My mother has told me (on more than one occasion) how much I loved to be read to as a child. She said that I would spend hours listening to her or my dad and that often times, I wanted to hear the same books over and over. I think that I began to read on my own prior to kindergarten because my mother was a teacher so she helped me learn my phonics before I began my "formal" education. Some of my favorite books were "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", "I Can Do It By Myself", "Curious George", and "Amelia Bedelia" .
Reading at Various Ages:
When I was in third through six grades, I read constantly. I remember hiding a flashlight underneath my bed with whatever book I was currently reading so that I could pick up where I left off after my parents told me to go to bed. Some of my favorite series were Nancy Drew, The BoxCar Children, The Babysitter's Club, and R.L. Stine. As I wrote this list, it occurred to me that I was on a mystery kick!
Books That Spoke To Me:
My fifth grade teacher assigned this book to our class. I remember being excited to read it because there was a picture of a white sandy beach on the front and beaches were one of my favorite places. I never thought about (until now) how I immediately made a connection with the book that I was going to read. This book was unlike any that I'd ever read. The setting (WWII in the Carribean), characters, and plot were so new to me -- it made me view the world through different eyes. This book made such an impact on me that I taught it to my middle school students during my first year of teaching.
Thanks to...
Anyone who ever fostered my interest in books is responsible for keeping my love of literature alive throughout the years. I would say that my parents are responsible for turning me on to the world of books and I thank them for allowing me to always go to the library or buy new books. I know that not all children are a lucky as I was to have parents who support their learning.