During February, we've been having a Love of Reading Contest, where you, our loyal and fabulous customers and readers, tell us what inspired your love of reading for a chance to win a $50 Bookmans gift certificate. Now, we'd love to give everyone who had wonderful, inspiring entries a $50 gift certificate, but we'd go broke... so we'd like to take a few moments to recognize some of our favorite runner-up entries. Thank all of you so much for your wonderful and inspiring entries during our contest. It's been really interesting to see such a variety of books and stories inspiring people to read.

E.S.F. writes:
This e-mail is regarding the love of reading that has developed in my son, Eli. He is now almost two and a half and his favorite "toys" are books. His favorite store is a bookstore and his favorite outing is to go to the library. His love of reading has developed with me reading to him from the time I brought him home from the hospital. It began with the book “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch. I was given the book by my cousin when I found out I was having a little boy. His first words were uttered reading a book. They began as babbles of delight while I was reading “Duck for President” by Doreen Cronin. The first book he requested by name when we walked into his favorite Bookmans on 19th Ave was “Bad Kitty.” Though he just recently began to learn the real words of this book since I augmented the written ones in order to send good messages about vegetables, he developed a love for the main character and began to call all kitties we encountered "bad kitty," which demanded quite the explanation when a sweet older lady who lives nearby heard her kitty being called "bad kitty!" Now, it is hard to say which book is his favorite; there is a new book that keeps him enthralled until he memorizes practically every page so he can act it out with his own toys. Eli's current favorites are “Worry Bear,” “Hurry Hurry,” “Thank You Bear,” and “Micawber.” It is just as exciting to me to open a new book and see if the turning of the pages will unlock the next theatrical act for his toys or simply new sentences for him to be excited learn.

Lisa O. writes:
Well, the first is WHO. My mom. I know she read to me all the time and took me to the library. I remember reading “Richard Scarry” and “Curious George,” and I have this EXCELLENT series by Charles Schultz thats kind of an encyclopedia and kind of books of random facts, all with the “Peanuts” characters. And I do remember a book on King Arthur, but I have no idea who penned it. In high school, I read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" in two days, and all 14 “Wizard of...” books during winter break. I read all the time now, I used to get in trouble when reading because I'd be so engrossed my mom thought I was ignoring her! Plus, I have to go to bookstores alone- I just get lost in all the wonderful books!

Autumn H. writes:
This is really about the book (or books) that instilled in me a re-love of reading. When I was a kid I loved to read--I always had my nose in a book. As time went on, and I became an adult, other things took over (school, job, family, etc.) and took my time away from reading (even though I have worked in numerous bookstores over the years). However, a co-worker told me about a series of books that were fun, clever and imaginative. I told her "These are kids' books--I am not going to read them." She replied, "Give them a chance and try the first book." So, at the age of 31, I picked up "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling and fell in love with reading again. I went on to read the entire series and haven't stopped reading since. Now, I make time every night to spend time reading and love the quiet time it affords me away from everyday pressures. I have been shopping at Bookmans for years and was very sad to hear about the damage at the Flagstaff location. Even if my entry does not get chosen, I wish the Bookmans family (staff included) the very best in the repair and re-build. I currently shop at the location on 19th Avenue and Northern in Central Phoenix. Thank you for your time--keep reading!!

Heather K. writes:
When I was 5 or 6 years old, and my sister was ready to begin learning to read, my mother told me that I grabbed a book “The Witch of Hissing Hill” (I think) and proceeded to read it to my sister. As I was telling the story to her, I was also trying to teach her how to sound out words. I remember reading my first young adult book, “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” which I got for my 8th birthday. I read that in an afternoon and was so proud of myself.

Currently, my favorite books are by Jodi Picoult (so hard to choose), and I love Laurie Notaro.

What really inspired my love of reading was when I was in school and was required to read some classics. That is when I understood that sometimes the authors put hidden meanings in their prose. My favorite first classic was “Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. I know it sounds cliche, but it was fun to read it and understand the meaning behind the story. I wrote a book report on it in 4th or 5th grade. Thanks for the opportunity to share.

Bob W. writes:
I would have to say that the books that inspired my love of reading the most would have to be “Huckleberry Finn” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Samuel Clemens, better known to most as Mark Twain. I found that as a child they were books that you just wanted to keep reading and reading until you were at the end. How Mr. Twain kept your attention not knowing what was going to happen next. Holding on to his every word and waiting in anticipation to turn the page. It was a great discovery that you could have so much action and adventure to look forward to in a book. Most kids wanted to watch Saturday morning cartoons. I would have rather read my book and challenge my mind. I still have a great love of reading but however my style has changed some in reading. I still find it very relaxing to curl up with a good book and a nice hot cup of tea. I would only hope that it would be a requirement some day that kids have to read more books in school. That way they can have adventures of their very own. That their imagination would be sparked and that they realize that no matter what anyone tells them that can be whatever they want to be, they can have all the adventures they can handle and have tons of fun along the way. My favorite Bookmans is the location on Speedway. The staff there is also very nice, very helpful and seem as if they really care about you.