Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Writing on the Heart of a Child

When I created the Charlie Chaloosy book series in July 2023, I knew I wanted to impact the lives of children through the books I wrote. I wanted to create an opportunity for them to see themselves as capable storytellers.

To accomplish that goal, I include two interactive pages at the back of every book. On these pages, young readers are asked to select one thing of their own choosing to extend the story by adding one page of writing and one page of visual storytelling.

I have asked the thousands of students I have had the privilege of speaking to at schools, family literacy nights, bookstores and author events, “What are you called when your words and illustrations are in a book?”

Their answers are always the same… An Author!

The cost of summer learning loss

Students who made hard-won gains this year risk slipping backward over the summer break — especially those already achieving below benchmark.

Students who don’t read consistently over the summer break can lose 2–3 months of progress.

And when they return? The first weeks of fall are often spent reteaching, reviewing, and trying to rebuild momentum you worked so hard to muster.

That time adds up. It’s time that struggling readers can’t afford to lose.

You know this. You’ve lived it. You’re already wondering: What can I do now to help prevent summer reading loss — without taking on more than I can handle?

Here’s the good news: research shows that regular reading, especially when supported by families and guided by simple comprehension prompts, does prevent the summer slide. You don’t need a new curriculum or extra classroom time — you need the right tools, shared at the right time.

Inspiring young writers by making it personal

Now that you have read my book,
I have a task for you,
It’s time to add a page or two,
Let’s see what you can do.
These pages are yours to write and draw,
An author you will be,
Pick a thing you’d like to try,
And share it now with me.
I could have chosen anyone,
To write with Charlie Chaloosy,
But in a world of everyone,
I will choosy yousy!

It is an amazing gift in being able to share your own story.

I had no idea of the magnitude of that desire until my oldest grandson, Dawson (5 ½ years old), taught me an incredible lesson.

Dawson recently had a book fair at his school, and out of every possible selection he could have made, he chose a journal. His selection seemed an odd choice to his mom but she didn’t try to talk him into a different choice.

When they were driving home, my daughter asked him why he chose the journal — and his response will stay with me forever.

He said, “I’ve seen Granddaddy (me) write in his journal and he uses it to write books. I’m learning to read and spell important words so I want to write them down in my journal so Granddaddy can teach me to write a book.”

My daughter made him repeat his explanation when he got home so she could record it and send it to me. Dawson ended the video message with the simple request, “Granddaddy, will you teach me to write a book?”

Inspiring young writers by including them in the process

I was in the midst of writing the third book in the Charlie Chaloosy series, Charlie Chaloosy Goes on a Cruisey, and I knew after watching the video it was time to start incorporating my grandchildren into my writing.

Inspiring young writers by investigating illustrations

During my assemblies with K-2nd grade students we discuss characters, illustrations, rhyming, and lessons we can learn from the stories we read. We end our SEL/literacy time utilizing a 2-page template that allows students to illustrate and write about one new thing they would like to try (theme from book #1) or one new dream they would like to have (theme from book #2), with the opportunity to add illustrations.

Grade 3-5 students use the stories to analyze how illustrations are instrumental in supporting and expanding the story in the mind of the reader.

I introduce the concept of the arc of a story as we focus on components of a story; characters, setting, theme, conflict, and resolution. **I reinforce the steps of story creation as I guide the students in creating a story out loud during the session and discussion

My goal is for all children to go away equipped with the tools it takes to write their own stories and the belief that they can!

About the Author: Brad Mason, Ed.D. (in his own words)

From Charlie Chaloosy to each child’s own story

Brad Mason’s approach to inspiring young authors — inviting children to co-create and contribute their own ideas — beautifully mirrors what we at Kids Read Now believe: every child has a story worth telling.

That’s why every student in our program receives a special book called MyStories! It’s a fun and creative way to turn readers into writers…

Kids Read Now supports caregivers to support kids

Caregivers also receive easy guidance inside the book to help them support their child’s writing journey at home. It’s another way Kids Read Now makes reading personal, meaningful, and lasting.

Thousands of parents surveyed told us their kids liked this element of our program, with comments such as:

• “They loved having something fun to do on rainy days.”
• “He really loved the activities, but I think I enjoyed reading his stories the best”
• “It was a good way to express what’s in his imagination.”
• “My daughter loved it and took it camping with us to write in.”

MyStories: Where writing meets identity and imagination

Whether they’re adding to Charlie Chaloosy’s latest adventure or imagining their own, kids light up when they’re given the chance to create. That’s what makes MyStories such a powerful part of the Kids Read Now experience — especially with this year’s theme: All About Me.

Just like Brad Mason, Ed.D. encourages children to co-author his books and see themselves as real writers, MyStories invites every child to explore who they are through drawing, writing, and storytelling. This year’s edition prompts them to reflect, imagine, and create narratives that are deeply personal and developmentally rich.

And when children write about themselves, they’re not only learning literacy skills, they’re building self-awareness, confidence, and emotional expression. Families play an important role too, using the simple caregiver tips in the book to support their child’s growth and celebrate their creativity at home.

This year, as kids receive their MyStories books, they’ll know their voice matters, their story is worth telling, and their ideas belong in a book. Because literacy is more than reading — it’s identity-building.