Documentary Film Review “Reading Is Love” From football to fatherhood to inspiring others’ growth and fulfillment through literacy
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
Not just THINKING about what needs doing, but instead actually DOING it. When it becomes evident that there is a definitively essential element missing from lives around us, in our communities, in our nation, in our WORLD, what will it take to make us step up, create a plan, formulate the actions necessary, and see the need addressed? It is a query we don’t remotely entertain as much as we should as a society, especially when those to be impacted are so precious and imperative to all we are as human beings…..our children.
In Philadelphia’s poorer areas, 61% of children don’t have access to libraries, much less ANY form of books in the home that allow them the opportunity to read. With such a burden that lack of literacy places on them, so much of LIFE negatively altered because of it, it took two fathers and best friends, former Temple football players Brent Johnstone and Akeiff Staples, to realize the dilemma and make a transformative choice in March 2017…set a goal of “30 Daycares In 30 Days” and organize entertaining reading sessions for kids. The rest is ongoing, life-changing history.
Next, my Mind:
When I stop and really try to grasp what a large group of like-minded individuals can achieve when pooling resources together and acting as one cohesive unit in order to make this stormy world a better place, it makes me feel great that there ARE people out there who WANT to do that. However, what transpires when only TWO people with like-minded initiatives, possessing no true assets other than sheer force of will, hard work ethics, dogged perseverance, heart-stirring purpose, a desire to initiate CHANGE, and a promise to not only evolve their own lives, but also the lives of this world’s future generations, arrive on the scene? To witness what THEY are able to accomplish becomes wholly inspiring, potently influential, and elicits transfiguration for any and all whom their efforts touch. THAT is the atmosphere of determination and compassion I felt to the core when watching this amazingly heartfelt, motivationally uplifting documentary from director/producer/editor/cinematographer Amber Monet plus executive producers Brent Johnstone and Akeiff Staples.
This real life story follows Johnston and Staples, having met in college while playing football for Temple University, who saw and empathetically absorbed the disheartening reality of illiteracy in children from poor communities in the Greater Philadelphia, PA area….then chose to DO something about it. The film is nothing short of dynamically affecting and compellingly persuasive in its exploration of all these two men went through to ensure that the example they wished to set for themselves and their own children would suddenly turn into the catalyst to pursue a course culminating in a building journey of presenting and teaching reading to daycares around their city with an ultimate goal of promoting early childhood literacy. Experiencing the reform of mindsets, FAR improved desire and excitement to read the children embrace, and conspicuous metamorphosis it all engendered within everyone, it’s utterly, undeniably, quite effectively imaginative, exceptional, and awareness-raising in its messaging and challenge to ALL of us to find means to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. FOR THE BETTER. FOR OUR CHILDREN and a POSITIVE future.
What I further appreciated about this documentary’s focus on Johnstone and Staples is the transparency it provides to everything they’ve done with not only their original “30 Daycares In 30 Days” campaign, but how in the midst of it, each one has had to overcome his OWN challenges, Johnstone with dyslexia and Staples with devastating family loss, diabetes, and addiction. Both are so genuine and forthright about it, and that to me is courageous, portraits of REAL men who aren’t afraid to HAVE and SHOW emotion. How their respective battles allowed them to become the fathers they are, parenting with REAL LOVE, while also spreading those perspectives and personalities to the kids they visit, read to, and support through the FathersRead365 program was birthed from this personal choice and bravery. They also co-authored then released their first children’s book, “I’m Beautiful. I’m Proud!” in May of 2019, have reached over 20,000 families, distributed over 100,000 books, and, through their unwavering efforts to GAIN some form of funding, are now tied to The William Penn Foundation who remains their largest funder to date.
Yet another win arrived in March of 2022 when The Vanguard Group awarded funding for the organization’s very first Book Bus. But, again, to REACH these pinnacles was to have to walk through the fires of being rejected for financing, not truly being acknowledged at first, and operating under the radar of grander public notice for many years. Still, it was always the drive and refusal to succumb to any hurtles they faced that kept Johnstone and Staples on course. As one might expect, it was the unrelenting support and pure adoration of their families that carried them through. The interviews/appearances we get with Brent’s wife Jessica Navarro Johnstone, his children Gianna Johnstone and Mason Johnstone, Akeiff’s wife Anika Thompson Staples, his children Daley Staples and Jalen Thompson, plus other insights from Lance Johnstone and LGH Consulting, LLC president LaJewel Harrison, all paint such a wonderfully touching picture of these amazing heroes who solely desire to see children learn to read to their lives can have potential and success, starting from as early an age as possible, and avoid the “traps” that illiteracy can sadly generate.
Truthfully, we’re barely scratching the surface of all this film encompasses, and watching it to take in everything it has to offer about these two incredible individuals is what will leave you with the fulfilling sense of stimulating, enlivening, provocatively striking encouragement in there being GOOD in the world. To know that children at such a young age are being given a chance to excel and rise above their circumstances alone is exciting and heartening in itself. Still, as indicated above, what gives this film its strength and power remains in the wealth of promotion it conveys for the betterment of FAMILY, the PRESENCE of fathers and the VITAL roles they play in their children’s lives, education, sense of self, and what they CAN be, while instilling the values that our society all-around NEEDS TO EMBODY again with total urgency, regardless of what station in life, ethnicity, belief system, gender, et al you are a part of. If more people accepted and adopted the kind of thinking that Johnstone and Staples are setting out for us, this world WOULD be remade for the BEST. Truly. Unequivocally.
So, in total, “Reading Is Love” speaks volumes to the state of affairs in our individual lives, nation, and grander arena of existence, showcasing what can happen when ideas born out of exigency rise up in just a few hearts that genuinely care and blossom into the significant, transformational power we can ALL comprehend the applicability and magnitude of. Let us hope this film will get people’s attention, establish real actions in more and more communities, and then watch as our children ascend to much more productive, innovative, and simply joyful heights. And to think…all we have to do is what should ALREADY be the case when it comes to them…..BE THERE.
“Reading Is Love” is now streaming on Tubi TV but will be released across multiple platforms on 09/19/2025 by Global Digital Releasing.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
