Our Little Bookworm

I can recite Andra's favorite book, "Llama Llama Mad at Mama," from memory. Word for word. Because that's how many times we've read it! Andra is absolutely addicted to her books, and I couldn't be happier about it.

I happen to be a voracious reader myself. Well...let me rephrase. Once upon a time (pre-marriage, pre-house, pre-dog, pre-baby), I had a lot of free time and spent much of that free time reading. :)

It started when I was a little girl. Anybody out there remember the Babysitter's Club series? Sweet Valley Twins? Both series had well over 100 books, and I'd read every single one. I was the girl counting the days until the next book in the series would arrive in the bookstore so I could get my hands on it! In fact, I loved reading SO much, that when my parents built a house, they designed my bedroom with a book closet (SEPARATE from my clothes closet...and much bigger too) AND a perfect window seat where I could read all my books. It was divine. I miss that room. And...my parents made a wonderful tradition of giving me a BIG box of books every Christmas. I loved opening that present every year! I could always find it under the tree...it was huge and HEAVY with the weight of all the books waiting to be read. In fact, they gave Andra a box of children's books this Christmas, and I nearly cried.

I think my lifetime love of reading is why I'm able to make a living as a (news) writer...I just got to know words and their rhythm, and the (sometimes frustrating) art of stringing words together so someone else might enjoy reading them.

So nothing brings me more pleasure than seeing my little girl already addicted to books--craving them, just like her Mom. We have a pile of about 20 in the living room, and she insists we read each and every one...everyday. Several times. I try to rotate them occasionally for the sake of variety...although I've discovered toddlers love repitition. And that's probably why I can recite "Llama Llama Mad at Mama" from memory. And because I think I love that book as much as she does!