A life in books

My earliest memories of books and reading are of my parents reading to me at bedtime. My mother tells me that Possum Magic and Wombat Stew were real favourites, and I clearly remember my father reading me a beautiful illustrated version of Treasure Island. On weekends spent with my Gran on the farm, she would read Noddy to me, books left in the homestead from my mother and uncle's own childhoods. This nighttime reading was a ritual until I was 10 or 11 years old and I remember feeling happy and loved during these times.

I clearly recall learning to read by myself by struggling through The Tales of Brer Rabbit by Enid Blyton when I was seven. I read through the tricky bits asking questions about word meanings and I think I even read some of this book aloud to my class. Throughout primary school, there were visits to the local public library for picture books and I amassed a pretty impressive collection of The Baby Sitters Club which is a testament to my 80's and 90's upbringing.

During this time, my father "upgraded" his three-year teaching qualification to a four-year degree by completing a graduate diploma in children's literature. I remember him crying reading Bridge to Terabithia, which continues to be one of his favourites. Between Dad's studies and our families naturally bookish ways, there were always good books in the house. Dad had a thing for Stephen King novels back then and Mum still enjoys reading about Australian history and rural life.

I loved my small rural high school, but the outdated prescribed texts did little to encourage my love of reading. I remember struggling through books that I really didn't connect with, The Island of the Blue Dolphin amongst them. This was also the time of my life I read least. That changed in Year 10 in an English class taught by Ms Livingstone, who incidentally wore Dr Martens, pleated trousers with vests and who had beautiful long brown hair. We read To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies that year. I found that I loved the novels, but loved them even more when I had to re-read and study passages, their connections to broader social issues and participate in feisty debates with my classmates. This sparked a new wave of reading, a discovery of Harry Potter and I went on to study Advanced English, Media Studies, Drama and Ancient History earning a Humanities prize when I graduated high school.

I don't remember reading for pleasure much during university, as the academic reading surely kept me on my toes, but I do remember thriving in the English subjects in which the prescribed reading included children's books. That was also the height of the Harry Potter phenomenon and, in my early twenties, I was amongst the many people lining up at bookstores to get the latest copy and would then lock myself away for two days to devour the story. When it came time to choose a topic for my Honours thesis, children's literature, in particular, picture books, was really all I considered. Shaun Tan's

was one of the key texts for my research project, having such special significance that I have a framed print from the book in my home.

Throughout my classroom teaching career, I loved reading to my students. I enjoyed Roald Dahl novels for all the made up words and scope for ridiculous character voices, Tim Winton's Blueback to explore climate issues and Margaret Wild's Fox for the debates on friendship and loyalty. I have amassed a substantive collection of children's books over the years, having a soft spot for Enid Blyton and Beatrix Potter, and have to really wrestle with myself when passing a book store these days.

Now, as I get ready to begin my Master's studies to become a qualified Librarian, it seems odd that it has taken this long to get here. So many of my most treasured memories have been whilst reading, studying, or whilst talking about books. And then there are the lingering thoughts about stories and characters, the bittersweet finality of a glorious book you can only read for the first time, once. Of course, I read books for adults too, but I believe the best books, my favourites, the ones that have really shaped me, are children's books.

I'm excited to take this next step in my career. In facts, it's exciting and frightening all at once. I can only hope that I'm up to the challenge and that my love for a life in books rubs off on my students.