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Curious: How old were you when you realized you loved reading more than most people? Were you very young - let’s say younger than 7?

Were you a precocious reader? Did you mostly teach yourself how to read, and no one in your family is exactly sure how you pulled that off? (I have a running theory that many in this community did).

Do you remember stories involving books from your earliest childhood?

Would LOVE to hear your stories!

Mine: I read at 4. No one is sure why or how, but I remember clearly that my mother devoured true crime books while lying in bed at night and I thought, I need to be able to do that.

By 8, when I was in trouble, I had to go play outside with the other kids, because all I really wanted to do was read in my room.

At 14, I had an English teacher who obsessed over grammar and English language structure. That proved to be an enormous advantage in test taking later.

I dream of a retirement one day where I read for hours each day.

What do you remember about yourself with respect to reading? How has it evolved?

Great topic! I have fond memories of my mother reading to my sister and I: Dr. Seuss books; "The Cat in the Hat " with Thing 1 and Thing 2 creating chaos, " Are You my Mother?", and "Green Eggs and Ham" were among my favorites. I enjoyed those stories from the age of 3 to 6. I started reading them myself when I was 5. At 8 years old I received a clip-on reading light, so I could read before going to sleep. I loved the "Hardy Boys" detective books. I still read before falling asleep. By the way, the Dr. Seuss books that my mother read to me are now read to my grandchildren: the same original books. Pretty cool ehh?!

Ok so at 55 I've got a long way back to think lol. I remember I was so anxious to go to school that I taught myself the alphabet (with the help of Sesame Street) and also my times tables. I was top of my kindergarten class in vocabulary as I could already spell and read words. Like Gerry the Dr Seuss books were early reads for me. in Australia we read Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs and I remember a book called Pookie in Search of a Home about an animal that lost his home due to humans cutting down forests. Even back then children's books had messages.

What a wonderful question, Dana. I suspect your findings are going to be correct.

Incidentally, until I found OBC 2 years ago my reading had fallen by the wayside, but my love for it has been reignited in a huge way.

My parents actually gave me a challenge, I had to finish reading the book "My fathers dragon" after which they would let me to the theater to go and watch a movie, I was in the 1st grade. I read the entire book in one day and from that day on I was completely hooked to reading!

For me it was middle school when Accelerated Reading starting being apart of our English grade. The first of my classmates reallt complained about having to read enough books to get their needed pointed or would pick really big books that would allow them to get all their points with just that one book.

I never minded AR at all and easily got bonus points added to my grade for it because I would take tests on every book I read, and sense I read so much that was effortless to me and fun to get a grade for what I would do anyways

I think at the age of 10. I'm not really sure. I just started with some few children's stories and before i knew it, i was off my rockers and reading like crazy. Though the momentum has reduced over the years, I'm looking to bring that energy back

I remember my first day of second grade. I walked right up to my teacher and said "I can't read and you won't be able to teach me." I was reading by the third week of class. Neither of my parents were big on reading, but I had an aunt who loved to read to me. Our favorite book was "The Cat Came Back The Very Next Day." I credit her with my early interest, but my real love of reading came in the third grade when I bought three boxes of books at a yard sale for $2. Once I started reading those books, I was hooked and have been ever since.

Yes, I was younger than 7. Reading filled me with joy and made me forget any unfortunate situation i found myself in.