Thanks Nic!
Do you look like her too? : ) (Really, that is who you remind me of......and with "pip," it all just fits so well.) I think I read all the books there were of her while in elementary school (and I was an avid reader....something I must've gotten from my mother, who also read lots). And, even in elementary school, I also loved to read about American history (written for kids, of course); like the Life of Thomas Jefferson's wife, or of Abraham Lincoln, etc.
Here's a little story that is kind of humorous, if I don't say so myself. In 6th grade, our class was assigned read through the end of the period. The partition was opened to the other room, another class. Well, of course, I read one of my books. All of a sudden (or so it seemed to me), I heard my name called, maybe a couple times before I heard. I raised my head, to look at the teacher in the front of the room....but he wasn't there, and that wasn't where he was calling from. I turned my head to the back door of the other room. As I did, I noticed there were NO kids or teachers in either room. Imagine my surprise. I was all alone.
When my astonished look met my teacher's face, he smiled and said, "I'm glad you have such great concentration, but, it's recess time." He said he noticed I wasn't out on the playground and wondered where I was; that's when he came back toward the classroom, looking for me. He said he had to call my name several times before I heard him. He was quite tickled over that, I think. Who knows, I may have been reading about the adventures of your alter ego! : )