mychal

Man, what an honor to speak with the ultra kind & wonderful Kelly Clarkson on @Kelly Clarkson Show about mine & Lorraine Nam’s picture book 🥹 Video Description: Kelly Clarkson briefly sings the theme song for Reading Rainbow as she brings a happy Mychal virtually onto her show. He tells her how beloved she is by educators before she asks about the inspiration behind the book. Mychal explains that he wrote the book, illustrated by Lorraine Nam and published by @Random House Children’s Books, because he was raised in the library, homeschooled by his mom, and taught the importance of literacy & reading by parents & grandparents. As a librarian, he’s often been asked about belonging in the library. He wrote the book hoping disabled, neurodivergent, struggling, happy people would all believe the library is the place they belong always ✨ #BookTok #Books #LibraryTikTok

NASA Astronaut Ronald E. McNair, one of the coolest human beings of all-time ❤️‍🩹✨🎷 Video Description: Mychal is excited to have learned about Ronald E. McNair- Father, Husband, Physicist, Scientist, NASA Astronaut, Pioneer in the Field of Lasers (SO COOL). He was killed in the disaster of the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle mission. He was selected to become part of NASA group 8, their first class including both women and minorities. He is the second Black American to go to space, the first person EVER to play saxophone in space. At age 9, Ronald E. McNair & his mom were denied the opportunity to borrow books from the Lake City Public Library, due to segregation. Police were called, upon their arrival, they asked library staff, "Why don't you just let them checkout the books?" Ronald and his mom were reluctantly allowed to borrow the books. Years later the very same library building that used to be that very same library became the Ronald E. McNair Life History Center, in honor of his legacy. Mychal encourages all ages to read & learn about Ronald E. McNair 📚 #TikTokLearningCampaign #BlackHistory #NASA #Storytime

Happy birthday, Trayvon Martin 🎈 [February 5, 1995 - February 26, 2012] A library kid who should have turned 31-years-old today, who should be celebrating with his family. He should have gone to so many more space camps. He should have an opportunity to be an astronaut, a scientist, to be anything 💜 We remember you. You mattered, you matter, you always will. The stars are shining across the galaxy for you, Mr. Trayvon Martin. Every child should be safe 💚 #Birthday #HappyBirthday #Storytime

Thank you for working so hard to make all those books, you poor penguins! 🐧📚😩 Video Description: Mychal stands next to a colorful @Penguin Random House penguin, asking aloud, “How do the penguins make all those books with their tiny hands?” He realizes they don’t even have hands, no thumbs! He puts his face in his hands, dismayed as he thinks of the penguins and the books. #BookTok #Books #Story #Storytime

Lorraine Nam, we did it! First time seeing our picture book is on shelf 🥹 It exists, it’s real. AAAHHH!!! 😭 Video Description: Mychal spots his debut book, I’M SO HAPPY YOU’RE HERE: A CELEBRATION OF LIBRARY JOY (illustrated by Lorraine Nam), at his local @Barnes & Noble. He is in disbelief seeing it on shelves for the first time. He is an author, expressing joy! 📚 #BookTok #Books #Story #Storytime

Happy Black History Month 🖤✨📚 Video Description: Mychal wishes you a Happy Black History Month before reminding us that libraries would not be what they are today without the contributions of the tremendous Dorothy B. Porter, also known as Dorothy Porter Wesley. She decolonized the Dewey Decimal System! She persevered through discrimination and discouragement to become the 1st Black person to graduate from Columbia University with a library Master’s degree. At Howard University as a cataloging librarian she noticed that works by Black people fell into classification numbers: 326 for slavery & 325 for colonization. She was not okay with this, seeking to highlight and celebrate the roles of Black people in all subject areas. She worked tirelessly to ensure works by Black athletes, doctors, educators, musicians, and more fell into their appropriate category. She celebrated the hard written works by and about Black people, and now thanks to her so do all libraries. She made it happen. She was a librarian for 43 years. Thank you, Dorothy B. Porter 💜 #BookTok #LibraryTikTok #Storytime

A judge has ordered the release of Liam Ramos and his dad from an ICE detention center, a place where they should have never been ❤️‍🩹 Bring him and his dad all the way home 🏡 Liam Ramos is our library kid 💛 #Story #Storytime

#stitch with @Carrie Rad You’re never too young or too old to fall in love with books. Read alouds need us all! @Libby App Video Description: A baby babbles while flipping through a book. Mychal appears and talks to the Libby App, believing the reading aloud child would be an excellent choice for audiobook narration. #BookTok #Books #Storytime #Story

