Can books compete with the Internet?

By Evan Dawson,

Megan Mack, Elissa Orlando, Julie Williams

Published November 6, 2025 at 5:33 PM EST

Four people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a woman front left has long brown hair and is wearing a green sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers; a man front right has short dark hair and is wearing a white button-down shirt, jeans and sneakers; a woman back left has short brown hair and is wearing a purple shirt with a brown patterned scarf around her neck; a woman back right has long blonde hair and is wearing glasses, a beige puffy vest, blue button-down shirt and purple t-shirt.

1 of 2 — (foreground) Pamela Bailie, (background) Kathleen Blasi and Sarah Bonczyk with host Evan Dawson on "Connections"

(foreground) Pamela Bailie, (background) Kathleen Blasi and Sarah Bonczyk with host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Thursday, November 6, 2025

Gary Pudup / WXXI News

A smiling woman with short, curly brown hair wears a green v-neck sweater.

2 of 2 — JULIE BERRY_233HR - Copy.JPG

Julie Berry

Provided

Research shows young people are reading less — both in their English classes and for pleasure. According to a study from the University of Florida and University College London, daily reading for pleasure among kids is down 40% over the last 20 years.

Experts point to an increase in screen time, overscheduling, and poor literacy education as some of the reasons.

So how can we get kids interested in reading again? We discuss it with our guests, and we preview the upcoming Rochester Children and Teens Book Festival.

Our guests:

Pamela Bailie, co-owner of Hipocampo Children's Books
Julie Berry, New York Times best-selling author and owner of Author's Note
Kathleen Blasi, author of children's books
Sarah Bonczyk, owner of Lift Bridge Book Shop