Bookstagrammer Leslie Scarpa (@leslie_scarpa), a former teacher and current curriculum writer believes that reading to children opens up their world in ways they may never experience personally. BookTrib loved learning about Leslie’s passion to help students who have lost their confidence. She shares underdog stories to inspire kids to find their voices, overcome challenges, and follow their dreams.
| Bookstagrammer Quick Facts | Answers |
|---|---|
| Location | Originally from Kingsport, TN. Has lived in the Atlanta area for over 20 years. |
| Instagram Followers | 1,225 |
| Occupation | Former teacher, current curriculum writer. |
| Favorite Quote | “Reading is dreaming with your eyes open.” |
| Favorite Genre | Children’s books |
Q: Why did you start sharing books as a bookstagrammer?
A: I believe in the power of reading to a child. It’s my very favorite thing to do. Reading to children opens up their world in ways they may never experience personally. It also introduces them to the magic of books, inspiring them to want to read more. I hope that by sharing books on Instagram, it will help parents, teachers and others choose a book that’s right for their child’s needs.
Q: What have you learned about yourself through bookstagramming? 
A: That there are so many authors that deserve to be highlighted. There are so many choices and such a variety of quality books being written and I have only scratched the surface in discovering them. It has fueled my passion for children’s books even more.
Q: What fictional character(s) do you resonate with the most and why?
A: I always resonate with the underdog or the unsung hero. As a teacher, my passion has always been to help the students who felt like they couldn’t do it, who just fell through the cracks and slowly lost all confidence. So many stories have themes of the least expected person becoming the hero, accomplishing something big, or discovering that they can really do what they dream of doing. These stories make me think of certain students and I can literally picture them as the main character in the book. I’ve seen firsthand the joy of a child succeeding – and books with this theme get me every time!
Q: What are the last 2-3 books that you read in the past 6 months that you loved and why?
- The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
- If Not You, Then Who? by David and Emberli Pridham
- The Magician’s Hat by Malcolm Mitchell
Q: What books are on your TBR list? Which ones are you most excited to read and why?
- Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream – I can’t wait to read about the extraordinary accomplishments of ordinary women.
- The Clover Girls by Viola Shipman – the novel was recommended and it sounds like the perfect Summer read.
Q: How would you describe your taste in books?
A: My taste in books is pretty eclectic. I’m big on characterization; when I finish a book I actually miss the characters as if they were personal friends. So I guess my taste is any genre as long as there’s characterization.
