A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader
Art & Illustration Literary Anthology Children's Non-Fiction Reading & Literacy Inspirational & Gift Books Middle Grade Reference Education & Pedagogy
A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader is the modern classic every family shelf needs—an oversized, full-color hardback that pairs 121 love-notes to reading from today’s most luminous writers, scientists, artists and entrepreneurs with original illustrations by Caldecott winners, New Yorker cartoonists, and rising picture-book stars. Curated by Maria Popova (Brain Pickings) and Claudia Bedrick (Enchanted Lion), the letters answer the question “Why read?” with stories of comfort, courage, and revelation, making the book a bedtime treasury for 9- to 12-year-olds, a mentor text for teens, and an inspirational gift for graduates, teachers, or any adult who still believes in the magic of libraries.
What sets this copy apart is collector-grade condition: crisp, unmarked pages, no remainder marks, ex-library stamps, or dog-eared corners, stored in a smoke-free home since its 2018 debut. Because the first printing sold out quickly and subsequent reprints feature different endpapers and spine stamping, clean first-edition copies like this one are already scarce. The 256-page volume is stitched, not glued, so it lies flat for repeated readings of letters by Jane Goodall, Neil Gaiman, Shonda Rhimes, and Ursula K. Le Guin, while the art plates—printed on heavy matte stock—retain their saturated colors, turning each spread into a frame-worthy print.
Buyers searching for a meaningful alternative to cash or gift cards will find it here: the book functions as a life manual disguised as an art object, encouraging kids to unplug and adults to rekindle curiosity. Keywords that surface this gem include “illustrated letters about reading,” “Maria Popova book for kids,” “enchanted lion gift book,” “middle-grade reading motivation,” and “hardcover book collector 2018.” Secure this very-good copy now while it’s still available at a reasonable price; values on the secondary market climb each time another contributor wins a Pulitzer, Nobel, or MacArthur, and you’ll want it on your shelf before it joins the out-of-print stratosphere.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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