Reading with Mom

By: Adam Sockel, OverDrive Marketing & Communications Specialist 

I’m a Momma’s Boy. That’s not a secret. In fact, if you visit our blog with any regularity, you’ll find several stories I’ve shared about my lifelong connection to my mother. I was one of those rare kids who never had an awkward period of life where I hated my parents. All the way through grade school and high school I rarely kept secrets from them. We talked every night about school, sports, girlfriends and, of course, books. One of the most important moments in my life comes from the night before I headed off to college. My mother was a teacher, so she couldn’t join us for move-in day. Instead, she and I stayed out on the porch all night long, talking about all the memories we’d created in life thus far. She ended the conversation by telling me how proud she was of me. I cherish it to this day.

I’m as close to my parents as ever these days and Mom and I still frequently discuss books. She and I go on yearly “book dates” where she buys me novels from our local bookstore and a week rarely goes by that we don’t discuss her book club’s selections. Stories have long been one of the many connections Mom and I share and I’ll be forever thankful because of it. The love of literature she instilled in me years ago was the spark that created a career at this incredible company. With Mother’s Day being this week, I thought I’d spread the #MomLove around, so I asked several of my co-workers for their favorite memories of reading with their mom (or reading AS the mom in some cases). Here are what a few of them said, complete with some wonderful book recommendations.

Shannon

Shannon’s Book Recommendation: I Love My White Shoes from Pete the Cat.

Liz

Liz’z Book Recommendation: Instead of discussing a book from my childhood, I’m highlighting the most recent book we’ve both read: Michelle Sagara’s Cast in Chaos, which was released this past fall. It’s the thirteenth 400-plus-page book of an epic fantasy series that will probably continue for quite some time. Some books in the series are quite good, while others can be a bit problematic – but it doesn’t really matter. Regardless of the story, Mom and I are invested in the series together, and always have a great time discussing them and many, many others.”

Annie

Annie’s Book Recommendation: I wanted to read stories just like my mom, so I’d hold story hour and read to my stuffed animals. All that practice paid off when I watch my daughter dance around as I, much like Shannon, read and sing for the billionth time I Love My White Shoes from Pete the Cat.

Christina

Christina’s Book Recommendation: Leaving Time by Jodi Piccoult. Picoult explores the complex relationship between mothers and daughters through the behaviors of elephants. Proving that no matter the differences in time, space and even species–when you become a mother, you never stop being one and when you are a daughter, you never stop needing her.

Melissa

Melissa’s Book Recommendation: Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch