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.
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.
Reason #238 to befriend your art teacher: when you lose a button at school she can set you up with needle and thread to get you good as new. Thanks Tiffany!
September 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reason #238 to befriend your art teacher: when you lose a button at school she can set you up with needle and thread to get you good as new. Thanks Tiffany!
Spending lunches reading to kids who voluntarily come up for a story time.
Not a bad part of my day. 📚❤️
Not a bad part of my day. 📚❤️
September 10, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Spending lunches reading to kids who voluntarily come up for a story time.
Not a bad part of my day. 📚❤️
Not a bad part of my day. 📚❤️
By this time next week I’ll be wrapping up my Keynote at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians’ annual conference!
Honored to be asked to close out the event and share with colleagues.
If you’ll be there, below are my sessions and Keynote times and topics.
Honored to be asked to close out the event and share with colleagues.
If you’ll be there, below are my sessions and Keynote times and topics.
September 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
By this time next week I’ll be wrapping up my Keynote at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians’ annual conference!
Honored to be asked to close out the event and share with colleagues.
If you’ll be there, below are my sessions and Keynote times and topics.
Honored to be asked to close out the event and share with colleagues.
If you’ll be there, below are my sessions and Keynote times and topics.
Excited for AASL to be in St. Louis next month and also excited to be able to do all kinds of sharing over Friday and Saturday.
If you're there with me, here's where you can find me!
If you're there with me, here's where you can find me!
September 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Excited for AASL to be in St. Louis next month and also excited to be able to do all kinds of sharing over Friday and Saturday.
If you're there with me, here's where you can find me!
If you're there with me, here's where you can find me!
An awesome morning hosting Aaron Reynolds for his newest book with Jasper Rabbit, Troubling Tonsils!
This guy has some energy!
He signed our wall right next to the Creepy Carrots Peter Brown drew for us a few years ago. 🥕❤️
This guy has some energy!
He signed our wall right next to the Creepy Carrots Peter Brown drew for us a few years ago. 🥕❤️
September 4, 2025 at 12:46 AM
An awesome morning hosting Aaron Reynolds for his newest book with Jasper Rabbit, Troubling Tonsils!
This guy has some energy!
He signed our wall right next to the Creepy Carrots Peter Brown drew for us a few years ago. 🥕❤️
This guy has some energy!
He signed our wall right next to the Creepy Carrots Peter Brown drew for us a few years ago. 🥕❤️
New NF hitting shelves today and on display for easy access!
August 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
New NF hitting shelves today and on display for easy access!
Day 3 of school:
What did this student say when she checked out these books during her first visit to the library for the year?
“THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!”
P.S. School Libraries are Important ❤️📚❤️
What did this student say when she checked out these books during her first visit to the library for the year?
“THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!”
P.S. School Libraries are Important ❤️📚❤️
August 22, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Day 3 of school:
What did this student say when she checked out these books during her first visit to the library for the year?
“THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!”
P.S. School Libraries are Important ❤️📚❤️
What did this student say when she checked out these books during her first visit to the library for the year?
“THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!”
P.S. School Libraries are Important ❤️📚❤️
Second day of school:
S: Do you have another book like Magic Ramen?
Me: Sure! What did you like about it that you’re hoping to read in another book?
S: Like another biography with noodles in it.
Me: Actually, I don’t have anything like that. 😂🍜
S: Do you have another book like Magic Ramen?
Me: Sure! What did you like about it that you’re hoping to read in another book?
S: Like another biography with noodles in it.
Me: Actually, I don’t have anything like that. 😂🍜
August 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Second day of school:
S: Do you have another book like Magic Ramen?
Me: Sure! What did you like about it that you’re hoping to read in another book?
S: Like another biography with noodles in it.
Me: Actually, I don’t have anything like that. 😂🍜
S: Do you have another book like Magic Ramen?
Me: Sure! What did you like about it that you’re hoping to read in another book?
S: Like another biography with noodles in it.
Me: Actually, I don’t have anything like that. 😂🍜
Student on the second day of school:
“I read a whole Weird But True book last night. I was only supposed to read for 30 minutes. But I extended that.” 📚❤️
“I read a whole Weird But True book last night. I was only supposed to read for 30 minutes. But I extended that.” 📚❤️
August 19, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Student on the second day of school:
“I read a whole Weird But True book last night. I was only supposed to read for 30 minutes. But I extended that.” 📚❤️
“I read a whole Weird But True book last night. I was only supposed to read for 30 minutes. But I extended that.” 📚❤️
When you feel seen by your local Kaldis Coffee…
#BackToSchool
#BackToSchool
August 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM
When you feel seen by your local Kaldis Coffee…
#BackToSchool
#BackToSchool
We've been hard at work at the library renovation at Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya! I've written about some of our first steps here: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/seeing-the...
You can also subscribe to our Substack for future posts coming over the next few weeks!
You can also subscribe to our Substack for future posts coming over the next few weeks!
July 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
We've been hard at work at the library renovation at Jane Adeny Memorial School in Kenya! I've written about some of our first steps here: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/seeing-the...
You can also subscribe to our Substack for future posts coming over the next few weeks!
You can also subscribe to our Substack for future posts coming over the next few weeks!
After a tornado, 2 days with no school, and 4 days in other buildings, we returned to Captain on Wednesday with 425+ books out.
Amazingly, just 2 days later, we ended the year with about 25 books out & lost.
Huge kudos to our students, parents, & teachers who helped get every 📖 back on the shelf!
Amazingly, just 2 days later, we ended the year with about 25 books out & lost.
Huge kudos to our students, parents, & teachers who helped get every 📖 back on the shelf!
May 30, 2025 at 11:30 PM
After a tornado, 2 days with no school, and 4 days in other buildings, we returned to Captain on Wednesday with 425+ books out.
Amazingly, just 2 days later, we ended the year with about 25 books out & lost.
Huge kudos to our students, parents, & teachers who helped get every 📖 back on the shelf!
Amazingly, just 2 days later, we ended the year with about 25 books out & lost.
Huge kudos to our students, parents, & teachers who helped get every 📖 back on the shelf!