Interview with a BookWyrm: Destiny

Destiny, reading A Discovery of Witches

Name: Destiny

Age: 17

Do you have a favorite reading spot? I love to read on my bed with soft pillows and soft blankets. Or outside, especially in autumn when the weather's nice.

What kinds of books do you like to read? I typically stick to fantasy and science fiction. I love romance novels, action stories, anything that gets me to read it with rigorous attention. Lately, I've been reading mythology, psychology and philosophy -- subjects I've always thought interesting. I would like to pursue a career in one of those three things so learning about them is both fun and educational.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? I'm really into the arts -- singing, theatre, drawing... any kind of crafting, really. I love watching fantasy movies and action movies. I'm learning how to crochet, so I'm working on that as well. My friends are a big part of my life, so I try and see them whenever I'm not doing school work or the like.

Name three favorite books (or series): The Iron Fey [by Julie Kagawa], The Mortal Instruments/The Infernal Devices [by Cassandra Clare], and Catcher in the Rye [by J. D. Salinger].

Who are your favorite authors? Deborah Harkness -- the author of The Discovery of Witches,
Rick Riordan -- the author of Percy Jackson & the Olympians as well as The Heroes of Olympus and The Kane Chronicles, and Shakespeare -- I mean, he's Shakespeare, need I say more?

What book are you reading now? I'm currently reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (by choice) for school.

Out of school I'm desperately trying to find time to finish Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, as well as The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

Name a book on your "to read" list: There are so many.... Not counting finishing the 5 different series I'm getting to the end of, I would say the next book on my "to read" list would probably be Peter and the Starcatchers [by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson].

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? For both teens and adults I would recommend any of the "classic" novels or authors: C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carol, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, Jane Austin...

For those of the younger persuasion, read the Artemis Fowl series [by Eoin Colfer] or Harry Potter [by J.K. Rowling].

***

Destiny, thank you very much for doing this interview and sharing your love of books with us! I will be sending you a bookmark to show my appreciation. :)

For the rest of you: I am looking for more volunteers age 18 and under (or parents, volunteering their children!) to appear in future interviews. If you are interested, please message me on the Blue Sky, Big Dreams Facebook page. I will send you a list of the interview questions which you can fill out at your leisure and then return to me along with a photo of your child (or yourself) reading. (The BookWyrm's face does not need to show in the picture and I will only share the first name or first initial of the BookWyrm, depending on your preference. I respect your privacy and safety.) I will send out a handmade bookmark to each of my interviewees.

Calling all BookWyrms!

Bookmarks by Emmalie :)

Don't forget: 

I am still looking for volunteers 18 and under (or parents, volunteering their children!) to appear in my new feature, "Interview with a BookWyrm". If you are interested, please message me on the Blue Sky, Big Dreams Facebook page. I will send you a list of the interview questions which you can fill out at your leisure and then return to me along with a photo of your child (or yourself) reading. (The BookWyrm's face does not need to show in the picture and I will only share the first name or first initial of the BookWyrm, depending on your preference. I respect your privacy and safety.)

To show my appreciation for your participation, I will send each interviewed BookWyrm a handmade bookmark. My daughter graciously knitted the ones in the photo above last month, for me to give out to interviewees. I am hoping that some of my crafty friends will also be willing to make -- and donate -- a bookmark or two....

Happy Reading to you all on this upcoming 3-day weekend! :)

Interview with a BookWyrm: My Three BookWyrms

Photo courtesy of PublicDominPictures.net

When I decided to return to writing Blue Sky, Big Dreams earlier this month, I thought about which aspects of the blog I would like to keep: the poems, the word of the week, the book reviews, and more. I also did a lot of thinking about items that I wanted to add to the blog. One new piece that I am excited to implement is "Interview with a BookWyrm", where my readers can share photos of themselves (or their children) reading books and also answer a few questions about their own love of reading. I enjoy hearing about others' favorite books, authors, etc. -- and I'm hoping that you do, too! My plan is to share one or two of these interviews each month.

