The Busload of Books Tour is about to begin. In service of our mission, we’ll be traveling through all fifty states in the year ahead. We’ll visit state parks and national monuments, roadside attractions and hole-in-the wall eateries. From the Black Hills (South...
In Which We Set Out to Prove Wonder Really is Everywhere
For the pre-K-1st graders we meet on the Tour, we’ll be giving away a copy of Everywhere, Wonder, our picture about the importance of noticing and appreciating the beautiful and interesting things to be found wherever we go. The point of our school presentation for...
Where Should We Go In the Pacific Northwest?
Hello, friends! It's time to talk about the Pacific Northwest. For that is where we'll conclude our tour of the lower 48 in May of 2023 before driving north through the Yukon to Alaska. Please tell us things about Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. We want beauty,...
Where Should We Go In the West?
Because Sunday is a day of rest, we're taking it easy on you and only asking about two states today. We'll be spending late December of '22 and early January of '23 in California and Nevada and welcome any suggestions. In California, we're especially interested in the...
Where Should We Go in the Southwest?
Moving right along to Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. We've planned a few extra weeks next April to explore these four glorious states and would love your recommendations. We'll be in Denver, Santa Fe, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City, but where else should we go?...
Where Should We Go In the West North Central States?
The best vacation we've ever taken was to the Black Hills and Badlands, with a dash of Devil's Tower thrown in for good measure. We'll be visiting all three again on the tour. But what ELSE should visit and see and do and eat and jump over in the great west north...
Where Should We Go In the South?
Friends, we are really picking up steam. Tell us where the bus should go in the great southern middle of things. This is your chance, people of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas! Sing the praises of your places. Reveal the secret splendors....
Where Should We Go In the East North Central States?
HELLO, FOLKS! Here's today's challenge: Please tell us where to go and what to do in the east north central states, by which we mean Michigan, Wisconsin, Wisconchigan, Minnesota, and Iowa. Thrill us with your dazzling suggestions! Wow us with your insider knowledge!...
Meet Julie Gagne from Central Elementary in Ferguson, MO
Meet Julie Gagne, a 21-year veteran instructional coach at Central Elementary in Ferguson, MO. We’ll officially meet her in March of 2023, when the Busload of Books Tour pays a visit to the Central Stars. Julie took a few minutes to tell us about herself, her...
Where Should We Go In the Central US?
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for! Some of you, anyway. Please tell us where to go and what to do, try, see, taste, and experience in West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. Please? Robbi just scowled at me and told me to...
Where Should We Go in the Southeast?
Rolling right along here, folks. (bus pun intended). Please tell us what to do, visit, attempt, behold, admire, and devour in the great American Southeast. We’re looking you, denizens of Virginia, both Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida! As much as we appreciate...
The Busload of Books Tour is a year-long 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 will spend 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.
