Monday Musings May 18th

Hosted by Just One More Page ... Today's musing is ...

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading? Was it from a particular person, or person(s)? Do you remember any books that you read, or were read to you, as a young child? (question courtesy of Diane).

I sort of do.  I was probably in second grade or so and wasn't doing so hot in reading.  My parents got me Super Solvers Midnight Rescue!  What, you don't know what this is?!  Well I'll tell you.

You are the Super Solver on a quest to save Shady Glen school. Morty Maxwell, your arch nemesis, is trying to erase the school. Only great reading, comprehension, deductive reasoning and problem solving can save Shady Glen. You explore the school to find clues hidden in stories and notes. Take pictures of Marty's robots and compare the pictures to your clues to find the right robot. If you are a super reader and solver you can stop Morty, but you only have until midnight.

And it was awesome.  And I think my reading improved?  I'm not sure.  But I loved the game.  Then there was Baby Sitters Club and a host of other books that I love and still remember.  It's amazing how comforting books have become for me.  And I really want to surround myself with the books I had as a child and just sort of relive me reading them as a child.

But the number one thing that founded my reading would be my mother.  She was never without a book.  There were books under beds, under tables, under the couch (always one under the couch).  And she usually had one in her purse.  Her reasoning, "you never know when you're going to have to wait in line."

It's just as sound today.

The other thing I remember, is we could ask for toys or candy or stuffed animals and be denied.  But if we asked for books ... she would never say no.  And we were always at the library.  In fact, in like 5th grade my family participated in a week without TV sponsored by the school.  And it was all about encouraging kids to read.  And I did the summer reading program at the library most summers.  Free (important for thrifty moms!) and time consuming for often bored children.

My mom was (is) a genius!