[Music playing]
Good afternoon everybody. I'm a pro. Eight
years ago I got the biggest and best
present ever of my life. After reading
books every night since I was about two,
my mom opened a children's book store. I
still remember the day I stepped into
the warm, lovely place. Sunshine glowing
on the bookshelves, and I smelled the
scent of books, and I still remember the
happy moment my mom held me in her arms
and read me a book. In an old house in
Paris that was covered with vines lived
twelve little girls
in two straight lines. Time passed and
I grew from a little kid who was often
mistaken for a boy, to a big girl
standing in front of you on this stage.
However, the love of reading has been
kept unchanged, except that I don't suck
my fingers anymore while I'm reading.
Having the freedom to read and the
freedom to choose, is one of the best
gifts my mom ever gave me. Also, running a
bookstore is not always a good choice
for making money.
Mom never regret quitting her high
salary job and devoting herself to the
small bookstore. She is very proud of her
work that brings a passion for reading
to me, and other children. Surrounded by
books, I am enthusiastic about reading. I
bring a book with me
wherever I go. I read in
restaurants while I'm waiting for a meal.
I read in the Metro on my way to school.
I read every night before I go to sleep.
To read is it to voyage through time to
visit places you will never otherwise
know, to experience the world of
imagination, adventure, and discovery.
Take Alice in Wonderland as an example.
When I read that book, I felt as if
I was Alice into a Wonderland.
It's so weird,
so visual. There, rabbits can talk.
Playing cards can walk, and cats can
vanish at will. After I read that book,
my mind kept wanting to return to
Wonderland and experience all those
nonsense again. So, I drew this picture. I
drew the Cheshire Cat, the caterpillar on
the giant mushroom, and the girl. I don't
know if the girl is Alice or myself. I was
too young when I drew that picture, but I
really wish that I could have lived
inside that book. So you can see, in the
book, Alice followed
a rabbit and tumbled down in
Wonderland, whereas in the real world a
book can always lead you to escape the
boredom of everyday life, and enter a
magic world. For example, we can take the
Magic School Bus to explore the human
body, or we can escape into nature by
reading fabrice book of insects. We can
even travel back to ancient Greece or
Rome in the series of Horrible History.
With a book, we can go anywhere and be
anything. Really it's also a good way for
us to connect with others. It's amazing
how when you're reading a book on a train,
a stranger next to you says "hey I love
that book" - this is a true story between
me and Yoyo. We then immediately started a
discussion about characters in that book.
Yoyo's mom and my mom also found that
they had a lot in common.
Last year, our families took a trip to
Singapore together. This is our
first day in Singapore. We went to a big
bookstore and spent half a day there.
This is not the only story. We would
share fun "Did You Know" books facts
with my friends, or help other readers my
age find a book that's just right for
them. We build up relationships and get
to know each other better. Also, I believe
that when parents read to their children,
it brings back good memories from their
own childhood. This is a strong
relationship that can get rid of gaps in-
between generations. Another amazing
thing about reading is when you
are reading, in a way, you're engaging
in a conversation with the author.
One of the authors I admire very much is
Bill Bryson. He was humorous and witty.
When reading his great book, a short
story of nearly everything, I feel like
I'm accompanying the author as he
travels through space and time, from the
Big Bang to the rise of civilization. His
deep curiosity of the world we live in,
and the encyclopedia knowledge of his
topics impressed and touched me. Another
beloved author is
Roald Dahl whose hilarious,
breathtaking books are so attractive
that I don't even want the story to end. I
have read all of his books for children.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The
Witches, BFG, and many others. When asked
in an interview about how do you get
your story ideas, the author answered, "it
always starts with a little seed of idea,
a little germ. Every time I get a great
idea I will pull out a notebook and
write it down, or else it would disappear
like a dream". These tips helped me a lot
when I first started writing. I use my
idea notebook to write down my seeds of
ideas, and in the story of Memphis, Roald
Dahl told us "watch with glittering eyes
the whole world around you because the
greatest secrets are always hidden in
the most unlikely places". I was inspired
when I read this.
I'd taken advice not only from a
great author, but also from a wise man who
had a keen insight into our world. Just
like Roald Dahl's character the BFG, Big
Friendly Giant, whose job was to collect
and blow pleasantries to small children.
Roald Dahl, Bill Bryson, Sheldon Ellis
Silberstein, Dr. Seuss, and other writers
did blow big dreams to me and every
other reader. I dream that one day I can
make magic of my own as an author for
myself, my friends, my kids, and other
children. Here, I want to share a poem
I wrote on a kite I made in art
class. Soaring above us like a bird, is
a big, amazing kite, the wind is howling,
making it dance what a beautiful sight".
Yes what a beautiful sight, but I know
making this dream come true will be a
very long and slow process. I will keep
on reading and writing every day and
above all, keep watching with glittering
eyes the whole world around me just like
Roald Dahl. And there's one thing I know
for sure. Reading will be a lifelong love
for me. I read because one life
is just not enough. Today I stand here to
share my reading stories with you because
I believe that reading can light up the
whole world.
So, why not surround yourself with books.
Sit down quietly and enjoy the words, the
pictures, and how they fit together so
beautifully. At the end of my speech, I
would like to recite one of my favorite
poems.
No one believes the whole book to ever
come from something as simple as
butterflies that don't even live that
long, but on paper, sayings can live
forever, on paper, a butterfly never dies.
Thank you.