This fall I had the pleasure of joining a classroom of Alabama fourth graders to talk about books and reading (and podcasting!). Spending time with young readers is a joy, and just thinking of our time together puts a big smile on my face.
In class, these students have been learning about the importance of knowing themselves as readers, and have been working on developing their own reading identities. To that end, their teachers introduced the project “100 Things About Me as a Reader,” as captured in this blog post, and they’ve been busy brainstorming their lists ever since. Their goal is to recognize 100 things about their reading lives by the end of the school year.
The students shared examples of their lists-in-progress, and I so enjoyed perusing their entries. (I wish you could see all these in the fourth graders’ handwriting!) A sampling:
• “I don’t like books about gross stuff.”
• “It is hard for me to read when people are talking.”
• “I like to tell my brother mom about all the books I have read.”
• “I do not like sad books or long books.”
• “I dislike books with over 500 pages.”
• “I like reading series in order.”
• “I like to eat and snoggle when I read.”
• “I like to talk about what’s going on in my books.”
• “I get distracted sometimes.”
• “I used to hate reading but now I LOVE to read.”
To help them build their lists, they’re talking with other readers, because listening to others reflect on their reading lives helps you think about your own. That’s where I come in! Over Zoom, we chatted about my favorite books, favorite genres, favorite places to read, where I like to get my books, how to tackle a hard book, how to figure out what to read next, and what books I thought they might enjoy. (I asked my own fifth grader for recommendations in advance, and he pulled all these books off his own shelves so I could share them with the class.) I also answered a lot of podcast questions, because this class is starting their own!
We had a wonderful conversation, of course—we talked about books! After our time together, I told the fourth graders I’d start my own list. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.
1. I’ve loved to read for as long as I can remember.
2. I read nearly every day—and on days when I don’t read, I don’t feel quite like myself.
3. When I was young I loved long books, but I’ve reached for them less as I’ve gotten older.
4. My dad read me Who’s Got the Apple and There’s a Monster at the End of This Book hundreds of times when I was a child.
5. I also became a devoted reader thanks to Nancy Drew, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Sweet Valley High.
6. I love reading so much I now read for a living.
7. Reading is my favorite hobby and my introverted coping mechanism of choice.
8. I usually read for at least an hour a day.
9. My favorite way to read is in a comfy chair with a good beverage nearby.
10. My most dependable reading time is the half-hour just before bed.
11. I’ll try almost any book genre.
12. My favorite (invented) genre is compulsively readable literary fiction.
13. I also especially enjoy books with unusual or thought-provoking structures: I never tire of seeing authors experiment on the page, even though the experiments aren’t always successful.
13. I love to sit down with cookbooks and read them like novels, especially when I’m feeling stressed.
14. I usually have multiple books going at one time: one audio book, one fiction, and one nonfiction. Or one novel with heavy themes, and one that feels lighter in mood.
15. Sometimes I stumble upon a book I don’t expect to love and it blows me away. These are among my favorite reading experiences! (Examples: West with the Night, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Heating and Cooling.)
16. I rely on other readers when I’m deciding what to read next. Book reviews help sometimes, but personal recommendations are the best.
17. I adore talking about books with fellow readers.
18. I also enjoy talking with authors about their work. I always learn something new!
19. I love talking about books so much, I made that my job, too.
20. I believe every reader has a unique reading life…
21. And that when it comes to any experience in the reading life, it’s never just you.
22. I think some of the best book conversation revolves around books we didn’t enjoy.
23. I am an avowed book abandoner. This makes it easy to try almost anything.
24. I am also a habitual re-reader: I notice things on the second and third (and sixth and fifteenth) read that I couldn’t see on the first.
25. I don’t mind reading books I don’t enjoy, but I do mind reading books that don’t feel like they were worth the time I spent reading them.
26. I only started carefully tracking my reading in the past decade, and now I wish I’d done it my whole life.
27. I have more books on my To Be Read list than I will ever be able to read.
28. I feel out of sorts as a reader when I don’t read both old and new books, so I aim to read at least 30% backlist titles every year.
29. I love to listen to fiction and memoir on audio. I struggle to get through other nonfiction in this format.
30. Paper books are my favorite: I love to take notes on the front pages and in the margins, dog-ear the pages, and mark favorite passages with book darts.
