Community Corner

SJ Boys Read to Host Haddonfield Author

Dan Gutman will be at Moorestown's Barnes & Noble on Sunday to answer questions and sign books.

It isn’t everyday you get to meet the person who inspired you to do something.

For the founders of SJ Boys Read, meeting Haddonfield author Dan Gutman inspired them to start a reading program for boys.

This Sunday, participants will get to meet Gutman at the next event.

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“We were looking for a well-known author that could inspire our group,” said Cameron Pendino. “We figured he could make an impact on more young boys like he had made on us in the past.”

Gutman, the author of 98 children’s books, will be at Moorestown's on Nixon Drive from 6 to 8 p.m. May 1. From 6 to 7 p.m., SJ Boys Read will discuss Gutman’s new book The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable and Jackie & Me. From 7 to 8 p.m., Gutman will hold a question and answer and autograph session.

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Gutman, a Haddonfield resident, is excited to be attending SJ Boys Read.

“They seemed like very ambitious, hard-working, young guys who want to do something good for the world, and I want to encourage that,” said Gutman. “They could be sitting home watching TV or playing video games, and they’re out at Barnes & Noble getting kids excited about reading. You have to admire that.”

The founders of SJ Boys Read—Pendino and Nikhil and Kyle Thumar—love Gutman’s books and hope to expose other boys to the books.

“He is one of my favorite authors,” said Kyle, who said The Million Dollar Shot is one of his favorites. “We know that other guys enjoy him as well.”

Gutman writes a lot of sports-themed books, including the baseball card adventures.

And although he doesn’t have the numbers on who reads what, many of his books appeal to boys.

“I would guess that the My Weird School series appeals equally to boys and girls,” Gutman said. “My baseball card adventure series probably appeals more to boys simply because more boys than girls like baseball. My other books usually have a boy as the main character. I hope everybody likes my books.”

Cameron, Nikhil and Kyle began SJ Boys Read two years ago. They hold sessions at Barnes & Noble and the Moorestown Library. The group discusses books, has activities and plays games, anything to get boys interested in reading.

Sunday’s event is for boys ages 8 to 11.

For those who can’t make it, Gutman offers this advice.

“Give your boys more Dan Gutman books! Well, that will help, of course, but more importantly they should find subjects that their boys are interested in,” Gutman said. “Look for books on that subject. Boys, and girls, like to read about things that interest them.”


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