The life of a bookworm....

When I was a little girl, my favorite activity was reading. I can remember getting books read to me all the time and then after I learned how to read, all I wanted to do was read to anyone who would listen. If no one in my family was available, I would recruit my dog and my stuffed animals to be my special listeners. Thankfully, they were always willing.

Thinking back to what I was exposed to, reading was a part of everyday life around my house. I often saw people reading the mail, newspaper, books, magazines, and even the TV Guide. The library was a regular destination for my family and personally I thought it was better than a trip to the amusement park. Spending hours reading about my favorite animals or getting some Little Golden Bookswas great fun for me. I have always thought of reading as an adventure because it transports me into the lives of the characters whether or not they are real. Who doesn’t love a free vacation?

I credit all of those experiences to my love of books today. I would still much rather go to the library than the amusement park. As I have grown, my tastes have changed but I’m always in the middle of a book of some kind.

Instilling this love of books in children is very important to me. I never turn down a child who wants to be read to and I always try to give books for gifts rather than toys that will be pushed to the side after a few minutes. I also get to share books with the families that I visit, as does each parent educator. We incorporate a book into every visit to promote literacy and its importance.

Every Monday and Friday, I will post a children’s book to recommend to our readers. I welcome your feedback on the choices and please feel free to tell me about your own favorites so that I can showcase those.