To kick off this new blog piece, I thought I would start with my own kiddos. (They are captive subjects, after all.) I took photos of each of them reading this week and then interviewed them individually. The questions and their answers are below:

Name: Emmalie

Age: 19

Do you have a favorite reading spot? My bed.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Usually either fantasy or non-fiction books about mythology, etc.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Art. I like to draw and paint. I don't do it at home too much, but I like pottery. And I took up sewing this summer. I also like writing, listening to music, and just sitting and talking to my friends online or in person.

Name three favorite books (or series): Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes

Who are your favorite authors? J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Jonathan Stroud, Jim Butcher, J.R.R. Tolkien, Victor Hugo... the list goes on and on!

What book are you reading now? I just finished rereading the graphic novel Bone by Jeff Smith. I also recently finished another graphic novel, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. I'm currently between books because I'm working on art projects.

Name a book on your "to read" list: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. I like it because it's an original take on urban fantasy. Usually the fantasy realm and technology don't get along very well, but they do in these books. It's also a very funny and cleverly written series with a diverse cast of interesting characters!

***

Name: Nick

Age: 16

Do you have a favorite reading spot? Not really, no.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Non-fiction about animals, especially books that talk about conservation and endangered species.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Spend time outside. I also like cooking, gardening, and volunteering at the forest preserve.

Name three favorite books (or series): Encyclopedia of Animals [by Johnathan Elphik], The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference [by Jonathan Hoekstra, Michael Jennings, Carmen Revenga, Mark D. Spalding, and Jennifer L. Molnar], and Cows Save the Planet: And Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth [by Judith D. Schwartz and Gretel Ehrlich]

Who are your favorite authors? I don't have a favorite non-fiction author.  For fiction, Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer.

What book are you reading now? Let the Lions Roar!: The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo [by Andrea Friederici Ross]

Name a book on your "to read" list: The book I'll be reading next is In Search of Lost Frogs: The Quest to Find the World's Rarest Amphibians [by Robin Moore].

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? For young kids: Feeding Time at the Zoo [by Sherry Shahan]. I used to read it over and over again. I loved the pictures!

***

Name: Ben

Age: Almost 10

Do you have a favorite reading spot? The couch

What kinds of books do you like to read? Adventure, fantasy, and comic books

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Play outside with my friends, ride my bike, build with Legos, and draw my own mazes

Name three favorite books (or series): Bone [by Jeff Smith], all the Calvin & Hobbes books [by Bill Watterson], and The City of Ember [by Jeanne DuPrau]

Who are your favorite authors? I don't really pay attention to the names of the authors....

What book are you reading now? The 6th Bone book and Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy [by Karen Foxlee]

Name a book on your "to read" list: The second Magic Thief book [Lost by Sarah Prineas]

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to other kids? The Harry Potter books [by J.K. Rowling], the Percy Jackson books [by Rick Riordan], and the Peter and the Starcatchers books [by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson] are all awesome series for kids!

***

Do you have young BookWyrms in your home? Or maybe you are a young BookWyrm yourself? I am looking for volunteers 18 and under (or parents, volunteering their children!) to feature in "Interview with a BookWyrm". If you are interested, please message me on the Blue Sky, Big Dreams Facebook page. I will send you a list of the interview questions which you can fill out at your leisure and then return to me along with a photo of your child (or yourself) reading. (The BookWyrm's face does not need to show in the picture and I will only share the first name or first initial of the BookWyrm, depending on your preference. I respect your privacy and safety.)

To show my appreciation for your participation, I will send each interviewed BookWyrm a handmade bookmark. (It won't necessarily be handmade by me -- I'm not able to do much with my right arm at the moment -- but my daughter has agreed to make some for me and I also have many crafty friends. :) )

This BookWyrm is Back

My daughter took this photo for me, Aug. 2015

Hello there.  Again.

It's been awhile.

In fact, it's been almost two years since I last shared a post here.  I wish I had a good excuse for disappearing from this blog, but I really don't have one.  When I posted my previous entry, an excerpt from Alice in Wonderland, at the beginning of November in 2013, I was not planning for it to be my last one.  In fact, I had already started writing up several entries to post later in the month.  But then I got busy with life and put this blog on hold.

