Did you read to your daughter as a child? What did you read?
Yes, I read so many things to her and her brothers. When she was small I read what felt like were hundreds of Little Golden Books. We read Babar, Madeline, alphabet books, and when she was older, we read through the Golden Encyclopedias we had, looking at the pictures, and feeling as if we were traveling the world through those books. I also invented stories for her. She remembers a series I made up that included a flying Oreo cookie.
How old wa
s your daughter when she started reading?
She was in first grade.
Did your child have a favorite series/author growing up?
She loved Sydney Taylor's ALL OF A KIND FAMILY series and Gertrude Chandler Warner's Boxcar Children books.
Did you have any book or reading rituals in your house? (Examples would be: Going to the library or bookstore together, talking about the books you have read, sharing books, storytime)
I read to Beth and her two older brothers at bedtime, sometimes all together in one bed, sometimes in their own beds. We also went to the library and borrowed piles of books. One of the saddest days for all of us is when we watched our town's tiny library get knocked down with a wrecking ball. The new library was beautiful and full of light, but it was sad to see the old one go.
When did you know your daughter was going to be a writer?
She was extremely precocious with words. When very young we called her "Miss Malaprop" because she sometimes used words beyond her vocabulary in places that sounded appropriate, but weren't.
Can you remember your daughter writing as a child?
Yes, she'd buy blank books at the Scholastic book fairs and write stories in them.
Do you read advance copies of your daughter’s work?
THREE WISHES is her first book, and I read several drafts.
Do you have a favorite of your daughter’s books?
She has one published book, but I have read many short stories and newspaper, magazine and online articles.
What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?
All, if they are well written.
What authors, besides your daughter’s books, do you read?
Many, many, many --- I love to read and am never without at least one book that I'm reading.
Beth Jones is the co-author of THREE WISHES: A True Story of Good Friends, Crushing Heartbreak, and Astonishing Luck on Our Way to Love and Motherhood along with Carey Goldberg and Pamela Ferdinand. The book is available wherever books are sold.