31. I’ll use anything to mark my place, even though I own dozens of beautiful bookmarks.
32. Even though I own lots of books I haven’t read yet, I still buy new ones.
33. Sometimes I buy books just because they look pretty, even if I have no intention of reading them. (I’m looking at you, orange Penguins.)
34. I love visiting independent bookstores, both here in my town and when I travel. I’ve driven hours out of the way to visit a new-to-me bookstore!
35. I also love visiting libraries, especially my own local library, and go there at least once a week.
36. When it comes to books, I have a very difficult time choosing favorites, because so many have provided fabulous reading experiences and made a huge impact on my life.
This exercise doesn’t provide the final word on anyone’s reading life, but it serves as a thought-provoking conversation starter. I’m excited to hear how these fourth graders add to their lists. I’m sure they’ll inspire me to add to my own!
Thanks again to the fourth graders: you know you are! And thanks for providing me that beautiful journal (pictured up top) to record my 100 things. To all the grown-up readers, I hope this class inspires you to spend a moment reflecting on your reading life today.
What do you know about yourself as a reader? Would you help out these fourth graders and all your fellow readers by dropping a line item or two in comments? I sure would appreciate it, and I know this class would, too!
P.S. This exercise reminded me of my old list of 100 dreams and its subsequent update, as well as this quiz about discovering your reading personality. Have fun with these!
95 comments
I re-read old favorites when I get into a reading slump. I would guess I’ve re-read “Little Women” and “Pride and Prejudice” at least fifty times each.
Same- “Little Women” and “Anne of Green Gables.”
I like a lot of balance in my reading life- old and new releases, light reads and heavy reads, modern day and historic settings, long and short lengths….
I’m totally with you on the balance thing. I really try to mix it up between classics, new releases, nonfiction, biography, short and long books…it really keeps things fresh.
This is a great idea!! I’m definitely starting my list <3 Thanks for sharing
I love to read nonfiction books written for middle school – I get bored with the adult nonfiction ones! I use cloth ribbons as bookmarks – they’re the perfect size and usually come from a wrapped gift.
I always have a book with me wherever I go be it in book form or electronic. You never know when a reading opportunity will present its self. Waiting for an appointment, long car ride, lunch hour or break, etc.
When I need comfort or have big feelings, I grab a favorite book and a quilt to read on the couch. It’s always a reread of a favorite mystery.
Who’s Got the Apple? Was my favorite. I still have my old copy and have read it to my 3 kids. I read everywhere too, Anne! My husband laughs because I can’t blowdry my hair without a book in front of me. My favorites this year have been Deacon King Kong and The Mirror & the Light.
I read everywhere too! And now with the Kindle app on my phone, it’s even worse! In the same way people check their phone with 5 seconds of free time, I reading a page of a book!
One odd reading habit I have noticed of mine is that I tend to put off reading the most popular books or big bestsellers. I have on my shelf and still haven’t read, The Giver of Stars, The Nightingale, The Thirteenth Tale, The Kite Runner, etc. I don’t know if I am waiting for the absolute perfect time to read them or afraid they won’t live up to the hype. I almost always put off the book I supposedly was most looking forward to, so much so that I preorder and then don’t read. lol. Going to try this winter to knock off some of the titles and end this bad reading habit. 🙂
I do the same thing. I’m so excited about them but then don’t read them for months or years. Kind of like how people don’t use the nice candles, waiting for the perfect time.
I like to read a mix of new and old books, fiction and non-fiction. I feel like this helps me from getting stuck in a reading rut, and if I’m struggling to finish one book, I know that something different is waiting for me next!
I grew up in a house full of books but it wasn’t until fourth grade during school breaks that I started reading the series of goosebumps books.
I’ll try almost any genre.
I love mysteries!
Sometimes I’ll go a few weeks without reading and then read two or three books in a single weekend.
I usually have at least 2-3 books in progress at a time (Kindle, audio and physical books).
I have a hard time abandoning a book. I keep telling myself I’ll get back to it.
I love the feel of physical books and the convenience of ebooks and audio books.
I have stacks of books everywhere.
I’ve always loved reading.
I love encouraging young readers and buy books for children and teens in my family with regularity.
This is fun!
I definitely listen to more nonfiction on audio. Love to learn about history or something new, but sometimes I struggle to read these in print. Listening to “The Secret Life of Groceries” by Benjamin Lorr right now and it’s fascinating.
