I am and have always been a bookworm. Moving from Oxford to Cornwall in 2018 highlighted my book obsession as a third of our brown boxes were packed with books. My TBR pile is out of control, and I am constantly reading the weekend reviews and adding more books to my online shopping basket.
I am lucky to have a group of bookish friends. We formed our Book Club towards the end of last year and meet monthly to discuss our chosen novel. 'In Memoriam' by Alice Winn has been our most popular book to date and while we agreed it was a tough read, we were touched by the characters who have remained with us long after we put the book back on the shelf.
As a mum to a animal mad nine-year-old, we have recently started to explore nature-based adventure stories. Hannah Gold, Abi Elphinstone and Jess Butterworth are heavily featured on my daughter’s bookshelf, and I secretly love sharing a chapter or two as much as she does!
Books are a welcome escape for me. They bring me joy and help me to unwind after a busy day at school and I can't imagine my life without them.
From a young age, sharing stories with my loved ones was an important part of my childhood. Reading was never just a pastime; it was a chance to share quality time with my loved ones. Among the earliest stories to truly capture my heart were the adventures of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. There was something about the soft rhythm of the words, the warmth of the Hundred Acre Wood, and the simple, profound wisdom of a bear who loved honey that made the world feel kinder. The adventures that this group of friends experienced together grabbed my attention and curiosity. Milne had a way of capturing the wonder of childhood and paired it with the gentle melancholy of growing up. Sharing those stories, I was wandering a forest with my friends, following a silly old bear who reminded me that sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.
As a teacher I love to see the magic that stories have on my pupils. Stories are how we make sense of the world, pass on wisdom, and connect across time, cultures, and experiences. There are so many great stories that embed hidden lessons, which allows you to teach without preaching, guiding students to discover truths, spark imagination and build meaning in a way that is relatable for them.
As far back as I can remember I was lucky enough to be read story books as a child. I loved the feeling of being snuggled up in my bed with my mum or dad reading to me. I loved looking at the pictures and even taking it in turns to press the sounds buttons with my brother as my mum read us one of our favourites, The Billy goats gruff. Another one we loved was Little rabbit foo foo! Looking back, it wasn’t so much the story but the way our mum would make up silly voices and sing parts of the story which we loved to join in with. That was what we really loved, the fun and feelings that came with the whole experience of a book.
The first set of books I remember reading myself were the Animal Ark series, I think the first one I read was ‘kittens in the kitchen’ and after that I was hooked. I also enjoyed the famous five books as I adore an adventure and of course the Roald Dahl books. The first books that kept me up under my duvet with a torch, so my parents thought I was sleeping, were the Harry Potter books. I read the pages until my eyes stung and just couldn’t stay open any longer. I just wanted to know what happened next and this continued into adulthood. One book in particular was Jamacia inn, which I read whenever I had a spare minute. Of course it didn’t take long to finish. It’s funny how you can’t wait to turn the next page but are slightly disappointed when it ends as the excitement is over. Luckily, there is always another great book to start reading.
Just like being read to as a child, I think as an adult it’s the feelings the story can evoke in each of us that makes it so enjoyable. The excitement, the anticipation, the possibilities that just aren’t tangible in our own lives. You can be any character in any world and experience any adventure when you choose the right book. That’s what I love most about reading.
Currently on maternity leave
My love of books dates back as far as I can remember. Saturday mornings were often spent in the children's section of Waterstones, negotiating with my Grandad as to how many I was allowed to buy. I still struggle to walk past a bookstore without a quick browse inside and I love a good rummage on a charity shop shelf to see if I can find a bargain that is begging to be read!
Books provide us with the ability to explore places that we might not visit and meet people from all walks of life. You know when a book has got under your skin when you feel like you have a new set of friends. When you are flying through the pages just to make sure they are ok. When you are crying at the end of one chapter and laughing at the next.
As a teacher, books are an important part of my classroom. We start each morning with a poem and end the day with a picture book that the children have voted for. Books are used to support subjects across the curriculum and help to bring lessons to life. There is nothing better than sharing a book with a child and watching the magic come to life in their eyes.
'I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!' - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
I adore reading! I can remember my Mum and Dad reading to me when I was very young and I was hooked on reading anything and everything as soon as I could read myself. If I didn’t have a book to read, I would read the cereal packets when I ate my breakfast! I loved the author Enid Blyton as I was transported to a magical world, full of strange and wonderful characters visiting mysterious, fantasy lands. I also read all The Famous Five books - full of mysteries to investigate and solve. I thought I would make a great detective. My Mum and Dad remember every night having to come into my bedroom, turn off the light and take off my glasses as I’d fallen asleep reading - I still do that now! In a perfect world I would read every day - I usually have my nose in a book if I have the chance and I prefer a good book to any film. I love crime and thriller books, as well as biographies - it’s always fascinating learning about other people and their life experiences. I have a kindle with hundreds of books downloaded but I still prefer an actual real-life book to hold and I, strangely, love the smell of a brand-new book! Reading really is the best.
