School Days and Reading Rockets
Written by Michele T on August 2, 2008 – 5:30 pm -Post and Photos
By
Has it really been over 20 years since I was in the first grade? Since that nerve-wracking day my knees knocked and my teeth chattered. It was a new school with so many children standing outside. I didn’t want to get out of the car. I was terrified. Looking back, I’ve always felt like a hermit. I wanted to run home, crawl back under the covers, and hide from all those children! But mom encouraged me, coaxed me out of the car, and before long I was in love with my new teacher, classmates, and reading time.
When you first open Rockets, this is what you see:
Reading time… ah, the memories! The teacher would have us all gather around a table, seated in our chairs. I was so anxious for story time. I wanted to learn to read more than anything in the world. I couldn’t wait ’till she pulled the book out. It was called Rockets. It’s the book I learned to read with.
My favorite story from the entire books was The Monkey and the Banana. See the title on the page there? Oh, how I loved this story! The Rockets reader was awesome and very easy to learn to read from because there was bright, fun pictures and you can see from the title that part of the words were actually drawings you looked at and figured out the words for.
At the end of the school year, the teacher told us the school would be getting new reading books for the new year and we had the opportunity to have the old ones if we wanted them. Did I want one? Was she kidding? Already at the age of six, I was sentimental. I knew I wanted the book I’d learned to read from. I had to have it. I can remember how excited I was when I got my copy. Funniest thing of all is I still have that Rockets reader over 20 years later! (Actually, it’s just a teeny bit longer than 20 years – but don’t tell anyone!) 
Looking at the pages open like this brings back so many memories. It’s almost as if I’m that little girl again, so eager to take her turn at reading her favorite story aloud.
I also remember fantasizing about my name being on the cover of a book. How I longed for people to read my words! I knew, even at the age of six, that I wanted to be a writer. Amazing.
I have to say, though, that I’d never have picked reading up so quickly if my parents hadn’t read to me, I don’t think. I remember mom reading to me – a lot. She read me Bible stories, fairy tales, and all sorts of books. So, do you remember the book you learned to read from? What was it? Did it happen to be Rockets? Do you still have it?
Lastly, here’s the full views of the front and back…
Rockets was put together by:
William K. Durr
Jean M. LePere
Mary Lou Ahin
and
Consultant: Paul McKee
Writing the Cyber Highway Copyright 2007-2008 Michele L. Tune All Rights Reserved
Tags: reading
Posted in Books & Book Reviews, Creativity and Fun, Inspiration, Writing Resources, Writing Thoughts | 22 Comments »
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Ah yes, the memories! My first grade year started in 1981 and that was the year I was diagnosed with dyslexia. I was terrified of all adults, but that’s another story for another day.
The reading book we had that year was Tag. We had to write in the books, so I was allowed to take mine as well. I would have loved to have shown my children this book (and the others I had kept over the years), but so many moves and transitions forced us to continuously down-size our possessions. That, too, is another story for another day.
Thank you for sharing your memories with us! This was a wonderful read!
Jenn Hollowells last blog post..This Working Writer is Questioned
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August 2nd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Glad you enjoyed my Rockets memories, Jenn!
Well, it wasn’t that I was necessarily afraid of the adults as much as just wanting to crawl in a hole period. hehehe
Hmmm… I don’t guess I’ve heard of Tag. Sounds fun! Aw, I wish you had been able to hold on to your books. I know about down-sizing possessions, but somehow I’ve managed to hold on to quite a bit of my “good stuff” over the years!
You’re welcome. I’m thrilled that you think it was a wonderful read.
*smiles*
Michele
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August 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Oops! I didn’t mean to make all that italic. I forgot to close it after Rockets! (Maybe I need more coffee!)
*giggles*
Michele
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August 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
[...] Barking Moonbat Early Warning System Copyright © work at home sc_project=3641399; sc_invisible=1; [...]
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
When I started school, I couldn’t get in there fast enough. I wanted to be a big girl, out there on my own! By junior high, I just wanted to stay home with my mom! Funny how things change.
I don’t remember what book I learned to read from; my mom taught me before I started school so I have no idea which book she used. I have the same sentiments as you, I always loved reading and still have some of those books from my childhood, which I treasure.
Melissa Donovans last blog post..The Benefits of Journaling
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August 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 am
@Melissa – Sounds like you were more than eager to hit the books and learn, girl! Good for you! Yeah, I remember those junior high days, too. Home and “mommy” sounded better and better as the days drudged on and bullies and peer pressure increased, eh?
I should have learned to read before I went to school, but I didn’t. Guess I was too lazy and enjoyed mom reading to me more than I wanted to learn to read for myself!
Oh, I have other books from my childhood too. Pretty much my favorite from that same time was Danny and the Dinosaur. How I loved that book!
*smiles*
Michele
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August 3rd, 2008 at 5:43 am
Ya know, it’s kind of a shame the books we read as adults aren’t nearly as colorful and–coffee-table tomes aside–so rarely have pictures.
Wouldn’t business be more fun to read about if there were, I don’t know, monkeys with bananas on the pages?
