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Lorielle J Holloway St Pete Lit Fest

Lorielle J. Hollaway, Founder + Dreamer

Hey good people!

I'm Lorielle — a St. Pete native, mama of three, and a lover of art and culture.

My love of books and children’s literature started early, from reading the American Girl: Addy book series to discovering picture books by Ezra Jack Keats, Faith Ringgold, and George Ford, and spending summer days reading through my dad’s comic book collection.

Those memories still shape how I think about reading today. I don’t believe reading should feel like something we have to do. It should be something we discover, enjoy, and share.

In 2018, I founded Cultured Books Literacy Foundation in South St. Pete to create more of those experiences for youth and families in my community.

Favorite reads growing up: American Girl: Addy book series, My dad's comics, Teen Vogue

The Board

  • A woman with blonde hair wearing a black blazer over a light blue patterned blouse.

    Miriam Pardoll

    Favorite childhood book: Ira Sleeps Over 

  • Portrait of Dulani Porter

    Dulani Porter

    Favorite reads growing up: Beezus and Ramona books, Fudge/Super Fudge, James and the Giant Peach, Where the Sidewalk Ends (I could go on, but I won't)

  • A woman with curly, reddish-brown locs styled with small flowers, wearing blue off-the-shoulder top and gold jewelry, smiling against a plain background.

    Brooke Harris

    Favorite reads growing up: Amelia Bedelia, Miss Nelson is Missing, The Great Gatsby

  • Dawn Goddard Cultured Books

    Dawn Goddard

    Favorite books growing up: Frog and Toad Together, anything by Judy Blume, Bridge to Terabithia, Charlotte’s Web, Bread and Jam for Frances, Choose Your Own Adventure books, and several Little Golden Books like Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum, The Monster at the End of This Book, and The Magic Friend-Maker.

  • India Torrez Cultured Books

    India Torrez

    (they/them)
    Fave reads: Verdi, Where The Wild Things Are, Stellaluna

our growth

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