“I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.” – C.S. Lewis

When I was in fourth grade, I attended Sherwood Forest Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia. One memory I have from my time there was visiting the library once each week and as a somewhat voracious reader, I looked forward to this opportunity. The kindly woman who served as the librarian would take a few moments to teach our class something related to some aspect of books, reading, or proper use of library resources. Then, we could find a book and borrow it for a couple of weeks.

As the librarian neared the end of her brief presentation, I and several other boys would slide to the edge of our seats, place our hand on the table, and prepare to bolt as soon as we knew she was done speaking. We would then sprint to the fiction section with the goal of being the first to grab one or two of a series of books that all of us especially enjoyed.

The series that was so fascinating to us was called Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators – a series of about seven books written by Robert Arthur. Some readers might remember Hitchcock from a 1960s weekly television show: Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Hitchcock, as the show’s host, would personally greet the viewers with a rather dour, “Good evening…” And as a film producer, he was known as ‘The Master of Suspense’, being credited with such great classics as Psycho, Vertigo, The Birds, Back Window, and others.

In the Three Investigators books, Alfred Hitchcock serves as a mentor and consultant to three young investigators: Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews. Each book begins with a Hitchcock introduction and the three boys get started on some mystery that must be solved. They get to work, encounter danger and intrigue, solve the mystery, and then report back to Hitchcock at his Hollywood office.

I recently acquired one of these late 1960s books – The Mystery of the Vanishing Treasure – and was pleased to be able to once again read the story after more than sixty years. I recall reading this book and other Three Investigator novels when I was eight years old and feeling absolutely enthralled with each one.

Perhaps there’s some book from your own past that you enjoyed, or that had some special significance in your life. Why not allow yourself to step back in time, reread a favorite title, and allow yourself to enjoy a bit of literary nostalgia? Even better, why not share the book with your children or grandchildren? Try reading the book aloud, and follow-up with some discussion. This will give additional depth to your memories, while inspiring the children to read on their own, all while spending time together. Have fun!

© 2026 Jeffery J. Michaels / Plain English Publications
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