Recently quoted in LGBTQ Nation talking about soft book bans.
Kate Reynolds, best known to her over 45k followers as the Lavender Librarian, is a soprano, writer, speaker, patient advocate, content creator, and public librarian.
In 2020, Kate began blogging as “Lavender Librarian,” to help share her silly mask songs with other library workers as the world worked to stay safe from COVID-19. In 2021, she expanded her influence and created the Storytime Solidarity Facebook group to support librarians, teachers and families in the mission to bring inclusive, affirming, and anti-racist books and music to children.
Today Kate leads a global team of volunteers helping to make storytime more inclusive with their 6k+ member Facebook group, active presence on social media, and website welcoming up to a thousand users each week. Kate’s leadership has also earned the Solidarity team the honor of presenting the 2023 AB kids series through the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science, as part of their children, libraries and literacy initiative. The chair and series honors the legacy of Augusta Braxton Baker, the first African American, coordinator of the children’s services with NYPL and a role model for librarians.
Kate’s influence on children and librarianship can be felt outside the walls of the library, too. In 2023, she headlined a concert with 4th Wall Music featuring the music of Mister Fred Rogers, sharing his message of affirming every child. She was recently interviewed by LGBTQ Nation , talking about the impact of book banning on libraries. CBC Windsor has repeatedly featured her expertise on libraries and especially children’s librarianship.
Kate’s busy schedule isn’t just filled with the work of a children’s’ librarian. A 2020 Autism diagnosis unlocked a new understanding of her neurology, and brought her new tools for managing her complicated physical and mental health. Not only has she become a vocal advocate for sharing and listening to voices of Autistic people, she’s also expanded her other patient advocacy efforts on disability and employment awareness, appearing in video, print, and in-person events in Niagara Falls, Ontario; Stockholm Sweden; Muskegon, Michigan; and Budapest, Hungary.
The Local CBC made this lovely video about my work, I think it sums up my approach to storytime beautifully!
My Projects
Selected Media Mentions
- Quoted in LGBTQ Nation talking about Book Bans
- Video Interview and Article with CBC Windsor
- The Programming Librarian’s Issue on Librarians During the Pandemic! Thrilled to have been featured!
- I was quoted in Marie Claire magazine 2021!
Not My Mention, but an Honour
- Jessica King‘s article on Books Celebrating Caribbean Christmas was republished by the Global Literature In Libraries Initiative website
- Heidi Rabinowitz‘s piece on Jewish Picture Books about holidays was mentioned in Jewish Literary Links by Erika Dreifus
Best Book Ever
I joined host Julie Straus to hype my recent favourite: A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond. The luminary behind Fidgets and Fries. Tiffy is openly Autistic and the married mother of two beautiful sons with Autism.
I believe picture books have the power to change the world. And that hers absolutely the best option for those looking to explore the Autistic experience.
Everyone Loved It But Me Podcast
In this, my first podcast experience I talked about why I don’t love the classics of children’s literature. I talked about my issues with The Giving Tree and Dr. Seuss. I don’t bash the books but instead challenge readers to share books by living authors that better reflect the diversity of the human experience.
In 2023 I returned to talk about another controversial children’s author of yore, Roald Dahl!
Autism Unmasked! (2023)
Check back soon, I’ll be joining host Nicky Collins — Aka The Autism Coach — to talk about my life as an openly autistic content creator.
Asking Autistics
Our Latest Asking Autistics event was about motherhood and autism. It featured famous YouTuber, Taylor Heaton (she/her), best known as YouTuber Mom on the Spectrum and writer and librarian Katrina Naoko Frank (she/they). Both shared a wealth of experiences. We were so fortunate that Katrina also shared her unique experiences as a BIPOC Autistic women and spoke about the ways that her race impacts her life as an autistic mother.
Origin Story
Asking Autistics began in April 2022 when, after connecting with two other late-diagnosed autistic women who had had books of theirs included on The Giggle Mat. Writer, Tara Shannon (she/her) had just recently been diagnosed with autism at 45. Children’s book illustrator, Sarah Nettuno (she/her), at 25 in 2021 and I had been diagnosed at 35 back in 2020.