Your experience with the fourth graders makes me SO happy!! Their teacher is doing an amazing job of helping them grow as readers and learners – what a blessing! As a Pre-K teacher’s aide, my favorite part of each day is sitting on the floor with kids snuggled all around, reading the books they bring me. It is wonderful to see educators being intentional about fostering a life-long appreciation for reading!
When I travel, I plan to visit a local bookshop. I write in the front of the book(s) purchased where and when I bought them, and it nice to see that memory when I read them later. I
Also, I really cannot get charged up about ebooks. I have a Kobo (and it is easy to use) but the experience is absolutely not the same for me, despite the cost and space savings. I realize that the joy of reading for me is not just the story, but also the tactile experience: the look and smell of the book, the artwork on the cover, the feel of the paper…..So even when I travel I take paper books. I always have checked luggage. LOL. The selection is done carefully: length of time away, length of plane rides, etc. i
I calculate what I will realistically read, choose slim volumes or ones with smaller font. They are ones I plan to give away when finished, so I leave them in the hotel rooms with a note: “Finished. Free to a good home. Thank you for sharing your beautiful city.” And I have always purchased more on the trip so I know I won’t run out of reading material.
If I’m not sure if I want to read a book, I go to Goodreads, Amazon and read the 1 & 2 star comments, before reading the 5 & 4 star comments. I think the 1 & 2 star commenters are more honest in their comments. I don’t like smut or R rated books. If I buy one by mistake it goes in the garbage. I like Mail Order Bride historical novels. I don’t read to many books over 300 pages, unless it is a book by a favorite author.
I am a fan of reading the 1 and 2 star comments, although sometimes I’ll then go to their profiles to see if we fit as readers.
I live in sunny California and love reading outside on my favorite lounge chair with the calming sounds of my fountain bubbling. It is heaven on earth.
When I’m feeling big emotions, I usually turn to my favorite genre – historical fiction romance – for a comfort read.
I feel out of sorts when I don’t read every day, too! (Like Anne said)
Talking about books I’m reading with my family, friends, and students is really fun
I love getting recommendations from people who know me well.
I do not like to reread books, but I also do not like to rewatch movies. It was easier to get lost in a book and read all day long before I had kids…now they need to be fed and stuff…and they cannot (or should not) live off diet soda and pretzels for a day. I have loved mysteries since I was a child reading Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Eventually Agatha Christie. My TBR pile is very tall right now. I hope to work on that over the holidays.
I agree on rereading books. So many I want to get to -I have thought about one day rerading my Sue Grafton’s though (maybe when I retire). I loved Trixie Belden and Robin Kane. Never got into Nancy Drew. Fun to remember!
Read what you love!
I love the power of words. My favorite thing to do while reading is pull out those lines that stick with me!
Storytime was a BIG deal in my home, especially Winnie the Pooh and Peter Rabbit. Now, I read 2-3 hours everyday, mostly novels, but I always have a non-fiction book to pick up between novels. I love mysteries, stories about families, travel and food essays. I also love poetry written for children and am giving a copy of Doug Florian’s “Winter Eyes” to my great nephews for Christmas.
I need someone to talk to about what I just read. I mean, if you don’t talk about a book when you’re finished, did you actually read a book???
I agree!!
I have only re-read a handful of books. All but two are books I’ve read again with my children.
Reading can take me to places I may never see in real life. It’s wonderful to imagine what a visit would be like. And sometimes, I go to other time periods. That’s always fun!
Historical fiction lets writers imagine how important people in history might have lived or behaved. Readers can share that experience and see how people are much more alike than we are different.
The thing I most love about reading is it makes me see the many ways people behave and the many different experiences they can have. We need to understand that people act the way they do part.y because of the life they are living.
I feel reading makes me a more interesting person. If I’m having a conversation with someone and they are talking about a place they visited or an experience they had and I have at least read about it, I can join in the conversation about a book I have read on that subject.
For the 4th graders (I used to teach them!):
1. Graphic novels are definitely good book choices. Adults debate this, but you don’t need to worry about that- just read what you like.
2. Audiobooks are fantastic options that are just as good for your brain as reading on the page. I find it’s nice to read along in the book if you can/want to, or if your teacher asks you to read the book with your eyes. Either way, enjoy audiobooks. Wish I’d used them more in my classroom!
