This morning I shared a few memories with my childhood neighbors on our neighborhood Facebook page. Thanks to the leadership of a few community minded neighbors, our neighborhood friends have stayed close online and sometimes in real time over the years. As I reminisced, I realized that many of my childhood memories included books which led me to think about my reading life.
First read alouds and early readers
My parents didn't read to us a lot when we were young. This was mainly due to the fact that we lived in a very busy house with lots of family members. There wasn't a lot of time and energy after feeding and bathing us to read to us. In some ways, this lack of read alouds made every book I encountered in the early years, a very special book. The first book I remember is Make Way for Ducklings. I had visited Boston's Public Garden on a number of occasions and when my kindergarten teacher, Ms. Ball, read Make Way for Ducklings, I couldn't believe that a book was written about a place that I had been to. It was a magical experience.
I also remember a few trips to The Worcester Public Library where we mostly borrowed books of fables and fairy tales by Hans Christian Anderson. I loved those stories. Later, in first grade there were the Dick and Jane books--I loved their adventures too. Teachers did read longer books, but due to my little experience with listening to stories, I never was able to follow those stories.
First books I read on my own
One of the first books I read on my own was titled, Hurry up Henry and The Cat in the Hat. My dad bought those books for us and I was happy to read them. Then in third grade and as a late bloomer, I chose a book off the windowsill, Mike's House. I loved reading that book on my own. Books that followed included A Sundae for Judy and The Children of Noisy Village. I loved books that I could relate to in some way. Overall though, I didn't read that much preferring to draw and make up my own stories instead. I was somewhat of a slow reader so it took a book that really grabbed my attention to stay with it.
Best books
Again, as one who rarely stuck with a book and lived in a home that was far too busy for quiet reading, I had a few best books--books I couldn't put down including A Secret Garden, Jubilee, Our Town and a few racy novels that my cousins introduced me too--books that taught me a lot about the birds and bees in a rather warped way, but that's fodder for another post perhaps.
Reading diet
Now I still am somewhat of a reluctant reader preferring short articles and blog posts daily, but I do force myself to many nonfiction and some fiction books. I love what nonfiction or informational books do for my ability to work well, create and advocate, and I really enjoy the fiction stories that hold my attention. Most recently I read a very long book about a Polish man's immigration to America during World War II--I know the man's family which made the story most intriguing to me. I'd like to see them sell that story to Masterpiece Theater as it's a story untold and a story that will inspire many in positive ways.
Reading is critical to good living, and today, that reading is available in all kinds of ways given the technology we have so there's no excuse not to make reading a steady part of your life and the lives of those you love. Onward.