Discovery through Children Book Collecting

“Expand the definition of ‘reading’ to include non-fiction, humor, graphic novels, magazines, action adventure, and, yes, even websites. It’s the pleasure of reading that counts; the focus will naturally broaden. A boy won’t read shark books forever.” –Jon Scieszka

“I believe we should spend less time worrying about the quantity of books children read and more time introducing them to quality books that will turn them on to the joy of reading and turn them into lifelong readers.”–James Patterson

If you don’t know that I am borderline obsessed with children’s books, well, today you will know for sure.

The picture today is only a glimpse of my first attempt at “downsizing” the library I had collected and prepared with the goal of homeschooling my little Lucy. Now, before you question how did I know that’s what she needed, let me clarify: I would have placed in whatever learning environment that would have been the absolute best for her! I literally collected books, a broad range of curriculum, mainly from Teachers Pay Teachers (digitally there for the future), from 2012-2018. This was just a small part of my preparing for Lucy. The way the schools in our area were at the time was okay, but I had set up my business and daily life to work with welcoming a child. And the best school days I had were my high school days, homeschooling. I most likely learned more in these three and half years than I did the rest of my school days. The pace, the ability to learn how I learn, and the actual energy and love of learning became a whole new experience for me. I also read more books in high school than I ever would have attempted otherwise, and none of them were ones that would help me ace the SAT or get into college, because that wasn’t my “path” I was traveling.

I have ALWAYS loved children’s books! Kind of funny as I sit here typing this. At my elementary school we would have something where you would raise money for how many books you read, it was called “Read-a-thon or Book-a-thon” or something like that. You were supposed to read “grade level” books, but really who was checking?!? The people giving me $0.50 or $1.00 a book, didn’t mind if I read an ABC or 123 book, I was reading! So I would go to my little bookshelf in our basement, that’s where we kept books, toys, because I was not to have a lot of clutter in my bedroom due to asthma and such- so bed and dresser was about it. And I would start with my favorite books and read them all. 50 picture books, about 15-20 pages each, done in at least two nights, since this would be our only homework. Other than that there are two books I actually enjoyed that I remember that I had to read in middle school. And my fifth grade teacher read us chapter books with personality +, I give her a lot of credit for keeping my love of reading alive when it really wanted to fizzle.

My parents were always into people and places stories. So menus, magazines, newspapers, those souvenir books that you get at the gift shop that have pictures and just a few words, enough to tell you about what you are seeing, but not so much you fall asleep reading it. My grandparents always had my brother and I receiving some sort of magazine that was always in line with what we were interested in at the moment, too.

My parents and grandparents would always read to my brother and I when we would ask them to. You know, I think back on this and did I want the book to be read or did I want to be held? I’m not sure, but I do know I love the feeling and the memory of crawling into their laps or into the chair beside them, all cozy, and them reading. So maybe it was the whole experience.

Anyways, when I started to keep kids they always wanted me to read books, as all kids do. I found myself a little unsure of myself at first. Reading aloud has never been one of my positive traits, but I wasn’t going to let a kid down. I realized the trick was to slow down my brain, fyi, this is not easy for me! It also helped that most kids I was keeping at the time couldn’t read themselves, but some had memorized the books, so there’s that. Kids can heal so many cuts and teach so many lessons! So much so that fast forward to my niece being in PK and spontaneously saying, “Can my NaNa read this book to the class?” And not sweating one bit.

Another thing I loved about keeping kids was their children’s books collections! A lot of the books I have are due to me reading or discovering them in homes that I have had the honor of being in. Even better was when a kid would say, “Hey, Miss Anna have you read _______?” and they would leave it for me to read. That was a huge compliment!

You may be thinking, Does she have somewhere she is going with this? And the point is….

Of course! Indeed I do! You can take it or leave it or ponder it, that’s all up to you.

I’ve had to “downsize” my children’s book library a few times since moving and Lucy running ahead of me into the arms of Jesus. (to see where these books go, visit instagram: @littlelibraryatvillasonfifth or the Little Free Library App, Charter #116338) And the past couple of weeks I have been doing a real deep dive into what I want to keep and what can go into the little library.