3. Ask your teacher to read aloud to you.
4. Ask your mom to read to you at bedtime. No, you are not too old.
For the teachers:
NEVER. SKIP. READ. ALOUD. TIME.
also, this: ALWAYS MAKE TIME FOR READ ALOUD.
and this: READ-ALOUD TIME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE DAY.
(I know it’s hard to get to. It used to be much easier…. I taught for long enough that I could be “creative” with my time, if you catch my drift. It is so worth it. It’s what my former students remember the most – they also remember I let them draw/doodle/color while they listened ;-), but I choose to believe they also remember the community-building of enjoying a book purely for the pleasure it brought us as a class.)
There are a bajillion read-aloud lists on the Internet, but I found that some older books made the cut with my kids from year to year, plus, who doesn’t love a list that’s actually been field-tested? So here is mine:
“Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” by Judy Blume- they LOVED this- from the early 90s until the last time I read it, in 2018. It is still hilarious to them, even though it is 40+ years old. Don’t overlook it because of its age.
“Restart” by Gordon Korman – makes for great conversation; read first b/c I think there are a few bleeps, if I remember correctly
“Chicken Sunday” by Patricia Polacco LOVE this picture book, and they do too. Had to include.
“Holes” by Louis Sachar – a rare book whose movie is almost just as good
“Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry -On my top ten list of fave all-time books. Elicits excellent discussion, too.
any Kate di Camillo
“The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate
“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by CS Lewis (I think I read “The Horse and His Boy” aloud more often… can’t remember…)
“Trumpet of the Swan” by EB White – another oldie but goodie that my “local research” proved they enjoyed 😉
“The Search for Delicious” by Natalie Babbit
“MVP” by Douglas Evans
Sorry, got carried away! I do miss teaching!
I never regretted a shortened math lesson or an aborted science experiment, but I will always regret the days/seasons that I didn’t get to read-aloud time.
I am not sure if I fulfilled the purposes of this comment thread, but thanks for indulging me! Hope it is helpful to someone.
I love your response, thank you!
I don’t mind suspending disbelief for something that the reader is asked to accept (a bit of magic, for example.) But if something in a fiction book is supposed to be realistic, then I want the author to get it right. For that reason, I usually don’t enjoy books in which a main character is a scientist, because oftentimes the language and setting are done incorrectly. In other fields, like journalism or medicine, I might not know, but for the field I work in, it’s distracting.
-As a busy Mom, most of my listening is on audio, but I always have a paper and ebook going as well.
-I dislike YA with “teen angst”, however I secretly LOVE historical romance novels with their drama and HEA. Yes that is a contradiction.
-I dislike children’s books with thought/speech bubbles above the characters. Do you read them first or second? Do I need to point so my child knows this is different from the text?
-With few exceptions, I do not like to reread and therefore mostly own books I have not read. 95% of my books come from the library and the rest library sales.
-I LOVE my bookclub which is thru my local library and consists of mostly older/retired people (I am 37).
-I love movie adaptations because I feel it is another way to continue loving a book you love, like a sequel. Likewise, I love retellings/modern retellings/sequels/told from a different point of view, like the multitude of books based on Jane Austen’s classics.
-I do not like books where a character is made to feel embarrassed: I feel terrible for them and want it to stop!
-I do not often enjoy suspense, like mysteries or thrillers (I do like historical books because it is Ok to know going in how it will end!)
-I prefer to know as little as possible about a book before going in so I can read it how the author intended (history being the exception)
-I really enjoy nonfiction books with titles like “How __ changed the world”, “Secret life of __” and “__, __ and __” (3 unrelated things that come together)
-I am an engineer and enjoy spreadsheeting my reading life almost as much as I enjoy reading! I’m always on the lookout for new data points to track.
– My first memory is of my mom reading to me.
– I don’t read just to learn, but I always like to learn something when I read.
– I’ve learned more about myself as a reader in the past two years since I started book journaling than I have in my entire life.
– I just discovered this year that I like certain kinds of audiobooks.
– Book clubs are awesome because 1) you have someone to talk to about books, and 2) you’re encouraged to try books you might not have otherwise.
In order of importance I care about characters, plot, and good writing. I love planning my reading almost as much as the reading itself. I read almost every day and go to the library 2-3 times a week. When I really love a book, my husband knows (because I tell him ALL about it).
