So I didn’t think I was going to have anything to write for this week’s prompt, for the top 10 meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, because I haven’t gone to any book signings or big conventions or anything like that.

However, I was lying in bed this morning, and it occurred to me that I have had plenty of cool bookish memories, I just needed to reset the way I was thinking about it. So here is my list:

1. Watching my boys (now 13) become readers. The books that got them to really be interested in reading on their own? The Captain Underpants series. Lately, their reading has gotten eclipsed by video game playing, so we need to work on balancing that back out. I’m so glad that they enjoy reading for pleasure.
2. Being a part of the renovation of our local library. One interesting memory is helping to move the library’s collection across the street to it’s temporary home. Books were carried across the street in boxes by a line of dedicated helpers. Of course, a year later, we had to reverse the process, but it was all worth it. The renovation/addition cost $3 million, but it looks like we spent $10 million. It is that gorgeous.
3. Watching the ALA awards last week, when The One and Only Ivan received the Newbery. I think my favorite thing to come out of the subsequent press is Katherine Applegate’s comment about wanting to write in “first person gorilla.” Yes, it’s from the view of a gorilla, and you are thinking something like…I don’t read middle grade…or I don’t read about animals…or…the viewpoint of a gorilla? Set aside your doubts, this is a must-read for everyone.
4. This sort of relates to number 1, but…I loved reading children’s books to my boys when they were little. Sure, there were some duds that I would have preferred not having to read ever again, but we read a lot of good books over the years. I miss going to the children’s section of the bookstore and library!! Like many parents, we had large portions of Dr. Seuss’s oeuvre memorized, and I bet there are some other books that I could probably still recite parts of. One of my favorites that comes to mind right away, is The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood. Come to think of it, I need to go find our copy and reread that one.
5. Reading a new book from my favorite author(s) for the first time. Sure, there’s always that trepidation: am I going to love this one as much as I have loved their past novels? Only a few times have I been disappointed. Mostly, I’m thrilled to have another visit with favorite characters and locations.
6. Finding new favorite books and authors (such as The Archived by Victoria Schwab).
7. The day that a teacher at my school brought me a stack of his favorite books (some of which were signed, and were prized possessions), and asked if I wanted to read them. I have teased him about him being a book pusher, and about how I have enough to read without his help, but I really did appreciate the trust he put in me (I was very careful!), and also the fact that he BROUGHT ME BOOKS. Books that he loved, and that I also ended up loving, too.

I hate to end on an odd number, but I’m running out of time, and that’s all I can think of for now. I hope to visit everyone else’s lists later tonight or tomorrow. I’m glad I kept thinking, because this was kind of a nice trip down memory lane. Happy Tuesday!