Tom Bober
@captainlibrary.bsky.social
Librarian Speaker Writer. LJ Mover&Shaker. Fmr @librarycongress Teacher in Residence. ALA Emerg Ldr. '19 Caldecott Comm. Podcaster. @Maslonline Past President.
My notes are ready for my talk tonight with Jarrett Dapier and his new YA graphic, Wake Now in the Fire, based on students response to the 2013 banning of Persepolis in the Chicago public schools. 6pm at Schlafly Library! Hope to see you there.
February 4, 2026 at 7:13 PM
My notes are ready for my talk tonight with Jarrett Dapier and his new YA graphic, Wake Now in the Fire, based on students response to the 2013 banning of Persepolis in the Chicago public schools. 6pm at Schlafly Library! Hope to see you there.
This new title from Calkins Creek has connections to Ukraine, Minneapolis, refugees, and I guarantee you’ll want to watch a video of someone making a pysanky when you’re done reading it.
February 3, 2026 at 10:26 PM
This new title from Calkins Creek has connections to Ukraine, Minneapolis, refugees, and I guarantee you’ll want to watch a video of someone making a pysanky when you’re done reading it.
I'm honored and excited to be in conversation with author Jarrett Dapier this Wednesday at the Schlafly Public Library @ 6pm to talk about his new book, WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE, a YA graphic novel.
If you're in the St. Louis area, I'd love to see you there!
More info here: left-bank.com/event/2026-0...
If you're in the St. Louis area, I'd love to see you there!
More info here: left-bank.com/event/2026-0...
February 2, 2026 at 5:17 AM
I'm honored and excited to be in conversation with author Jarrett Dapier this Wednesday at the Schlafly Public Library @ 6pm to talk about his new book, WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE, a YA graphic novel.
If you're in the St. Louis area, I'd love to see you there!
More info here: left-bank.com/event/2026-0...
If you're in the St. Louis area, I'd love to see you there!
More info here: left-bank.com/event/2026-0...
Snow day today so the YMAs will be watched from home.
The winter storm stopped me from traveling to Chicago.
Can’t wait to see what books are recognized!
The winter storm stopped me from traveling to Chicago.
Can’t wait to see what books are recognized!
January 26, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Snow day today so the YMAs will be watched from home.
The winter storm stopped me from traveling to Chicago.
Can’t wait to see what books are recognized!
The winter storm stopped me from traveling to Chicago.
Can’t wait to see what books are recognized!
If you're looking for the full list of nonfiction picture books I'm using for our look at the 250th anniversary of the US, you can read about the project and read the list here: www.slj.com/story/Teachi...
Teaching the Stories of America
School librarian Tom Bober created a unit of picture book read-alouds and primary sources for the country’s 250th birthday.
www.slj.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:48 PM
If you're looking for the full list of nonfiction picture books I'm using for our look at the 250th anniversary of the US, you can read about the project and read the list here: www.slj.com/story/Teachi...
A big thanks to SLJ for highlighting my “25 Books for 250 Years” project!
It kicks off next week and I’ll have many more details soon!
It kicks off next week and I’ll have many more details soon!
January 7, 2026 at 9:41 PM
A big thanks to SLJ for highlighting my “25 Books for 250 Years” project!
It kicks off next week and I’ll have many more details soon!
It kicks off next week and I’ll have many more details soon!
I’m excited to be visiting with Kentucky librarians later this week to help kick off the second half of the year and talk about finding your professional joy!
Hey KASL/KLA members! Check your email for this awesome opportunity! Start the new year with a moment to reflect, reset, and reconnect with the joy of librarianship! Guest speaker: @captainlibrary.bsky.social!! #KyLChat #KentuckyLibraries
January 5, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I’m excited to be visiting with Kentucky librarians later this week to help kick off the second half of the year and talk about finding your professional joy!
I will never not do a double take when the book set in the 90s goes into our historical fiction section. 😂
December 16, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I will never not do a double take when the book set in the 90s goes into our historical fiction section. 😂
Our first student-designed print from our advanced Tinkercad classes for 4th and 5th graders in th library.
