The third Weekly Geek task is to write about fond memories of childhood reading. I have written quite a few posts about books I loved as a child already (here’s a post where I mentioned several) so I thought I would do something a little different this time.
I taught myself to read (my mom tells me) when I was about four. She says it was very sudden — I woke up one morning and I could read. I don’t remember this, but I do have two memories from my very early reading life that I thought I would share because they illustrate aspects of my personality that are still very evident today.
First. I remember having a library book called In the Big City. I loved this book. It was a Dick & Jane type book, but a little longer and somewhat more advanced than simply “See Spot run.” I can very clearly remember the pleasure I felt in being able to read it. I also remember loving the pictures. There was one problem though. I misread the word City in the title — I thought the C was hard. I imagined that for some reason the entire story took place within the gaping maw of a giant kitty. I could not understand why they never mentioned this curious fact in the otherwise-banal story.
So, um, what does this say about my personality that’s still evident today? Well, I never asked about the kitty. I figured it out for myself (at least I thought I did), and came up with a crazy theory on my own. To this day, I would rather figure things out on my own than ask someone else. Often, to my detriment. :-P
Second memory. Another library book, a beginning reader called Ann Likes Red. I did not like this book. I didn’t like seeing Ann spelled without the e (my best friend was named Anne), and I did not like the text font, which was either Futura or a look-alike. Of course I did not have the vocabulary at the time to be able to say that I didn’t like the font. But I have a very clear memory of my awareness that I didn’t like the story because I didn’t like the way the words looked on the page. And to this day, of course, I am not only obsessed with typography & design, but I am still, constantly, pondering the relationship between form and content.
9 Comments
How funny that you would notice the font in a childhood book. My son would have done that, and he’s a graphic designer too.
Our personalities come through in all sorts of ways, don’t they? I loved your comment on my post today about your mom ;)
I too recall hating any book if i did not like the way it was worded. Back at that time no one used the word font. I suppose it came up with computer lingua!
Childhood Memories
RR, very true. It’s almost embarrassing how consistent I am about some things. I mean, I’d like to think I’ve grown & changed a little during the last 40 years. ;)
Gautami, yes indeed. And who but an expert would have been able to name, let alone recognize, a single typeface?
wow – fascinating that you would notice the font. I think that is really cool. You might also want to write a book about a city inside a kitty’s mouth! it SOUNDs like a kids book, don’t you think?
Wow, you were a picky little child, weren’t you? I love what you had to say about “Ann” because my best friend in elementary school was named “Anna.” We used to play “Harriet the Spy.” Nice to meet you!
I blossomed late concerning reading for pleasure. I’m sure I read a few books in high school, but the first time I became a serious reader was when I picked up The Bastard, part of The Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes.
A few years ago, I went back and read every one. It was just as enjoyable as the first time.
Wow, children wouldn’t need books if they all had an imagination like yours. :P A kitty housing a city? That’s just inspired, that is. :P
So it was Ann Likes Red! I had been thinking it was Nell Likes Red, and looked for a copy on eBay at one point with no luck. (A friend had opened a restaurant called “Red”.) This is one of the earliest books I remember being “assigned” in first grade. I don’t remember the typeface, but it would have been written in ITA (International Teaching Alphabet) for my class. I remember the first two pages: Ann likes red. Red, red, red.
Care, it does sound like a kids’ book! Just not the one I actually read. :)
Chartroose, picky, okay. I prefer to think I was, um, discerning. Nice to meet you too. :)
Fred, musta been the title that attracted you. ;)
Chayenne, I dunno. Would we have such imaginations without books to inspire us? Hmmm….
Aunt Sara, I think on one page Ann was going shopping with her mom (department store, maybe) and she only wanted to buy red things. Boy, if you do find a copy I’d love to see it!
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