Not surprisingly, the longer I went without posting anything new, the easier it was for me to continue doing nothing with Blue Sky, Big Dreams and the harder it became for me to break out of that "do-nothing" mode. And I didn't have that problem only with this blog. The same thing happened with my other writing; I've done very little of it over the past two years.

I've missed writing, though.  I've missed working on my stories and my poetry.  I've also missed this blog and the opportunity it gives me to share poems, quotes, words, and books with all of you every day. That's why I'm back! :)

I finally managed to break free from my writing inertia this week and have several posts already lined up for you this month.  I am determined to keep at it.  And I'm hoping that writing here will help launch me back into writing my poems and stories again.  Wish me luck!

It's true that there's been a dearth of writing in my life over the last two years, but time has not stood still and a lot of other things have happened along the way. My kiddos have continued to grow, for one thing. (Imagine that!)

My daughter Emmalie graduated from high school last year and went away to college in the fall. (I'm pretty sure that transition was much harder on me than it was on her!) We've all loved having her back this summer -- I can't believe that it's almost time for her to return to school again.

My son Nick will be a junior in high school this year.  It is unfathomable to me that he'll be headed to college in just two short years.  He started his first paying job this summer, doing an internship with a local forest preserve.  In addition to that, he's been volunteering weekly at another forest preserve and also Brookfield Zoo.  He's been one busy boy!

My youngest, Ben, will be ten next month.  He starts a new school this year and I'm hoping he will love it!  When I last worked on this blog, I was still reading to Ben every night before bed.  He's since become a voracious reader himself (my little BookWyrm!), constantly working his way through big stacks of books all on his own.

As for me, I've still been reading a lot. (Thank goodness that hasn't changed!) I recently joined the Goodreads website and have been busy recording all the books I've read this year, over 60 so far. (They've mostly been adult fiction, but I've also read my fair share of middle-grade and young adult fiction, as well. I will be sharing those books with you in the weeks to come.)

For most of the time that I've been "missing in action", I've had some problems with my right shoulder and biceps.  Last month I had surgery on both.  (And, yes, I'm right-handed. That certainly *has* been a factor when it comes to my lack of writing.)  Now I'm busy with physical therapy and trying to get my arm/shoulder back to normal.  I still have a long way to go, but at least now I can type with both hands again and also use my right hand to write with a pen or a pencil. (Believe me, that's a big deal!)

For those of you who are new to this blog, welcome! (To learn more about Blue Sky, Big Dreams and my philosophy behind it, please check out this post and this one.)

And for those of you who have been here before, welcome back.  I appreciate all of your past support and am so glad that you are willing to come back now that I'm giving this blog another try.

Happy Reading, one and all! :)

P.S. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I would LOVE to hear your comments on this or any other post!  This blog is even more fun for me when I can have a two-way conversation with my readers. :) So please, don't hesitate to write comments -- whether you agree with something I've written or not. I will be happy to hear from you!

Websites for Young BookWyrms and Writers

Ben with the book he won in a raffle drawing.

Last night my son Ben's elementary school held "Family Reading Night".  (Personally, I think every night should be Family Reading Night, whether at school or home or wherever.)  The rest of our family was busy, but I took Ben to the 1-1/2 hour event.  He, like the other student participants, went dressed in his p.j.s.  He also brought his best friend (and stuffed rabbit) HopHop along.

There were different activities going on in various rooms throughout the school, including a book swap, a picture book reading and discussion about story elements, and some reading games.  And in the computer lab, the principal talked about various reading and writing websites that kids and their parents can use at home.

I thought I'd share some of those sites with you, since Ben and I found them interesting:

Book Wink -- Through podcasting and short book talk videos, this site aims to "connect kids in Grades 3 through 8 with books that will make them excited about reading."

Slime Kids Book Trailers -- Similar to movie trailers, these book trailers provide viewers with a brief peek into a variety of books and entice them to read.  In addition to the videos, each book listing also offers a description of the book and information about its author.

ReadWriteThink -- This site contains games & tools, tips & how-tos, printouts, and podcasts -- all designed to help parents help their kids learn to love reading and writing.

KidsReads -- On this site, you'll find book reviews, author interviews, contests, and more!

