Dr. Suess, The Bobbsey Twins and My Love of Reading: 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History

Week 23:  Books-What was your favorite book, or who was your favorite author from your childhood?  What do you like to read now?  Books or other formats?

For as long as I can remember I have loved to read.  I remember the first time my dad took me to the library.  I thought it was amazing.  It was a tiny, little, white cottage-like building on Main Street, in Deckerville, Michigan.  I was probably seven or eight at the time.  There were rows of children's books I could choose from.  I chose "If I Ran the Zoo" by Dr. Suess.  I remember because I read the book while my Dad was looking for something.  I checked it out and read it again and again.  I liked the characters and the silly words he used in telling the story.  Other Dr. Suess books I liked were "If I Ran A Circus" and "The Sleep Book". 

Later, I developed a love for "The Bobbsey Twins".  I think I have read almost all of their books.  By this time, we had moved to Harbor Beach, Michigan and I could ride my bike downtown to the library.  The library was located in the Community Building, on Huron Avenue.  The children's section was in the back corner.  I would get three or four books at a time.  In the summer I remember bringing home 8-10 books. 

I enjoyed getting books for birthdays and Christmas.  My parents always let me get a book or two when the Scholastic book order came out, too.  In Junior High, I received a book a month from a book club, I'm not sure what company that was with.  I still have "If I Ran a Circus"  and "The Sleep Book".  They were well loved.  I remember having Bobbsey Twins books as well. 

I am still an avid reader today.  My tastes have developed from Dr. Suess to Bobbsey Twins to authors like Stuart Woods, Nora Roberts and Phillipa Gregory.  I read mostly fiction, but every now and then I pick up a biography or a cookbook to read. 

I still visit my local library, Willard Library in Battle Creek, Michigan, to check books out.  Recently, I bought my husband a Nook e-reader, and have found that format enjoyable, so I may be reading more e-books.  (If he will share it!)