I remember learning to read.  My mother had a race car chart on the fridge that was supposed to inspire me and track my progress.  I’m not sure if I ever finished ‘the race’ however I remember when I finally determined that reading was essential to life.  I was around the age of seven and was accustomed to having the L. Frank Baum books read aloud to me each night.  This was not an option.  One night, after a single chapter my darling mothers voice was shot.  I suppose she had a cold.  Or a horrid voice-stealing disease.  In hind-sight she may have just been tired of reading and needed a glass of wine.  I don’t hold that against her.  It was, however, at a crucial point in the book!  Did the Patchwork Girl reach her destination?  Was the Saw Horse safe or burned in a dreadful attempt on his life?  WHAT HAPPENED!?!?  I simply had to know.  It could not wait one more day and I wasn’t going to sleep until I knew.  So I read.  I read the entire book.  Some words I couldn’t understand, but most I did and I was able to rest in the knowledge my beloved friends within those pages were safe and sound.

For the next 12 years I was able to read whenever I wanted.  I’d often consume 3 or 4 books a week, the librarians knew me by name.  One of the biggest disappointments of adulthood for me has been the lack of time I have to relax and just drift into another world.  I read maybe 3 or 4 novels a year now instead of a week.  I think I may makeup for it in ‘chapter books’ and Highlights magazine.  Reading is important.  And I love that my Addie holds me to the same standards I held my mother too so many years ago.  We read, every night.  Sometimes I cry “sore throat” after a single chapter but that’s okay!  We recently finished “Charlotte’s Web”.  Oh my.  Addie was fine.  I was not.  I was crying so much I couldn’t read and Addie told me gently “It’s okay Mama, it’s just a spider.  Let me go get a handkerchief”.  She is FIVE!  Here I am bawling my eyeballs out and being comforted by a five year old over a spider!  Yet, that is why I love to read.  Therein lies the power of a truly great book.

Which leads me to this.  I, in my infinite search for a way to make enough money to buy a plane ticket to Oceania to see my darling friend Bridget, have started a book business.  A bit crazy, I know.  But the books are simply fantastic.  There is Cherry the Pig who wins a bake-off and opens a bakery.  There is Selma the Sheep who decides if she were the richest sheep in the world, well, she would be the same Selma.  Because she already had all she ever wanted.  There is The Boy on the Page who finally sees what he has been put on this earth for.  And almost 2,000 other books just as great.  So I have started a book blog and even have a bone fide website!  If the spirit leads you check it out here, www.bookwormbooks.us and if you want to look at my new blog, it is here.  There I will be posting about kids books, reviews and some of the science projects and crafts we complete (posting only twice a week).  If that doesn’t blow your skirt up, I’m still gonna be a Wicked Chicken!  😉

Happy Reading!