My son is in love with Dr. Zeuss' books. As for encyclopedias, that's what we read for breakfast each day. He is fascinated by books, although at his age (4) can read only 4-5 letters words on his own.
I started to read at 5 yo. I was hook on comic books. My dad used t bring me Pif et Hercules, a French series that I loved.
Later on in my teens I discovered Balzac, Victor Hugo, Descartes and Gabriel Garcia Marques that mesmerized me.