# data[].attributes.body
By Eric Hill

(1980)
goodreads review

Even though the public library of my youth has since changed locations, and this place in space no longer exists as such, I can still clearly picture and describe where I could find the Where’s Spot books in the library of my memory.  I remember loving these books as a very young child, and being so proud that I knew just where to find my favorite selections, checking for titles I hadn’t seen in a while and even reporting back to the librarian after reading them, as part of the summer reading program. Getting to put a sticker on that sheet of paper after chatting with the librarian about the books I read was such a big deal, and was an important part of my development as a reader.

# data[].attributes.body
by Robert Kraus
pictures by Jose Aruego
(Scholastic, 1970)
goodreads review

This sweet book about a little mouse fighting for his family was a book I really enjoyed as a child. Beyond that, it was the first book that I memorized cover to cover, to perform at a storytelling contest at my local library. My older sister won the storytelling contest with a much more elaborate story, but I managed to recite the whole book in front of a group of people without losing my nerve and running away.  That was a major accomplishment in itself for the shy child I was, and only the beginning of my wanting to share stories with people, even if it meant stretching out of my comfort zone.

# data[].attributes.body
by Shel Silverstein
(HarperCollins, 1981)
goodreads review

My siblings and I used to chant the words to “How Not To Have To Dry The Dishes" while we were drying the dishes- ostensibly to taunt my mother, or perhaps encourage her to let us off the hook for some of our chores. This particular poem reminds me of the fun my family had with words- we are still a family who shares puns, or might send out a jumble on text message looking for a little help. The poetry of our younger years really helped to foster the love of language that we all still carry with us. This is something I would love to see my own children carry with them as they grow up, and I get excited when my youngest asks to hear poetry.

In this book, Shel Silverstein made poetry accessible and playful, and I think it made the enjoyment of future poetry more likely for me.

# data[].attributes.body
by George Orwell
(orig. published 1949)
goodreads review

I was assigned to read this book at the end of the year in 6th grade, as an extra assignment for those of us who had finished the usual books the class was reading.   In an unprecedented move, my parents (both high school librarians) disagreed with the teacher, and told me not to do the assigned reading (gasp!).  This was somewhat shocking to me at the time, and was really my first cognizant exposure to book banning. I read the book years later, and instantly understood their concerns, but it remains a very memorable event in my reading history, and made me somewhat wary of books for adults for some time afterwards.

# data[].attributes.body
Robert Penn Warren
(orig. published 1946)
goodreads review

My AP History teacher had a great assignment every year where she assigned each student a book to read and discuss in terms of it’s historical context or significance.  While my best friend read Mark Twain, I dragged my feet through the 400+ pages of All the King’s Men, because, despite my complete lack of interest in the subject matter, I was “a good reader”.  (Eye roll)  Frankly, up to that point, I think I was mostly engaged in books I read for school, but that one was a real slog for me, and was a lesson in persistence.

# data[].attributes.body
by Antoine de Saint Exupery
(orig. published 1943)
goodreads review

My college sweetheart wooed me by reading this book to me aloud in his dorm room. It was one of the most romantic things that I had experienced, and I felt like he was really sharing such a gem with me (I hadn’t read it before). It has such a special place in my heart as a result. It was a joy to be read to, and that has stuck with me- that reading out loud to someone is truly a gift.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Needlework

# data[].attributes.subject
The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Needlework

# data[].attributes.body
by Virginia Colton, ed.
(1979)
goodreads review

My mother had this book on her shelf when I was a child, and in college I discovered it, and started to peruse…. I was taken by the variety of needlework described, and how it was made so much more accessible. Needlework of various types had been modeled in my family by my mother and grandmother, and my sister and I had learned some as well, but I think that having that book helped open the door to crocheting and then knitting, which I have since spent countless hours doing.

Fiber arts have been a place in my life where I have gotten to experience a design thinking mindset, and have learned through doing, making mistakes, and figuring out how to fix them.
In terms of my reading habits, this was the gateway book to countless knitting books read, purchased, and shared with other fiber enthusiasts.

