Jul 27 2007
How to Get Hooked on Reading
I will never forget the day I was finally hooked on reading. I was blessed by the presence of my friend Mary Isham one day in 9th grade.
Yes, you read it right. It took me until 9th grade to finally love reading. I wasn’t a born a reader, nor was a child-bookworm.
Even my school librarian knew I dreaded school assignments that forced me to check out books and report on a particular subject—or any subject at all. I was not a struggling reader, but I never found an interest to read anything beyond my homework assignments; which had too much reading in and of itself.
So, back to that glorious day in 9th grade…
I was walking into the school library and noticed my friend Mary Isham having an animated conversation, mostly to herself, as she openly expressed her concerns with the librarian. She was a cute and bubbly girl, dressed in her cheerleading outfit for the big game that night and seemed to be having some sort of problem.
I walked closer and overheard Mary tragically exclaim, “I can’t bear to part with it, I just can’t, you know. I can’t stand the thought of it being put back on the shelf and no one reading it – I have checked it out three times and have read it over and over for weeks and the thought of it all alone waiting for someone to read it makes me sad.” Mary spots me walking in and gushes, “Stacey save me! This is such a great book and I have to turn it in today and I hate to see it sitting on the shelf alone, please, please take it and check it out…it is such a great book.”
I remember her words vividly.
That was it!
I couldn’t believe that someone could love a book so much that she was having such a dramatic scene about returning it to the library,
So, I figured it must be good, right? As pleaded, I took the book and checked it out. I went home, rushed to my room, and opened its first page. I was hooked!
I even missed the football game that night.
When it was time to return it, I checked out another Victoria Holt romance book and the librarian smiled as to say something about that being a life changing event for me.
I didn’t appreciate it until now. Yes, being hooked on reading became a life-changing event for me.
Thank you Mary Isham!
What’s your favorite book? What title can cause you to get dramatic and overly-animated?
Well, whatever book it is, please introduce that book to your child, friend, family member or co-worker.
You never know, it might be a life-changing event for them too!
Copyright 2007 – Stacey Kannenberg, Cedar Valley Publishing, Author of Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!
Care to share your favorite book with us? What about a favorite author or series? Reading can be a wonderful life-altering experience; the right book can be the key that unlocks the door.
