... I Had a Mother Who Read to Me

THE READING MOTHER
Strickland Gillilan

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.

President Monson has quoted this well-known poem in Conference talks.

President Benson listed, "Read to your children" as one of his ten most important pieces of advice for mothers.

And I know other Church leaders have also addressed the importance of reading to children.

As our family has applied this advice, I understand why.  And I'm so, so grateful for wise parents and leaders who instilled in me a love for good books.  We still don't put this into practice as often as I would like to--my choice would be every night at bedtime.  But with teenagers going every direction and so many things pulling at our time, it just doesn't always happen.  (And NO, teenagers are not exempt from joining the family as I read to everyone.)  Sometimes we finish one book and [I] get distracted and don't find another to start right away.  So I'm going to keep a running list of good suggestions--for myself, as well as for anyone else who's interested.  Sometimes it seems like a challenge to find a book that ages 5-17 will enjoy, and I have to admit, this has held me back at times from putting forth the effort.  But I've realized that it's really not that hard.  Sometimes a book will interest the older kids more, which just means the younger ones will play around on the floor more as they listen.  That's fine.  And the books that captivate the little ones will bring out that inner child in the older ones--who grew up a little too fast anyway, in my opinion!!! =)  Basically, I've found that if it interests me it will interest all of them.  It's really not so hard!!!

Here's a short list to start with.  I'll add more as I think of them:

The Miracle of Miss Willie, by Alma J. Yates
The Little Britches series, by Ralph Moody
The Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series, by Betty MacDonald
That Quail, Robert, by Margaret Stanger
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
Goodnight Mister Tom, by Michelle Magorian


Our oldest could potentially be leaving home in just 18 months, and it makes me sad to look back on the times we haven't been involved together in a good book.  Reading together is truly the frosting on the cake, the cherry on the sundae, the sauce over the noodles... =)  Maybe I'm hungry... =)  Anyway, it's motherhood at its best!!!