There was also a poetry site that Ben LOVED: ETTC's Instant Poetry Forms.

It helps young writers create poetry by filling in some boxes with their own word choices.  Ben composed two different poems and was so excited about them.  He even asked me if I would share them here on my blog, and I told him I would. :) I have a feeling we'll be logging on to this poetry site often from now on!

Ben composes a poem.

Here are Ben's poems, as promised:

I am a...

I am a snake,

green as a leaf.

I slither around.

I pounce on my prey.

I can camouflage myself.

I can curl around a branch.

I am a snake.

~ Ben H.

and

I Can't Write a Poem

Forget it!

You must be kidding.

I don't know how to spell.

I don't know what to write about.

All the letters come out sloppy.

I keep getting stuck.

I can't keep my eyes straight.

I'm busy.

My pencil keeps breaking.

Each day I have to go to bed and then I forget it.

Time's up? Uh-oh!

All I have is a dumb list of excuses.

You like it? Really? No kidding.

Thanks a lot.  Would you like to see another one?

~ Ben H.

Do you know about any other great sites for young writers and BookWyrms?  I'd love to hear about them and add them to the list here!

Books for People Who Love Stories, Writing, and Words

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

In case you hadn't noticed, I love books. :)  I love to read them and I love to write them.  Since you're here, on a blog about books, writing, and words, I'm going to guess that you love them, too.  If you do, this post should be right up your alley!  Recently I've read several books about the writing and reading of words.  Today I want to share the ones I liked best with you.

For starters, a few picture books:

Miss Brooks Loves Books!

(and I don't),

written by Barbara Bottner

and illustrated by Michael Emberley, 2010

Miss Brooks is a creative, enthusiastic librarian who loves to dress up in costumes that reflect the books she reads aloud to students.  One little girl in the group thinks she doesn't like books.  They are either "too flowery" or "too furry" or "too pink".  Miss Brooks, however, is determined to find a book that will win over the little girl's heart.  She finally succeeds with a book about a smelly ogre, Shrek. :)

Both the story and the pictures kept my seven-year-old Ben and I laughing throughout!

***

Max's Words,

written by Kate Banks

and illustrated by Boris Kulikov, 2006

Max's big brother Benjamin collects stamps.  His big brother Karl collects coins.  Neither one will share with Max. Then Max decides to collect words.  A thousand stamps is just a bunch of stamps.  Five hundred coins is just a pile of money. But a collection of words can become a story!  Max has such fun creating with his words that his brothers want to join in, too....

I fell in love with this book when I brought it home from the library.  It is now on my "to buy" list.  I love the clever story by Banks and also Kulikov's rich, imaginative illustrations. This book helps teach kids just how wonderful words can be.

***

Clever Jack Takes the Cake,

written by Candace Fleming

and illustrated by G. Brian Karas, 2010

Jack, a poor peasant boy, accidentally receives an invitation to the princess's tenth birthday party.  With no money for a gift, he decides to bake her a cake.  On the way to the party, the cake is ruined by a flock of crows, a troll, a spooky forest, and more, leaving Jack with nothing by the time he reaches the castle.  Nothing but a story of his adventure to tell, that is.  This gift is much more interesting than any of the boring gems and other items brought by the richer guests, earning Jack the honor of cutting the royal cake.

Ben and I really enjoyed this book.  As we read it, Ben became more and more concerned for Jack, wondering what he was going to do now that his cake gift was ruined.  He actually clapped when we got to the part about Jack's gift of a story!

***

A Book,

written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein, 2009

This unique story is about a family of characters who live in a book.  (When the book is open, it is their daytime.  When it's closed, they sleep.)  The family members all have stories they belong to (fighting fires, clowning around at a circus, exploring space) -- all except for the youngest, a little girl who sets out to find her story. As she travels through different stories, she realizes that what she really wants to do is write her own story.

Gerstein's illustrations offer an unusual perspective, looking down on the family in the book.  Characters help tell the tale through their speech bubbles.  This is a fun book that even my teens enjoyed reading.

