Michelle Kuo wrote “How do we diminish the distance between us? Reading is one way to close the distance. It gives us a quiet universe that we can share together, that we can share in equally.” Thirteen year-old E Train, who founded E Train Talks, is diminishing the distance between us one book at a time, one author at a time, bringing book joy and kindness to all. I had the honor, and fun, to interview him and talk about the incredible E Train Talks.
“Stories can cross the barriers of time, past, present, and future, and allow us to experience the similarities between ourselves and through others, real and imagined.” Andrew Stanton
Reading has always been a treasured part of E Train’s life. All throughout his childhood he would spend time in a reading nook, listening to the books and stories his mom would read and sing to him. As he grew his personal reading was non-fiction until one day he chose to read a Percy Jackson book. This moment in time of reading a fiction book opened up a new world of learning and imagination. Since about three years old E Train loved interviewing people. As he got older he continued to love learning about people and hearing what they have to say. This has always been fun for him. E Train is a huge advocate of kindness, literacy for all, and justice for all. Part of the mission of E Train Talks is to “change the world, one read at a time! Literacy For All & Justice For All.”
“Stories cannot demolish frontiers, but they can punch holes in our mental walls. And through those holes, we can get a glimpse of the other, and sometimes even like what we see.” Elif Shafrak
E Train Talks is a literacy and kindness initiative that began during COVID. Since the world had pivoted to online for many things E Train’s mom found a plethora of book clubs where E Train could talk with other fellow readers about all things books. E Train developed the idea of interviewing and talking with authors about their books online to share with others from the online book clubs. His parents fully supported him and the E Train Talks podcast began.
“Be the change and make someone’s day.” E Train
In the beginning E Train put out an ask of any authors of children and young teen’s books to be interviewed. He received emails from authors and book publishers. Since the beginning of the E Train Talks podcast, the number of people reaching out continues to increase. The interviews are fun and thought provoking. He wants his audience, especially children and teenagers, to see how much fun reading is. Another source of all things books are librarians and they are featured guests on his podcast. E Train Talks has other initiatives from doing book drives to send books to places in need, A bookmark project where children will decorate bookmarks to be sent to another school. He also shares free bookmark templates so children can decorate their very own bookmark. Classroom visits (online) is another joy of how E Train shares his time with others. This Giving Tuesday Spark Leader does all of this (remember he is thirteen) while going to school, participating in musical theater, basketball, playing video games, watching sports, Quiz Bowl decathlon, writing a monthly book review for “Good Day Sacramento,” spending time with his family and cat Honey. He was honored when he was chosen to be a “Giving Tuesday Spark Leader” and he is now connected to a community of other youth doing good for others. E Train loves what he does and his love shines through in what he does.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Barack Obama
We are honored to shine the Kindness Champion Spotlight on E Train and E Train Talks. This thirteen year-old changemaker is fierce in taking action to bring more literacy and kindness to children everywhere. We thank you for being you and bringing your awesomeness to the world.
For more information on the remarkable E Train here is his information:
Website: https://etraintalks.com/
X (Formerly Twitter): @ETrainsWorld https://twitter.com/ETrainsWorld
Instagram: @etraintalks https://www.instagram.com/etraintalks/
Facebook: @ETrain’sWorldofBooks&Wonder https://www.facebook.com/etrainloveshisbooks
YouTube: @ETrainsTalkPodcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzRg865WQ0u4wQPLcgVeKKg
