With Read Across America day and Dr. Seuss’s birthday fast approaching, I can’t help but reflect on the ways books have influenced my life.

 

When I was young my mom read to my sister and meevery night. It was my favorite time of the day, snuggled up on the couch together listening to a story while looking at the colorful pictures. I was fascinated and could hardly wait until I could read.

 

That dream came true in kindergarten with Dick and Jane, the series that was used through the 70s to teach children how to read. I vividly remember the excitement of suddenly realizing I understood the words on the page as I read, “See Spot run. Run, Spot, run.”

 

I felt like I had conquered the world, and from that point on I read everything I could get my hands on, from the backs of cereal boxes to the set of encyclopedias my parents kept on the bookshelf.

 

There were so many stories to be found inside so many pages; I didn’t want to miss any of them. I was positive one day I would read every book in the library, no matter what it was about. 

 

As I became a better reader I moved on to chapter books, my favorite being the Little House on the Prairie series. I was fascinated with the Ingalls’ pioneer adventures, so unlike my own boring, small-town life. 

 

Within their pages I experienced my first relationship with a written character. I found a kindred soul in Laura, who had “ugly brown hair” like I did, and whose sister, Mary, had “beautiful golden hair” like my sister did. I completely understood how Laura felt when she got into trouble while her sister sat innocently nearby like a perfect angel. 

 

I next fell in love with the Nancy Drew books. I was a child of the 70s; women had equal rights however many chose to continue in their traditional roles. Nancy Drew opened my eyes to the fact that girls can be anything they want to be, including smart heroines. I felt empowered.

 

As much as I love to read, it was only a matter of time before I chanced upon more adult books. One evening the mom of the kids I was babysitting borrowed me a book called Shanna, and it started by teenage obsession with romance novels. The next few years I devoured romance novels as fast as I could get my hands on them. They were a way to live a more exciting, adventure-filled life. 

 

Around the time I realized romance novels were nothing like real life, I was introduced to Stephen King’s The Stand, a far cry from any book I had read before. I became enamored of King’s writing style and the way he went deep into his characters’ minds. I realized books could not only be entertainment, they could really make you think and experience what was happening to the characters.

 

Fast-forward a number of years. I’m married with three children and don’t remember the last time I had time to enjoy reading. Waiting for my daughter one day I took out a book I found in her backpack to kill some time. The book was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and although it was a children’s book, I was hooked by page two. I suddenly remembered why I had spent so much time reading in my younger years. 

 

Since then I started reading again whenever I could find the time, and every night when my kids were younger we would sit down and read together. I’m happy to say today they’re voracious readers themselves. Reading to children is one of the best gifts you can give them, and it’s a gift that never expires.

 

Books have the power to change lives. You just have to be open to what they have to tell you. Every time you pick one up you never know what kind of adventure you’ll be taken on, nor what you may take away from that adventure. 

 

Open yourself up to the power of the written word and you’ll never regret it. The world doesn’t always give you a happy ending, but you can always find one in a book if you look hard enough.