I felt an immediate kinship with these two women. We shared a love for picture books and were all kind souls who’d felt lost before diagnosis. The main thing we wanted to share was that finding out one was autistic was a joy, not a sadness. It was the moment our lives began.
June 2022 Event
In June 2022 with Dani Noreen (They/Them) known as The Punk Rock Autistic and Margaux Wosk (They/Them) best known as Retrophiliac. These two spoke about late diagnosis, autism in the workplace, and the need to support autistic workers and business owners who have much to offer but often struggle with traditional employment or are taken advantage of in disability-specific positions.
Thrilled to finally be able to announce that, through Fourth Wall Music, I have secured a WEA grant to make one of my dreams come true!
Mister Fred Rogers has always been one of my biggest role models for StoryTime. I try to emulate the way he speaks with children with tremendous empathy and kindness.
As a trained musician myself I’ve always especially appreciated the way used high quality music as one of many tools to connect with the very young.
From the Windsor Endowment for the Arts:
The grant will help cover the costs of artist fees for the program “It’s You I Like – The Music of Mr. Rogers” celebrating the music of the late Fred Rogers. This family-focused program will feature guest host Kate Reynolds, the Lavender Librarian, and will explore Mr. Roger’s contributions to music, education, inclusivity, and autism awareness. They hope to make a recording to release as a children’s album.
The 4th Wall musicians will be joined on stage by the Clifford Studio children’s choir and students from WCAA Scenic Design class will be tasked with the set design.
Baker Lecture
In September 2022 I gave a lecture through the University of South Carolina August Baker Series called “Finding Solidarity In Storytime.”
The lecture covered my understanding of Autism, our Solidarity origin story, and finished with some thoughts on the benefits on Autistic leadership.
About Me
Why am I so open?
When I run my StoryTimes there are all kinds of children watching me. Some of them are autistic, some disabled, and certainly some queer. Hiding these parts of myself teaches them that they need to hide. They don’t, whoever they are is wonderful.
Living openly also free me from shame and to support others like me. Representation matters. I only learned I was autistic in 2020 (at 35!). Like so many diagnosed as adults, I was shocked to learn I was autistic.
I hope that my openness can spare others some of the pain I experienced. Because the moment I was diagnosed my life improved immeasurably.
Diagnosis at 35!
My journey to autism diagnosis is different from many but by no means unique. Right now so many adults are finding our they’re autistic after years of unexplained struggles.
Late identified autism is common and painful. Since diagnosis I’ve been able to connect with others on the autism spectrum and it’s amazing to finally have a sense of community. Had I not understood I was autistic this would never have happened for me.
Twice Exceptional
I’m what many would call a Twice Exceptional of 2E Autistic. This is, to many, the most palatable kind of autism and it comes with a great deal of privilege (think, autism is a superpower). As a child I was identified as academically gifted with no accommodations or supports even though I clearly needed them.
Undiagnosed Autism is a Safety Concern
Most children didn’t get lost several times of week. Most children didn’t chew their fingernails to nubs. Most children didn’t scream cry nearly as often as I did. I attempted to hide my autism through hyper-obedience but I felt tremendous lonely and afraid every single day.
It’s official, in October 2022 I’ll be the face of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP). Boehringer Ingelheim is featuring me in the campaign for Disability Employment Awareness Month!
I’ll be sharing my traumatic diagnosis story from 2019. While I’m being compensated for this work I would share my story regardless. GPP is an orphan illness so no one understood what I was going through not even my healthcare team.
My symptoms grew quickly, moving from what I mistook for heat rash to hospitalization in the matter of a week. I ended up on IV fluids with rashes covering 70% of my body. I would later shed most of my skin in terrifying sheets.
It would have meant so much to me to not feel alone in this suffering. So I’m thrilled that GPP and Me is a resource that exists. It’s difficult to live with so it means so much to me that I can share my story. I want to help others feel less alone.
I’m uncannily clumsy due to dyspraxia: a symptom of my autism. Both clumsy and fragile (I was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta) I’ve spent much of my life convalescing. I think that’s why I’ve always been such a bookworm, it’s a joy to have hobbies that don’t require anything from me physically!
