Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle talks summer reading with local students
Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle, a fan favorite, pitched the merits of robust summer reading to dozens of first-graders at a DC Public Library kickoff event Tuesday at Murch Elementary School, where students gathered in the library to hear him talk about books and baseball.
Doolittle is known by fans to be a voracious reader. On his Twitter feed this spring, he has chronicled his perpetual search for cool indie bookstores across the country while on the road with the Nationals. Doolittle often unwinds with a book after games.
Doolittle’s status as a bibliophile makes him an ideal spokesperson for the DC Public Library’s annual Summer Challenge, which began June 1 and runs through Aug. 31. The program seeks to fight the infamous “summer slide” — students’ loss of academic progress during vacation. By tracking their reading on the library’s website, students — and adults, too — can earn tickets to Nationals games and other prizes.
The Nationals are the primary sponsors of the DCPL Summer Challenge and have helped to nearly double the program’s reach: Last year, readers between the ages of 6 and 12 racked up more than 50,000 hours of reading.
Jacob Sloane, a 6-year-old who had baseball on his mind throughout Doolittle’s visit, is exactly the sort of student who might be motivated by Nationals tickets. Sloane asked Doolittle about how he achieved his dream of becoming a professional baseball player and later said he wished Doolittle would teach him how to throw a fastball.
Sylvia Walker, 7, was inspired by Doolittle’s positive attitude. “He said to never give up and always persevere if things go hard or wrong,” Walker said.
Walker is already a seasoned reader, having finished reading her first chapter book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, in preschool. She now likes books about animals best, especially horses.
After taking questions, Doolittle read Curious George at the Baseball Game to the students.
Doolittle recommends that kids follow their interests and find a routine to start reading more.
“Find things that you’re interested in. Find books about stuff that you really like,” Doolittle said. “There’s so many kinds of books. Graphic novels, comic books. They all count as reading.”
Much of Doolittle’s reading time is taken up by the sci-fi and fantasy genres. When asked for recommendations, he quickly listed the Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin and the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab.
“I try to read things by authors that might have a different perspective than I would,” Doolittle said. “Maybe authors who are minorities or immigrants — they come from different backgrounds than I do, and even though it’s fiction, their life experiences still shape what they’re writing about. … Even though it might be a fantasy novel, there’s still so many parallels to the world we’re living in.”
Using his sports-stardom to boost bookstores — his favorite in DC is Solid State Books on H Street NE, though he’s also said on Twitter that he’s a fan of Politics and Prose, just a few blocks from Murch — is only one of Doolittle’s passions outside of baseball. The pitcher is also an outspoken ally of the DC area LGBTQ community, and he works with a nonprofit that helps to provide housing for veterans.
At one point during Doolittle’s talk, the students became slightly rowdy. A school employee counted down from five to signal to the kids that it was time to stop talking. The students promptly quieted down.
“We need to teach our manager that trick,” Doolittle said.
A few hours after the Tuesday morning event, Doolittle earned the save in the Nationals’ 9-5 victory over the visiting Chicago White Sox.
The DC Public Library will host a Summer Challenge Kick Off on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Martha’s Table, at 2375 Elvans Road SE. Activities will include performances by the National Symphony Orchestra String Quartet, The CooLots and the DMV Hip Hop Orchestra, as well as a storytime, an instrument petting zoo and a chance to meet a Washington Ballet dancer. On Thursday, June 20, the DC Public Library and Politics and Prose will present a talk by National Book Award-winning children’s author Jacqueline Woodson at Dunbar High School, 101 N St. NW; reservations are required. Branch libraries are also holding a variety of events as part of the Summer Challenge.
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