Issue 12, 2024

Looking Ahead

by Judy Newman

It’s December and everyone is making their year-end Best of 2024 Lists. Since time is speeding by so quickly, I figured I’d try to get ahead of things and make my list of some things I am most looking forward to in 2025:

1. Growing Scholastic’s United States of Readers program to reach millions of children in every state in the U.S. (plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico).

2. Getting a brand-new hardcover copy of Pam Munoz Ryan’s new novel, El Nino, illustrated by Joe Cepeda, when it comes out on May 6.

3. Attending the New Orleans Book Festival on March 27-29 on the Tulane Campus and spending time with local authors and readers from the community on Family Day.

4. Delivering a keynote speech in March to Arizona educators entitled: “Everything I Know About Women in Leadership I Learned from Children’s Books.”

5. Watching the new season of Goosebumps: The Vanishing,
   which premieres on January 10, and Eva the Owlet on January 24.

6. Seeing the new Dog Man movie, coming to theaters January 31.

7. Rereading some of my old favorite picture books with my granddaughters: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, The Story of Ferdinand, The Happy Day, Make Way for Ducklings—and about 50 other top choices.

8. Spending time in my local favorite bookstore, Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ, to find brand new picture books to add to my library.

I think eight is enough. At least for now. I feel like I got a jump on the new year.

Sending best wishes for a happy, healthy, and fun holiday season with plenty of time for reading.

Judy •

Judy Newman, Chief Impact Officer, Scholastic