The Reading Promise
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—NPR.org
“THE READING PROMISE turns out to be about much more than a love of literature. It’s about the love between parent and child, and how a simple act can become enriched with meaning.”
—Philadelphia Inquirer
“Ozma remains an enthusiastic reader—and an impressive writer. That’s what reading can do, long after Dr. Seuss has said good-bye.”
—Advocate
“This charming memoir just might spark a revolution in communal reading.”
—San Diego Union-Tribune
“Alice Ozma has given us the gift of a remarkable love story. In her love of books, and of her father, we see the most meaningful promises we might make to our own parents, our own children, and to ourselves.”
—Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor,
The Last Lecture
“Poignantly written, THE READING PROMISE is a beautiful love letter from a child to her parent as Ozma shares how the simple act of reading would become such an endearing bond for her and her father… Books can open the world, and Alice Ozma reminds her readers of that very promise in this delightful memoir.”
—Las Vegas Review Journal
“The book is about reading… but its greatest strength lies in the author’s affection for the father who kept his promise.”
—Washington Post
“A powerful testament to the difference a parent’s devotion and the act of reading can make in a child’s life. A rare and triumphant story.”
—Chris Gardner, author of
The Pursuit of Happyness
“There’s enough fodder in the [reading] list she includes at the end to launch a thousand bedtime stories… as legacies go, you could do a lot worse than books.”
—Christian Science Monitor
“This is about so much more than books and reading. It’s about single-parenthood and childhood, about raising a loving, witty, articulate kid, and all of it accomplished without anyone turning into the Alpha-Parent/Tiger-Dad.”
—Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook
“Tender, funny, and deeply readable, THE READING PROMISE tells the story of how a simple ritual became a treasured father-daughter tradition. Promise yourself to revisit what matters… promise you’ll pick up this tribute to the ways in which books change lives.”
—Erin Blakemore, author of
The Heroine’s Bookshelf
“Charming… The value of reading, or more specifically, of being read to, is celebrated not only as an important part of intellectual and creative development, but also as a way to forge and to nurture relationships.”
—Columbus Dispatch
“A sweet tribute to a devoted single parent and a powerful reminder of the bond that shared stories can create.”
—BookPage
“Ozma’s work is humorous, generous, and warmly felt, and with a terrific reading list included, there is no better argument for the benefits of reading to a child than this rich, imaginative work.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Ozma has written a memoir as rich and revealing, witty and warm, confident and compassionate as works by people who may have been around a few more blocks, but who probably haven’t read as many books. Persuasive and influential, poignant and inspirational, Ozma’s exuberant paean to the joys and rewards of reading—and being read to—is a must-read treasure for parents, especially, and bibliophiles, certainly.”
—Booklist
“That a twenty-two-year-old could write such a polished book that is so moving and inspirational is testimony to her father’s reading promise to her and to the power of literature.”
—TheDailyNewsOnline.com
“THE READING PROMISE is many things at once: a coming of age story, a daughter’s love letter to her father, and an ode to books and the joys of reading. Perhaps the true wonder is that first-time author Alice Ozma is able to achieve balance between these elements with such ease—and all while infusing her words with a warmth and wisdom that defies her young age. Rather fittingly, the girl who grew up ensnared in the characters and stories of others has now written a book that is destined to have that very same effect on countless readers throughout the world.”
—Examiner.com
“A warm memoir and a gentle nudge to parents about the importance of books, quality time, and reading to children.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“For readers and daddy’s girls everywhere, THE READING PROMISE is a perfect blend of great memories and great writing. Not only is the writing smart and clear, the memories have such universal appeal… I really love this book. It’s charming, clever, funny, and important. Important because it calls to arms bibliophiles everywhere as our school libraries and books themselves come under attack from slashed budgets; because it honors a great man; and because any girl who loves books and loves her dad now has the perfect Father’s Day gift lined up.”
—MLive.com (Michigan Local News)
“Captivating… For anyone with a love of books and particularly those who love reading aloud, THE READING PROMISE is a must-read.”
—Wired.com
“We hear over and over again about the importance of reading aloud to children, but rarely do we hear from the kids themselves about what it means to them… truly delightful read. We navigate Alice’s world with her, watching her grow and mature into a rather exceptional young woman.”
—Keplers.com
“At a time when books often seem under attack, threatened with redundancy by the more aggressive advocates of new media, it is good to read so spirited and charming a paean in praise of the pleasures of reading as THE READING PROMISE… the book is more than just the pact they made. It records the ups and downs of growing up in a single-parent household that was simultaneously very ordinary and truly remarkable.”
—WeLoveThisBook.com
“Poignant… of interest to a general audience and not just librarians and book sellers.”
—Press of Atlantic City
“This book has something for everyone. As a writer, Ozma has a quick-witted style that makes us feel like she is reading the book aloud in our minds. For parents looking to make the reading promise to their children, this is the perfect book to start with. Ozma’s prose is hilarious and the chapters are succinct, which makes for a perfect reading schedule—even if you only have a minimum of ten minutes.”
—News of Cumberland County (NJ)
Contents
FRONT COVER IMAGE
WELCOME
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
DEDICATION
FOREWORD
THIS IS NOT A BOOK ABOUT BOOKS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
LIST OF BOOKS FROM THE READING STREAK
DEAR READERS
READING GROUP GUIDE
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION
ACCLAIM FOR THE READING PROMISE
COPYRIGHT
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 by Kristen Alice Ozma Brozina
Reading Group Guide Copyright © 2012 by Hachette Book Group
All rights reserv
ed. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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Second e-book edition: March 2012
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ISBN 978-1-455-50450-3