About Reading
by Janet Hogan Chapman aka GeorgiaJanet
Longer days, warm temperatures, and more sunshine are here! Perfect for reading! When I think of reading in the summer several pictures come to mind. 
Relaxing at the beach, by the pool, or overlooking the lake. On long car rides to vacation destinations. Under a shady tree, maybe in an old fashioned glider or porch swing. Could be a good book you 
can’t put down, a textbook for a summer class, or lazily flipping through a magazine. 
Doesn’t matter WHAT or WHERE you read – just do it! Reading can be relaxing, enriching, inspiring, informative, and plain ol’ fun.
I came by my love of reading naturally. Both my mother and father were avid readers. Neither had even a high school diploma, but they were not ignorant. Reading, along with life experience, filled the gaps. Books and magazines filled our home. My own love of reading started out with Little Golden Books. Even before starting kindergarten I had a huge stack of them, probably about two feet tall. An aunt who lived across the street from us worked in a drugstore in downtown Atlanta. EVERY day, she brought home a new Little Golden Book for me.
Now, if you knew this aunt, you might wonder as I do now that I’m grown, if the books were legitimately bought, or just brought. At that time it made no difference to me. Now, years later, if they were brought or bought is of no consequence to me, I just know I loved them. My favorite? The top-selling children’s book of all time, the Poky Little Puppy. http://www.littlegoldenbooks.com/
My love of reading grew with Dick, Jane, Sally, Spot, and Puff.
I whizzed through those early readers. I was a frequent visitor to the school library and later to the public library, The Uncle Remus 
Branch of the Atlanta public library in West End. My mama never seemed to mind spending money for the book order pages that got sent home from school, and she subscribed to the Doubleday Book Club Best in Children’s Books Club for me. I loved those books with the little illustrations on the spine. 
http://beautifulbooks.info/…/best-in-childrens-books-series-illustrated-bibliography
My love of reading never waned, on through high school, college, and married life. Having children added a whole new dimension to my reading habits. Teaching reading in elementary school added yet another, and finally, teaching children’s literature as a teacher education professor became the ultimate benchmark. 
Now, as a collector of children’s books and grandmother who loves to read to her grandchildren, I have come full circle. I faithfully order each new Caldecott Award book and have a complete up to date collection of each of these books dating back to the original 1938 Animals of the Bible. For the complete list and more about the Caldecott Medal, go here. https://tinyurl.com/5bud69us My Newbery collection is not quite as complete, but I am working on it. http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newbery
Many writers credit their reading history and habits for birthing their own wordsmith accomplishments. One could argue that writers must be readers. The opposite is not a given. One can read for the pure pleasure of losing yourself in another world, universe, or time period. It doesn’t have to be for research or a school assignment. I do believe reading improves writing. 
Speaking of which, if you need a good read for these long lazy days my novels might be just the thing for you! They are not a series but there are some character connections throughout Madam May, After Madam May, Dorothy May, and MOTHERLOVE. And if you have an interest in teaching or education my memoir This Teacher Talks may be just the thing for you. All are available on Amazon or can be ordered through your local bookstore. https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Hogan-Chapman-Ed.D/e/B00YYXL1B6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
What are your favorite memories about reading as a child? How did those affect your current reading habits? Is reading important in today’s culture? What drives you to read or to purchase a book? Where is your own favorite place to read? What rewards to you get from reading? Tell us in a comment below.
