My platform has been to reach reluctant readers. And one of the

“My platform has been to reach reluctant readers. And one of the best ways I found to motivate them is to connect them with reading that interests them, to expand the definition of reading to include humor, science fiction/fantasy, nonfiction, graphic novels, wordless books, audio books, and comic books.” — thus spoke Jon Scieszka, a champion of stories and a modern sage of learning, whose mission has been to awaken the spark of imagination in those who have fallen asleep to the written word. In his words lies a truth as old as knowledge itself: that reading is not merely the act of decoding symbols, but a journey of connection, and that every mind — no matter how reluctant — has a doorway through which wisdom can enter.

To reach reluctant readers is to engage in one of the noblest labors of the human spirit. For to awaken curiosity in the indifferent is to breathe life into stillness. Scieszka’s platform is not built upon mere education, but upon compassion and understanding. He sees that many who avoid books are not enemies of thought, but strangers to it — their imaginations never invited to play within its halls. Thus, he calls for an expansion of the definition of reading, a breaking of boundaries that have long confined what counts as knowledge or art. In doing so, he follows the ancient teachers who understood that wisdom cannot be forced; it must be enticed.

The call to expand the definition of reading is both radical and deeply humane. It is a recognition that the mind hungers for stories in many forms — through humor, fantasy, nonfiction, or even the vivid images of graphic novels and comic books. Each of these, though differing in shape and texture, serves the same sacred function: they open the imagination. Just as water takes the form of its vessel but remains water still, so does knowledge flow through countless mediums. Scieszka’s insight recalls the wisdom of the ancients who taught through fable and song, through parable and play. For even the great philosopher Aesop taught morality not through treatise, but through tales of talking animals — humble stories that taught kings and children alike.

To dismiss a form of reading, Scieszka reminds us, is to close a door on a soul. In his mention of humor lies a particularly profound truth. Humor, often looked upon as light or trivial, is one of the greatest instruments of understanding. It lowers defenses, invites empathy, and transforms fear into reflection. Through laughter, wisdom slips quietly into the heart. Even the ancient dramatists of Greece, such as Aristophanes, used comedy to speak truths that tragedy could not — truths that made people think while they smiled. Thus, when Scieszka urges us to include humor among the gateways to reading, he revives this timeless lineage of teaching through joy.

His mention of audio books and wordless books also carries deep significance. For he understands that literacy is not confined to the eye alone. Some learn through sound, others through sight, others through the rhythm of storytelling itself. In embracing these diverse forms, Scieszka teaches that reading is not about rigid form, but about communication and understanding. The ancient storytellers of every land — the griots of Africa, the poets of the Norse sagas, the bards of Greece — were living books themselves. Their words were not written on paper, but on memory and air. And yet, their stories endure.

The origin of Scieszka’s wisdom lies not only in his craft as a writer but in his life as a teacher. He saw the frustration in the eyes of students who felt alien to books — who saw them not as portals, but as walls. From that compassion grew his mission: to motivate through relevance, to show each reader that there is a story meant for them. His insight reveals a truth we have too often forgotten — that inclusion in reading is inclusion in humanity. To invite someone to read, in whatever form, is to say, “You belong here too, in this world of ideas.”

Let this be the lesson, O listener and lover of wisdom: do not measure the value of reading by its form, but by its effect. Whether it comes through fiction or fact, through image or voice, through humor or heartbreak, what matters is that it awakens thought and nourishes empathy. When you teach, when you share, when you speak, remember Scieszka’s example: meet others where they are, not where you wish them to be. The mind grows not by force, but by invitation.

So, seek out the stories that stir your soul, and share them with others — not to impress, but to inspire. Laugh, listen, imagine. Read not only books, but people, the world, and yourself. For as Jon Scieszka teaches, when we expand the definition of reading, we also expand the definition of being human. And in that expansion lies the salvation of curiosity, the rebirth of wonder, and the endless conversation between mind and heart that we call learning.