Posted by Ten-year-old Val has always loved reading, so when one of her class assignments was to present a virtual book talk, she was ecstatic. She realized she wanted to these more. So, she started a YouTube channel called Read With Val to share books she loves with the world. She has more than 2,000 subscribers and has done over 100 book talks!
Not only does she do book talks, she also does videos about exploring, bball, Mandarin, and more!
It’s so awesome to see kids like me promoting reading. This was such a fun interview, read it below!
Question: What inspired you to talk about books on YouTube and Instagram?
Answer: I’ve always loved reading. I was reading all these amazing books, but not sharing them with anyone. During COVID-19 distance learning, one of our assignments was to present a virtual book talk. I had a lot of fun sharing my book talk and I discovered a few interesting books from my classmates’ book talks. I found it to be a really fun and interactive way to learn and share about books. The summer holiday was around the corner and I decided to start doing book talks as my summer project!
Q: Why do you love to read so much?
A: I love to read because there is no limit to where you can go. You get to explore and wonder, feel and imagine, while reading books.
Q: What is your favorite book you’ve reviewed on your channel?
A: I have so many books that truly stood out to me! If I could choose one, it would be Front Desk. I love Front Desk because I feel so connected to Mia. I could feel the struggles and feelings that she had, like being different as we are both Asian and our parents are both immigrants. I love that Kelly Yang incorporated her own childhood stories in the book. Not only the book was fun to read, but I also learned about the immigration law, the related history, and issues.
Q: What has been the easiest part of doing book talks? What about the hardest?
A: The easiest part of doing book talks would be doing the actual book talk because I can talk about my experiences and what I loved about the book. That part comes pretty naturally because there are just so many great things that I can share with the viewers. The hardest part would be choosing books to read. There are just so many fabulous books in the world and I honestly do have a hard time choosing which book to read next.
Q: Who is your favorite author, and why?
A: My favorite authors are Kelly Yang, Jessica Kim, and Stacy McAnulty. My favorite book genre is realistic fiction and they are all amazing realistic fiction authors. Please check out my interview with Jessica Kim and Stacy McAnulty
Q: Why do you think it’s so important for kids to read and enjoy books?
A: There are so many answers to this question. One of the main thoughts for me would be that it’s important for kids to see themselves inside a book. That can give them confidence and excitement! Reading is also a great way to relax and unwind. Anything is possible in books and imagining is a huge part of reading.
Q: Congrats on reaching your goal of reviewing 100 books! Do you have another goal you want to achieve?
A: Thank you! Right now I do not have another goal. I just want to keep doing as many amazing book talks as I can!
Some of my favorite book talks by Val:
:: Book Talk :: The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick :: Read with Val
:: Book Talk :: Serena Says, by Tanita S. Davis :: Read with Val
:: Book Talk :: Logan Likes Mary Anne (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels), by Gale Galligan
Elena Reads and Reviews 