Reading Memories
Some of our fondest childhood memories involve learning to read or listening as someone read to us. Describe an early reading memory at home with your parents, guardians, relatives, or siblings.
What Superpower Would You Choose?
Do you want to fly? Would you like be invisible? How about superhuman strength or X-ray vision? My superpower of choice is to be able to speak every language in the Universe - from Elven to Italian, Mandarin to Romulan, cat to bat, and everything in between. I'd like to hear (or receive, if it's a telepathic language) everybody's story in their own language and understand all the delicate nuances intelligent beings can fashion. Speaking of stories . . . think of the stories these guys could tell. Imagine talking to Thor in Asgardian or being able to translate all the spells from the stacks at Hogwart's (BTW - the best class EVER!). So what superpower would you choose?
When I was just entering elementary school, my mother and father played a game with me. We had a bunch of magnets that went on the fridge. Each magnet was a letter of the alphabet. They would hide letters all over the kitchen and they would set a timer. When the timer would start I would run around trying to find all of the letters and I would run back to the kitchen table where there would be a list a words my mother would write down. So then I would put the letters in the correct sequence and then have to say the word. If i did it all before the timer I would get a prize. Whether it would be a bowl of ice cream, bed time being extended, and sometimes if the words were hard enough a toy. That is one of the things are clearly stands out with me learning to read with my parents and I will definitely use the same tactics on my children.
ReplyDeleteI remember my uncle Sebastian every weekend sitting in the couch reading books of adventures, tales or history out loud. One of my favorites called TRADICIONES PERUANAS (Peruvian’s traditions), short tales about the life during the colonial era written by Ricardo Palma. I waited very anxious after lunch for this moment, sitting in the stair step, holding my breath and listening to every word that my uncle said. When my uncle finished the lecture I ran to look at the book and contemplated the pictures.
ReplyDeleteI was 4 years old then; I wanted to read like my uncle, to be able to read all those books which at that time only meant nice pictures but incomprehensible signs, taking meaning every Sunday when my uncle read. When I learned to read my dream came true and was able to read by myself short tales, short stories and also comic’s books. In my 7th birthday, my aunt Rosalia, Sebastian’s wife, gave me a nice present: a book, my first book, “The Treasure Island”, by Stevenson, an adventure tale of pirates and buried treasure. This book was the first book that I read and also the first book of my personal library.
Treasure Island, I had in my possession until my youngest son, Cachito, was 7 years old. Then I gave it to him, with petty because I disposed of my small treasure but also with joy of knowing that this book motivated his love for reading. Four years ago when I visited my daughter, Giovanna, in Florida I was surprised to find the same book, which I received 44 years ago, in the bookshelf of my grandson, Alexander, asking him why he had that book and he told me that his uncle Cachito had given it to him on his 7th birthday.
I remember the first book we had read in our new house. It was called "Piggy Pie" and it was me and my sister's favorite book. I was about 4 years old and all I could think about was the witch chasing after the cleverly disguised pigs. I can clearly remember the tone of my Dad's voice as he read the book aloud. Every time I walk past my sister's room, I always remember sitting on the floor listening to my favorite story.
ReplyDeleteMy earliest memory of when I was a kid was this book that I was obsessed with. It's kind of embarrassing but... it was a Barney book, on the front cover was a picture of Baby Bop wearing all pink and there were colorful gems all over it. I think I loved it because of all the colors and it had a handle so I used it as a purse.
ReplyDeleteI remember being in elementary school, when we had reading buddies. Unfortunately, my reading buddy was my sister. I remember my sister reading these read great novels and short stories to me. I enjoyed her different characters' voice and funny comments about the novel and short stories. I though, "hey! My sister is cool?"... Until we got into the car and she got to ride in the front.
ReplyDeleteMy earliest childhood reading memory is of my parents reading the book Corduroy. I used to always remember I wanted them to read it to me over and over again. I can still remember the story so vividly. I dont know why, but I loved hearing this story. I used to have my own little book shelf too that I kept all of my little picture books in. At one point I had so many books that it was just over flowing. I didnt really like to read though so most all of the books were picture book and had little words. If they had a lot of words I would just ask my parents to read them for me.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I loved being read to, but my favorite childhood reading memories are actually when I use to read to my little sister who is 5 years younger than me. Even though I wasn't the best reader at the time, and I tend to drift off and create my own stories she and I had many laughs and memories from it.
ReplyDeletemy fondest memory was reading one of my older sister's junior high school books. given that i was a little boy around 8 or 9, i felt that i could read at the same level that my 12 year old sister could. i read a chapter of her book quite quickly just to say that i'd read it, but when she asked me what it was about i had no answer. it was a funny moment because usually i thoroughly know the subject matter of what i am reading, but in my mock bravado, i simply read the words without bothering to link them together.
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