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By Keila Santa '25
On Monday, March 3rd, 2025, Curriculum Librarian Sam Westall hosted a kid’s storytime in the curriculum library—an engaging experience for the young readers which centered around language diversity and community.
Sam selected two charmingly thoughtful books to read aloud: Say Hello! by Rachel Isadora and Change Sings by Loren Long. When I asked her about why she landed on this selection, she shared that Say Hello! teaches kids how to greet others in many different languages, making it a perfect fit for this group of children who are part of a full English, Portuguese, and Spanish immersion program. Loren Long’s Change Sings on the other hand, carries a message of unity, showing how people can come together to create positive change in their communities. Beyond the books, Sam mentioned that her favorite part of hosting storytimes is the reactions from the kids; their curiosity, excitement, and endless questions make each story-telling session unique, and she loves to see their faces and how they engage with different texts.
Before wrapping up, I couldn’t resist asking Sam about her current favorite children’s book. Though hesitant to pick just one, she shared that a current favorite of hers is Big by Vashti Harrison, which follows the story of a little girl navigating body dysmorphia. She praised it for its thoughtful and heartfelt exploration of this difficult topic, saying it is one of the only children’s books she knows of that explores the struggles of body-image in this way.
Whether through highlighting important messages like learning new languages and the power of community, or by simply getting lost in wonderful tales, a good storytime can be a key component in shaping a child’s lasting love for books. It was a joy to be able to attend and get a reminder of the impact that reading together has at a young age.
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