The books that shaped me as a reader – The Early Years!

Happy Friday my fellow bookworms. This post was semi written around the time of World Book Day. They celebrated 25 years this year and as a librarian I celebrated in style – dressed as my favourite character which was Bella from Twilight.

Anyways the theme was ‘You are a Reader’ and it got my thinking about my reading journey and the books that have shaped me. I’ve decided to go in chronological order from when I was toddler, too now in 5 blog posts. I really hope you enjoy this post, I even used the original covers that I had as a child too, just for nostalgia purposes. So come take the journey with me of how I became the bookworm I am today!

The Early Years

• Rainbow Fairies – Ruby the Red Fairy by Daisy Meadows
• Narnia – by C.S. Lewis
• W.I.T.C.H. by various authors
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
• Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

It took me a while to find the right book, not the ones I got forced to read at school. I never enjoyed those at all. Then my mum took me into Ottakar’s and Books etc the bookstores before Waterstones, I found the Rainbow Fairies, Amber the Orange Fairy being my favourite, and then that was it, my reading journey really begun.

The extent of the classic children’s literature was really Narnia, starting with The Magician’s Nephew. I got these beautiful editions too, see below, I feel this book was totally underrated as everyone always talks about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. But I loved the original first book in the Chronicles of Narnia.

I was also a HUGE fan of W.I.T.C.H. – who else remembers them?! Did you read those, I feel like they aren’t talked at all. I used to read the magazine and watch the tv show too. Obsessed, one of the best Disney show. So sad when it ended.

I was also a HUGE fan of W.I.T.C.H. – who else remembers them?! Did you read those, I feel like they aren’t talked at all. I used to read the magazine and watch the tv show too. Obsessed, one of the best Disney show. So sad when it ended.

Harry Potter means a lot to me then as it does now. A wondrous and beautiful world I loved exploring when I was 7! Loved it so much, especially the magic side that it inspired my reading of Charlie Bone series. This is once again another book series that is highly underrated in the children’s stories. I bought the set for me students and they all love it. Needs to be read more I think.

So these are the books that really inspired my love for reading, you can see a theme of escapism and the fascination with fantasy worlds and exploring the magic of reading through these amazing books. They will hold a special place in my heart.

What was the book started your reading journey? What was your favourite in your early years? I would love to know. Check back next week for me Tween Years!