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I can remember my mother giving me my first Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat. I read that book every day until it was falling apart. To my delight, she bought more Dr. Seuss books for me. The animation, rhyme and wit fascinated me. Today you can buy a collection of these wonderful books. It has become my favorite go to gift for Christmas and birthdays to nieces, nephews and children of friends.

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I loved Judy Blume books. I didn’t think any other author existed! I spent a great deal of time alone in my room reading them.  I credit her books in helping to raise me because it addressed things I would ever dare ask my Mother or any other adult.

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I must admit, I was not reading as many books as I had in the past.  However, I did enjoy the book “How to Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. I was raised in the rural country areas of South Carolina that was very much openly segregated. I could relate to the issues presented in the book.

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I was obsessed with authors that look like me. I read a lot of Sharon Draper, Walter Dean Myers, and Virginia Hamilton books, just to name a few. At the time, I was teaching 6th grade ELA and some of the books by these authors were a requirement. It opened my mind to a world of African American authors.

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Currently I am reading a lot of self-help books about spirituality and nutrition.