I prefer fiction to nonfiction, but have read more nonfiction as I have grown older.
I keep books to read list by taking pictures of book covers at book stores and libraries.
I sneak reading in however I can by always having a book with me and listening to books at 2x the regular speed.
I do not remember ever struggling with reading and have always loved to read.
My mother instilled a loving of reading in all 7 of us. She set a strong example of the priority of reading, even as a very busy mom, including reading to us. My favorite was The Arbuthnot Anthology of Children’s Literature — poetry, fairy tales from around the world, and true, and almost true, tales. It set me on the path of openness to many genres and a life long love of reading.
— I knew I loved reading the summer I read a whole bunch of Nancy Drew books, and kept bugging my Mom to take me back to the library to get more!
— I had my “horse infatuation” season the year I turned 12 and read “Misty of Chincoteague Island” by Marguerite Henry. My grandmother even paid for me to have horseback riding lessons that summer!
— My favorite genre overall is mystery, but the sub-genre would be the amateur sleuth who discovers the guilty party based on personal observation, awareness of human interaction, etc.
— I have read more “light” reading this year than I think I have ever read at any other time in my life. “Chick Lit,” “Cozy Mysteries,” and so on saved my reading life this year. So be it.
— I also enjoy Biographies and Historical Fiction. Before this year, I was heavily into WWII fiction, and “Bonhoeffer” by Eric Metaxes is a biography I consistently refer to as one of my all-time favorite books.
— I have never listened to an audio book, although if I were driving cross-country, and my husband and I could agree on a book we both would want to listen to, I would not be opposed to it. Otherwise, I don’t really have the desire or opportunity: we are retired, no long commutes, etc.
— I love the smell and feel of real books, and feel just fine about making notes in books, so while I fully support the library system, I rarely use my local library.
Since finding your podcast, I am learning to understand what makes me tick as a reader, thank you! On Ep 245 and you and Kendra Adachi talked about the important characteristics of a novel that can make it or break it for the reader: plot, characters, setting, tone, imagery, form, etc. Have you ever done (or could you do!?) an episode on how to figure out our ranking of these factors so that we can make better choices when choosing books?
I don’t like to read plays, but I do like to read at the table when I’m eating lunch! I love a well-translated book, and I’m sad that I won’t ever be able to get through all of the good books in the world.
I am a reader who reads vastly to be able to make reccomendations that will turn non-readers into readers.
Where can we buy the journal the kids gave you??
1) I also do NOT remember a time in my life when I didn’t read. I read less when I was busy, of course, but I’ve always been a reader.
2) I re-read certain books when life gets overwhelming. My favorite re-reads? Harry Potter; the “A Discovery of Witches” series; “Outlander” series.
3) I have so many books that need reading that I will never get through them all.
4) Even w/ #e, I buy new books (e- and physical) constantly.
5) My husband encourages my obsession w/ books.
6) I have run out of places to store books.
I did not major in English because reading is so dear to me that I wouldn’t risk anyone ruining it for me.
I cannot listen to audiobooks. I like your podcasts and I’ll put on a babysitters club audiobook while doing a puzzle with my daughter.
I enjoy reading cozy mysteries when I want a fun, easy read! I also like using my brain to figure out the puzzle of whodunnit and why?
This is a fantastic idea! I have been a lifelong reader and I wish I had started thinking about a list like this when I was in 4th grade. I also, like you Anne, wish I had started keeping track of what books I have read long ago. It would make things a little easier when I get halfway through a book and realize I already know what happened because I read it years ago. Good luck 4th grade class! With reading you can always escape to another place.
I LOVE the smell of books. New, used, paperback, hardback, and library. They all have their own unique smell that sends me to my happy place to curl up with a book…any book.
I still prefer an actual book to hold as I read even though there can be advantages to audio and e books. And, isn’t thrilling, after a lifetime of reading (I am 76), there are still new and interesting books waiting to be read.
When reading library books, I make note of pages that have excerpts I want to remember. Then when I finish the book I go back through and type all the excerpts.
This year I’ve been tracking my reading in a spread sheet and write a brief summary and note things about it that I really liked (or didn’t). I have a separate spread sheet for the ones I started but didn’t want to finish, either b/c I didn’t like the story line or want to come back to it later.
(1) I like learning history through fiction. My favorite genre is historical fiction, and I’ve learned more history from novels than from textbooks.
