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As a child, my parents did not have many opportunities to sit and read to us.  Providing a living took up much of their time.  Fortunately, when he had a chance, my dad would take a break and share his love of books with me and my siblings.  A couple of favorites were Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. Every kid feels like Alexander at one point or another and this point of view helped me see cranky people in a different light.

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As an elementary student, I read many books, but the one I thought the world of was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. Boys have always represented courage and strength. When I read this book I realized for the first time that girls could be as brave as any boy.

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In High School a classic that caught my eye was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. As a teenager, I wasn't extremely aware of the world around me and it shocked me to believe people could be treated that way. Watching the characters develop from chapter to chapter paired with class discussions made reading this novel an unforgettable experience.

Short Stories like The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, All American Slurp by Lensey Namioka, The Landlady by Roald Dahl, and The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs made a huge impression in my teenage life. I have kept a great appreciation for these titles and have passed them on to other eager readers throughout the years.

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I took a Mexican American Novel course in college where I was introduced to the novels, Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, Baseball in April by Gary Soto, and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Culturally, it was easy to connect with the characters and the familiar worlds they presented.

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The following titles I was introduced to as an educator, The Watson's go to Birmingham-1963 and Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, and Belle, Pratter's Boy by Ruth White. These novels bring a diverse perspective into my 6th grade reading class.