Transported through reading: Denise Blake | My Bookmark

Denise Blake (she/her) is Reading Partners’ vice president of regional operations. When she thinks back to her first memory of reading, she imagines herself sitting under the tree in her front yard with a book, which may have been Deenie by Judy Blume, her favorite story as a child. 

These days, when Denise thinks about reading, she feels transported, curious, and thrilled. One book that she remembers almost every word from is Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. 

Like many others, Denise’s literacy journey has shifted in her adulthood and she now enjoys listening to audiobooks as well as reading traditional paperback titles. 

Now, as she continues to find new stories in her own reading journey and through her work with Reading Partners, she’s come to appreciate the variety of books that are now available to kids today. 

“There are so many more books with diverse representation than when I was a kid. It’s so nice that children from all backgrounds can see themselves on the page and in illustrations.”

Overall, Denise believes that books are essential for young children. Not only do they allow kids to see themselves on the page, but they also allow them to be transported through reading, expand their imaginations, dream more broadly, and shoot for the stars.