(2) Reading books (especially novels) set in a particular place is my favorite thing to do before and after visiting that place. Books make my travels more fulfilling. I collect books on trips, and I write inside them when and where I got them. Sometimes I even get a sticker or stamp from a place (museum, historic site, bookstore) to put inside. Books make great souvenirs!
(3) A good book will either stick in my mind (I think about/am reminded of it often) or propel me to want to learn more about a particular thing (like learning more about a moment in history from reading a historical fiction book). A good book makes me FEEL something strongly.
(4) I don’t mind suspending disbelief within the human realm (I can accept when people have special abilities or can time travel or can even change the course of history), but I have trouble suspending disbelief within the creature realm (so I’m not into books with aliens or monsters or non-human creatures).
(5) I only quit a book if it is too draggy (boring!) or if the writing is just too awful to tolerate.
(6) I like when a book holds a surprise, and I don’t necessarily need “happy” endings, but I do need some sense of resolution. Don’t leave me hanging!
(7) On that note, I don’t read books that are part of a series, and I only occasionally read multiple books by the same author. I guess I figure there are so many good books out there, waiting to be read…so why get stuck with one series or one author? That limits the other books and authors I could read and meet….
(8) Reading is a skill you learn and develop over time. The more you read, the better you get. And the better you get, the more you like it. So keep reading, 4th graders!
It took me a long time to learn to read. I had to fake like I knew what was going on in class and I felt like I was falling farther and farther behind. In 4th grade, our class read The Cay by Theodore Taylor. It was the first book I remember understanding. I’ll never forget that feeling of first being moved by words on a page. I still didn’t like reading and when called on in class my heart raced and my palms got sweaty. But eventually, I learned to accept the fact that I was slow and now I am never without a book.
I like to take checkout a few books of different styles at the same time from the library. That way I can let my mood of the moment decide what I read.
I like books that give me a behind scenes look at a characters life because if we only knew what was really happening in someone’s life, we would understand why they act as they do.
I view buying books as just as much a hobby as reading them:)
This helps when I realize I’ll never read it all…buying it and displaying it is part of the fun too!
My reading life began at a very early age when my mom read us (2 siblings and myself) the How and Why books – mostly the nursery rhymes which to this day I remember (and I am 71!). She also took us to the local library in an old historic house in Bay Village , Ohio Thank you, Mom, for giving me this gift of the love of reading!
Other influencers were the excellent primary grade teachers who always read to us – Charlotte’s Web in grade 3, where my favorite teacher, Mrs. Tripp, did wonderful voices for each character. Second grade teacher read and explained the making of The Lonely Doll. I still have the book. Thank you teachers!
I love physical books, too, but I am fine with reading on Kindle, with one exception: Any book I am reading for a class or deep personal study, I prefer in paper, although due to shipping outside the States that is not always possible/practical.
Kindle opens books to where the text starts. I scroll back to the cover to make sure I don’t miss anything. I at least skim everything in a book (except indexes), including acknowledgements and “for further reading” lists.
I enjoy reading more on my Kindle Paperwhite, but I revel in scrolling through my library on my Fire or on the computer to see all the pretty covers. (They are especially vivid on the Fire)
I love reading, but I find I spend a lot of time looking for book bargains and working on my book data on my Book Collectors software.
My mother started me reading good books. Little Women was one of the first novels I read. Also, Black Beauty. I loved reading to my own children, and in doing so, I discovered books that were wonderful, for both my children and myself as an adult. Up a Road, Slowly was one of these.Also, Meet the Austins and the sequels to that book.And, of course, A Wrinkle in Time.
My parents say that one of my first words was “book”. They tell the story of how I would go in the kitchen and point to the top of the refrigerator where the books were kept (why they were kept there – I never knew). Anyway, I’d point to them and say “book, book” until someone read to me.
And the rest is my reading history…
My dad read me “There’s a Monster at the End of This Book” as a kid too, in Grovers voice. I made it through my whole baby shower without tears until I was gifted that book for my husband from my Dad to read to our little girl.
I love lists and will definitely be starting my own about Me as a Reader.
What a great list! A big thank you to the 4th Bama graders who inspired you! Thankful to be in a country that values education! Be thankful and enjoy the opportunity to read. Any time you think “I wonder” or “I wish” or “what is”, reach out to your library and the world is open to you for free! God bless you.
