Read All About It

I came across this newspaper commentary today:

> Reading develops lifelong love of adventure, intrigue.

In a nutshell, the author talks about how happy he was to see kids lining up for the latest Harry Potter installment because reading is such an important part of childhood. I'm not a Harry Potter fan myself, but I couldn't agree more with the sentiment.

The first “real” books I remember reading were from the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. (I always preferred the Hardy Boys because they had so many more cool things, like a speedboat and a gym in their garage. Other than a car, Nancy Drew's main accessory seemed to be her football player boyfriend, Ned Nickerson.)

Now, I was anything but an adventurous kid—shy, klutzy, hesitant. But while reading those books, I could be every bit as daring as those young heroes, even if it was only in my imagination. I don't think any movie or TV show, no matter how exciting, would have had the same impact on me. With a book, I could re-read favourite sections and really picture myself in those thrilling situations. I can't help but believe those early stories played a big part in my eventual development into who I am today, somebody who's willing to take on new challenges, even (or especially) when they frighten me.

How about you? Can you remember any books you read as a child that played an important part in helping you lead a more adventurous life? Please share!

Comments

[Peter Schriemer]

"The lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune as the lack of power to take joy in books." - Theodore Roosevelt

That quote is so true. Both nature and books inspired me when I was young, and they continue to broaden my horizons today. For me, they inspire each other - books inspire my love of nature, and nature inspires me to read more books!

Growing up, my mom read many wonderful books to us children. One of them was “Two Against the North” by Farley Mowat, which is a book about two young men who must survive in the northern wilderness. Books like “Two Against the North” and “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen (another boy against the elements book), inspired me to explore and pretend I had to survive in the woods. At one point I made a little hut out of branches and large sticks, and another time I made a raised bed frame with a willow bough mattress - that actually supported my weight!

Books like Farely Mowat’s “Owls in the Family” or Jean Craighead George’s “My Side of the Mountain” inspired me to rehabilitate wild creatures. For several years, we had a license to take care of orphaned baby mammals. We’d get a call about one that was found (a type of squirrel, a cottontail, or a opossum), we’d care for it, and eventually release it back into the wild. It was a very rewarding and educational experience.

As I have grown, my love of nature and books has continued to be intertwined. Whether reading “Suburban Safari” by Hannah Holmes (a great read!), “Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation” by Elizabeth Colburn, the many great wildlife adventure books by Theodore Roosevelt, or the poetic writings of American pioneer/naturalist William Bartram, my joy of nature and reading continues to bloom.

Today , I’m the creator/writer/host of a hands-on exploration nature show for children called “Critter Quest!” on Smithsonian Networks. I owe much of my inspiration to many good books while growing up, and I hope that if I can get children excited about the creatures that live around them - they might just want to read about them too!