Gratitude 81

Every Saturday, when I was growing up, on Saturday afternoon, my mother took us to the library. We loved it. We tended towards getting books that were old favourites but my mother was also a collector and there were certain authors that we LOVED and she introduced me to the world of interlibrary loans (which were an exciting thing in the days before online book ordering, etc). I remember one author in particular that we both loved was Noel Streatfield who wrote about children in the arts in Britain during the war years and mom got all of her books for me from somewhere or another. After the library, we got to get a treat at the store (a big deal in those days for us), usually a bag of chips. We would go home with our snacks and cuddle up and read. It was wonderful.

I have wanted Pk to love the library the way that I did and she certainly does. We try and go once a week (usually on Thursdays). I think she loves the mural on the wall and the Thomas train she plays with, as well as the movies and books (while I would like to say that the books are her top draw, I have to be honest and say that she makes a bee-line for the Thomas and Veggietales DVDs). She has favourite authors and is very opinionated about books (the librarian kills herself laughing as I offer book after book and repeatedly am told, "No thank you, mummy"). At the moment, the obsessions are Max and Ruby (Max's Dragon Shirt and Bunny Cakes must come home with us a couple of times a month), Franklin (the soccer one and the one about his baby sister, Harriet), Clifford the Big Red Dog and Eric Hill's Spot books. I love it when I get a classic by Pk and she actually enjoys it (Corduroy was a bit hit last week). Pk loves going and so do I. I feel so lucky that in a town this size, we have a fairly good little library branch with friendly staff, an online computer system (so I can get books from other branches) and fun children's programming.

We went this afternoon and have just gotten home. Pk has just fallen asleep on the couch with her books and I plan to take advantage to start my book. Happy reading!