TSS: My Pride Runneth Over!

It's time for a little reading chat at The Sunday Salon! Folks are sharing what they read, what they like about reading, and other literary thoughts.
I am so proud of my niece that I actually got a little teary a few minutes ago watching a video of her accomplishments! What a total dork I am sometimes! (most of the time?) She has been participating in a program at school called Battle of the Books. Her team consists of 4 sixth grade girls, and an eighth grade boy. They were given a list of 20 books to read as a team, which breaks down to about 4 books per student, but of course they can read them all if they like. There have been check-ins and socials throughout the school year with a team coach/teacher, and the big Battle was held the other day after a big celebratory breakfast. I'm sure you've already guessed who won.

That's right: The Book Worms! The tournament began with 30 teams and the Final Four answered questions about the books in front of the school audience in the auditorium. They beat out teams of 7th and 8th graders, and had the only boy to make it to the finals!
I have always encouraged my niece and nephews to read, and although they don't always like the same things I do, or read as much as I did at their age, they all have the ability to sit down and find information, or finish a novel. Reading as a young person is so important to building vocabulary, knowledge, and imagination. Novels and poetry can take you into worlds you might never imagine on your own, or back in history to live through exciting events or the daily life of making butter in a little house in a big forest. Home improvement, self-help, finance, and travel can all be found within the covers of a book, giving the reader pride in creating, the peace of self-awareness, or the excitement of foreign lands. I can't imagine a world where I wasn't or couldn't read something every day.
How about you? Are you a pleasure reader? Who are some of your favorite authors? What genres do you prefer?