# data[].attributes.headline
Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada

# data[].attributes.subject
Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada

# data[].attributes.body
by Henry A. Gleason and
Arthur  Cronquist

(orig published 1963)
goodreads review

This technical tome was a requirement for a botany class I had in college.  It helped open my eyes to the intricacies and complexities of the everyday plants all around us. Being able to use it with any level of competency made me feel like a part of an elite group of plant geeks.

It was an important book for the  development of my (first) career goals, and in terms of reading habits, opened the door to the ongoing search for the best field guides.

# data[].attributes.body
by Natalie Angier
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1999)
goodreads review

This was a book I read with other women friends in my 20’s. A new good friend recommended it to me and I liked it so much that shared it with whatever women in my life would listen- even my grandmother!  I  think it felt both scientific and feminist in a way, and really grew my appreciation for well-written non-fiction and science writing. It inspired me to seek out non-fiction books, which previously hadn't captured my attention outside of coursework.

It was also a time where friends became such great source of intellectual inspiration, and that community of  women scientists enriched my life with their breadth of interests, and freely shared recommendations for books and other things. This book was the start of being part of a community of readers outside of school classrooms and assignments, and it felt like something special.

# data[].attributes.body
by James Horvath
(HarperCollins 2013)
goodreads review

I am convinced that this is the first book my older child knew cover to cover, although he was doing a combination of spoken words and sign language at the time.  This was a book that brought me back into the world of children’s books in a very real way, with an unprecedented level of repeated reading.

As a parent, I have rediscovered the library, and it has reclaimed it's place as a key part of my life. I feel like through my kids, I have come full circle back to the library, and the discovery of this book was key in sharing this love of reading with my child. This rekindled love of the library is part of why I am studying to become a librarian now.

# data[].attributes.body
Victoria Jamieson and
Omar Mohammed
(2020)
goodreads review

I read this graphic novel as an ebook as I was preparing for this class, and was really touched by the story. It was exciting for me to see it on the list, because I had read The Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson with my kids went looking to see if she had any more titles they might like. I saw this story and wanted to read it. While only time will tell, I can say that as one of the first graphic novels I have read, I feel like I will be hooked. As I look towards the other readings for this class, and beyond, I will look for graphic novels to explore, since this format really appeals to me much more than I had anticipated.

Since starting library school, I have started to get excited about picking out books for myself again and anticipating reading books in a way I haven't in a long time, and it gives me hope for my reading future, and in the growth of my ability to help other readers find books that will speak to them.

# data[].attributes.body
This was a really interesting assignment for me. I was a little intimidated at first, largely because I feel like in the past several years, the vast majority of my reading has been for my kids, and I have read embarrassingly few “grownup” books since becoming a parent. In fact, much of my reading habits have been shaped by assignments or suggestions from friends. I imagine that many readers find this to be true, although I am certain there are also those that find their own materials to read in different ways. I would like to learn more about how people choose the books they read.

I am interested in some of the ways my classmates describe tracking their reading habits to ensure equity of representation in their consumption of literature, and I think that, since we are shaped by literature, this seems like a constructive habit for the conscientious reader. I also have come to appreciate that finding books to read next seems easier now, with abundant reviews at your fingertips through goodreads, novelist, and other similar sites.

In considering my reading history, I think I have attempted many more “grown up” books that didn’t necessarily effect me in the long run or really capture my emotions. Because of that, I am really looking forward to discovering the new Y.A. category, which seems vastly different from the Y.A. canon of my own youth (think Sweet Valley High and Babysitters Club).

I think it could be really fun to have students start to create their own reader autobiographies, and use that process to connect them to new books which might speak to them, although I can’t say for sure that your past choices can predict your future ones, but it could help students identify the themes that attract them, or to consider areas which they haven’t discovered.

I chose the timeline arrangement because I haven’t gotten to explore the padlet platform much before, I liked the slick way it looked, and I thought chronological order made sense in a timeline setup. The chalkboard background was because I noticed that several of my selections were related to assignments and my academic journey, but also that chalkboards are often used by kids (and a focus of my interest in books is in the children’s literature realm), and that we are all works in progress, and should feel free to erase and rewrite as needed.

If I were to do this assignment again, I think I would experiment with other ways to present the chosen books, to see how it feels to be a little less linear with the design.