As a retired fourth grade teacher – I loved reading their list – I love fourth graders!! Loved your list, as well!! I saw myself in several of the entries!!! My age is showing when I tell you I started with the Bobbsey Twins and the original Nancy Drews!!
What a fantastic project! I may try to adapt it for my middle schoolers (I’m a middle school librarian). Here are a few of mine:
1. Some of my favorite books are favorites from when I was in 4th-6th grade.
2. I love to reread old favorites, especially when I’m feeling down.
3. Right now, I read a book the fastest when it’s an ebook, because I can read in the dark while I wait for my almost-four-year-old to fall asleep.
4. I have trouble completely abandoning books, and I’ve read enough books where the ending makes or breaks the story that I’m ok with that.
5. I don’t especially like books that are just romance, but I love a strong romantic subplot.
I love shopping for books as much as I love reading them!
My favorite books are bittersweet for me, because when I finish them I feel like I’ve lost a friend, or lost a world that I can’t be a part of—but that magic is also why I love them so.
Cozy mysteries with spunky heroines are my comfort zone, but I also adore beautifully written books that make me think differently about the world.
I always read introductions and afterwords and acknowledgements. Sometimes there are fun little tidbits in there that give me insights into the author or the book itself. For me, it gives a book more depth and color.
When I’m stressed, I choose to read something with a predictable, happy ending.
I never read one book at a time. I always have multiple books in different formats going.
I never feel guilty about quitting a book – even if it is for book club.
I love to share a good book with a friend. When I’ve finished reading a book I loved, I will pass it on to someone else or donate it to the Little Free Library in my neighborhood.
I have stacks of books all over my house but they are very intentional. I love to add to my decor with some of my favorite books (the prettier the better). I also enjoy changing out the stacks in my guest rooms depending on who is staying and what topics or genres I know they enjoy.
What a sweet idea—curating the books in your guest room! I love it!
This is such a great idea!!!! Here are a couple about me.
1. My parents read to me every single night starting from when my mom found out she was pregnant til when I was about 12 years old.
2. My mom always read kid-friendly books to me, like picture books, chapter books and classics. My dad read me whatever he was reading at the time, usually something about mythology or some brick about history.
I struggle with rereading books because I am afraid I’m missing out on something new to me and wonderful. But when I have reread books, I have never regretted it.
I need to read everything. If I don’t have a book I will read the back of the shampoo bottle, the words on a billboard, anything!
I don’t like scary things, but sometimes a book with scary elements is OK.
During the day when I am working or doing chores, I am wishing I was reading a book.
I love your shampoo bottle comment and can completely relate!
My kids know they can avoid other work by asking for one more book (picture) or one more chapter when I read aloud to them. Sometimes I get a sore throat from reading aloud so long or from doing the voices.
When planning and packing for a trip, l always plan my vacation reads before l pack anything else. And, l always pack way too many books just in case l’m not in the mood for something—l guess l like to have options!
I love to revisit old favorites in times of stress or change, like during a move. Everything else is new, so l find a childhood favorite brings me comfort.
I like my characters, even villains, to be written with nuance. Character development is super important to me.
I really struggle with abandoning a book, especially if it comes highly recommended, because l am always hopeful that it is going to eventually turn around and get good! I need to learn to trust my instincts.
This is fun! Thanks for inviting us to join in!
I finally learned that it’s ok for me to stop reading a book I strongly dislike—there are too many great ones out there waiting for me to waste time on a bad one. One of my best vacations ever was a 7-day trip to the beach with three other bookworms. We read all day in the sunshine. I finished 14 books that week!
I listen to the early chapters of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone read by Jim Dale when I have a hard time falling asleep.
We visited my grand parents for 2 weeks every summer – no TV, LOTS of reading. I read The Stand during one early high school visit sitting on the porch swing for hours and hours, reading and smelling the lavender patch. Not sure why I remember that summer reading experience so vividly but it made a strong mark.
I am attracted to books that take place in Los Angeles. So many good ones with that setting. That’s one thing I know about my reading habits.
My favorite thing to do for my fourth-grade son is to try to find books I think he will enjoy. I try to select
Books from different genres and Inlove to see which ones he connects to because it’s fun to learn
More about him by his book choices! His tastes are very different from his older brother’s so it’s a fun challenge for me to research and read to find books for him to enjoy.
