How to make a reader?

I've been obsessed lately with wondering why some children turn into such avid readers, and some never learn to truly like what is one of my life's greatest joys. It's not intelligence, as I was blessed with two bright kids, one who turned in a reader who reads much deeper subjects than I can tackle, and another who never even wanted to listen to stories. Do it's not a simple matter of reading to them, I did with both. Or tried!

I polled some good friends, but found little consensus. One, a child development teacher, found what worked for her four children was limiting TV and reading to them extensively. But I did both with both my kids. She's raised four bright successful adults who are readers. Another, mother of five, states it's exposure to booksand following up any clues if they seem to like a certain book or author. Very good points, and with today's libraries fairly easy if a child gets a fix on a certain author like Nancy Drew. Which my granddaughter did last year, so my friend's advice is not out of date. A third friend, has one reader and one non-reader like me, both bright and simply with different inclinations. She's thinks it's like so many other traits, a parent gets what he's dealt.

I've mentioned in my biography how my father's early death forced my mother back to teaching, and how I wasn't allowed out of the house until she came home. With no TV and lots of library books I became a compulsive reader. Will read cereal boxes if nothing else is handy! Incidentally, some them their blurbs are pretty funny, although they may not always know it.

Certainly if you don't do anything as a parent, let the TV time be unlimited, don't provide them with books, don't read to them, you cut down the chances. Yet I think some children simply can't be stopped from becoming readers. They'll find books on their own no matter what.

So I'm still puzzled...

Reading

Most writers read. A lot. And I'm no different from any other writer. I read. A lot. Recently I've been sidelined by health issues so I've been reading a lot more than usual. And that, let me tell you, is a lot.

So what have I been reading, you ask? I'm pleased to tell you that most of what's been taking me away from my current situation, transporting me into worlds and lives unknown to me except through the wonderful storytelling abilities of those who wrote them, are books by companion goddesses. I have a limited time to sit without discomfort so I'm just going to list some of what I've read, and you'll have to take my word for it that they've all been great. Although great is truly an understatement. I highly recommend each and every one of them for your own personal reading pleasure.

Okay. Ready? Here goes... Everglades Wildfire by Isabelle Drake (great family turmoil in that one), Heaving Bosoms by Ashlyn Chase (made me giggle, love her sense of humor!), Crazy for the Cowboy by Cindy Spencer Pape (I read this twice, I enjoyed it so so much), Anchor and Storm by Kate Poole (anyone that enjoys historicals will be nuts over this one. I was!) and Overlord's Vessel by Bronwyn Green (Micah and Elizabeth--a couple that won't be forgotten!).
I told you I read a lot. I read these in the past few days, LOL!!

Fortunately, the goddesses are a prolific bunch and there is an assortment of tempting offerings that will keep me occupied in the coming days. The hardest part of reading what these talented women have written is deciding what to read first! But eventually, I'll read them all.

And no matter what your taste, reading friends, there is a goddess that writes just for you, too!

Until next time, happy reading!