But of course, hope alone is never enough. In my experience, smart choices and hard work are essential as well, and my stories reflect that. It’s up to young readers to decide whether those values become important to them too. Hope, smart choices, hard work—that’s a pretty good formula in my opinion.

The most common reaction from young readers is that they want to meet Salva. I’m always sorry to have to disappoint them—Salva is now living in South Sudan, and working so hard that he doesn’t have much time to visit the U.S. At the same time, I find this response from readers truly moving. So often the people they dream of meeting are movie stars or professional athletes or rock musicians, and it’s terrific that Salva is right up there on that list!

When Water for South Sudan puts in a well, the knock-on effect is staggering. [...] Most important of all, nearly every village that has received a well has started a school for the local children, who no longer have to spend their days fetching water. Clean water directly linked to education—that was a real eye-opener for me!

Breakfast Serials, founded by children’s book author Avi, have, since 1996, been taking novel-length pieces of original fiction and syndicating them for publication in newspapers, one chapter a week, in the U.S. and abroad. “A simpler, more popular literature that appeals to new audience sets”, these serials were originally aimed at young people “who know how to read but choose not to,” but their popularity soon captured the attention of adults as well. Their goal, as stated on their website, is “to refresh the reading experience in a new and convenient context and to forward the process of human attachment by way of an unfolding story.” A very nice concept that has people talking and trying to figure out “what happens next.”

Every Breakfast Serial installment is accompanied by full-color or b/w illustrations—something that sets them apart from novels published in book format, which usually aren’t illustrated. You can see two sample chapters of A Long Walk to Water, illustrated by Jim Averbeck, here. In addition to Park’s story about Salva, there are many others available in English and Spanish, such as The Monkey King by Ji-li Jiang, with illustrations by Hui Hui Su-Kennedy; Avi’s The Secret School, illustrated by Brian Floca; Katherine Paterson‘s Long Road Home, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully, and more.

Their “serials” menu includes something for every taste, and many of the stories about children’s courage, ingenuity, fortitude and resourcefulness are in the same spirit of those we currently highlight on the PaperTigers website.

Linda Sue Park says on her What I’m Reading blog: “If [A Long Walk to Water] hasn’t shown up in your local paper, it might be because they have decided to run it at a later date. Or they might not be running it at all. Either way, you can give them a call or send an e-mail and ask about it: I would appreciate it greatly, because I want as many folks as possible to learn about Salva’s story!”

In a moment when many are turning to online and wireless reading, how refreshing it is to know that great children’s stories are being printed and read in the pages of newspapers!

For more information, visit the Breakfast Serials website—and keep your eyes peeled for the next paper delivery!