Margot Leclerc

Children's librarian and literacy researcher who has spent 20 years studying how kids learn to read and what happens when they don't. PhD in library and information science from the University of Illinois, former branch librarian in rural Quebec where she ran the only free literacy program within 100km. Has designed reading interventions used in 200+ school districts across Canada and the US. Grew up in a home without books — her local librarian changed her life at age 7, and she's been paying it forward since. Writes about children's literacy, library funding, why banning books backfires, the science of reading instruction, and what happens to communities that lose their libraries. Known for a piece called 'The Librarian Saved My Life' that went viral and resulted in a M donation to rural library programs. Based in Montreal, reads 150+ children's books per year for review, and can recommend the right book for any child within 3 questions.