The Open Book

Without the means to travel or do a lot of extracurricular activities, my mom did the next best thing within her power: shared her love of reading. And she started early! She would use books to not only explore the world we lived in, but imaginary ones as well. When my mom read picture books, she had the most wonderful reading voice. She would change it for almost every character, bringing them to life and mimicking the emotions they felt so you could feel the story in your gut. When my siblings and I outgrew picture books and moved on to chapter books with fewer pictures, she would have us lie down and close our eyes so we could visualize the scenes unfolding before us. She used her voice to add depth to the stories and bring them to life. She was planting the seeds of a lifelong love for stories and the written word.

Despite the enchantment I felt in those storytelling sessions, I struggled to find my own footing in the world of books. Confidence eluded me, especially when it came to reading aloud in class. But then, my stepmom came up with a simple but effective task: she bought me a movie, Gulliver’s Travels, and before I was allowed to watch it, I had to read the book. She was clever with her choice of book too, she chose a book that was just challenging enough to push me out of my comfort zone, yet still within reach to build my confidence.

With each page turned, I felt my courage building and was determined to finish that book. The simplicity of the text was the confidence boost since it was no great challenge, while the length of the books instilled in me a sense of accomplishment and pride. Slowly but surely, I shed the self-doubt and came out with a voracious appetite for reading, hungry for the next adventure, the next discovery, the next escape into the world of books.

Now, as an adult with a passion for igniting that same love of reading in children, I’m filled with gratitude for the confidence my stepmom developed in me and the gift my mom gave me—a gift that transcends the pages of any book. It’s a gift of imagination, of curiosity, of resilience—a gift that continues to shape who I am and who I aspire to be. When I think about the importance of reading with children, it’s not just about nurturing the soul, fostering empathy, and instilling a lifelong love of learning and exploration—it’s about academic success or cognitive development. It’s about giving them a chance to open those doors sooner than I did and giving them an earlier start to growing into the wonderful human beings they will become.

J.