Once Upon A Time. . . . .

     Hello, and welcome to the very first post on my blog about children's literature.  Before I dive right into posting and exploring the myriad of material published for young people, I wanted to write a few words about the blog itself and its purpose.
     While it is true that this blog is a part of the curriculum for a class examining children's literature, I aspire to make it more than just an assignment.  I feel that I owe much of my development, both as a student and a human being, to reading and being read to over the course my own childhood.  The title chosen for this tiny corner of the digital realm that is the internet was done so quite carefully.  Finish The Book, for the purpose of the posts made here, will have more than one meaning.
     The literal meaning, of course, is an open encouragement to all readers, both young and young at heart, to read.  Whatever your preference, be it biographies, poetry, magazines, newspapers, or even humble little blogs, the value of reading can never be underestimated.
     The deeper meaning of the title is borrowed from a statement by renowned author and literature critic Samuel Johnson.  “A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it."  Nowhere have I seen an idea more true or profound.  After reading that quote for the first time and digesting its meaning, I realized that the ways in which we process literature in our own minds are what truly make reading a unique and personal experience.  Not solely about the joy of imagination, reading can also serve to help us expand our own ideas or even absorb and grow in the understanding of new ones.  There are very few experiences that can claim to be as remarkable, reliable, or sustainable.
     As you might have noticed, reading and its inherent benefits are a passionate subject for me, and I hope the enthusiasm contained within the posts on this blog serve to boost your enthusiasm as well.  Thanks for reading!  I'll see you soon :)