Legislators & Literacy: Reading Recommendations
To inspire early literacy and reading with your family, we’ve asked three California legislators to share their reading habits and favorite books from their childhood. Read below for reading tips and recommendations from three lawmakers who are advocating for California’s youngest residents.
Senator Ben Allen (SD 26)
What was your favorite book to read as a young child?
Small in the Saddle. It is this awesome book by the same guy who did Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It’s about a cowboy who comes in to save the town, and had the most captivating drawings.
What was or is a favorite book to read with your family? What reading habits do (or did you) practice with your family?
My wife and I read to my one year old every night before bed. It’s important to us that he takes part in reading every day. Our favorite book to read right now is Llama Llama Red Pajama, a cute book about a little baby llama who is in bed and wants his mama to hang out with him. It is so great because it is written in couplets, and our son loves the poetic sound as we read with him.
Assemblymember Autumn Burke (AD 62)
What was your favorite book to read as a young child?
Goodnight Moon.
What was or is a favorite book to read with your family? What reading habits do (or did you) practice with your family?
The Missing Piece! I read two books every night to my daughter and I read every evening. We are readers!
Assemblymember Christy Smith (AD 38)
What was your favorite book to read as a young child?
Charlotte’s Web.
What was or is a favorite book to read with your family? What reading habits do (or did you) practice with your family?
Anything by Dr. Seuss! We read together as a family every day throughout daughters’ childhoods and now as adults they share our love of reading.
