Who if anyone encouraged you to read when you were a kid?

wayspooled · 07-26-2010, 07:46 PM

My mother and my uncle and my grandmother. I wasn't discouraged by my father, just no particular memory of him and reading. Mom used to read to me, then later bought me any book I wanted to read. My uncle showed up every week to give me or got Dad to pass me 2 dollars to buy comic books and uncle or one of them took me to buy them. My grandmother always had a book for me to read when we visited. And my two childhood best friends read, similar encouragement from their family.

How about you?

TallMomof2 · 07-26-2010, 07:51 PM

Both my parents. We made trips to the library every week as a family. My parents read to us kids (mostly Dr. Seuss) and I can still remember many of the books. My Dad got me into science fiction which I still read.

kathyfitz · 07-26-2010, 08:02 PM

My grandmother in particular, but my mom and aunt after that. I don't remember my dad reading much. Books were always the most treasured of gifts from my grandmother, I still have some of them!

Worldwalker · 07-26-2010, 08:40 PM

Both of my parents were avid readers, so I guess I take after them. Trips to the library were one of my favorite things as a child; I'd come home with as many books as I was allowed to check out, and read them in a few days. I read everything with words on it. Come to think of it, I still do.

bjones6416 · 07-26-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

Both of my parents were avid readers, so I guess I take after them. Trips to the library were one of my favorite things as a child; I'd come home with as many books as I was allowed to check out, and read them in a few days. I read everything with words on it. Come to think of it, I still do.

Me, too, exactly. I could have written your post. I remember going to the library even as a small child and picking out picture books, and I distinctly remember crawling up in my older sister's lap for her to read to me.

And I'll bring up something else here, since a lot of us have these early library experiences in common. My parents never censored my reading, nor did my local librarian try to interfere in what I checked out. Consequently I was reading things that were probably beyond my understanding at the time, but it didn't hurt me as far as I know. When I WAS able to understand, I did. Simple as that. How about the rest of you who read a lot as children -- were you censored?

AnemicOak · 07-26-2010, 09:15 PM

My mother has been my biggest reading influence, my aunt too whenever she'd visit. My dad isn't a big reader, but he was also a big influence/enabler in that he was constantly willing to buy me books (just like mom was) or to make a library run when needed.

Mom is still a huge reader, in fact I bought her a K2i for her birthday and she absolutely loves it.

glowhappy · 07-26-2010, 09:26 PM

Both my parents are avid readers but they never really tried to "influence" me. I guess you can say they lead by example?

That and while growing up we were poor so friends and I shared books b/c it was considered a luxury to have them.

foreverjuly · 07-26-2010, 09:34 PM

This is a great topic. I was really inspired to read by...dinosaurs, I guess. I read the entire shelf in kindergarten, not that I could understand half of it. That was my first big foray into reading.

After that, I'd have to say some great teachers. It's about inspiring people with the desire to learn, and after that reading just comes naturally!

Lady Fitzgerald · 07-26-2010, 09:52 PM

My Daddy didn't like comic books for some reason I still don't know (and never will) but other than that, he never discouraged me from reading. Technically, he didn't have a high school education (went to vocational school instead), although he later had to get a GED for work, but he loved to read, mostly Westerns. Mama was a school teacher and got her fill of reading from the work she brought home every night. My sister and I just seemed to latch onto reading naturally. If anything, my parents had to curb my reading a bit so I would do my chores and homework, go outside to play, and get enough sleep at night (I spent many a night under the covers with a book and a flashlight). Both my parents approved of my sister's and my love of reading so they didn't need to encourage it. We always access to books, ranging from our own books, books my parents had on the shelf, and both school and public library books (my parents would take us to the library but that was because we wanted to go; they never made us). I'm still an avid (rabid?) reader. My sister is a school teacher so that probably curbs her reading a bit. She lives in TX so I don't get to see her much although we do stay in touch.

nomesque · 07-26-2010, 10:11 PM

Mr Boredom.

