^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Unsplash/Kimberly Farmer^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Growing up my mum would read to me almost every night. It felt like a ritual and provided me with comfort. I loved bonding with my mum and because she worked hard as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) it was hard sometimes with her long, crazy hours. But I always knew that if she wasn’t working nights, she would be there to tuck me into bed and read me a book.

My Chosen Book

The book that “changed everything” for me was Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Sheila McGraw. I remember my mum reading this one to me multiple times and I would notice her tear up and feel her holding me extra tight. She would try and hold the tears back so I wouldn’t notice. But I always did and would hold her tight too. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why it made her sad, but I do now. I was her last baby.

This was one of the first books to make me feel something. And although I am no longer an avid reader (I bet I would be if my mum still read to me;)), I still look for books that will make me feel emotion. Whether it be happy, sad, mad. I find it hard for me to enjoy reading that lacks emotion.