HOUSTON – At just 12 years old, Kush Kalra is one of only eight Scholastic Kids Press reporters in the country — a role that lets him share what young readers are excited about through the eyes of their peers.
The St. John’s School middle schooler is now in his third year writing for the national program.
“We write news for kids, by kids,” Kalra said.
Kalra has covered a range of stories, from interviews with young poets to conversations with the authors of the popular graphic novel The Cartoonists Club. Earlier this year, he spotlighted the Blue Willow Bookshop in Memorial, where he spoke with Cathy Berner, the store’s children’s and young adult specialist and events coordinator.
“We talked about our favorite books and what people can do to encourage more reading,” Kalra said. “It’s a really special thing to connect a reader with a book.”
Blue Willow, a family favorite for decades, sells hand-selected books for all ages and hosts book clubs and author meet-and-greets. But in an era dominated by screens, Kalra believes the key to keeping kids engaged with reading starts at home.
“Don’t make reading a chore for your kids,” he said. “Have family conversations around books that can really excite kids.”
Whether it’s graphic novels or popular fantasy series, Kalra says the best stories share one important trait.
“They kind of provide readers an escape, and I think that’s what kids look for,” he said. “They see reading as a passport to all these worlds — and all those books really achieve that.”
To read more of Kalra’s work, visit the Scholastic Kids Press website
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