Well, I am afraid to toot my own horn, but I learned to read and write at an extremely young age. I have always struggled a bit with dyslexic tendencies. Some how, though,I have always been able to read upside down (though the lack of enough books in school helped) and write with either hand (a skill I have let lapse in recent years, but can still do OK). At three years old I was reading and writing.

I learned to read out of some combination of Bears In The Night and our family scripture study time. You see, I would always have my parents read me the first. It was my favorite book back then. Every morning we would read the scriptures as a family before people went to work and school. It tended to be a column a piece. My parents would help those of us who struggled or didn't know how to read yet. Some times in later years, this became aggravating with my little sister... that was because I was in too much of a rush by that point. It is only now that I slow down and smell the roses again.

I would highly recommend this method of teaching your children to read. It not only helps them spiritually, but it gives them a head-start with language. We all went into school with very adult vocabularies. Some words we used regularly, many of our teachers didn't know or had some trouble with. For all the pain this was when I was in 1st grade (the school was so over crowded it had two school days in a day... ours all started at 5 A.M.), I still am very grateful for the experience. It has helped me in my education, work, and in my spiritual life beyond all belief.

I soon learned to hate reading fiction because of the mindless drivel they required me to read in Kindergarten through 2nd grade (well, throughout all my schooling, but particularly then). I just wanted to read what I liked. I didn't want to have to read things that insulted my intelligence (See jack. See Jack Run... etc.). I wanted to read things that made me dream, feel or think. I wanted to know the world; I wanted to learn.

By fourth grade I was reading many of my dad's old college texts. Many of these covered science; electronics in particular. I wasn't understanding all of it due to my basic algebra understanding of math, but to this day, I still surprise my dad and others how much I remember and understand from those studies. This infuriated my teachers. I had become so stubborn, I would only read what I liked.

In fifth grade, with the Pizza Hut Book-It program, I learned to enjoy fiction again. I would read all the time. I read fiction and nonfiction. I read books for children and adults. Trust me, there are many wonderful worlds and tales out there to be explored. For that purpose, I write here about a few of my favorite authors.

For anyone who wonders why I read, you now know. For those who want to understand how I learned all I have, here you are. I read. I love to read. I often start having insomnia problems if I go too long without reading. My mind becomes bored and overtaxed with work and ideas. By taking a vacation to Narnia, Middle Earth or anywhere in a book, I often find my entire body and mind more rested each night and more invigorated for work and inventing. So, please pick up a book. Expand your mind. Live through another's eyes or imagination. Don't try to figure it all out yourself, learn from those who know.

Looking for classics? Try Project Gutenberg!