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Reading to my Mother
As far back as I can remember my mother always gave me books to read, which is what first sparked my love for reading. As a child, my mother would read to me and allow me to read to her even when I was just making stuff up using the pictures. -
The Library
I remember the library being one of my favorite places to go on an outing. I would check out every book about mermaids that I could and whatever else caught my attention. -
Book Fairs
One of my favorite parts of reading in elementary and middle school included the Scholastic book order forms and the book fairs. I was fortunate that my parents used to purchase books for me every now and then because I think a large part of my reading development came from those books. -
Shel Silverstein
My favorite childhood books were books of poetry by Shel Silverstein such as “Where the Sidewalk Ends”, “A Light in the Attic”, and “Falling Up”. I used to obsessively read his wacky writing and act out poems with my cousins. -
Elementary Reading
When I was in elementary school I was very much into my reading classes and enjoyed books such as “Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry”, “Where the Red Fern Grows”, “How to Eat Fried Worms”, and “Hatchet”. -
Middle School Reading
Once in middle school I fell in love with the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling’s writing is incredible and she challenged her readers and made me feel accomplished after reading a sometimes 600-page book for days on end. -
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Another book that really captured me was “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. I loved this story line and Lemony Snicket’s creative way of writing and use of words really made me fall in love with reading and literature even more. -
Magazines
I have always enjoyed reading magazines. I think the American Girl magazines that I read as a child really influenced my reading skills growing up. -
High School Reading
In high school I wasn’t always interested in the books that were a part of the curriculum but after graduating I returned to a few that had a lasting impact on me like “Their Eyes were Watching God”, Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, poems by Edgar Allen Poe, and “Oliver Twist” by the delightful Charles Dickens. The teachers who pushed me to engage with the books and the distinctive styles of the literature influenced me in ways I would have never suspected. -
Present Reading
Today I enjoy reading anything and everything that catches my attention. Over the years, I’ve really grown attached to all kinds of poetry, internet blogs and magazines, and non-fiction books on every topic that interests me such as philosophy, psychology, space, fashion, food, nature, and symbols. I believe that my unique history of reading has influenced the reader that I am today, has helped me to push through college, and has sparked my goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.
