Books were a big item in my house when I was a kid. But then at first there was no television. I'm old. mother would read to me, and every Easter we (the kids) got a book along with candy and a new outfit for church. I remember getting "The Big Golden Book of Science" one year. I think it was that book that had the awesome Q&A - "What is the fastest growing tree in the world?"

The answer was - "Bamboo, but it isn't a tree, it's a grass."

I had what is now called Acute Social Anxiety Disorder, but was then called "straighten yourself out". Books were my friends after I learned to read, and when the anxiety messed up my guts to the point of bed rest I would read "Swiss Family Robinson". I read that book a lot.

Not sure when I started reading, but I remember coming home from my first day of school at age 5 and being mightily pissed off that I couldn't read the comics in the newspaper, because I had been told that if I went to school I would learn to read.

Once I learned to read, it was my job to read aloud the Bible passage about the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve.

Books were my refuge for many years, nearly literal portals to another world.

I guess I didn't really answer the questions, but hey, I'm a rebel, ;)

L