- Hi, I'm Henley, and this is the story about finding my very favorite book in the whole wide world.

But it wasn't as easy as it sounds.

Reading can be hard, you know.

Once upon a time, everyone thought I hated to read, but that's just not true.

In some books, the words are too big, the sentences too long, and there are way too many pages.

In other books, pictures have zero to do with cool things I like, or with what's inside of me.

I do try, but some books are so giant, if I stood on them, I would turn into a giant.

Other books are so boring, I'd rather use them as pillows.

When I'm supposed to be reading homework, I'd rather play football in the backyard.

When I'm asked to read the cookbook to help make dinner, I would rather see how many grapes I can fit into my mouth.

Once I took a wagon full of books to the town swimming pool to find out how good they could swim.

When I tried to read books about dinosaurs, they made my brain hurt, so I gave the books back to the dinosaurs.

I've tried reading books about mountains, pickles, aliens, monsters, cats chasing mice, and mice chasing cats.

I even found a book about cats chasing mice up a mountain while aliens eat pickles with monsters.

(man laughing) But none of those made reading easier or more fun.

But all that changed when Miss Joy did the worst homework assignment ever.

(man chuckling)