***

Poetry for middle grade readers:

Please Bury Me in the Library,

written by J. Patrick Lewis

and illustrated by Kyle M. Stone, 1980

Sixteen poems (many of them humorous) make up this book, each one celebrating libraries, books, or language.  I enjoyed all of the poems (and the pictures, too), but my favorite is the title poem.

***

BookSpeak!:

Poems About Books,

written by Laura Purdie Salas

and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon, 2011

This book is a collection of 21 wonderful poems and whimsical artwork, all about books.  Poems include "A Character Pleads for His Life", "On the Shelf and Under the Bed", "Book Plate", and "The End".

I've gotten to know author Laura Purdie Salas a little bit through her blog over the past few months.  (I highly recommend checking it out, especially on Thursdays when she and her readers -- including me! -- share poems that are 15 words or less.)  I had heard about this book there, and I'd seen many positive reviews of it.  My library does not yet carry the book, however.  In the end, I decided to buy my own copy. I'm so glad I did. I absolutely love this delightful book! (Later on, I even bought a second copy and gave it to Ben's teacher, to use in her classroom.)  This is my favorite of all the books in this post.

***

Middle grade fiction:

Frindle,

written by Andrew Clements

and illustrated by Brian Selznick, 1996

I wrote about this entertaining book in a previous post.

***

A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End:
The Right Way to Write Writing,
written by Avi
and illustrated by Tricia Tusa, 2008

Avon the snail wants to be a writer and his friend Edward the ant wants to help him.  This silly book is jam-packed with puns and other wordplay, with some seriously good advice thrown in, as well.  As one reviewer on Amazon said, much of the dialogue is reminiscent of Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" routine.  I ended up reading this short story twice, and giggled throughout both times!

***

Middle grade nonfiction:

Eats, Shoots & Leaves:

Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!,

written by Lynne Truss

and illustrated by Bonnie Timmons, 2006

This droll picture book version of Truss's adult bestseller illustrates just how commas can change a sentence. Each two-page spread shows two vastly distinct sentences that use the exact same wording -- only the comma placement is different.

Ben, a first grader, hasn't learned too much about commas yet, but he got quite a kick out of this book! (I did, too!) It also helped him start to understand how to use commas in his writing.

***

Last, but not least, a nonfiction book for young adults:

How Writers Work:

Finding a Process That Works for You,

written by Ralph Fletcher, 2000

There is not one certain way to go about writing a story or a poem; rather, there are many different processes that various writers use.  Fletcher and other professional writers share the processes that work for them in this book. Topics include finding ideas, brainstorming, rough drafts, proofreading, and publishing.  Filled with useful advice, this book is great for students or anyone else interested in writing.

***

Have you read any of the books above?  If so, I'd love to hear what you thought of them.  What are your favorite books about books and/or writing?  I'm always looking for new ones to read!

Feeling thankful...

Image courtesy of The Gutenberg Project

About a year ago I shared a post about some of the things I was thankful for, all related to books and writing.  I am still very grateful for the items on that list, many of which are summed up in this quote:

"The love of learning, 

the sequestered nooks,

And all the sweet 

serenity of books."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This year, I am also thankful for:

• More time to write, now that all three of my kids are in school for six hours every day.
• Dictionaries and thesauruses
• My kids' creative imaginations and their love of writing.  Emmalie has written many stories over the years (some quite long).  Nick enjoys writing nonfiction pieces about animals.  And, just recently, Ben began writing his first "book".  He is currently on Chapter 7 (each chapter is only 3-5 sentences long) and he is so excited about it! Every day he looks forward to writing something new and then sharing it with everyone in the family. :)
• Discovering some blogs that inspire me every time I read them, including The Poem Farm, Laura Salas: Writing the World for Kids, and No Water River: The Picture Book and Poetry Place.
• This blog, which motivates me daily to keep reading, writing, learning, and dreaming.
• The wonderful books I've read this year because of this blog.  As you know, I'm a BookWyrm.  I would read (and read and read!) whether I had Blue Sky, Big Dreams to write or not.  But because I do have this blog, I have sought out and then read many books that I might never have crossed paths with otherwise.
• All of my friends and readers.  Thank you so much for supporting me, back when I first launched this blog and in the seventeen months since, urging me to keep it up.  I also owe you a HUGE thank you for all the encouragement you've given me, to keep writing (and submitting!) my poems, stories, and novels. Writing can be a lonely job at times, and it's easy to get discouraged. It really helps -- and means so much to me -- knowing that I have friends out there cheering me on!

