Aria Mia Loberti’s Recommended Reading List
Aria Mia Loberti is an actor, writer, activist, and lifelong storyteller. In 2023, she made her acting debut as the lead in Netflix’s Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated series All the Light We Cannot See. Her critically acclaimed performance launched a diverse, rich acting career.
Before turning her focus to acting, Aria was pursuing a PhD from Penn State, studying ancient rhetoric. Aria received her undergraduate degrees in 2020 from the University of Rhode Island and her master’s degree in 2021 from Royal Holloway University of London, on a Fulbright Scholarship. In 2024, Aria also became a UNICEF Ambassador, advocating for climate change and education rights.
From a young age, Aria read anything and everything she could get her hands on and has always dreamed of writing for young readers. She hopes her work can encourage kids to be the heroes of their own story and find magic all around them. Aria and Ingrid live in Rhode Island with their respective best friends, Molly and Etta.
To RSVP for our children’s storytime with Aria click here.
“This may have been my favorite picture book growing up, one I went back to again and again both to giggle at Big Anthony's mistakes and to attempt to copy the illustrations in my own sketchbook. Strega Nona was also one of my first introductions to Italian folklore and served as an embodiment of my own Italian heritage. Her gentle strength reminds me that authority doesn't have to be big and showy, but rather can come from compassion and understanding.”
The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Alsberg
“Chris Van Alsberg is a children's literature icon, celebrated for The Polar Express, Jumanji, Zathura, and so many others. But I think The Widow's Broom remains a bit underrated. It's a beautiful, magical story about defying expectations and empathetic heroism. As a kid, I loved the immersive black and white illustrations. Since I can't see any color myself, having a book that I knew I could see the same way as every other kid was liberating and exciting.
As an aside, the first-ever book signing that I attended as a kid was hosted by Chris Van Alsberg. Meeting him and hearing him discuss his creative process was a formative experience. I remember being in complete awe that one of my favorite authors was actually real! It's hard to believe that now I am preparing for my own book signings...if only I could tell myself that then.”
“Arthur was one of the first characters who taught me that being different is a superpower. In this story, he is teased for wearing glasses. I dealt with a lot of bullying, just like Arthur. I learned to lean on the Arthur books and accompanying television series' depictions of community, friendship, and overcoming challenges.”
“Timeless, endearing, and achingly nostalgic, this story always tugged at my heartstrings. It reminds me that nothing is more important than the people we love, and anything - truly anything - is possible.”
“One of the very first chapter book series I plowed through, The Magic Treehouse still represents so many of the things I love most about reading: the ability to escape reality, the feeling of holding adventure in the palm of your hand, and the power of learning about new places and cultures through storytelling. From the time of the dinosaurs to the Titanic, from Pompeii to King Arthur's Camelot, this series' way weaving history and magic together still inspires me.”
“By the time I read Percy Jackson as a kid, I was already in love with the idea of Greek mythology, but Riordan’s accessible, often hilarious writing introduced me to so many more layers and inspired me to read more on the subject, too (I eventually even got my master’s in ancient Greek and Roman rhetoric, and in part I credit Percy Jackson for the motivation!) But the element I love most about this series, and the part that is most formative, is the way Riordan interweaves disability with myth - showing readers that the very things that make us different are the things that make us strong. Everyone is a hero.”
Honorable Mentions…
The Hound of Rowan (series), by Henry H. Neff (middle grade and YA readers)
So You Want to Be a Wizard, by Diane Duane (middle grade and YA readers)
The Arc of a Scythe (series), by Neal Shusterman (YA readers)
Thursday Next (series), by Jasper Fforde (older YA and adult readers)
The Rook, by Daniel O'Malley (older YA and adult readers)
The Forest of Vanishing Stars, by Kristin Harmel (older YA and adult readers)
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