I discovered Ray Bradbury when I was in grade 5 oh so long ago. Scholastic books had the Illustrated Man in its book list and with the other offerings, this book definitely did not belong. I ordered it and no sooner than I had the tattooed man in my clutches, my teacher begged me if he could read it. . When I got my opportunity again, I delved between the pages and I knew from that day forward, I would never be able to give up this book. Today I still have it, yellow as the pages may be. My vintage book. I think this was my first real pocket book and it truly got me into reading. The addiction was permanent. . I later went on after college to create a kids science fiction book, "Kryptic, The Little Space Guy". http://www.vaxxine.com/Eclectic/Gallery/Gallery2.html . Ray Bradbury definitely had an influence on my imagination. As a visual person, his writing to me was a painting of words. I remember as a kid bicycling from the small town I grew up in 15 miles away to the city just to be able to get another Ray Bradbury pocket book. I often wonder how many butterflies he's innocently nurtured and touched.
