As summer draws to a close, it is once again time to visit First Book and cast your vote in the "What Book Got You Hooked?" campaign. This annual event celebrates the books that we remember...books that fostered a love of reading.

Your vote will help determine which state will receive 50,000 new books for children in need. Voting is open through September 30th.

What was your favorite? Was it a series...Nancy Drew...or a trilogy...The Lord of the Rings? An author...Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, Dr. Seuss, Eve Bunting? Perhaps you remember a particular book...The Velveteen Rabbit, Shiloh, Sarah Plain and Tall, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Island of the Blue Dolphin...there are oh so many.

You can vote daily so visit often and tell your friends. The winning state and the top 50 books will be announced in October.

My vote went for King of the Wind: the story of the Godolphin Arabian by Marguerite Henry. I loved the adventure of Sham, an Arabian Stallion, and Agba, the mute stable boy who cared for Sham all of his life. They were sent from the stables of the Sultan of Morocco as a gift to the King of France. Discarded and abused because of his small size, Sham ended up pulling a cart until his true value was discovered. He triumphed at last to become one of the founding sires of English Thoroughbred race horses. I was a horse-crazy little girl and read all of Henry's work...Misty of Chincoteague, Justin Morgan had a Horse...I always had a favorite book tucked in my school desk to read when my class work was done.

Follow the title/author links I've provided to learn more about the books and authors or find lesson plan links to some of the titles.