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I Opened a Book (Free Printable Poem)

I Opened a Book Poem - Free Printable

I Opened a Book Poem - Free Printable

I Opened a Book Poem - Free Printable

Did you know that May is “Get Caught Reading Month?” That’s a great goal for families, don’t you think?

Reading is a pastime I want to encourage in my children. But it is also one I actively cultivate in myself.

As we take a break from most of our school subjects during the summer months, we have more time to devote to reading. And we’re free to explore books and subjects that interest us but that we haven’t time for during the school year.

While I’ve read lots of great novels aloud to my children, non-fiction titles have always been the mainstay of my personal reading. But I’m challenging myself to read more fiction this summer, even when I’m just reading for my own pleasure.

My husband convinced me years ago that reading fiction is good for you. And, just as he predicted, I’ve benefited in significant and surprising ways when I devote time to doing so.

That’s the gist of the poem I’m sharing today:

I Opened a Book Poem - Free Printable


I Opened a Book

I opened a book and in I strode.
Now nobody can find me.
I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
My town and my world behind me.
I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,
I’ve swallowed the magic potion.
I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king
And dived in a bottomless ocean.
I opened a book and made some friends.
I shared their tears and laughter
And followed their road with its bumps and bends
To the happily ever after.
I finished my book and out I came.
The cloak can no longer hide me.
My chair and my house are just the same,
But I have a book inside me.

– Julia Donaldson

Isn’t that lovely? I’m hoping the kids and I will have a lot of new books inside us by summer’s end. And if I get my way, we’ll have this poem inside, as well.

That’s why I created the pretty printable above. I plan to use it in committing the poem to memory this summer, together with my children.

More Resources for Readers

Interested in finding other ways to motivate your children to spend more of their free time reading? Check out these posts:

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6 Comments

  1. Thanks so much! This is one of my favorite posts, 🙂 there’s not much better than books & reading! I always wait for the Books-A-Million summer reading every year. I’m so disappointed it’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid this year 🙁 Darn!

    1. You’re welcome, Amy. I’ve never read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but I guess it’s popular. I’ve found a new (to me) children’s author that I do really like, though: Dandi Daley Mackall. We read her book Just Sayin’ last month and loved it and are halfway through Larger-Than-Life Lara right now, which I may end up liking even better, if that’s even possible. I got both books for FREE through Tyndale House’s My Reader Rewards Program. If you aren’t already a member, you should definitely check it out. Membership is 100% free. You’ll get your first 25 points (and I’ll get 10) when you sign up through this affiliate link: Yes, I want to join now!

      1. Good timing 🙂 I did subscribe through your link and I have had 105 points sitting there analyzing what to purchase with them for months?. When it comes to books I want to make a good decision ?. So now that I have a recommendation I’ll happily order it, thanks! And yes, I signed up through your blog of course 😉

        1. That’s great to hear, Amy. Let me know which one you ordered and what you thought of it when you’re through. They have an adult novel by the same author available right now, too: With Love, Wherever You Are. I ordered that one, as well, and plan to read it once I’ve finished Larger-Than-Life Lara. I’m trying to break out of my preference for non-fiction and broaden my reading horizons a little this summer. Ha!

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