How Reading Shaped Me—and Why It Matters for Toddlers

Every story read aloud becomes a memory stitched into childhood

Books may not have solved my problems, but they’ve softened the edges of many hard days.

They’ve reminded me that I’m not alone in my questions. They’ve shown me that life doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful. And they’ve inspired me to help build TheToddlerTown—a space where children, parents, and educators can discover the same quiet magic of books and screen-free moments that shaped me.

As a father, I now see how deeply stories can shape a child’s world—how one simple book can light up their imagination, calm their restlessness, or even become a memory they carry into adulthood.

Books don’t have to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes, they just need to feel true.

That’s why I’m here. That’s why TheToddlerTown exists. To help families slow down, connect more deeply, and return to the kind of play and learning that doesn’t depend on screens—but on stories, creativity, and love.

So, that’s why I read. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why you’re here too.