read across america

Today, in celebration of the great Dr. Seuss' birthday, is Read Across America Day. In celebration of both the simple brilliance of Dr. Seuss and the wonder of reading, I'd like to share some of my favorite reading memories.

Before I even had memories, I loved books.  My first book love, as my parents will tell you, was the Little Golden Book Five Little Firemen. 

I wanted to hear it all the time and knew the book by heart.  Ever the perfectionist, I would correct my parents if they skipped any words!  It was an action-packed book with lots of cool onomatopoeia: with a wheeeeeeeeee and a whoooooooooooo and a cling-clang-cling!  What little kid wouldn't want to hear that book again and again and again?!

My first memories of a specific book are my memories of my parents reading Horton Hears A Who to me. It was before I even started school, so I was quite young. I have many memories of this book being read to me, and my parents tell me that's because I demanded that it be read to me frequently. It was read to me so much, in fact, that I memorized the entire thing. To this day, I can still recite almost the entire book from memory.

Even at that tender young age, I was a nerdy pain in the ass. If my parents tried to read creatively in order to shorten the long book, I would promptly correct them. But my parents were great sports and I firmly believe that my love of reading comes from their patience and enthusiasm as they made books come alive for me. I still remember the squeaky Who voice that my mom used and I'm pretty sure that when I read the book to Lima Bean, my own Who voice will sound just like Ma's. As fun as it was to listen to, the book also carried a strong message that has been a foundation for how I live my life: A person's a person no matter how small. Just like Horton, I carry around my own speck on a clover. The image is tattooed on the back of my neck. Probably my most noticeable tattoo is on my arm, an unmistakably Seussian tree with an evil Wickersham Brother handing off the speck to a horrid Vlad-Vladikoff, a constant reminder to protect people from the bad in the world, no matter how small the people! Horton Hears a Who was an amazing vehicle for my parents to pass along core life lessons in a creative and entertaining package. There's no question that books are powerful and have the strength to move people, but it's amazing to see that strength so evident in a silly and fun children's book.

Fast forward a few years to my next favorite book memory. In fourth grade, my dad surprised me with a book. He had picked it out for me because he thought it looked like a book that I would like. The book was Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess. To this day, I'm not exactly sure if it's the story or the fact that my dad picked it especially for me that makes it one of my all-time favorite books. I think it's a combination of the two. I don't even know if my dad realized that the story had such a strong father-daughter focus, but that made it even more endearing to me. I remember covering the paperback copy in clear tape to provide a protective covering to this most special book!

Growing up, my Grandma Helen began a tradition of giving me leather-bound copies of classics as gifts. Because of her, I was introduced to Black Beauty, Heidi, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, and Little Women, among others. From the first book, I was enchanted. I always looked forward to discovering which book I would get next; what world I would be introduced to. I even got a beautiful copy of A Little Princess to add to my collection! My grandmother always envisioned that I would have an impressive library. In an age where books are becoming obsolete, I treasure these foundations of my book collection. And I treasure the woman who taught me that a great library is a thing of value.

As an adult, books are no less valuable to me.  Shortly after moving to Asheville, NC, I read Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right.  This book was recommended to me by best friend Kathy, who lives in Kansas City.  After reading the book, I remember a very long phone conversation, in which we discussed the book at length.  More accurately, we read excerpts to each other, exclaimed, "Yeah!  Yeah!" and laughed a lot.  I loved the book, but loved that conversation with Kathy even more!

My next favorite book memory comes from sharing one of my favorite books.  After reading Burnett's lesser-known A Little Princess, I went on to read her famous Secret Garden.   And I fell in love.  I distinctly remember the descriptions of the garden coming to life and being able to envision it as I read.  When Jerry's daughter, Elyssa, spent a summer with us, I was excited to share this wonderful book with a lovely and imaginative 10-year-old girl.  I read The Secret Garden to Elyssa, a little bit each night before bed.  I loved snuggling up in her bed and making the book come alive for her.  It warmed my heart when she'd opt out of another fun activity so that she wouldn't miss out on our bedtime reading.  What a special memory that this wonderful book created for me!

As recently as this year, a new book memory has been created.  Upon learning of my pregnancy, Ma searched through old boxes to find her copy of Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery.  This book had such a profound influence on her pregnancies with my brother and sister that she wanted to share it with me.  And it was important enough to search through the dusty old boxes to find.  I'm so grateful to have this book that was so important to my mother, whose opinions I respect and admire so much.  It's also exciting to share books and experiences with my mother from woman to woman, not necessarily from mother to child. 

In the process of writing this, I stumbled upon many other reading and book memories, but thought it best to limit the rambling.  I hope that you all have many special reading memories of your own! Of course, books have the ability to transport individuals into other worlds and to open their imaginations. But looking at my favorite reading and book memories, it's clear that books also bring people together.  And that's what I celebrate today.  Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and happy reading to all!!