#stitch with @Itsbrittanydavila The Library IS the place for autistic children, autistic people! 📚🌈 Video Description: Mychal responds to Brittany’s wishing aloud that they could bring their autistic son to the library. Brittany asks autism moms if they’ve ever done, wondering what the library offers to autistic children (if anything)… Mychal acknowledges he’s not an autism mom, before insisting, as a librarian, that the library offers THE LIBRARY as a place, resources for autistic children! He apologizes for any impression libraries have given that contradict such a belief. The library is for everyone. He understands some kids don’t know how to whisper, they often shout… and that’s okay! Library kids can learn to use a library voice, and if they can’t, library staff will figure something out. The library is an exciting place! There are books, community, friends, and so much more. Library Joy is for everyone. Mychal encourages autism moms, autistic kids, neurodivergent folks, everyone to use your library. The library is for YOU! ✨ #BookTok #LibraryTikTok #Autism

Met this joyful legend of a library human at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in Canada 😁 Makes me so happy that @Bukola, who sings the theme song of the Reading Rainbow revival, is Canadian ✨ Video Description: An older library gentleman smiles while leaning onto Mychal, who also smiles. They continue smiling happily as they take a photo together. #BookTok #LibraryTikTok #Canada

Mrs. Imra Garcia, most excellent, most beloved teacher… forever cherished, forever missed ❤️‍🩹💚 Video Description: Mychal walks (inspired by @kait 🍸) to always remember Mrs. Irma Garcia, a co-4th grade teacher at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School, alongside Mrs. Eva Mireles. They were both tragically killed, alongside 19 students, on May 24, 2022. They should have been protected, as they protected their beloved students. Two days later, Mrs. Garcia’s husband, Joe, would die of a medical emergency. He was a manager of a grocery store, known for taking care of everyone and loving his family. High school sweethearts, they had 4 children who love and miss them dearly. They were known for compassion and kindness. Mrs. Irma Garcia was a true helper, who always helped no matter what. She loved music, barbecuing, and vacations. To her husband’s dismay, she would sing as loudly as she could OFTEN to classic rock. Teacher of the year, teacher of a lifetime, Mrs. Irma Garcia is loved, she is forever ✨ #Uvalde #Storytime #Story #Love

Eliahna “Ellie Gee” Garcia, an everlasting bright light… forever missed, forever loved 💜❤️‍🩹🩷 Video Description: Mychal walks (inspired by @kait 🍸) for Eliahna Garcia, affectionately known as Ellie Gee. Slain 4th grader of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. She should still be with us. Mychal had the honor of communicating with her dad, who shares she was a bright light upon us all. An upbeat, selfless girl. She aspired to be many things in life, especially a teacher as the teachers in her life, Miss Eva & Miss Irma, were so great to her. She enjoyed late night rides with her dad, especially when everyone always hopped in with their mom. She would say, “I'm gonna ride with dad,” melting his heart. She was big into her faith, loving her relationship with Jesus. She loved basketball, her jersey number inspired from her mom’s birthday, the 21st. She enjoyed being with her grandparents, helping them in everything they did. Especially when her grandpa mowed lawns, you better believe Ellie was right there! A bright star who will never dim, Eliahna “Ellie Gee” Garcia forever ✨ #Storytime #Story #Love

It’s a wonderful kind of day to hug your best friend, to learn to laugh and play! 😂🥹💛 Video Description: Mychal high-fives, shakes hands, and hugs @ArthurPBS. He turns and smiles, full of joy. #BookTok #Friends @GBH @PBS KIDS

Lexi Rubio, you are loved, you made a difference ❤️‍🩹💛🌻🦋 Video Description: Mychal believes it’s always a good to walk (inspired by @kait 🍸) to remember and celebrate Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio. One of the Robb Elementary School 4th graders who didn’t make it home safe on May 24, 2022. She should have been safe, should have been protected. On that day, she received the good citizen award and her honor roll certificate. She loved all sorts of snacks, especially mint chocolate chip ice cream. She loved softball and basketball. She wanted to go to St. Mary’s University, like her mom, and major in math, before going to law school to become a lawyer. She loved bright colors, sunflowers, and butterflies. She liked music, Roblox, YouTube, and TikTok. She liked watching movies with her family. She loved her family, they adore and miss her so much. She always wanted to make a difference, she wanted to help others. She DID make a difference by being herself, by trying her best. She was fierce, her contagious smile is missed. She is forever in our hearts. Memories of her & her existence will never fade. Lexi Rubio forever ✨ #LexiRubioMadeADifference

What a happy surprise to hear the Reading Rainbow theme song sung by Boston Children’s Museum staff during a visit full of fun and joy! 😊 Video Description: Boston Children's Museum surprised a visiting Mychal with a performance of the Reading Rainbow theme song. Mychal and friends smile and listen happily, applauding at the end ✨ 📹: @GBH @Boston Children’s Museum #ReadingRainbow