And read to me, and read to me.

My sister, Susan, tucked me under her arm and read to me, too, because I simply couldn’t get enough. I guess it’s no surprise I grew up to be a writer.

Of the many, many wonderful gifts I received from my family, the love of books has got to be near the top of the list. It defines who I am in so many ways, and it continues to sustain me whenever I need to disappear into a novel and “recharge.”

In my own little way, I’ve tried to pass that gift along. When my girlfriends started having babies, I’d always round up a pile of classic books for baby shower gifts. When my stepdaughter and daughter-in-law were expecting, they got the tried-and-true books, too. And God bless ‘em, they used those books. They read to their kids every chance they get. It’s truly a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Here are some of my favorites:Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Best Word Book Ever  by Richard Scary, The Listening Walk by Paul Showers, Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? by Eric Carle,  Jamberry by Bruce Degen, and most anything by Dr. Seuss.

For other recommendations, visit www.hedgehogbooks.com, a site developed by teachers with “Top 10 Lists” arranged by age; www.parentsasteachers.org (search for “suggested reading”); and www.childrensbooks.about.com, where book lists are arranged by subject.