books from my childhood

Reading has been my favorite thing since the third grade.  My teacher that year was named Mrs. Hamblen.   I loved her.  She was my all time favorite teacher.

During that school year my mom and dad got divorced.  My mom was a room mother that year and I don't really know how but, Mrs. Hamblen knew about the divorce.  there were many days I went to school feeling sad and confused.  Mrs. Hamblen always seemed to know.  Just a pat on my shoulder, sometimes a kind work,  once in a while a little hug.  She made my days better.




But, not only that.  She read stories out loud to us every day.  For half an hour after lunch every single day of school she read to us.  The very first book she read was Charlotte's Web.  Not only was Mrs. Hamblen a good teacher,  she could also read books using different voices.  All the characters in Charlotte's Web had a voice.  and we were riveted to our chairs as we waited to see what would happen to Wilber, Fern and Charlotte.  I loved that book.  As soon as we finished it in class, I went to the library at school and checked it out.  I took it home and read it every night after supper.







The second book she read to us was Little House on the Prairie.  That book absolutely captivated me.
As soon as she was finished, I went to the library again.  To my great astonishment I found there were more Little House Books.  I was so excited.  All the rest of the third grade I checked out each one of the Little House Books and read every single one of them.  I just couldn't believe my great fortune to find so many stories about Laura and Mary and even one about Almanzo.


I have  read the Little House series many many times.   About every 3rd year I read the whole series all the way through from start to finish.

Later when I had my first child I knew I wanted to read  those same books to her.  From the time she was four years old we read together every night.   Later when we had three more children, I read them again.  Homeschooling involved reading aloud every night.  We have read many more books, but these are my favorites from childhood.  Now my children love them too.   My husband has never read  any of these books.   But, on many nights when I read to the children,  he sat in his comfy chair, pretending to work on something.......I knew he was listening.  Not only was he listening, he began to ask questions.  What happens after.....   I told him he would have to wait til we got to that book.

I wonder if I would have been such a book lover even if Mrs. Hamblen, had not been my teacher.
I think I probably would have....I just can't imagine my life without books. But, just the same
here is a little shout out to Mrs. Hamblen, and all those fabulous teacher out there who inspire us.