Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Preston
Hi Taylor, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started selling children’s books almost 5 years ago, because I wanted to grow my home library for my daughters. The more I grew my business, the more I realized how devastating our country’s literacy crisis truly is – 1 in 4 children grow up without learning how to read, only 1/3 of fourth graders read the proficient reading level, 50% of children from low-income communities start first grade up to two years behind their peers. I could go on. The numbers are heartbreaking, and I realized that I could make a difference! It might be a small difference, but at least I could help. One book, one child, one family, at a time. So that is what I have been doing, trying to spread a love of literacy and learning in our community! I have slowly started to work with local schools to host book fairs and fundraising events, and I host book showcases with local homeschool co-ops and families, all with a goal of getting more books to more kids!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are many challenges with this mission. Many people do not understand the importance of reading, or they struggled as children, and now it’s just disregarded. I also hear all the time “my child hates to read,” which might be partially true; maybe they didn’t enjoy a couple of books they tried, but I truly believe that no child hates to read, they just haven’t found the right one! Maybe it’s a different topic or style than what they’ve tried before, but it’s not something we should ever give up on.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Very simply put, I host events so that families, schools, and organizations have access to affordable, educational, and entertaining children’s books! I believe one of my “book lady superpowers” is being able to help children find just the right book for them, and I strive to provide that personal touch in all of my events. Whether it’s a book fair or shopping showcase, being able to share our beautiful books with children is the best part of my job, and knowing that I am playing a role in their love of literacy is what brings me joy.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a pretty quiet & shy child. I’m the oldest of four so I feel like I have always had that typical oldest child personality – Type A, always have a plan, helper/fixer. I did ballet from the age of 2 to 17, so that was a huge part of my childhood. A strong dedication and drive to help is just a part of who I am. But I have always loved books – I would often “get in trouble” for staying up late to read.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taylorsbookcorner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taysbookcorner/profilecard/?igsh=eGhhb2g4bHRjMHd3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaylorsBookCorner
