Books Quote by Eudora Welty
““I live in gratitude to my parents for initiating me--and as early as I begged for it, without keeping me waiting--into knowledge of the word, into reading and spelling, by way of the alphabet. They taught it to me at home in time for me to begin to read before starting school. My love for the alphabet, which endures, grew out of reciting it but, before that, out of seeing the letters on the page. In my own story books, before I could read them for myself I fell in love with various winding, enchanted-looking initials drawn by Walter Crane at the head of fairy tales. In "Once upon a time," an "o" had a rabbit running it as a treadmill, his feet upon flowers. When the day came years later for me to see the Book of Kells, all the wizardry of letter, initial, and word swept over me a thousand times, and the illumination, the gold, seemed a part of the world's beauty and holiness that had been there from the start.””
About This Quote
He recounts how early exposure to letters and books sparked a lifelong love of reading and the beauty of language.
In simple terms: Early reading love sparked by letters.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate early literacy experiences.
Themes
literacy
family influence
visual learning
beauty of language
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
Type
educational
narrative
When to use this quote
- home schooling
- early childhood education
- library programs
Key Concepts
alphabetic awareness
cognitive development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we bring similar wonder to under‑privileged kids?
- What role does visual art play in literacy?
A Different Perspective
Not all children have access to such enriching early experiences.
