My Journey with Chapter Books: From Geronimo Stilton to Turtle Science

Reading is a gateway to imagination. For me, it all started when I was about six years old during a family visit to distant relatives. I brought along a book from the Geronimo Stilton series, Mouse House Hunter, and managed to read it in what seemed like a single sitting. Despite the short duration, it made me feel proud for finishing a "big kid book."

Continuing My Book Adventure

One of my earliest memories of reading a whole book dates back to when I was five years old. My first encounter with Five on a Treasure Island was followed by countless re-readings. Enid Blyton’s books became a part of my everyday life. These books helped me escape the boring school texts, and I even read them in class, which left me ahead of my classmates, much to my teachers’ amusement. They asked me to help their struggling students, and it was there that I met my lifelong best friend, who quickly caught up to my reading level.

The Turtle Science Book

In first grade, I was introduced to the Dick and Jane books. I found them quite dull and couldn’t understand why a dog would live with such uninteresting characters. My teacher, recognizing my struggles, suggested I choose a book from the classroom bookcase. I picked a science book on turtles, which proved to be quite challenging. It took me about a week to read, covering various habitats and countries where turtles lived, and their different life cycles. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the exact title of this book, but its impact remains vivid.

The County Library Adventure

Our first visit to the County Library with the whole class was memorable. Most of my classmates were engrossed in picture books, but I wandered over to the section for older children. It turned out that my mother and I visited the library weekly, and I had already been reading fairy tale books from different countries. These books, such as The Red Fairy Tale Book, captured my interest, but the exact titles and covers are a bit blurred in my memory.

Bookish Family and Character Building

Growing up in a bookish family, reading and engaging in various activities became a regular part of our evenings. If it was too cold to go outside, we would either read books, play board games, or engage in guessing games. I learned to play card games like poker, which was not too different from dice games, and enjoyed books more than crafts.

One of my favorite pastimes was listening to instrumental music on the radio, learning to distinguish various instruments in the orchestra. Television reception in our area was poor, which was to our advantage since it gave us more time for reading and other activities. Books played an essential role in shaping my character and imagination, and I am grateful for the early influence they had on me.