Lindsays last blog post..Yes, You Need a Blog, and Yes It Should Be…
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August 3rd, 2008 at 7:06 am
@Lindsay – It is a shame books lose the vibrant colors and photos once we reach a certain age. I always missed that part of reading once I got older.
It most definitely would be more fun if there were monkeys and bananas on the pages! How cool would that be?! heehhehehe
*smiles*
Michele
Micheles last blog post..Farmer’s Markets: Making “Green” Juices and Smoothies
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August 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
[...] School Days and Reading Rockets at Writing the Cyber Highway [...]
August 4th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
How we take literacy for granted! It is a true gift not only to have eyes – but to read itself!
Bamboo Forests last blog post..What’s The True Value of Blog Comments?
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August 5th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Oh I remember loving story time!! I still do.
Grandys last blog post..Fight BACK!!
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August 5th, 2008 at 5:45 am
@Bamboo – Yeah, that’s so true. I’ve often wondered how folks who can’t read make it. I mean, since I know how to read and have such a love of reading, I wonder how it would feel to not be able to read. But then, I guess if you never knew what it was like, you wouldn’t know what you were missing. Sad.
@Grandy – Hey there, girl! Woo Hoo! How’ve ya been? Yeah, story time was always awesome, eh? So much fun to sit around and either have a parent/teacher/adult or even another kid read. Just fantabulous!
*smiles*
Michele
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August 6th, 2008 at 9:16 am
@Lindsay: That’s one of the things I love about the “Who Moved My Cheese?” series. The bright pictures and little illustrations. *grins*
@ Michele: Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory with us. I don’t remember how I approached Kindy. I know I’ve always been reserved and shy. My mother had serious concerns about that. But I grew into my younger school years. High school was another matter.
I also don’t remember the first book I learnt to read but I still have a few of my precious books from those early days. A pair have gold leaf across the top of the pages. They’re collections of nursery tales. Treasure.
I do remember that at that fragile age I knew I’d be a writer. Like you, I imagined my name on the spine and covers of books. It’s amazing how some dreams never fade.
Rebecca Laffar-Smiths last blog post..Dog Train Your Writing Skills: Beg, Fetch, and Shake
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August 6th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
What an awesome book! And an even cooler story behind it!
Janna Qualmans last blog post..Janna: Unplugged
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August 6th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
@Rebecca – You’re most welcome! I’ve been wanting to do this post for a while so I finally just made time to do it.
I’m glad you have those books from your childhood. You’re right, they’re treasures! And, it is amazing how some dreams never fade – they only grow stronger in time.
@Janna – Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed my little Rockets story.
You’re unplugged? Hmmm…. gonna have to go read that one!
*smiles*
Michele
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August 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Michele,
I’m too old too know about “Rockets” but it looks like it was fun to read. I started first grade in 1967 and our reader was Dick and Jane. It too was fun but learning was based on repetition instead of phonics.
“See Jane run. Run, run, run.”
deborah wilsons last blog post..The Tears of the Fairies
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August 7th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
@Deborah – Rockets was fun to read. It’s amazing that I still have such vivid memories after all these years. I love that you still remember your reader, too. Nice walk down memory lane, eh?
*smiles*
Michele
P.S. The Tears of the Fairies? Sounds like an interesting post. I’m off to read it!
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August 8th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I’ve never read “Rockets” but it looks like something I would have loved. The illustrations look wonderful.
I look forward to the day that I walk into Barnes and Noble and see my book on the shelves.
Congrats on the editors telling you to submit!
Karl Staib – Your Work Happiness Matterss last blog post..My Guest Posts from Around the Globe
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August 8th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
@Karl – Welcome to Writing the Cyber Highway! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I’m sure you would have loved reading Rockets. It was great and the illustrations were so fun!
Oh, don’t I know it! I fantasize about seeing my book(s)on the shelves. Ah, the dreams…
Thanks, I appreciate the support. It is so exciting to hear back from the editors with good news!
*smiles*
Michele
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August 10th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Michelle,I have an award for you on my wordpress site. so when you have a chance come and get it! Mike G. said that!(It’s an A.A.thing of mine)
mike golchs last blog post..I just got a new award.
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August 14th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Michele,
My first reader was Fun With Dick and Jane. And, while I don’t actually have a copy of it, I did manage to find this photo of it online.
Fun With Dick and Jane was used for the first half of first grade. After that, we read Our New Friends. (Couldn’t find a good photo.) Here’s a page from one of the two books. (Not sure which one, though.)
Memories!
Jeanne
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August 20th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Michele,
It’s been 42 years since I was in the first grade. I can prove it, too. My first reader was a “Dick and Jane” book! LOL
I don’t remember having any problems learning to read, so I guess, despite how boring these books were, they got the job done.
I am curious about the Rockets book. Who was the illustrator? The illustrations (inside the book) look very much like Tomie dePaola’s work. I’m just curious. He books are among those that I read to my grandchildren. Oliver Button Is a Sissy was one of our favorites.
hugs,
Tina
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