My Reading Journey – Cassondra

February 16, 2026 - By Library Staff

I was personally very lucky when I was young, because the importance of reading was expressed to me at an early age. My mother would spend hours reading out loud to my sister and I at bedtime. It was the highlight of the day ending by settling in for the night and listening to the many voices being narrated (in what I assume could’ve only been expert levels of acting). Listening to books being read out loud and having discussions about them really helped give shape to the world around me. My mom even made us the famous Green Eggs and Ham from the Dr. Seuss book.

Reading really is that important. The books I read, heavily revolved around adventure, comedic high-jinks, and survival. As a young kid I was convinced that I would need to know how to escape quicksand or know how to get away from a monster under the bed. Of course, that veil of imagination was dispelled as soon as I realized taxes and bills were the ultimate fear of most adults. None the less it’s so fun to look back on all the experiences books have given me, and the feeling of whimsy it left behind.

Reading as an adult has a bit of an evolved version vs. the kid whimsy. Sure, I still enjoy fictional books like Calvin and Hobbes that taking me on crazy adventures, or your occasional spooky story. What was unexpected as an adult was the amount of cooking books, and non-fiction readings I was going to be adding to the yearly booklist. A lot of the reading done now as an adult is to either learn a new practical skill, or to navigate the world around me. This doesn’t negate the fact that reading can help elevate us at any age. Constantly broadening our scope of what we know or what we can experience. That is why I’m so beyond lucky to have the opportunity today to help people find that perfect book.