Are you a bookworm? Is your head stuck in a book for long? If so,that's a good thing.There are many benefits to reading.Getting into a good novel improves our literacy .But who or what encourages us to pick up a book and start reading?     Of course,when we are young,our parents and teachers inspire us by introducing us to  characters that we love--or love to hate.And there are the authors--the people who invent and write about these characters.Good writing can really catch our imagination.     One modern-day children's author is J.K.Rowling,who's known for her books about the wizard,Harry Potter.Last year she was named as a'literacy hero'for her part in improving people's love of reading.The UK's National Literacy Trust awarded her the title for"turning a generation of children into readers."     The Trust also honoured schoolchildren,a librarian and teachers for their effort in trying to get people to read.The actor, Henry Winkler, who has dyslexia ,was also named for the books he has written about a boy with learning difficulties.     Reading books is more than an enjoyable pastime;it can also help people in difficult circumstances.The author Pat Winslow worked as a writer in prisons and found reading and discussing stories helped prisoners reflect on their patterns of behaviour.She says"Very often we would have discussions about the moral compass of a character, what was the motivation of  somebody, why did they behave that way?"         Today I like to read factual books such as biographies,where you get an insight into the  lives of important and well-known people.I also enjoy looking at travel books and learning  about journeys and new destinations.It's a good substitute if you can't visit in person.     But the main benefit of reading is the improvement it brings to our literacy.The more we do it,the better we get and who knows--one day you may become the next Tolstoy,Jackie  Collins or even William Shakespeare. Why was the author J.K.Rowling called a'literacy hero'?
For her struggle against unfortunate life. For her inspiring children to love reading. For her experience of learning difficulties. For her well-known books of Harry Potter.