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My attachment to the library continued in high school. Every morning I visited the library before school and sometimes skipped lunch just so I could go back. As a regular, I even got put to work as one of the library assistants since they felt I was making a dent in the library couches. I can't express enough how much reading and the library itself influenced my formative years.  This is where I discovered treasures by Stephen King and yes everything from Stephanie Meyer.

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It used to be that in my moments of leisure, I would stroll through the aisles of my public library and grab whatever title or book cover caught my attention. Nowadays, I am reading what is on my class syllabus! I am thrilled to read anything that's just for kids and it's nice to know what books are making a splash in the young adult category. When I received my Amazon shipment of young adult books, I felt like a kid unwrapping presents on Christmas Day. As to what I am reading on social media, I follow Edutopia.org, Google for Education, and HuffPost for Education, among others.

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I can give you an example of how I made a conscious decision to foster a natural love for reading with my fifth graders today. Our new librarian asked me when I was dropping off my students for their weekly library visit if I had made it a rule that they needed to check out one fiction and nonfiction book every week as prescribed by other teachers. Before I entered the MLS program. I probably would have said yes, thinking it necessary to follow the rules mandated by other teachers. But I feel differently now. I told her and my students afterward that I want my students to read what they love, what will keep them up at night (on weekends hopefully) voraciously reading. As a kid, I would have hated reading nonfiction books even more if I was forced to read them. I breathed mystery and drama infused pages only. When I expressed this to my kids that reading should be fun and I want them to read what they most gravitate to many of them nodded and smiled. I can provide in class what genres they need to be exposed to, but at home that is their choice, not mine. Consequently, a collective sigh of relief, especially from my reluctant readers, could be felt.

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I've heard that picking a favorite author is like picking your favorite child. Can you do it? Maybe. Would you want to? No way! I love reading all types of books. I can go from reading Zora Neale Hurston to Michael Crichton without hesitation. One author who inspires all manner of wonder in me is Octavia Butler, a female African American writer in science fiction. Phenomenal!

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“Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?But am I talking too much? People are always telling me I do. Would you rather I didn't talk? If you say so I'll stop. I can STOP when I make up my mind to it, although it's difficult.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

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I moved schools again from sixth grade to seventh grade and luckily that was the last move. While in seventh grade I became fascinated with the two middle school librarians and the space they inhabited. It was a world apart from the school and the library acted as a safe haven. These two women were sarcastic, snarky, and incredibly funny. I loved them very much and appreciate the many moments they made me laugh. Oh, and that year I became one of the top 2 readers of the entire seventh grade, which happened naturally because I had such incredible librarians.
Some of my favorite books were from the ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and SWEET VALLEY HIGH series.

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My mother moved me from private school to public school in the middle of my fourth grade year, which proved to be a very difficult time academically. I don't remember many details, but I do recall feeling a deep sense of confusion during my fifth grade year. My mother once shared with me later as an adult that my fifth grade teacher had to keep me behind during PE to catch me up due to how far behind I was compared to the other kids. For this reason, among others, I am an avid supporter of public schools and believe that had it not been for my teacher taking her time to tutor me, I might not have ever regained my love for reading.

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As a child in Pre-K, I remember receiving a "Mighty Duck Reader" certificate and I wholeheartedly believe that set the stage for my reading career. I don't actually know if the certificate was well-deserved or handed out generously by my teacher, Mrs. Magnusson. It's possible she just had some extra certficates lying around. However, that simple piece of paper served as a symbol of my reading competence and spurred my reading aspirations.