New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis (whose debut Across the Universe I loved--see my review of it here) is hosting a giant and completely awesome giveaway during the month of November. All you have to do is include a link to the contest and share a book you're thankful for and why!
I'm thankful for...
AMELIA BEDELIA by Peggy Parish
The thing is, you guys, that I grew up in China. I read books in Mandarin. I really had no connection with the U.S. except for that one teacher who dared to attempt teaching my first grade class English (also--she quit. We were a lousy class.)
So imagine my surprise when, after a trip to the U.S., my mom came home with a stack of Amelia Bedelia books for me to read. IN ENGLISH.
You see, my mother is an awesome-blossom woman. She and my dad traveled back-and-forth between the U.S. and China, while my grandparents (who are the BEST grandparents EVER) raised me. In fact, my brother was born here in the U.S.
I digress. So. She brought me Amelia Bedelia. I had no idea how she expected me to read them and understand them. I mean, come on, I was in first grade and my English teacher just quit her job. So my mother started to take time out of her very very busy schedule and read the books to me, me trying to understand them through the pictures and my mom translating.
The point of all this? That was the first English book I have ever read, at least from what I remember. And I have to be forever thankful because now I'm reading so many English books that I may have never started without Amelia (okay, that's a lie--I love reading too much to ever let language become a problem. But still!). So basically, while everyone else who come to the U.S. look forward to trying out cheeseburgers and what-not, I was obsessed about lemon meringue pie.
What book(s) are YOU thankful?
What an awesome story. I remember reading these when I was younger !
ReplyDelete@Jess Thank you! :)
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