It’s hard to picture life without reading. Reading has been a part of my it ever since I learned how to. Starting from those thin little Ladybird pocketbooks (they seriously rule)–one book I read, in particular, was dedicated to making (and decorating) cakes. To this day,

I think this was the time I started to have a liking for scruffy Englishmen. At seven years old! Just kidding.

I regretted not having that photocopied. Sob! But, oh well. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ll get my hands on a copy one day! (winkwink)

Speaking of Ladybird books, they also publish abridged stories from the classics. Think A Little Princess, Little Women, The Secret Garden. The first book I read from that series was the very romantic story of Lorna Doone (Sorry, spoilers not included) by RD. Blackmore. That little book came to me through a gift-wrapped set of Ladybird books from my aunt. (Wonder where is it now? :()

As I grew a little older, I began to read books that are slightly thicker in volume. My mother introduced The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Spell adventure! Moving out in a large wagon full of all your worldly belongings, move from state to state, see real live American Indians and their babies (FYI–they are called papooses–and I have no idea why)–why, it sounds good to me. The Little House series comprised of eight books, and it ended with two of the main characters getting married. To each other, I mean.

Another book series that claimed a permanent place in my heart is Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.  To anyone who hasn’t read these books yet, allow me to suggest–no, exhort you to read them. How can one ignore the charms of a red-haired, grey-eyed girl who had an imagination, and despite the temper that matched the colour of her hair, she was sweet and winning. These stories–at least to me–brings us back to the world where good manners, simplicity and faith in God are the key ingredients in being happy in life at that time. While all eight books are lovable in its own way, Rilla of Ingleside captured my attention (and heart). Before the Great War (as the First World War was known then) broke out, Rilla Blythe, the youngest of Gilbert and Anne’s six surviving children was pretty much a vain, rather spoiled fifteen year old girl. At the middle of it, she has changed into a responsible, capable young woman taking care of war-babies and managing a Junior Red Cross society in her village. A death in the Blythe family changes all of them–Rilla, most of all.

While I have also read other books during my childhood, these stayed with me. And when the time comes that I’ll have children of my own, I’ll gladly pass that love on to them.

What are the books you grew up with?

Image credits: Goodreads.com for the cover of Rilla of Ingleside, Amazon.com for the covers of Lorna Doone and Little House on the Prairie