Picture this - 600-person town, farming community, child with few local friends (in retrospect I'm not surprised, my parents didn't get along with many people either). Shelves full of books, and a weekly 'Bookmobile' (travelling library). My older sister taught me to read out of sheer boredom (common theme yet?).

Was I encouraged to read? Probably, in an attempt to shut me up.

glowhappy · 07-26-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomesque

Was I encouraged to read? Probably, in an attempt to shut me up.

that part does sound familiar to me

FizzyWater · 07-26-2010, 10:19 PM

My dad used to be a reader. Mom can't finish magazine articles (they're ... too long).

When I was a kid (8? 9?), they bought me a subscription to a bookclub for a series of kid's mysteries about "The Happy Hollisters". I was too busy outside, but they threatened me with cancelation (well, it was too cool to get my own books via the mail, right?)

Well, that was it for me. Breezed through those. Read every kids' mystery in the Domonkas Public Library (back in those days, kids were actually not allowed in the adult section of the library stacks!) Discovered gothic romances, science fiction anthologies...and so it goes. Never stopped!

SameOldStory · 07-26-2010, 10:55 PM

Believe it or not, back in the 50s and 60s there were publishers printing what would now be called "out of print" books.

There wasn't much reading in my house so it was a fluke that I happened on a "John Carter of Mars" series book (originally printed July 1912). I'm not too certain which was the first one I read, but I soon read them all.

Even watching a lot of TV back then didn't slow me down. I still read, but watch almost no TV now.

kjk · 07-26-2010, 11:00 PM

My parents took us (5 kids!) every 3 weeks to the library-3 weeks being the lending duration at the time (3 weeks, no limits on number of books!). When we got home, we had to write down the title of every book, and post the list on the refrigerator for the return visit.

banjobama · 07-26-2010, 11:17 PM

My mother (who raised me alone) encouraged me to read, as well as my teachers at school and the rest of my family. We lived walking distance from the library and we were really poor so going to the library and borrowing books, or buying used paperbacks for $.25, was a big deal to me. When I was small, my mom would walk with me, but at about age 10 or thereabouts I was going alone.

Like others here, nobody ever censored the books I chose and if they had tried I'm sure I would have only tried harder to read the book.

07-26-2010, 07:46 PM	#1
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	Who if anyone encouraged you to read when you were a kid? My mother and my uncle and my grandmother. I wasn't discouraged by my father, just no particular memory of him and reading. Mom used to read to me, then later bought me any book I wanted to read. My uncle showed up every week to give me or got Dad to pass me 2 dollars to buy comic books and uncle or one of them took me to buy them. My grandmother always had a book for me to read when we visited. And my two childhood best friends read, similar encouragement from their family. How about you?

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07-26-2010, 07:51 PM	#2
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Both my parents. We made trips to the library every week as a family. My parents read to us kids (mostly Dr. Seuss) and I can still remember many of the books. My Dad got me into science fiction which I still read.

07-26-2010, 08:02 PM	#3
kathyfitz Electronics Whore Posts: 115 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Mountains of Southern California Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad, iPad mini, iPhone5, Kindle3	My grandmother in particular, but my mom and aunt after that. I don't remember my dad reading much. Books were always the most treasured of gifts from my grandmother, I still have some of them!

07-26-2010, 08:40 PM	#4
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	Both of my parents were avid readers, so I guess I take after them. Trips to the library were one of my favorite things as a child; I'd come home with as many books as I was allowed to check out, and read them in a few days. I read everything with words on it. Come to think of it, I still do.

07-26-2010, 09:15 PM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	My mother has been my biggest reading influence, my aunt too whenever she'd visit. My dad isn't a big reader, but he was also a big influence/enabler in that he was constantly willing to buy me books (just like mom was) or to make a library run when needed. Mom is still a huge reader, in fact I bought her a K2i for her birthday and she absolutely loves it.