What are you thankful for this year?

Love of books...

Image courtesy of Clkr.com

"There are many little ways 

to enlarge your child's world. 

Love of books is the best of all."

~  Jacqueline Kennedy

It warms my heart whenever I see a child who's captivated by a book.  I'm so thankful that my parents instilled a love of reading in me, and I'm happy to have raised three BookWyrms of my own.  I sincerely hope that their passion for books stays with them all through their lives....

Feeding your spirit...

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

"He fed his spirit 

with the bread of books." 

 ~ Edwin Markham

I don't know about you, but my spirit is always hungry for more books!  I guess that's just the BookWyrm in me. :)

My life began...

Image courtesy of the American Library Association

"When I got my library card, 

that's when my life began."

  

~ Rita Mae Brown

As you can see from the picture above, September is Library Card Sign-Up Month.  Last year I wrote about Ben getting his very first library card. (See my post here.)  It's been twelve months now, and his eyes still light up every time he gets to check out new books on his library card. :)

I love my library card.  Although I get a thrill each and every time that I walk into a bookstore (or sign onto an online bookstore) and buy a book of my own that I can keep forever, I do not have the kind of budget that would allow me to buy every book I want to read.  In fact, I can only buy a very small percentage of the books that I'm interested in. All of the other books that I want to read have to come from the library.  And for that, I need my card.

I wish I had a record of every single book I've checked out from a library in my lifetime.  I know it would be a very, very long list. I am so grateful for that free access to all those hundreds of books that I've "devoured" as a BookWyrm over the years -- volumes of fantasy, mystery, nonfiction, poetry, adventure, and more.

If you don't already have a library card of your own, I highly recommend that you go and get one this month -- and then use it!  And I hope you'll encourage everyone you know to do the same....

A Tiny BookWyrm

Timothy, 18 months old, August 2012

I have been out of town this week, and didn't get around to writing a post for today like I'd planned... so I thought I'd just share this adorable photo of my godson, Timothy.  He and his big brother David are both young BookWyrms.  And apparently, Timothy really likes looking through his mommy's books! :)

BookWyrms 101

A female juvenile BookWyrm (15 years old),
spotted in the Allegheny Forest of PA,  July 1983*

The BookWyrm (Iloveus toreadus) is a subspecies of the mammal group known as Homo sapiens.  The main difference between Iloveus toreadus and the rest of the Homo sapiens species is an intense love of reading.

Range:

BookWyrms can be found all over the world, in all different climates and habitats; the only requirement is an environment rich with books (either paper or digital).

Habitat:

BookWyrms often return to a favorite reading spot over and over again (normally a comfortable bed, chair, or couch).  However, when they are unable to be in that particular spot, most will read just about anywhere -- in the car, on a bench, in a tree, on the ground, in a bathtub, standing in line... or even in an overturned wheelbarrow, like the young BookWyrm in the photo above. 

Migration:

Though individual BookWyrms can be found in a wide variety of settings, flocks of them tend to gather in certain environments, especially libraries and bookstores, during business hours.  They migrate there whenever they are in need of a new book and -- in the case of a bookstore -- whenever they have money to spare.

Young:

When first born, BookWyrms are virtually impossible to distinguish from non-BookWyrms.  (While the offspring of adult BookWyrms are often BookWyrms themselves, particularly if both parents are part of the subspecies, this is not always the case.)  The young may begin exhibiting BookWyrmish traits around the age of one year.  (Some may show a taste for books before then, but at that young age it is difficult to determine whether their behavior shows a true affection for the written word, or merely delight at crinkling, ripping, and mouthing paper.)  By the age of five, most BookWyrms are easily identifiable by the casual observer, though some do not develop their love for books until later in life.