Each student had an intro set of classes in library and then students voluntarily sign up for advanced classes to tinker on their own or work on a project based on the skills they learned.
Each student had an intro set of classes in library and then students voluntarily sign up for advanced classes to tinker on their own or work on a project based on the skills they learned.
December 13, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Our first student-designed print from our advanced Tinkercad classes for 4th and 5th graders in th library.
Each student had an intro set of classes in library and then students voluntarily sign up for advanced classes to tinker on their own or work on a project based on the skills they learned.
Each student had an intro set of classes in library and then students voluntarily sign up for advanced classes to tinker on their own or work on a project based on the skills they learned.
This may be my favorite Live from the Library of the year, where I share the "25 Stories for 250 Years" program we'll be doing in the library in 2026 and inviting parents to join in with read alouds and primary source explorations at home.
December 11, 2025 at 3:43 PM
This may be my favorite Live from the Library of the year, where I share the "25 Stories for 250 Years" program we'll be doing in the library in 2026 and inviting parents to join in with read alouds and primary source explorations at home.
We’re not done at Jane Adeny!
Thank you to everyone who has and will donate to this project and our upcoming project which is in the works!
More at building libraries.org
Thank you to everyone who has and will donate to this project and our upcoming project which is in the works!
More at building libraries.org
This #GivingTuesday, help us build a library at the Jane Adeny Memorial School where every child sees themselves in the stories they read. Your gift provides "mirror" books and furniture for our continued project in Kenya!
📚 Donate today to empower young readers!
📚 Donate today to empower young readers!
December 2, 2025 at 4:07 PM
We’re not done at Jane Adeny!
Thank you to everyone who has and will donate to this project and our upcoming project which is in the works!
More at building libraries.org
Thank you to everyone who has and will donate to this project and our upcoming project which is in the works!
More at building libraries.org
Getting ready for my latest Live From the Libray for parents tonight.
Looking forward to our Nonfiction November episode.
📚❤️
Looking forward to our Nonfiction November episode.
📚❤️
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Getting ready for my latest Live From the Libray for parents tonight.
Looking forward to our Nonfiction November episode.
📚❤️
Looking forward to our Nonfiction November episode.
📚❤️
Here listening to Dan Santat preach and taking us all to church as he talked about how to get kids to fall in love with reading. #SLJSummit
November 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Here listening to Dan Santat preach and taking us all to church as he talked about how to get kids to fall in love with reading. #SLJSummit
Pulling possible picture books to pair with primary sources for my "25 Stories for 250 Years" that I'll do in the Spring of 2026 for the US Semiquincentennial with my students K-5.
October 29, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Pulling possible picture books to pair with primary sources for my "25 Stories for 250 Years" that I'll do in the Spring of 2026 for the US Semiquincentennial with my students K-5.
It was an honor sharing the stage with @mstewartscience.bsky.social @ my 4th #AASL25 event. We had an amazing crowd & I was able to share my school’s NF journey and the impact Melissa’s 5 Kinds of NF has had on my work. The crowd was there in force & having Melissa’s expertise there was invaluable.
October 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
It was an honor sharing the stage with @mstewartscience.bsky.social @ my 4th #AASL25 event. We had an amazing crowd & I was able to share my school’s NF journey and the impact Melissa’s 5 Kinds of NF has had on my work. The crowd was there in force & having Melissa’s expertise there was invaluable.
A pic from event #3 yesterday where Andrea Trudeau and I shared work in our schools around connecting AR and 3D printing to the humanities. I always learn something new from Andrea and loved talking 3D printing and scanning with participants.
October 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A pic from event #3 yesterday where Andrea Trudeau and I shared work in our schools around connecting AR and 3D printing to the humanities. I always learn something new from Andrea and loved talking 3D printing and scanning with participants.
Looking forward to sharing about librarians Building Libraries collaboration with Kids Discover on our trip to Kenya, the Nonfiction work we’re doing in the library, and the powerful pairings of primary sources and literature! Hope you can join!
October 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Looking forward to sharing about librarians Building Libraries collaboration with Kids Discover on our trip to Kenya, the Nonfiction work we’re doing in the library, and the powerful pairings of primary sources and literature! Hope you can join!
