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The Daily Minute: 6.4.23
In which Robbi’s back-up Coca Cola has a rather nice view. 

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 6.4.23
In which Robbi’s back-up Coca Cola has a rather nice view.

#busloadofbooks
...

29 0
In which we ride a gondola up a mountain in Squamish, British Columbia. 

#busloadofbooks

In which we ride a gondola up a mountain in Squamish, British Columbia.

#busloadofbooks
...

42 2
The Daily Minute: 6.3.23
In which Matthew and Augie weigh in on the wonders of poutine.

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 6.3.23
In which Matthew and Augie weigh in on the wonders of poutine.

#busloadofbooks
...

56 1
The Daily Minute: 6.2.23
In which Jasper and Augie tell you all about a whale skeleton in beautiful British Columbia.

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 6.2.23
In which Jasper and Augie tell you all about a whale skeleton in beautiful British Columbia.

#busloadofbooks
...

48 0
The Daily Minute: 6.1.23
In which Jasper fails to appreciate the steepness of Canadian mountains. 

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 6.1.23
In which Jasper fails to appreciate the steepness of Canadian mountains.

#busloadofbooks
...

44 1
The barricade has fallen. The revolution is over. The dogs have won. 

#busloadofbooks

The barricade has fallen. The revolution is over. The dogs have won.

#busloadofbooks
...

75 0
Nine months ago, we left home with an incomplete itinerary, a leaky roof, and a few cans of veggies we’d grabbed on our way out the door. We had one dog, six sleeping bags, and a mural of the country in which all the states were white. 
. 
In 270 days on the road, we’ve traveled 26,063 miles, visited 52 schools and handed out roughly 23,000 books. We’ve used 800 bathrooms, patched the roof, and now have two dogs (go figure). 
 
One school at a time, our host educators have painted in the states. Now we’re done, except for Alaska, which is where we’re heading next. 
 
Every kid in every school we visited got a hardcover book and a “reading buddy” teddy bear from Build-A-Bear Foundation. They had what we hope was an exciting and memorable day—attending an assembly, seeing our bus, and petting our dogs. 
 
Our hope is that the kids will read their books, that they’ll harness their own power to create, that they’ll see their full capacity and reach for it. 
 
But however much the tour might have accomplished, it’s not nearly enough. There’s still plenty these kids don’t have. Many don’t get enough to eat, lack warm clothes, and come to school exhausted from caring for siblings. 
 
Others have significant trauma, untreated mental health issues, or complicated living situations that make learning difficult. 
 
We can’t help with these things. Not directly, at least. Addressing these problems is up to society, which is to say it’s up to all of us.  
 
Chances are, there’s a Title I school just down the street from you that could use some volunteers. There are teachers badly in need of classroom supplies. There’s an election in the fall. Find out how the candidates stand on funding schools, how they stand on addressing poverty. These are things you can do to help the kids who have less, whose lives are a struggle, whose futures are our legacy. 
 
What a remarkable nine months it has been. This country is beautiful and complex—its landscapes, its ideals, and mostly, its people. (Look at all the colors and textures on that tapestry!) But there’s work to be done and decisions to make and many miles yet to travel.    
 
Here we go. 
 
#busloadofbooks

Nine months ago, we left home with an incomplete itinerary, a leaky roof, and a few cans of veggies we’d grabbed on our way out the door. We had one dog, six sleeping bags, and a mural of the country in which all the states were white.
.
In 270 days on the road, we’ve traveled 26,063 miles, visited 52 schools and handed out roughly 23,000 books. We’ve used 800 bathrooms, patched the roof, and now have two dogs (go figure).
 
One school at a time, our host educators have painted in the states. Now we’re done, except for Alaska, which is where we’re heading next.
 
Every kid in every school we visited got a hardcover book and a “reading buddy” teddy bear from Build-A-Bear Foundation. They had what we hope was an exciting and memorable day—attending an assembly, seeing our bus, and petting our dogs.
 
Our hope is that the kids will read their books, that they’ll harness their own power to create, that they’ll see their full capacity and reach for it.
 
But however much the tour might have accomplished, it’s not nearly enough. There’s still plenty these kids don’t have. Many don’t get enough to eat, lack warm clothes, and come to school exhausted from caring for siblings.
 
Others have significant trauma, untreated mental health issues, or complicated living situations that make learning difficult.
 
We can’t help with these things. Not directly, at least. Addressing these problems is up to society, which is to say it’s up to all of us.  
 
Chances are, there’s a Title I school just down the street from you that could use some volunteers. There are teachers badly in need of classroom supplies. There’s an election in the fall. Find out how the candidates stand on funding schools, how they stand on addressing poverty. These are things you can do to help the kids who have less, whose lives are a struggle, whose futures are our legacy.
 
What a remarkable nine months it has been. This country is beautiful and complex—its landscapes, its ideals, and mostly, its people. (Look at all the colors and textures on that tapestry!) But there’s work to be done and decisions to make and many miles yet to travel.    
 
Here we go.
 
#busloadofbooks
...

411 60
The Daily Minute: 5.31.23
In which we endeavor to eat all the vegetables and fruits before we get to Canada.

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 5.31.23
In which we endeavor to eat all the vegetables and fruits before we get to Canada.

#busloadofbooks
...

57 3
The Daily Minute: 5.31.23
In which we know almost nothing about beautiful Sol Duc Falls.

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 5.31.23
In which we know almost nothing about beautiful Sol Duc Falls.

#busloadofbooks
...

54 2
The Daily Minute: 5.29.23
In which we are on the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend. 

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 5.29.23
In which we are on the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend.

#busloadofbooks
...

80 7
The Daily Minute: 5.28.23
In which Robbi tackles the trifecta of bus maladies. 

#busloadofbooks

The Daily Minute: 5.28.23
In which Robbi tackles the trifecta of bus maladies.

#busloadofbooks
...

92 5

The Busload of Books Tour is a yearlong project to promote literacy and raise awareness of the challenges facing our nation’s public schools.

Author/illustrator duo Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr (that’s us) and our four kids are spending the 2022-2023 school year traveling the country in a school bus/tiny home, visiting Title I schools in all 50 states (plus DC), and giving away 25,000 hardcover books to students and teachers from underserved communities.

Along the way, we’ll be conducting a major research project, making a picture book about America, and inviting our followers to join us on a yearlong exploration of our country’s unsung wonders and off-the-beaten-path communities.

As we travel, we will be blogging, vlogging, and posting daily to social media. All content will be appropriate for elementary-aged students who want to join us for the ultimate road trip.

Whoever you are, take your seat on the bus!

Our adventure is your adventure. Our country is your country, too. Follow along with us!