Typical characteristics of a BookWyrm:

• Often spotted with a book or e-reader in hand
• Circles under the eyes, from staying up too late reading
• When reading, a BookWyrm tends to look happy and content, and will often ignore his/her surroundings  (Caution: Interrupting a reading BookWyrm may cause moderate to severe grumpiness!)
• When not reading, the BookWyrm will often talk about books and/or express a desire to get back to reading
• A BookWyrm's home tends to be filled with overflowing bookshelves and/or multiple stacks of books

Common calls of the BookWyrm:

• "Read to me!" or "Tell me a story!" (generally spoken by juveniles)
• "The book was better!" (often heard at movie theaters)
• "Shhh... I'm trying to read!"
• "Just one more chapter -- then I'll go to sleep!"

Nature vs. Nurture controversy:

While it's possible that BookWyrms are "born to read", a BookWyrm gene has yet to be identified.  Many scientists and lay people (including this author) believe that, regardless of genes, virtually all Homo sapiens could become BookWyrms if raised in a loving, book-rich environment.  If more adults modeled a love of reading, encouraged curiosity, nourished an eagerness for learning, and provided interesting, exciting, wonderful books for the children in their lives, more young Homo sapiens would develop their own love for a good book, and the number of BookWyrms around the world would grow.  In this author's opinion, a population explosion of BookWyrms would benefit our species significantly.


For more about the term "BookWyrm", please check out this post.

*Yep, that BookWyrm is me! :)

Bibliophile

A bibliophile [bib-lee-uh-fahyl] is a person who loves to read and/or collect books.  (I would hope that anyone who collects books would also love to read them, but I suppose there are people out there who only like the collecting part.)  Bibliophile is another word for the term I like to use: BookWyrm.  :)

The bibliophile sighed happily as she stepped

into the antique book store, ready to make a new purchase.

 I'm a bibliophile -- how about you?

Origami BookWyrm

My creative daughter came up with another BookWyrm for me. :)  Isn't he cute?

(Back view)

Junior BookWyrms


I just found this picture and knew I had to share it here.... :)  Start 'em young, I say!

Emmalie and Nicholas... BookWyrms from the start,
(completely unposed), May 2000

What does a BookWyrm look like?

My daughter Emmalie loves to draw.  (And, I may be biased, but I think she's very good at it!)  She also loves dragons.  I was talking to her yesterday about my BookWyrms idea, and then asked her if she'd be willing to draw one for me.  She did, and here it is.  Isn't it amazing? :)

Created by Emmalie, June 2011

BookWyrm

I've always thought of myself as a bookworm. But just today, I decided that I'm really a BookWyrm*. In case you don't know, "wyrm" is another word for "dragon". Worms nibble; dragons devour. And I devour books. Well... not literally. :)

I am one of those lucky people who reads fast. It's a good thing, because I'm never short on books I want to read. Since I read quickly, I'm able to get through stacks of books much quicker than many people I know. (My daughter, however, reads even faster than me!) Devour means "to swallow up voraciously", and that's what I do to books... chomp, chomp, slurp, gulp!... and then I move on to the next one.

You don't have to be a speedy reader to be a BookWyrm, however. Another definition of devour is "to consume avidly with the senses or mind". I absorb books with enthusiasm.

Dragons also hoard stuff. Valuable stuff. I don't think worms hoard anything, except maybe dirt. I hoard books and consider them to be very valuable. Now, unlike a dragon, I am happy to share my treasure trove of books. I willingly loan them out to friends and share them with my kids. But I do accumulate books. We have shelves, shelves, and more shelves filled with books at our house. And I don't like to get rid of books I own. Ever. Someday I'll show you the pile of books, tattered and well-loved, that I've had since I was young. I (temporarily) accumulate library books, too. Whenever the kids and I visit the library, we always come home with armfuls of books!

Everyone knows that worms keep their feet...err, bodies, that is... on the ground. Dragons tromp around on the ground, too. But they can also do something that worms can't. Dragons fly. They are free spirits, soaring to new and exciting lands. And that's how I feel when I'm reading a good book.

It's true. I'm a BookWyrm. How about you?

*just a little note... I was SO excited when the idea of a bookwyrm came to me this morning! Then I got online and Googled the term. I was more than a little dismayed to find I was not the first to come up with the word. Oh, well. It's still a good idea, and I plan to keep on using it. :)