What are your fondest reading memories ? Is it of being tucked all snug in bed and having a Bedtime Story read to you? Was it story-hour at the local library? Maybe your memory involves a beloved teacher reading to a class of wide-eyed youngsters. Perhaps it was of finally being able to read a favorite book all by yourself. Here are some of my students' fondest reading memories.
You might also enjoy sharing the following sites with younger brothers and sisters. Visit the Beverly Cleary Home Page and The Little House on the Prairie Home Page
It is Christmas Eve., and I am extremely excited. I am five years old and we are just getting ready to do the usual. First. we get a fire going in the fireplace. Then we watch a little bit of television, usually hockey if a good game is on. After hockey, we put out the cookies and milk for Santa Claus and carrots for the reindeer. Finally we read our Christmas stories. The person who is reading sits in the rocking chair in front of the fireplace. My brother and I would read the easier books like The Toy Store, The Animals Christmas, or The Little Elf. The most memorable book is Twas the Night Before Christmas. My father always read that one. He would always make it a joke somehow. I will never forget those memories. Hopefully, I will end up doing this with my children someday and then with my grandchildren.
I still remember the sounds of fire crackling in the fireplace in our living room on Christmas Eve years ago. Until the belief in Santa Clause became a myth to my sisters and me, we always huddled up next to the Christmas tree every Christmas Eve before we went off to bed to read the classic, the Polar Express, . My oldest sister Karen would always read to me about the young boy who heard the sounds of a train on that very night, and when he peered through the door, there in front of him awaited a train bound for the North Pole. The boy would clammer onto the train with the many other children, and when they arrived at the glorious city, he was chosen to receive the first present for that Christmas from Santa Clause. The Polar Express was not just a great book, it was a book we all came together to read. It brought our family together for a mere ten minutes, but those ten minutes, I hold very dear to me.
My favorite story to read when I was little wasThe Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman. The first time I remember hearing this story is when I was five-years-old, and I was spending the night over my grandparents' house. I woke up scared in the middle of the night,and my grandma came into the bedroom with this book, sat on the bed, and read me the story.
Even since then when I go over my grandparents' house, I sit down and read this book. That is my fondest reading memory. I hope my children have a memory like the one I just shared with you.
I have read many novels in my life. My favorite one of all time would have to be Matilda by Roald Dahl. Not only is that my favorite book, but he is my favorite author as well.
When I read Matilda, I was nine years old and in the fourth grade. I thought it was so good I couldn't put it down for a second. I finished the 200 page book in about three days and soon recommended it to all of my friends.
One of my favorite parts of that story was when Matilda figured out who Miss Honey really was, the niece of the mean old principal, Mrs. Trunchbull. Then Matilda used her magic to get Miss Honey's favorite doll from her childhood, Lyddie, out of 'the Trunchbull's' house.
Another one of my favorite parts of Matilda was when Matilda's parents were moving out of their town to get away from the police and they gave Matilda to Miss Honey. It made me happy that Matilda would finally live with someone who loved her.
I'll always remember the part when Matilda got locked in 'the chokie,' a locker with nails sticking into it, because I was scared that one of my teachers or principals would have a locker just like it.
When they came out with the movie Matilda, I had to see it, but I liked the book better because I liked to picture what the story looked like in my head.
Matilda is and always will be one of my favorite books.
The funniest book I remember reading as a child was a book by Judith Viorst. This book that she wrote was called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This book was first read to me by my second grade teacher. I liked the book so much that I begged my mom to get it. When I did get this book, I sat down in my room, and I read it about ten times. After that, I basically knew every word to the book. I just read it a couple days ago and I still think it's kinda funny. You should read it if you haven't already.
When I was little, my mom used to work at night, so my grandfather used to babysit my brothers and me. When it was time for my bedtime, my grandfather always asked me what bedtime story I would like to listen to. I alwayed picked the same book, even if he had already read the book to me the night before. The book he always read was a Sesame Street book. It was one of my favorite books when I was little. After my grandfather got tired of reading the sesame street book, I started reading by myself. It was the first time I had read a book on my own. I also liked Dr. Seuss because almost every word rhymed and the words were all silly. Those were the very best bedtime stories.
In September of 1989, my mother bought me what was to become one of my favorite childhood stories. It was called Scary, Scary Halloween written by Eve Bunting. I loved the book so much because of the colorful pictures and the story which mesmerized me. The book was so interesting because of the words and the characters. That was my favorite story when I was little.
My favorite reading memory is of when I was in first grade. When I was in first grade, I was a robin. The robins were the lead readers of the class. Every night from September to February, we would read with our parents. But, beginning in March, we had to read by ourselves. That was scary. To make it even worse, we had to write about our reading.
Soon we were to choose a baggie with a book and a set of questions to answer. I was scared to death. The day finally came to pick a baggie and read the book which was inside. It was Wednesday and we had until Friday to complete it.
I picked See Spot. I read it all by myself and wrote about it. I was so proud! That will always be a special reading memory for me.
by Jacque B. (2/97)
Of course, my mother read to me every night. I can recall listening to a variety of exciting adventures. I marveled at the way her eyes traveled down the page. The letters and sounds were magically transformed into a story! Every night, we'd read a chapter from one of "the big books." I liked hearing the chronicles of Little House on the Prairie , but my favorite stories of all were the Ramona stories. Beverly Cleary had a knack for relating to the way a six-year-old thinks!
Every night, I'd hear these wonderful tales. But the only thing I could actually read for myself was Hop on Pop . I'd try so hard to sound out the words of other Dr. Seuss books and tattered Dick and Jane books from my parents' childhood. It was incredibly frustrating! Why didn't I possess the magical ability to read? Mom told me to keep trying; it would come. And in the meantime, we read every single book in the Ramona series. Ramona and Her Mother, Ramona the Pest, and Beezus and Ramona.
One day, after another familiar recitation of Hop on Pop, I walked over to the bookshelf. I picked up our sacred copy of Ramona the Pest . After staring at the cover for awhile, I opened to the first page. I started reading it. . . just like that. I was ecstatic! How incredibly thrilling! And from that day forward, I have never, ever touched a copy of Hop on Pop.
My all time favorite childhood story is Good Night Moon. This is a perfect bedtime story for infants through age four or five. It can pacify even the most rambunctious children. One of my favorite rhyming lines was 'Good night, mittens. Good night, kittens.' It is easy to read and rhymes throughout the whole story. Any child will delight in rereading Giid Night Moon time and time again. It's a great book to motivate kids to want to learn how to read. Good Night Moon is a great start to help get kids on the reading track.
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