07-26-2010, 09:26 PM	#7
glowhappy lost my wits... Posts: 593 Karma: 216708 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Sony PRS-600	Both my parents are avid readers but they never really tried to "influence" me. I guess you can say they lead by example? That and while growing up we were poor so friends and I shared books b/c it was considered a luxury to have them.

07-26-2010, 09:34 PM	#8
foreverjuly Crank Up The Awesome! Posts: 315 Karma: 708054 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Japan Device: Kindle, Nook, iPhone	This is a great topic. I was really inspired to read by...dinosaurs, I guess. I read the entire shelf in kindergarten, not that I could understand half of it. That was my first big foray into reading. After that, I'd have to say some great teachers. It's about inspiring people with the desire to learn, and after that reading just comes naturally!

07-26-2010, 09:52 PM	#9
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	My Daddy didn't like comic books for some reason I still don't know (and never will) but other than that, he never discouraged me from reading. Technically, he didn't have a high school education (went to vocational school instead), although he later had to get a GED for work, but he loved to read, mostly Westerns. Mama was a school teacher and got her fill of reading from the work she brought home every night. My sister and I just seemed to latch onto reading naturally. If anything, my parents had to curb my reading a bit so I would do my chores and homework, go outside to play, and get enough sleep at night (I spent many a night under the covers with a book and a flashlight). Both my parents approved of my sister's and my love of reading so they didn't need to encourage it. We always access to books, ranging from our own books, books my parents had on the shelf, and both school and public library books (my parents would take us to the library but that was because we wanted to go; they never made us). I'm still an avid (rabid?) reader. My sister is a school teacher so that probably curbs her reading a bit. She lives in TX so I don't get to see her much although we do stay in touch.

07-26-2010, 10:11 PM	#10
nomesque Snooty Bestselling Author Posts: 1,485 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ipswich, QLD, Australia Device: PRS-650	Mr Boredom. Picture this - 600-person town, farming community, child with few local friends (in retrospect I'm not surprised, my parents didn't get along with many people either). Shelves full of books, and a weekly 'Bookmobile' (travelling library). My older sister taught me to read out of sheer boredom (common theme yet?). Was I encouraged to read? Probably, in an attempt to shut me up.

07-26-2010, 10:19 PM	#12
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	My dad used to be a reader. Mom can't finish magazine articles (they're ... too long). When I was a kid (8? 9?), they bought me a subscription to a bookclub for a series of kid's mysteries about "The Happy Hollisters". I was too busy outside, but they threatened me with cancelation (well, it was too cool to get my own books via the mail, right?) Well, that was it for me. Breezed through those. Read every kids' mystery in the Domonkas Public Library (back in those days, kids were actually not allowed in the adult section of the library stacks!) Discovered gothic romances, science fiction anthologies...and so it goes. Never stopped!

07-26-2010, 10:55 PM	#13
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	Believe it or not, back in the 50s and 60s there were publishers printing what would now be called "out of print" books. There wasn't much reading in my house so it was a fluke that I happened on a "John Carter of Mars" series book (originally printed July 1912). I'm not too certain which was the first one I read, but I soon read them all. Even watching a lot of TV back then didn't slow me down. I still read, but watch almost no TV now.

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07-26-2010, 11:00 PM	#14
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	My parents took us (5 kids!) every 3 weeks to the library-3 weeks being the lending duration at the time (3 weeks, no limits on number of books!). When we got home, we had to write down the title of every book, and post the list on the refrigerator for the return visit.

07-26-2010, 11:17 PM	#15
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	My mother (who raised me alone) encouraged me to read, as well as my teachers at school and the rest of my family. We lived walking distance from the library and we were really poor so going to the library and borrowing books, or buying used paperbacks for $.25, was a big deal to me. When I was small, my mom would walk with me, but at about age 10 or thereabouts I was going alone. Like others here, nobody ever censored the books I chose and if they had tried I'm sure I would have only tried harder to read the book.