Every time I look into our library or read over the books that are in there, I am reminded of the many stories that lie waiting to be discovered, facts and truths that will blow me away again and again, the outburst laughs that will always come when I think of all the off the wall books that sit on the shelves. Sometimes I think, “what would someone think if they walked in here and saw this whole library of children’s books and games and tucked away toys, not knowing me or my family?” It was one thing when there was a child in the house, or children frequenting the house. But that’s just it, children’s books are not just for children. I believe we should call them “Lifetime Learning Books.” And here’s why:

• Noah the Narwhal: A tale of Ups and Downs- Judith Klausner- A book about migraines and how yesterday is not today, and tomorrow is not yesterday or today. Can explain a whole lot of chronic pain!
• Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having Courage to be Who You are- Maria Dismondy
• Through Grandpa’s Eyes- Patricia MacLachlan – Choosing to see the world through others eyes.
• One Wave at a time- Holly Thompson- A description of grief that is absolutely heart piercing.
• I need a new Butt! Dawn McMillan- A little lesson on taking life a little to seriously, or maybe not too seriously, you choose 😂
• The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention- Barry Wittenstein- Do you know the story of the Band-Aid?
• The Journey that Saved Curious George: the true wartime escape of Margret and H.A. Rey- Louise Borden – The amazing story of the brilliant series Curious George and many other classic children’s books!
• Clara and Dave- Patricia Polacco- The story of the Red Cross and Clara Barton
• Artist to Artist: 23 Illustrators- Eric Carle Museum of Art
• Welcome to the Symphony – Carolyn Sloan – Every person, every instrument, all in unison makes the symphony.
• Jennifer Moore-Mailinos Series: My Mom has Cancer, My brother is Autistic, My Friend has Down Syndrome….
• Understanding Your Brain- Rebecca Treays – I’m mean, who doesn’t like to know how things are going up there?
• See Inside your Body- Katie Daynes – Usborne Lift the Flap Fact Book – Usborne Fact Books are usually top notch!
• Thirty Days Has September- Chris Stevens – Maybe you can remember this doggone song, but I’ve never been able to. So I have the book to help me remember, because so many people CAN remember and like to rub it in. Possibly the only song that has never gotten stuck in my head!
• A Vaccine is Like a Memory – Rajani LaRocca – The title explains itself.

Summary: in my collection you will find fun and hilarious books, classics, favorite authors and illustrators, series, and a bunch of true stories and facts. The true stories and facts honestly reflect what I want to pass on: be open to learn, learn the way you learn, facts are facts, the truth is truth, and lies always catch up with you. Life teaches you many things, people can help you understand, and so can a simple book, especially when you are in need of some reassurance or need a simple explanation or an escape from the moment’s reality.

This week, I have needed some reassurance that my brain is functioning and that I am not loosing my sanity due to Tylenol and folate. Since a few factors do happen to be my reality. Blood disorder: can only take Tylenol, and folate is all over the place due to being a woman, and have a blood disorder. Not to mention, feeling the horrible weight ALL moms, but especially moms with any child ever diagnosed with a chronic disease(s), being blamed for harming their child by taking Tylenol while pregnant, and not taking folate, along with all the other whack things that are coming out of so called “health” officials. When you start messing with my mom and all the mothers like her that go to bat for their kids- doctors offices, schools, social settings, and home settings- well, they are seeing what they’ve done, and I pray that we will all stay strong, holding each other up and not tearing each other apart as we press on!

Also, flu and covid vaccines are becoming available. There is more lies than truth out there, but one truth that literally breaks me, is that most pharmacies are requiring a prescription for the Covid vaccine. So just a heads up before you head to your pharmacy- contact whatever provide/doctor to get this, to save you a headache. And PLEASE get your vaccines! I understand that some cannot. When you get vaccinated you are protecting yourself, but you are protecting everyone you come in contact with and then those they come in contact with. I’m not going to exhaust myself or you with typing out the facts about vaccines and the misinformation that is so incredibly discouraging to me at the moment. I just ask you please, use your noggin’, it’s there for a reason.

Life Book of the Week: Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, by Lisa Papp