Community Highlights: Meet NancyAnn Wartman of PaperPie

Today we’d like to introduce you to NancyAnn Wartman.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started with PaperPie 31 years ago as a stay-at-home mom looking for a way to help financially while also filling our home with great books for our kids. My husband, Tom, and I were raising our family, and we loved the idea of building something flexible that fit alongside family life.

What started around our kitchen table grew alongside our family (5 kids!) into a lifelong career centered around literacy, connection, and helping children fall in love with reading. One of the sweetest parts of the journey is that my sister, Ruth Smith, also started with PaperPie about 30 years ago, and we’ve truly had the best time building this path together over the years.

Today, I work with families, schools, and community organizations throughout the Greater Cincinnati area and well beyond, while also mentoring a nationwide team through PaperPie. I also have opportunities to speak to groups about raising readers and creating connection in a world filled with screens and distractions.

Recently, I received PaperPie’s Platinum Legacy Award for selling more than $1 million in educational materials during my career, and I’ve also earned more than 35 company incentive trips over the years. Our family has certainly enjoyed the travel opportunities along the way.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, you can probably imagine what it’s like raising 5 kids while building a home-based business over more than three decades — there have definitely been a lot of different seasons along the way!

One of the biggest lessons for me has been embracing growth and continually learning new things, especially as technology has changed so much over the years. When I first started selling books, there wasn’t even a website yet. Orders were mailed in with stamps, and we relied on the US Mail, a landline phone, and a fax machine, which felt very fancy at the time!

Now I’m learning about social media, content creation, and algorithms, which still makes me laugh a little. I’ve learned that long-term success is built more through consistency, relationships, and purpose than perfection. And along with that, I’ve learned that consistency doesn’t mean constantly.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is centered around helping families raise readers in a world full of screens and distractions.

Through PaperPie, I help connect families, schools, and communities with engaging children’s books and educational resources that make reading fun, approachable, and part of everyday life.

I love sharing simple reading tips, supporting literacy efforts, and helping children discover books they truly enjoy. I hope people see me as someone who encourages families, supports literacy, and creates genuine connection through books.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Some of my favorite childhood memories are the simple ones: making mud pies with my brother, learning to sew on my mom’s sewing machine at the kitchen table, and playing music with my siblings and dad.

Mostly, I remember a childhood with lots of creativity, conversation, travel, and connection – things I still value deeply today.

Today, one of my favorite parts of this work is finding meaningful ways to connect books and literacy with the community. I work with schools, preschools, daycare centers, libraries, businesses, and community organizations through book fairs, literacy events, booths, public speaking, and grant matching opportunities that help put more books into the hands of children and families.

Whether I’m speaking to a group of parents about raising readers, helping a school earn free books, or setting up a booth at a community event, I love creating spaces where books feel approachable, joyful, and connected to real life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://RaisingReadersUSA.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/RaisingReadersUSA
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/RaisingReadersUSA
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nancyann-wartman
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@RaisingReadersUSA