I used to read late into the night and early morning, telling myself, “Just one more hour…” until I was just done with the book.
I read for my mental health. To stop myself dwelling on things I can’t change. Reading keeps me sane!!!
I’m going to do this with my 2nd graders! I live this!
I use to think I didn’t like any current fiction and only read “the classics” for decades. In the last couple years, through my sister, mom, and this blog I’ve discovered quite a few great current authors and my reading life has become so much bigger both in the amount I’m reading and in the joy.
I’ve gotten better at abandoning books over the last couple of years, but this past month I actually permanently deleted a true crime book from my Kindle that was causing me real emotional distress. I didn’t know you could do that until I tried it, but I only spent $0.99 on it so no great loss. When you permanently delete a Kindle book, you have to repurchase it if you ever want to read it again. I don’t.
-I like memoirs best.
-I like coming of age books, where the narrator is a child.
-I like a book about 350-375 pages.
-I like books that teach me about something or some place.
-I like reading a book rather than an ebook.
-I love looking at books, reading about books, and talking about books when I’m not actually reading a book.
-I love to discuss books I’ve read.
-I love book swaps.
-I love receiving a book for a gift.
As much as I love reading (and I do love it – it’s been a passion since I learned to read!), I get overwhelmed at the library and bookstore. So, I depend on others to determine my next book (here’s looking at you, Anne Bogel)then I order it for pick up!
I love the idea of creating a list of 100 things about me as a reader. I will get to work on my own list right after leaving this comment. A few things about me:
I have always loved reading ever since I was a little girl.
I love learning, so books are a wonderful way to learn about other cultures, time periods, customs, history, science, and a myriad of other topics.
I usually have my phone with a dictionary app open while reading a book so that I can find out the meanings of words new to me. I keep a list of words I have learned in my phone.
I also keep in my phone a list of quotations from books that are meaningful or if I loved the wording of that passage.
Sometimes the title of a book is especially intriguing, and I will search for the title within the text of the book as I read it. Maybe that could be a future list to start – book titles and the page numbers on which those words or phrases appear.
I love to reread books from my childhood and later years. The Honey Bunch and Bobbsey Twins for starters. I buy books for every occasion. I love to go to book sales. Unfortunately my local library has stopped having the sales. I enjoy historical novels, history, Amish, mysteries, clean romances, some youth books,too. I love discussing books and having hearing other opinions. I have run out of room for any more books,but it has not stopped me from buying more books. Happy reading to all.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Marilyn
I love historical books fiction and non-fiction,sweet romance,Amish, old en times,holiday and family books. Want to re read Ivanhoe,Ramona,Lorna Doone and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn and my child hood favorites,Golden Books,Honey Bunch series,Bobbsey Twins and Anne Of Green Gables. I have re read Mary Queen Of Scots by Antonia Fraser.
A few years ago I resolved to severely limit social media time and instead read. The first year I read 50 books. I’m much calmer and better able to focus.
I am so grateful for this idea. This has taken me down memory lane and I have written so many memories down. I am on number 29 and I have come up with more than four pages of notes. This has become more than a simple list. Thank you.
I love this idea!!! I relate to so much of this list. One thing on my list is that I’ve banned myself from re-reading books because my TBR list is so long – but I get around this rule by listening to the audio! LOL!
There is no rhyme or reason to how I select which books to buy. Sometimes it’s the cover, sometimes the back cover summary, sometimes the title grabs me. Once I bought a book simply because my name was in the title. Bargin tables are dangerous for me, but some of the best surprises came from impulse buys or books I grabbed from the Buy Two Get One Free table.
Reading is my favourite thing to do too. What I’ve learned about myself, though, is that after a loved one passed away, I was so full of grief, I couldn’t, and can’t, read when I’m full of grief, even though at any other time reading has provided so much comfort.
Every other person I know–or have read about!!–has loved “The Neapolitan Novels” by Elena Ferrante. I am the only person I know who struggled to get through the 1st, “My Brilliant Friend.” So another reading quirk I’ve learned about myself is that often the “bestselling” or wildly popular books are not necessarily ones I will love too!
Reading enriches every part of my life–especially during this horrible pandemic. Thank you for shining a light in the small corner of the internet, regarding reading. I do love to read about reading on your blog!! :>)