Learning to read is a complex process, probably one of the most intensive activities our brains engage in. Most of us probably do not remember how we learnt to read, but with encouragement and support, anyone can blossom into an avid reader. I can barely recall learning to read, although one thing is for certain, that no matter how I learnt, I do not remember it as being as intense or prescriptive as it seems to be nowadays.

Phonics did not feature so predominantly in learning to read, or spell. I had to learn the hard way. So, on the occasion, I selected a book at the local library that was written phonetically, my mother went berserk and made me return it immediately.

Growing up, books always surrounded me. We had bookcases in every room, and, I am not sure if I should be proud of myself, but many years on, I discovered how many I had scribbled in. Of course, that might have been somewhat acceptable if my drawings resembled those of Chris Riddell. But, they didn’t. And, when I wanted to run away from home, I packed books, not clothes in my suitcase: Richard Scarry’s Busy Busy World, Narnia stories, The Wind in the Willows and Alice in Wonderland (the very old copy that had belonged to my father).

One thing I do recall about learning to read, were what I perceived as a horribly boring Janet and John Ladybird book series. That memory of tedium (although repetition is essential to the learning process), now drives my endeavours to make learning to read fun for all my students. Reading is a magical activity that can be nurtured personally into adulthood. And, learning to read is the foundation to so much more learning and discovery.

I cannot recall memories of my mother reading to me, but I can recall my father reading Winnie the Pooh stories. My mother encouraged me to read and would take me out to buy books. The first book I purchased, with a book token, from Foyle’s, with my father, was The Arabian Nights, by Annabelle Williams-Ellis. I was fascinated by the tales as well as the colour plates. This led me on a quest to purchase other copies as well as any illustrated fairy tale books I could find, particularly those by Edmund Dulac. My interest in myths and legends extended to reading tales of King Arthur, Greek legends, Roman history, and Norse Mythology.

Holidays too, were a time for reading. There were less distractions and temptations vying for my attention than today. At the end of each school year, I ate my way through an extensive holiday reading list of classical books that many students find cumbersome to digest these days. But, I also discovered the timeless Wizard of Earthsea, The Moomintrolls, The Hobbit, Swallows and Amazons, and so many more. Literature is a living entity, evolving, styles change, genres develop. No book is a bad, although some are not worth reading.

I shall be addressing books, worthwhile and not so worthwhile and activities I have created to support the reading process in a dedicated page.