Four Spinning Wheels

My mother taught me to read. She had a book with pictures and activities for each letter. One page showed a lower case H looking like a chair. You can run in circles until you’re tired, then sit in a chair and pant, “Huh, huh, huh.” You’re making the sound the letter H does: “Huh.” Long before I could read, she read to me. She made sure I always had access to good books. Many were hers before they became mine. Among my favorites were Mousekin’s Golden House, The Little Engine that Could, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Story of Ferdinand, The Yearling, The ABC Bunny, The Secret of the Old Clock, Mickey Never Fails, and Pirates, Ships and Sailors. There were dozens of Dr. Seuss books and too many Little Golden Books to count. My mother showed me books are like doors you can open and enter. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.