If you’re looking for my morning session, where I share a bit of Librarians Building Libraries story about our trip to Kenya that Amanda Jones, Andrea Trudeau, and I took, look for me in at the end of the exhibit hall. These signs will show the way!
October 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
If you’re looking for my morning session, where I share a bit of Librarians Building Libraries story about our trip to Kenya that Amanda Jones, Andrea Trudeau, and I took, look for me in at the end of the exhibit hall. These signs will show the way!
My second #AASL25 event just wrapped.
I had the best time with my friend Amanda Jones where we spent time talking about her book, That Librarian. So grateful to get a chance to talk with her and for all the people that joined us.
I had the best time with my friend Amanda Jones where we spent time talking about her book, That Librarian. So grateful to get a chance to talk with her and for all the people that joined us.
October 16, 2025 at 1:40 AM
My second #AASL25 event just wrapped.
I had the best time with my friend Amanda Jones where we spent time talking about her book, That Librarian. So grateful to get a chance to talk with her and for all the people that joined us.
I had the best time with my friend Amanda Jones where we spent time talking about her book, That Librarian. So grateful to get a chance to talk with her and for all the people that joined us.
Kicking off #AASL25 right with a visit from 30+ librarians from across the country (and a few even farther). Great questions and it was amazing to share all of the great things students have been doing in the library.
October 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Kicking off #AASL25 right with a visit from 30+ librarians from across the country (and a few even farther). Great questions and it was amazing to share all of the great things students have been doing in the library.
Getting ready for my talk with @librarianjones.com next Wednesday at her St. Louis event with Left Bank Books. Want to hear us chat it up? Learn more (and register) here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...
October 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Getting ready for my talk with @librarianjones.com next Wednesday at her St. Louis event with Left Bank Books. Want to hear us chat it up? Learn more (and register) here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...
Our “What are we reading?” Display started with two staff and now we’re almost to 20!
Hoping to show that every adult in the building is a reader. And I’m happy that students are checking it out. 📚❤️
Hoping to show that every adult in the building is a reader. And I’m happy that students are checking it out. 📚❤️
October 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Our “What are we reading?” Display started with two staff and now we’re almost to 20!
Hoping to show that every adult in the building is a reader. And I’m happy that students are checking it out. 📚❤️
Hoping to show that every adult in the building is a reader. And I’m happy that students are checking it out. 📚❤️
A Kinder was struggling to get started with his drawing. He was enjoying the time chatting with classmates.
When I spoke with him, he threw his arms up and said, “I have TEN letters in my name!” and promptly went back to writing his name. (He was on letter 8.)
📝😥😉
When I spoke with him, he threw his arms up and said, “I have TEN letters in my name!” and promptly went back to writing his name. (He was on letter 8.)
📝😥😉
September 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A Kinder was struggling to get started with his drawing. He was enjoying the time chatting with classmates.
When I spoke with him, he threw his arms up and said, “I have TEN letters in my name!” and promptly went back to writing his name. (He was on letter 8.)
📝😥😉
When I spoke with him, he threw his arms up and said, “I have TEN letters in my name!” and promptly went back to writing his name. (He was on letter 8.)
📝😥😉
To all of my St. Louis friends and my librarian friends who will be in on Wednesday for AASL, I want to invite you to a talk with my amazing friend Amanda Jones where she’ll share the story behind the story of her bestselling book That Librarian.
RSVP here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...
RSVP here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...
September 20, 2025 at 2:51 PM
To all of my St. Louis friends and my librarian friends who will be in on Wednesday for AASL, I want to invite you to a talk with my amazing friend Amanda Jones where she’ll share the story behind the story of her bestselling book That Librarian.
RSVP here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...
RSVP here: www.left-bank.com/event/amanda...
When a kinder wants a “research book” about snails because he hopes there’s a new pet on the way, you stop everything to find that book.
I can report that he left very happy.
I can report that he left very happy.
September 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
When a kinder wants a “research book” about snails because he hopes there’s a new pet on the way, you stop everything to find that book.
I can report that he left very happy.
I can report that he left very happy.