This month, as part of the Reading Bolton project, we invited contributors to reflect on “The First Book I Fell in Love With”.
The responses have been thoughtful, nostalgic, and deeply personal, highlighting how early reading experiences shape confidence, imagination, and lifelong engagement with literature.
A series of short video reflections has now been uploaded to the Centre for Literature and Community YouTube channel (@literatureandcommunity), where contributors share the books that first captured their attention and why those stories still matter.
One of the joys of this month’s Reading Bolton theme ‘The First Book I Fell in Love With’, has been seeing how vividly people remember the stories that first made reading feel magical. These aren’t just books people read once at school; they’re ones that stuck, that still make people smile years later.
One submission that perfectly captures that feeling looks back at My Naughty Little Sister and the unforgettable character of Bad Harry. The memory centres on one of those wonderfully mischievous moments that children immediately recognise as both shocking and hilarious. When my naughty little sister arrives at a party, she surprises everyone by being suddenly and suspiciously polite, declaring ‘Please and thank you, and thank you very much for having me’. But of course, the good behaviour doesn’t last long, before long, my naughty little sister and Bad Harry are helping themselves to the sweets from the trifle!
It’s exactly the kind of scene that stays with you: funny, slightly naughty, and completely memorable. What makes entries like this so special is how clearly they show the power of childhood reading memories. A single moment in a story can stay with us for decades, instantly transporting us back to the feeling of reading it for the first time.
We’ll be sharing more favourite memories throughout the year as readers continue to tell us about the books that shaped them.
Looking Ahead:
Reading Bolton runs monthly themed prompts throughout the year, each designed to explore reading as a shared cultural and community experience.
Next month’s theme will be announced shortly, watch this space for opportunities to take part, contribute, or share with students, colleagues, and community partners.
