Helping Kids Dream Big: A Conversation with Author Brad Meltzer  

Brad Meltzer is best known for his bestselling thrillers and inspiring children’s series Ordinary People Change the World. With a deep belief in the power of storytelling and character, he helps young readers see themselves in history’s greatest heroes.

This weekend, May 17, he joins Orlando Public Library’s Orlando Book Festival as the keynote speaker. We caught up with Brad to talk about reading, raising kids, and finding magic in everyday moments. 

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OP: Your children’s book series, Ordinary People Change the World, introduces young readers to historical figures. What inspired you to create this series, and how do you choose the individuals to feature? 

Brad: These books have always been for my own kids – to give them better heroes to look up to – heroes of kindness, compassion, and character. Today in America, we’ve lost that sense of character. We need it back. We started the Ordinary People Change the World series to do just that. 

I look for what my kids need. I wrote I am Walt Disney for my son who loves art. We got so many little girls asking about science heroes, so we did I am Sally Ride. I am Stephen Hawking came for kids looking for a disabled hero (and an amazing one). For the newest one, We are the Beatles, look around. It’s time to Come Together. 

OP: As a parent, how do you balance your writing career with family life? Do your children influence your work, particularly your children’s books? 

Brad: I listen very carefully to my kids. When I told my daughter that Amelia Earhart flew across the Atlantic, she wasn’t interested. But when I told her the true story that when Amelia Earhart was seven years old, she built a homemade rollercoaster in her backyard, my daughter wanted to hear more.

For that reason, each book tells the story of the hero when they were a kid. So it’s not just Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln being famous — it’s them being just like us. That’s what millions of kids responded to. 

OP: You’ve written across various genres, from thrillers to children’s biographies. How do you adapt your storytelling approach when writing for different audiences? 

Brad: To me, a good story is a good story. There are lines I use in the kids books that I’ve used in the adult books. The thrillers may have more metaphors, but again, people just want a good story. 

OP: Your commencement speech at the University of Michigan went viral and emphasized the power of stories. How do you believe storytelling can impact children’s development and understanding of the world? 

Brad: Our book Make Magic: The Book of Inspiration You Didn’t Know You Needed is all about how magic is all around us – if you know where to look. It’s very hard to change the minds of adults, but for over a decade now, I’ve been arming kids with lessons of compassion, kindness and justice. I’ll take that fight any day. 

OP: Growing up, were there particular stories or books that had a significant impact on you? How did they shape your career as a writer? 

Brad: A librarian changed my life. Growing up, my family didn’t have books in our house. But my grandmother gave me a magical weapon: a library card. It was there that I remember this librarian who pointed to shelves of beautiful books and told me, “This is your section.” I almost fell over. I honestly thought she meant that all the books were mine (though, really, they were, weren’t they?). That’s when I met my newest friends, Judy Blume and Agatha Christie. 

OP: In today’s digital age, what advice would you give to parents to encourage a love of reading and history in their children? 

Brad: Keep reading to your kids. Every night. As a former First Lady told me, they’ll never remember the book, but they’ll always remember your arms around them. That’s what matters. 

OP: You’ve been involved in philanthropic efforts, including supporting literacy programs. Can you share more about these initiatives and why they’re important to you? 

Brad: For nearly 15 years now, we’ve helped put full-time mentors in Miami’s most at-risk schools through City Year Miami. My life was changed by my teachers. This is our chance to give that gift to other students who need the help I did. 

OP: What do you think makes Orlando’s theme parks such a magical place for families and young readers? 

Brad: When my kids were little, every year during carpool, we’d surprise them, skip school, and go straight to Disney World. I put that detail in I am Walt Disney. It’s the same in Make Magic. We should all feel magic every day. 

Brad Meltzer’s passion for storytelling and his commitment to helping kids discover real-life heroes is both inspiring and deeply needed. As the keynote speaker at this year’s Orlando Book Festival, he continues to remind families that books have the power to change lives—and that magic is always within reach, especially when shared with the next generation.