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"Literature records the depths and heights of the human experience. It can develop compassion by educating the heart as well as the mind. It can help children entertain new ideas, develop insights they never had before. It can stretch the imagination, creating new experiences, enriching old ones. It can develop a sense of what is true and just and beautiful” (Charlotte Huck).

In order to understand how influential READING has been in your life, it is important to dig back into your past and think about your relationship with written texts and when your love of READING began. For this assignment, you will take a trip back through your life as a READER and begin first by finding answers the questions below.

QUESTIONS 1. What were some of the first books you remember READING?

2. How did your childhood READING experiences shape who you are today as a READER? For example, did a certain book spark an interest in a particular genre?

3. Were you READ to when you were younger? If so, by whom?

4. Did you READ some books again and again out of simple enjoyment? If so, what books?

SPECIFICATIONS Now that you have explored your journey as a READER, you will compose a project that illustrates this passage. It is up to you to decide how your project will look. It can be a timeline, book, brochure, treasure map, etc. (see examples on next page). Projects should be NO BIGGER than 12” x 12”. Use your creativity. There should be a minimum of ten books displayed in your project. Projects can contain meaningful images (book covers, pictures of characters, photos of authors, etc.), excerpts from influential children’s books, pictures of you as a READER, or pictures of READERS who have inspired you.

You also must include a typed explanation (1-2 sentences) about each book you include in your project. Explanations should answer one or more of the following questions:

1. What did/do you love about the book?

2. When did you READ the book for the first time?

3. How many times or how often did you READ the book?

EXAMPLES

COLLAGE MAP

Age 14 Thanks to my parents, I’ve grown up loving

books. Harry Potter is my favorite series ever.

MURAL TIMELINE

8 7 6 5 Stellar Good Adequate Inadequate

Reading Journey – Includes at least 10 books + pictures or excerpts from those books.

Explanations – Includes at least 10 typed explanations.

Creativity and Organization – Your journey is illustrated in a unique and interesting way and is understandably organized.

Total Points /24

Books for All Ages 1. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Literature 2. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein 3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 4. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 5. Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Books for Preschoolers 1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle 2. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise 3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr. 4. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister 5. Corduroy by Don Freeman 6. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise 7. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Books for Children Ages 4-8 1. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg 2. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss 3. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss 4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 5. Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch 6. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst 7. The Mitten by Jan Brett 8. Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss 9. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams 10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss 11. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka 12. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne 13. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff 14. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss 15. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg 16. Math Curse by Jon Scieszka 17. Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman 18. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter 19. Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss 20. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper 21. Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey 22. Arthur series by Marc Tolon Brown 23. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton 24. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish 25. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina 26. Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell 27. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch

Books for Children Ages 9-12 1. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White 2. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen 3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis 4. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson 5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 6. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle 7. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 8. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder 9. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 10. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner 11. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan 12. The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks 13. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 14. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli 15. The BFG by Roald Dahl 16. The Giver by Lois Lowry 17. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 18. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder 19. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor 20. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner 21. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 22. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien 23. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson 24. Matilda by Roald Dahl 25. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume 26. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary 27. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis 28. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster 29. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt 30. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery 31. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson 32. Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder 33. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar 34. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh 35. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein 36. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater 37. My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett 38. Stuart Little by E. B. White Walk 39. Two Moons by Sharon Creech 40. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare 41. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Books for Young Adults 1. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 2. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien 3. Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls 4. The Cay by Theodore Taylor