“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Dr. Seuss
Many of us have childhood memories of reading books by Dr. Seuss. To honor the birthday of the famous children’s book author and cartoonist, March has been designated National Reading Month.
Born on March 2, 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel was not a doctor at all. Some of his most famous books include Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Horton Hears a Who, The Lorax and Green Eggs and Ham (my personal favorite and one that I read to my children and grandchildren over and over). Dr. Seuss received a Pulitzer Prize in 1984 for his contribution to the education of America’s children and their parents.
Reading is one of the best and most beneficial habits to develop. According to nationaltoday.com, it strengthens the mental muscles, helps to improve comprehension and analytical abilities, increases imagination and boosts memory.
I have been an avid reader my entire life. While growing up, I read every single one of the Nancy Drew Mysteries. You will always find a half-read book sitting on my nightstand and I love to sit in my favorite chair in the living room, sipping a cup of tea and reading the latest mystery or romance novel. Although our tastes in genres are a little different, my daughter and I share our books and have long conversations about the ones we are currently reading. When she lends me one of her books, it is often water-stained as she loves to read while taking a bubble bath. As I have passed my love of reading down to her, she has instilled the same in her own children.
I love to read because I can be swept away to another time and place and can escape – for just a little while – from the routine of daily life. I have been known to stay up all night reading a book that I just can’t put down without knowing how it ends.
Everyone, I think, has a favorite book – one that has left a lasting impression etched in their memory. The classics that have stayed in my mind include Gone with the Wind and Little Women. I love reading anything from John Grisham’s courtroom dramas and James Patterson’s action-packed thrillers, to Ann Rule’s true crime and romantic novels written by Nicholas Sparks. The Clan of the Cave Bear was a series I enjoyed immensely. Where the Crawdad Sings, a murder/mystery novel by Delia Owens, is another book that stayed in my mind because of the compelling plot and the fact it was so eloquently written.
The next book on my list to read is Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang, Amazon Books 2023 “Book of the Year.” According to reviews, the novel explores issues of diversity and cultural appropriation, all wrapped up in a thriller plot.
Celebrating National Reading Month is fun and easy to do. Since the goal is to encourage children to develop the habit of reading for at least 15 minutes a day, sit and read a book with a child in your life. Visit a bookstore or your local library. I plan to celebrate by finishing the book that is currently sitting on my nightstand!
