I'm Glad Someone Read to Me

Sitting on Mom’s lap with a favorite picture book. Bedtime stories with Dad. Trips to the school library, where the librarian read stacks of new stories each week. We all have favorite memories tied to the books we loved as children, and the parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and librarians who read the books to us. Those moments with good books have shaped our lives. Chances are, we still have an image, a phrase, or even a smell that will transport us back to those moments in a heartbeat. Celebrate with us on the Twitter hashtag #GSRtM and here!

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'Llama, Llama' Author Dies, Forgoes Funeral Service In Lieu Of One Simple Request

Anna Dewdney, creator of the Llama Llama books, has died.

So sad to hear of Anna Dewdney’s passing. Please read to someone in her honor today. <3

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You may have tangible wealth untold; caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be. I had a mother who read to me. —Strickland Gillian

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Reading to children ... especially books that stretch their vocabulary ... is so important for building strong educational foundations. <3 http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/mondays-with-mandy-or-mira/stunning-vocabulary-in-picture-books-is-important

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Even babies in the NICU benefit from being read to! <3

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Children’s books have a way of shaping who we become, not just as readers, but as people. They are our first introduction to literature, often times on the laps of our parents, and they teach us valuable lessons that never truly leave us. It’s no wonder that many of the most inspiring quotes...

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Cancelled 80's Children’s Books - Nerd Machine's Picking Favorites

The prince of Wolfpop, Paul Scheer joins the Nerd Machine crew to talk about favorite children's books

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From Skylar Dorset, author of THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS:

What was your favorite childhood book? P.D. Eastman’s “Go, Dog. Go!”

Who read it to you? Everyone, basically. I vividly remember being read that book endlessly, until I could recite it by heart, and until the curious little black squiggles on the page began to turn themselves into words.

  Why did you love it? Well, first of all, I love dogs! And, also, it’s so adorably sassy. The “Do you like my hat?” / “No, I do not like your hat.” / “Good-bye.” / “Good-bye” exchange is just a *classic* of literature, okay? I still think about it anytime anyone is a bit too blunt in telling me they don’t like something.

  What triggers the memory today? Hee! Well, anyone being a bit too blunt in telling me they don’t like something. ;-) And also the fact that I now have a nephew who’s at the reading-to age, and we’ve started reading him “Go, Dog. Go!” But really, I can be reminded of the book at any time. Just a few weeks ago, I looked at a tree and thought, “Huh. That looks like the tree with the dog party on it from ‘Go, Dog. Go!’” See? It can strike anywhere!

  Skylar Dorset grew up in Rhode Island, so she hates to drive more than 20 minutes to get anywhere. After receiving a law degree from Harvard, Skylar was an attorney in Boston for many years, where she wrote much of her first book during bouts of being stuck on the subway (it breaks down a lot). Visit her on the Internet at www.skylardorset.com.

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What was your favorite childhood book? The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (I could list a thousand others, like every Beverly Cleary book ever!)

  Who read it to you? My mother

  Why did you love it? Definitely because my mom read it to me (several times, as I recall). She taught me to read before I started school and let me alternate chapters with her. I loved reading aloud but my fonder memories are of snuggling into bed with her and sleepily tracking the words she read down the page until it was time for me to turn to the next one. 

  What triggers the memory today? Reading with my own kids- it was the reason I insisted on a king-sized bed when we bought our house. I wanted all three snuggled in for bedtime stories! Now that they’re getting older, we’re moving on to audiobooks in the car as our shared reading experiences, but I hope when they’re grown they have the same memories of being safe and treasured that I do.

Jen Malone writes books for tweens and teens. Her debut At Your Service published in August with Simon & Schuster. She has four more novels forthcoming, including the co-written series RSVP with Gail Nall. Jen lives outside Boston with her husband and three children and loves school visits and cute hedgehogs pictures. To learn more about her and her books, visit www.jenmalonewrites.com.

Purchase link: 

At Your Service (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin MIX, August 2014)

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My favorite childhood book, in fact the first book I remember my mom reading to me was A. A. Milne’s When We Were Very Young. I think I fell in love with the cadence of the words, “They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace. Christopher Robin went down with Alice” and “I met a man as I went walking. We got to talking, man and I.” These poems still sound musical and magical to me. I think those poems shaped me as a reader (and, if I’m lucky, as a writer) because I love beautiful language as much as I love a good story. They probably also fostered my love of all things BBC. And I still have the copy my mom read to me.

  Helene Dunbar usually writes features about fiddles and accordions for Irish Music Magazine, but she’s also been known to write about court cases, theater, and Native American Indian tribes. She's lived in two countries, six states, and is currently holed up in Nashville with her husband, daughter, two cats, and the world’s friendliest golden retriever.

You can find her debut novel, These Gentle Wounds (May 8, 2014 – Flux Books), here:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

IndieBound

Her next book, What Remains, will release in 2015 by Flux.

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My favorite book as a girl was Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Mrs. Clarke, my fifth grade teacher, read it aloud to us. I still have that classroom copy! (I think I 'forgot" to return it after borrowing it for the summer. And then I moved. Sorry, Mrs. C.!)

The language of the book was so different than most books of the day. (I remember thinking "fink!" was a horrible swearword.) I was enthralled by Harriet's bravery and spy skills. I related to her because she hated math as much as I did. But most of all I loved her mentor, Ole Golly, who said things like, "You're an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it's gonna keep making people nervous for the rest of your life." I was a VERY unique child who lived in a fantasy world and loved to write. These thoughts really spoke to my soul. And I can't forget the illustrations; I loved the artwork. It still inspires me to illustrate my own stories some day.

I often think of Harriet when I'm journaling or drawing. (I'm still paranoid about putting any personal info about anyone on paper. What if they find it?!) I have a very snarky streak, and sometimes when I'm tempted to give in to it, I remember Harriet's comeuppance. As I tell my kids, just because you think of a witty insult doesn't mean you should SAY it. Or write it down. Or text it! 

Long live Harriet!

Bio:

Louise Galveston is the author of BY THE GRACE OF TODD (Penguin/Razorbill Feb. 27, 2014). She and her husband live in the Midwest with their eleven kids and a parrot. When Louise isn’t writing or folding laundry, she directs her local children’s theater, where she’s playwright in residence.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Buy BY THE GRACE OF TODD at your favorite Indie Bookseller, Barnes & Noble or Amazon

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Reading aloud helps children acquire early language skills, develop positive associations with books and reading, and build a stronger foundation for school success.

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Join @[247151165343747:274:Lauren Oliver], @[60020139122:274:Dan Gutman], Rita Williams-Garcia and more by thanking YOUR mom for instilling a love of reading at an early age!

I'm so grateful for a mom who made books & reading a part of everyday life. Thanks, Mom!

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Rose Williams May: Seeing "The Little Witch" below reminded me about this book: http://www.amazon.com/Littlest-Witch-Jeanne.../dp/0394907345. No one read it to me, but I remember reading it to my siblings by the tall (almost to the floor) bedroom window.

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#GSRtM My mom read Ferdinand the Bull to me; now that's an old story!

Martha Mayberry ‏@mbelec123

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I'm getting more reading ideas than #PitchWars clues from #gsrtm and I don't mind one bit :-)

Patricia Moussatche @patchi_writes

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JM Ledwell (@MiyakosWorld): I have loved Raggedy Ann since I could talk and walk, how awesome that I could take my beloved friend of the storybook world read to me by my Nanny, around with me everywhere? I had the dolls-like 18! She's still my favorite story. I love the drawings by Johnny Gruelle.