Expanding your imagination

When I was in kindergarten and first grade my favorite place to visit was the school library. It was a magical place where I could explore new books and then take one home to read with my family. Reading at a young age helps children succeed in school and beyond, but it also helps expand the imagination. When I look back I had quite the imagination and it all started with books. Here is a list of my top five favorite books I read as a child.

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
   You can’t go wrong with a blue horse and all the other colorful animals.
2. Baby Beluga. By Raffi, illustrated by Ashley Wolff
   Who doesn’t love a baby whale and his Eskimo, walrus, and dolphin friends. Plus it is a song!
3. Corduroy. By Don Freeman
   The illustrations make the whole store look soft and plush.
4. Miss Rumphius. Story and Pictures by Barbara Cooney
   The true story of a woman who spread flower seeds everywhere she went, filling the coast of Maine with blossom. This was a favorite to read with my grandma.
5. Winnie the Pooh. By A.A. Milne, illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard.
   No one can resist this sweet, slow-moving bear with a taste for “hunny.”