Reading Together Books Novels & Stories

I have read half of the book just to get immersed in what Elva likes. “You read books?” Elva asks me. I sit on the bed and watch as she sits beside me. “I want to like what you like, read what you read, understand what you understand. Hell, I’ll worship the ground you walk on.” Elva stares at me in surprise. “I-I...” “Let’s just read.” I say quietly. We both rest against the headboard of my bed, engrossed in the book. Elva seems really interested in the book even though she has obviously read the book at least a dozen times.

"Are you ready for today?" "Yes! What book are we reading today?" I show her the book I picked out. “ We are reading Little Rabbit!” I say in excitement Brenda claps her hands and runs to the reading circle of children who have started coming in The rest of the children trickle in over the next few minutes. In comes Matthew the boy with ginger hair and for missing front teeth. Then Agatha, the troublemaker. Kelvin, the little child who is so hyperactive. They are also different but I love them and their own way

"More slowly this time." She goes back to her room. The second book, in its first reader's hands. The co-author, reading it for the second time. The practice, continuing into the next form it will take.

He should be with her, comforting her and not here. “Hey, Brianna,” he said with a soft laugh. “Learning to read is really important in life. It opens up a whole world of joy hidden in words, sentences…In books, stories. I made a promise to teach you and I’m keeping to that. So whether you’re interested or not, I’m going to read. If you don’t want to listen, you can go ahead and cover your ears. I’m going to start now.” He settled back in his chair, getting ready to read.

Clara said waving her hands in the air. "Please go on child and forget these two attention seekers," George said to Clara with a smile. Emily and Ragnor exchanged glances upon hearing what George said and turned their gaze to Clara who started reading. "Little Red Riding Hood," Clara began, and Emily grinned. Clara was able to read the whole book pronouncing each word correctly and she did add some acting to it grabbing their attention and making them forget she was reading a children's story. "The end," Clara said with a smile

Natasha Kristina and I sit in the middle of her living room with papers sprawled out around us. We have used our time wisely, choosing fall reading books that will hopefully challenge and inspire our young readers. We have a few hours left of planning and then we should be all ready. We are just starting to go over the flyers, trying out some themes that might entice some participants this year. “How about ‘fall into reading’ ‘fall into the books’ ‘don't leaf a book unread’?” Kristina asks.

I watch amused as her forehead creases, she’s thinking hard and the smile as she takes the copy of Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts. “I like the cover.” Her eyes are bright and full of curiosity. “Thank you,” mouths the mother as the girl starts going through the illustrations on the back. “Say goodbye to Ms. Rebecca.” “Goodbye, and thank you, Ms. Rebecca.” She runs ahead clutching her new favorite toy for the next couple of days. My best customers these days are the small children that every other day for reading time. We sit in a circle and grab a few books to read out loud. Right now we are reading together Argh! There’s a Skeleton Inside You! and they are loving it. The children's section

Phoenix muttered. They spent the next hour cleaning up the library and then reading together—not Pride and Prejudice, which was far too advanced for R, but one of his favorite books about dinosaurs and their modern-day descendants. R sat between Rhys and Phoenix on the couch, his small body warm and solid, his voice occasionally chiming in with facts he'd memorized about different species.

I ask him. “Well, I have not read the Twisted series, I heard it was really good book to read, that was why I recommended it to you. I can read the books with you, is that cool?” he asks me. I smile, happy that I will have someone to discuss the books with as I finish them, which is every reader’s dream.

I answered honestly where I could, and gently redirected when things got too personal, and after a while the novelty of me wore off and they drifted back into their own conversations about schools and trips and gossip about people I didn’t know. Lily and I ended up sitting together near the edge of the room, slightly removed from the noise, and she pulled out her phone to show me a picture of the book she was currently reading. “It’s a reread,” she said. “I always go back to it when I’m overwhelmed.” “Comfort reading,” I said. “Yes,” she replied eagerly. “Exactly that.”