraries and the impact of federal funding on Missouri citizens. Real stories. Real impact. And great conversations today.

Put this newest title from Annette Bay Pimentel and Faith Pray at the top of your list. The voice is extraordinary, illustrations are beautiful, and the story is sweet. The backmatter is 🔥too. (Comes out in March)

These posters are up to encourage students to read other grade level books for our 25 Books for 250 Years project. And it’s working! Students are checking these out and recommending favorites to siblings and buddies.

Librarians, if you’ve thought, “I’d love to be on a book award committee!” this could be your path! I co-chaired this committee a couple of years ago and can say that it is a great opportunity to grow, reflect, and learn from others.

My notes are ready for my talk tonight with Jarrett Dapier and his new YA graphic, Wake Now in the Fire, based on students response to the 2013 banning of Persepolis in the Chicago public schools. 6pm at Schlafly Library! Hope to see you there.

This new title from Calkins Creek has connections to Ukraine, Minneapolis, refugees, and I guarantee you’ll want to watch a video of someone making a pysanky when you’re done reading it.

I'm honored and excited to be in conversation with author Jarrett Dapier this Wednesday at the Schlafly Public Library @ 6pm to talk about his new book, WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE, a YA graphic novel. If you're in the St. Louis area, I'd love to see you there! More info here: left-bank.com/event/2026-0...

Snow day today so the YMAs will be watched from home. The winter storm stopped me from traveling to Chicago. Can’t wait to see what books are recognized!

If you're looking for the full list of nonfiction picture books I'm using for our look at the 250th anniversary of the US, you can read about the project and read the list here: www.slj.com/story/Teachi...

A big thanks to SLJ for highlighting my “25 Books for 250 Years” project! It kicks off next week and I’ll have many more details soon!

I’m excited to be visiting with Kentucky librarians later this week to help kick off the second half of the year and talk about finding your professional joy!

I will never not do a double take when the book set in the 90s goes into our historical fiction section. 😂

Our first student-designed print from our advanced Tinkercad classes for 4th and 5th graders in th library. Each student had an intro set of classes in library and then students voluntarily sign up for advanced classes to tinker on their own or work on a project based on the skills they learned.

This may be my favorite Live from the Library of the year, where I share the "25 Stories for 250 Years" program we'll be doing in the library in 2026 and inviting parents to join in with read alouds and primary source explorations at home.

We’re not done at Jane Adeny! Thank you to everyone who has and will donate to this project and our upcoming project which is in the works! More at building libraries.org

Getting ready for my latest Live From the Libray for parents tonight. Looking forward to our Nonfiction November episode. 📚❤️

Here listening to Dan Santat preach and taking us all to church as he talked about how to get kids to fall in love with reading. #SLJSummit

Pulling possible picture books to pair with primary sources for my "25 Stories for 250 Years" that I'll do in the Spring of 2026 for the US Semiquincentennial with my students K-5.

It was an honor sharing the stage with @mstewartscience.bsky.social @ my 4th #AASL25 event. We had an amazing crowd & I was able to share my school’s NF journey and the impact Melissa’s 5 Kinds of NF has had on my work. The crowd was there in force & having Melissa’s expertise there was invaluable.

A pic from event #3 yesterday where Andrea Trudeau and I shared work in our schools around connecting AR and 3D printing to the humanities. I always learn something new from Andrea and loved talking 3D printing and scanning with participants.

Looking forward to sharing about librarians Building Libraries collaboration with Kids Discover on our trip to Kenya, the Nonfiction work we’re doing in the library, and the powerful pairings of primary sources and literature! Hope you can join!

If you’re looking for my morning session, where I share a bit of Librarians Building Libraries story about our trip to Kenya that Amanda Jones, Andrea Trudeau, and I took, look for me in at the end of the exhibit hall. These signs will show the way!

My second #AASL25 event just wrapped. I had the best time with my friend Amanda Jones where we spent time talking about her book, That Librarian. So grateful to get a chance to talk with her and for all the people that joined us.

Kicking off #AASL25 right with a visit from 30+ librarians from across the country (and a few even farther). Great questions and it was amazing to share all of the great things students have been doing in the library.

Getting ready for my talk with @librarianjones.com next Wednesday at her St. Louis event with Left Bank Books. Want to hear us chat it up? Learn more (and register) here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...

Our “What are we reading?” Display started with two staff and now we’re almost to 20! Hoping to show that every adult in the building is a reader. And I’m happy that students are checking it out. 📚❤️

A Kinder was struggling to get started with his drawing. He was enjoying the time chatting with classmates. When I spoke with him, he threw his arms up and said, “I have TEN letters in my name!” and promptly went back to writing his name. (He was on letter 8.) 📝😥😉

To all of my St. Louis friends and my librarian friends who will be in on Wednesday for AASL, I want to invite you to a talk with my amazing friend Amanda Jones where she’ll share the story behind the story of her bestselling book That Librarian. RSVP here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...

When a kinder wants a “research book” about snails because he hopes there’s a new pet on the way, you stop everything to find that book. I can report that he left very happy.

Reason #238 to befriend your art teacher: when you lose a button at school she can set you up with needle and thread to get you good as new. Thanks Tiffany!

Spending lunches reading to kids who voluntarily come up for a story time. Not a bad part of my day. 📚❤️

By this time next week I’ll be wrapping up my Keynote at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians’ annual conference! Honored to be asked to close out the event and share with colleagues. If you’ll be there, below are my sessions and Keynote times and topics.

Excited for AASL to be in St. Louis next month and also excited to be able to do all kinds of sharing over Friday and Saturday. If you're there with me, here's where you can find me!

An awesome morning hosting Aaron Reynolds for his newest book with Jasper Rabbit, Troubling Tonsils! This guy has some energy! He signed our wall right next to the Creepy Carrots Peter Brown drew for us a few years ago. 🥕❤️

New NF hitting shelves today and on display for easy access!

Day 3 of school: What did this student say when she checked out these books during her first visit to the library for the year? “THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!” P.S. School Libraries are Important ❤️📚❤️

Second day of school: S: Do you have another book like Magic Ramen? Me: Sure! What did you like about it that you’re hoping to read in another book? S: Like another biography with noodles in it. Me: Actually, I don’t have anything like that. 😂🍜

Student on the second day of school: “I read a whole Weird But True book last night. I was only supposed to read for 30 minutes. But I extended that.” 📚❤️

When you feel seen by your local Kaldis Coffee… #BackToSchool

If you're a fan of Chronicling America's 23+MILLION pages of full text historical US Newspapers, you may have already seen that their Beta site has now officially gone live. There's a great write-up to check out here: newsroom.loc.gov/news/library...

The JAMS Library Project continues! Phase Two is here: comfy furniture, more books students love, & better library tools. We’re not done yet—help us keep building! Blog: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/were-back-... @librarianjones.com @captainlibrary.bsky.social @andreatrudeau.bsky.social