I love to see the children come to the library. As they enter, they have the look of happy anticipation of someone about to open a birthday present and often squeal with delight as they find their favorite books. Bob the Builder [2], Thomas the Train [3], Arthur, Dora [4], and Fancy Nancy [5].
Often times a parent will sit and read to their child and I am reminded of a time when my mother used to read to me. I always loved the way she read the books. Even after I learned to read, I thought the way she read them made them much more interesting. I have fond memories of the nursery rhymes [6]. Mom would sing these as much as she read them.
We had a box of books and we could choose the ones we wanted her to read to us. One of my favorites was A child’s garden of verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. The poem “Swing” was exactly how I felt as I soared up and up and up into the trees. It may have been the first time a poem actually spoke to me. I loved the magic of all the fairytales such as Hansel and Gretel [7], Thumbelina [8], and Rapunzel [9]. They became real as my sister and I would act out these stories in play.
Mom also took us to the library [10] where we were free to browse and select any book we wished. We would spend hours browsing the isles. Each and every book looked interesting to me. Sometimes I would ask my Mom what she thought I should read. She would tell me some of her favorites and then assure me I would be able to find one I liked if I kept on looking.
I was in the 8th grade when I read Jane Eyre [11] for the first time. I cried from cover to cover. It was the first time a book broke my heart.
I believe I can trace my love of bird-watching to the hours I've spent studying Audubon’s Birds of America [12]. I was fascinated by each and every color and feather on each bird. I was fascinated that each bird was so different.
I can thank my Mom for some of the dearest and happiest moment s of my life as I cuddled up with her and a book.
- A Child's Garden of Verses [13]
- Books My Mom Read to Me [14]
- Fairy tales [15]
- Jane Eyre [16]
- Thumbalina [17]
- Trips to the Library [18]
- Books [19]
- Maud Smith Marks [20]
